Job Discussion Forums

[tianjinj]

In August I'll start a job teaching History at an International School in a big Chinese city. My wife may or may not be able to secure a staff position at the school as a teacher aide or something along that line. She is Indonesian, but she has has lived and worked in the States for 7 years. Her spoken English is near fluent and she speaks without any strong accent. Her TOEFL scores easily qualify her for University entrance. She is starting online courses in Early childhood education and she'd like to teach English nursery or kindergarden kids while we live in China. Two questions:
1. Can she legally work on a spousal or dependant visa? Does the legality really matter?
2. Any realistic chance of getting a job with a brown face and no degree?
Thanks for any and all advice.

[Roger]

I have never heard of dependant's visas or spousal visas for FTs with foreign partners. Your wife may have to go through the same motions as you.

I don't think she will be rejected all the time but she probably will face a hard time as an Asian. She should try to peddle her professional degree rather than her near-native proficiency at English - that, of course, is important too but taking a second place behind professionalism.
I am none too sure burt an international school might be more sympathetic to her.

[tofuman]

Dear Roger,

Again, a failing score on your English reading practicum. The lady in question has no professional degree. One can not "peddle" that which they do not possess.

Chin up, lad. English reading is not that difficult if one learns to take it slow and focus. You should be sure that you read each post at least three times, check difficult vocabulary, and avoid abstract reasoning, argument that requires careful analysis, or subject matter that is beyond your grasp.




Good luck.

[Spiderman Too]

As for living in a big city, it depends on which big city. I think your wife�s chances of securing employment would be greater in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen than in the big cities of, say, Chongqing, Xi�an or Chengdu.

Also, in China who you know rather than what you know (which the Chinese call guan xi and which literally translated is �relationships�) can open doors. For example, certain staff at your school will, no doubt, have connections with kindergartens / pre-schools and if they like your wife�s personality and character they will probably be willing to assist.

And tofuman, do you think critical, non-beneficial (to the main subject) contributions are well-regarded by any reader? Also, is attacking / criticizing Roger important in your life?

[vikdk]

Actualy i think Tofuman has a very good point - advising someone on their employment possibilities when assuming they hold a degree could certainly lead someone to bark up the wrong tree - advice is the name of the game here - how can we expect to give that when we don't even have a clear understanding of of a posters enquiry.

On a point relating to the chinese and their treatment of their fellow Asians - a couple of weeks back I was staying with Chinese friends in Beijing - they had Indian neighbours - an appartment which seemed to be full of 500 indian guys - should have heard the comments banded about on them! Anyways being a foreigner some people in the block of flats took me for an Indian aswell - actually took me a bit of time to work out why all the bad stares (used to stares but these were something else) and whispering, but kinda got it when someone refused to get in the lift when the saw me in it - sobering experience first time I've been treated like that!

Hej tianjinj sure your wife wont be treated that way - but maybe you shouldn't expect a completely problem free ride.

[Spiderman Too]

[Louras]

My spelling sucks. rog makes so many mistakes on this forum that I feel it is our duty to point it out. It makes him feel great though. Your wife will have a hard time. No matter what anyone says. The Chinese like to have a white face teaching English. Does she speak mandarin? That would make a big difference. I'm not saying the situation is completely bad. I have known many Philipinos teaching here.

[vikdk]

I know I could point out a few things to you spidey - but why should I your a superhero

[ymmv]

[Roger]

I don't know what the original poster benefited from all those negative nit-picking by some.
I didn't misunderstand the OP's message one little bit; I assumed, and still asume, that his Indonesian partner will finish her studies in that educational field he specified, and that's it. Of course, "peddling" one's degrees implies the peddlar has degrees - which I think the Indonesian woman will have by the time she arrives in China...

And as for "dependant's visa": yes, I made an error: you can have someone else included in your work visa - but do we still get work visas these days??? I thought the regime had changed to so-called 'residence permits'; whether they allow for the inclusion of a "dependant' remains to be tested. In my case, it says nowhere that a dependant of mine can live with me. ANd even less that she or he can WORK legally...

Dependants' visas don't permit the dependants to work - they are allowed to live with their family heads!

And lastly, I didn't wish to go into that routine of slagging off the Chinese for their racism; that's a serious enough aspect that I suppose the OP has thought over by himself.

Indonesians face extra hardships on account of being SE Asians and from a country where CHinese have been "discriminated" against - if you ask the Chinese for their opinion.

[tianjinj]

I appreciate the liveliness of the debates that I often see on this forum; I've also picked up a bit of useful information. I'm not sure of the nomenclature about the visas (I've yet to start the process) or whether my wife will be legally allowed to work, but I realize that any actual employment will be an uphill, though possible, battle. After all, she's only looking for one job. The point about using contacts available at the school is especially well taken. I also may possibly be in the market for a part time job myself-- so I've taken up reading the discussions on topics related to that. Hopefully I can meet up with some of you in the future.

[vikdk]

sorry this is so off topic - but may cause a bit of bra burning

[ytange]

[tofuman]

Roger is somewhat dangerous because his English reading comprehension skills are not up to the level of most native English speakers on this board. His years of experience here give him credibility but his struggles with English reading comprehension are a definite hindrance.

Going back several months, his inability to grasp the gist of another's argument or point of view causes totally inappropriate responses from him. For quite a while I thought that he was either dishonest or dumb. I recently realized that he is communicating in a language foreign to him and using this board to hone his skills in that language.

People should be aware of that, especially if they seek his advice on important subjects.

The wife of the OP is an Indonesian taking online courses in early childhood development and wants to work with children in China. She has good English skills. Nothing in the op indicates that she has a degree or is even close to completing one. She is qualified for university entrance, not graduation, by her TOEFL score.

Roger overlooks the substance of her resume and posts an inappropriate response based on his misunderstanding.

Some people here are comfortable with a guru like that. I'm not.

[meggieyud]

Hi

They are very strong in their emphasis on the race here - some schools will employ non-whites, but only a few. I am a Chinese (from Australia) trying to get an English teaching job in Shanghai.