Job Discussion Forums

Angel46 · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 51 Location: Hangzhou

Here's a question for you: All the foreign teachers at my university received a 'group' email today, asking us to think about whether or not we want to stay a 2nd year. We are to email them our decision by Friday latest.

What's your take on this? The feeling we have is that the work we have done is of no value whatsoever. Frankly, since there are only 5 of us, we fully expected a face-to-face meeting to discuss our performance and perhaps be 'sold' on staying a 2nd year, with some incentive thrown in, ie salary increase, or additional benefits. Yes, we know we are the 'token' foreigners and shouldn't expect special treatment. But in China I know most Chinese employees generally receive a bonus for good work.

Would appreciate hearing from other university teachers who have stayed on with their employers for subsequent years.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

TravellingAround · Joined: 12 Nov 2006 Posts: 423

Personally I think you might be reading too much into this...Isn't this just a preliminary email to ascertain whether or not you are interested in staying for a further year or not? They don't want to waste time negotiating and having meetings with teachers who are definitely leaving.

That happened to me and then afterwards they held one-on-one meetings with each teacher and any requests could be put in then. The school might even automatically award a bit extra for each year although don't expect it to be too much if they can help it!

If you are interested in staying then email back and say so but that you need further discussions. It's not as if it is committing yourself or that you can't go on to reject their offers after that.

Replacing teachers is a lot more work (and contains a lot more risk on their part) than keeping on a teacher they are happy with so you do have some leeway on this.

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

If you don't feel your work has been of any value, then moving on may be best. If you opt to stay, then you do have the bargaining chip suggested in the last post. A reasonable pay increase could be in order. I got a decent cash bonus for my second and third re-signings, though the salary remained the same. Also, later recruits came in on a lower base.

Steppenwolf · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 1769

I curse modern technology for the incentives it offers to employers such as yours to ignore you as physical beings and to take your word when it's wrlitten.

Frankly, if they shun you throughout the semester and want written feedback rather than discuss things face to face you can bet they don't care one way or another about you; they only want you to be present as stats!

ymmv · Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 387

If you are working at a university and working under the standard SAFEA contract, take a look at Section X.

TravellingAround · Joined: 12 Nov 2006 Posts: 423

I'd say more likely. This is the opening point; when they know if you are interested in staying they will most likely then talk to you individually and you can then discuss changes or a rise in salary then. That is the procedure I knew at two universities in Guangdong.

The OP I feel is reading too much into it just yet...it doesn't seem this is an offer at all but just an enquiry as to whether or not they wish to stay or not. Then, a bit nearer the expiration of the contract, any negotiations can be conducted.

I'd suggest waiting and see what actually happens before thinking they don't value your work or won't try to sell you on staying a second year. They are hardly going to want to have one-to-one meetings with teachers who aren't staying whatever are they?

Until they actually offer the contract then it is guesswork as to what incentives they will be willing to offer. Then it is still often negotiable anyway providing they think you are good teacher.

Angel46 · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 51 Location: Hangzhou

I am so pleased with your replies - not much 'flaming' at all! In response to your comments, I'm thinking that perhaps we did indeed read too much into that bulk email. It may have been just that, a preliminary inquiry to determine which teachers will require individual meetings.

In fact, I have received an email this afternoon asking for a meeting with me next week, at MY convenience! Of course this message arrived after I gave them a piece of my mind via email. I'll let you all know what happens!

Again, I want to thank you all for your feedback. This is exactly why DAVE'S is such a great site - for many of us it serves as our lifeline, especially when some of us are living outside our 'comfort zone'.

HunanForeignGuy · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 989 Location: Shanghai, PRC

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

If there are any changes that you feel need to be made, either personal (more money etc.) or professional (different texts etc.) then now would probably be a good time to consider those and prepare to discuss them.

The school is likely looking at just continuing the way things are if you agree to stay on, and if you are happy with the way things are then there will be no problems. But if you do have concerns then try to have these addressed before commiting yourself to another year. No regrets!

As has been suggested you will not likely be offered anything that you don't ask for, and there is no guarantee that you will get what you do ask for, but you are guaranteed that you won't get it if you don't ask.

Finally, if you don't get what you want then don't take it personally. It most likely does not reflect upon you and the work that you have done over the past year, but more likely a general apathy towards the reward systems that many foreigners are used to. And of course if you are not happy then find yourself another job that is willing to offer you what you want.