Job Discussion Forums

christine m · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5

I may have found a few weeks voluntary teaching in China with accommodation provided. (SAFEA approved institution). I'm happy to do this as a way of being in China short-term but wonder about the visa situation. Is it legal to do this on an "L" Visa? Or an "F"? Any help, thanks.

lostinasia · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 466

The only legal way to be a teacher is with a Z-visa

EDIT - I guess I missed the whole "volunteer" part of the question. That type of work is not z-visa related. However, I agree with others, it destroys all credibility for professional teachers.

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

christine m · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5

Thanks so far.

This is in a state middle school with whom I have some personal connections. I offered myself to do a few weeks helping out in English classes (therefore more as an assistant than teacher) as I cannot commit to a full semester. They have said they would welcome me and could offer me accommodation but no allowance. We have not yet discussed the visa situation - thought I'd ask you all first and be a bit fore-armed as it were.

For me, it's an opportunity to spend a few weeks in a school in China and with free accommodation although I am a fully qualified EFL teacher and will commit myself wholeheartedly and willingly to the work. Hope very much that the other FTs won't mind (if there are any, I'm not sure) - I'm not really in direct competition with them as I'm there on an assistant basis.

fitzgud · Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 148 Location: Henan province

Yes you are in competition with any, and all FTs, for the school will seek a steady trickle of "volunteers" to past through it�s fouled up pipes, without ever having to pay the plumber.

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

Christine to understand the viewpoint of many FT's here - you have to understand that we work in an employment environment where we receive almost zero legal protection from the whims of our employers. So when we hear the word - volunteer - we often think - ohhhh no another reason for our bosses to cut our hours and wages. And we can't really do a thing about it - apart from writing posts in places like Dave's complaining about these types of situations.

jg · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:20 pm Post subject:

Go on and volunteer if you want. There are lots of places that are too poor or remote to get full-timers, and/or have had past bad experiences with people in it to profit.

Not an attack on any one poster, but if your job is so tenuous that you worry about your boss undercutting you for a volunteer - likely someone with no much experience or who will meet rigorous demands - then the problem isn't the volunteer, it's your job. Serious and reputable schools pay so that they can hold workers to some accountability.

Just my idea, and I am certainly open to hearing otherwise. And as other's said, make sure they aren't turning a buck off you yet classifying you as a "volunteer". Now THAT is ultra-shady.

christine m · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5

Again, thanks for the comments, interesting to hear different points of view although we seem to have wandered into a general discussion about the rights and wrongs of volunteering rather than my original question which was about legality and the visa situation.

Although I can understand the point of view about FTs perhaps feeling rather threatened/resentful about volunteers, I don't think that a potential volunteer should refrain from volnteering for this reason alone. I take issue with the point made about volunteers being less qualified - I myself have a degree in Chinese, University of Cambridge TEFL Diploma and nearly 20 years' professional teaching experience. My position is one of wanting to spend a few weeks experiencing teaching in China, not one of wanting to find a secure permanent job. Volunteering seems perhaps the only way of doing this other than coming as a tourist.

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

Christine - look at this situation in another way. Just think of the reaction in your own country if qualified teachers started to offer their services for free - I suspect teachers/teaching unions would feel a bit threatened by this state of affairs.
Why should China FT's be any different - many of us work very hard, both on the wage negotiation front and inside the classroom in trying to secure good standards of working condition and wage. But as any China vet will tell you - nothing here is set in stone - and we work in an environment where bosses are always trying to cut economic corners.
This is the foundation of our argument - something to do with professional pride and self-defense - and it�s one that can be found in any professional teachers community.
But then again since you're doing this through your own steam - and are not part of some mass project - then I can't really see you as someone who is a terrible threat to our livelihoods. So I suppose the sensible thing to write now is - have a nice time - and please don�t encourage too many other teachers to do the same thing.