Job Discussion Forums

Songbird

Hey all,

Still recovering from a blasted knee injury I got in South Korea but I'm now looking for work before the new academic year starts! I have been offered a position in Wuxi Eastern International School- anyone heard of it? Anything bad? I've had a quick look on the net but nothing negative has come up yet.

If I take the position I am hoping to get them to give me a lower level apartment and classes on a few lower levels, I'm still having a wee little difficulty with stairs but I badly want to go back! I miss China, I'm homesick Sad

Voldermort · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 597

In my experience most FT apartments are on the topmost floor (usually the 6th). It may be possible to negotiate this, especially if the apartment is on campus. But for your teaching location, fat chance. For a school to change this it would mean them having to switch and swap too many classrooms and too many teachers. This is just not going to happen.

On another note, I wouldn't go advertising to schools about your knee. They would think you have healt issues and stay clear of you. You would be much better off waiting it out, recover, then start looking for positions.

Songbird

Noone has heard of the school Sad

? Oh well, maybe no news is good news!

Babala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan

I lived in Wuxi for 3 years and have never heard of this school. Did they give an address by chance?

Songbird · Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 3:31 am Post subject:

Hi Babala,

No, no address has been given, though they also appear to go by the name 'Wuxi Oriental International School'. One iffy thing they have in their contract is that they take 3000 RMB from the first pay as a 'reputation deposit' which you get back at the end of the contract period. I have never heard of this before- should I be concerned?

saint57 · Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 3:36 am Post subject:

Songbird · Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 3:44 am Post subject:

Saint, thanks, that was all I needed to hear.....I think it's a bit rough to ask for that kind of money for no reason Shocked

Babala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan

I agree with Saint57. No school should be holding back any of your salary. Sounds to me like they have had trouble in the past so now they think if they withhold wages, it will keep you around. If you are interested in schools in Wuxi, PM me and I will help you find a good one.

mike w · Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 3:50 am Post subject:

Malsol · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1976 Location: Lanzhou

Delter-Telfert had something like this but it was a smaller amount withheld for 3 months, or so a birdie told me.

Voldermort · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 597

Do they really think 3000 yuan is of any value to us? At the end of the day, if the school is treating you like krap with those pathetic "this is China" excuses, anybody in their right mind would just cut their losses and leave. Hell I know I would.

It's high time schools in China learnt how to deal with foreigners. If a school, in the past, has had problems with foreign teachers then they should learn from it and do it better the next time.

marykrix · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Wuxi

I work at this school. If anybody would like more information, and I suggest that you should get it before accepting a position, you are welcome to email me a [email protected]

Nyrthak · Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 16 Location: ASIA

I am being head hunted by this school right now. I am not accepting anything they offer me at the moment. I have seen a contract. It gives sonething like 4 hours sick leave. That's it- not even a day if you are sick. Very tight contract. They have not been able to recruit for English teaching in nearly a year. But they seem not to ask the question "Why are we unable to get a teacher?" When I asked why the previous teacher left I was told that she said the teaching was just too difficult. I think you would need to be very careful.