Job Discussion Forums

[SpedEd]

Hello people:

So I accepted a job in one of China's many drab, boring industrial cities for economic survival last Spring. The school I'm at is state run but it has all the trademarks of crappiness: dirt cheapness (admin won't buy books for the students), a tendency to hire semi/fully-insane teachers of whom I had the great misfortune of working with for 3.5 months until the two of them left, and mean administrators who don't want to talk with the FTs (especially me).
I fought hard to stay here to build up a bank kitty despite the school's threats of not renewing my visa (which had literally hours left on it when I first arrived to the school) if I didn't pass the probation period, etc. Lately, they denied me suitable accommodations despite having larger, vacant rooms.
For certain, I know the admin had runners in the past and I think the school's admin generally has contempt for FTs. And now that I have enough money to make a move of some kind I want outta here to accept a far better job in Shanghai.
I'm aware of the new, strict Z visa regulations re. having to return to one's native country to apply (*very expensive for me since I live on the other side of the world from here*), but then there's the option of having the paperwork transferred to the new school. But how should I approach the director with my request for the recommendation letter and the FEC? I mean, I wouldn't put anything by these people. I certainly wouldn't have stayed here but I hadn't a choice at that time, now I want OUT. How would you do it?

[flutterbayou]

Hi.

You probably know that relationship is next to saving face in China, and you have a chance at making things nice before you leave your job.

Thank them for having you teach at the school. Also tell them that you are learning a lot about the Chinese culture and hope to see more of the country. If it won't be insincere to do so, offer a small gift of fruit or something similar.

After that you can tell them that you are moving to Shanghai and that your new employer has requested that you transfer the paperwork needed....

In China every friendship has a purpose. They will not feel as though you are using them. Such relationships are intended for a purpose. And they will most likely cooperate with you to save face from your kindness.

If you feel uncomfortable with this idea you could always ask your new employer to make the request by email or phone, which they will do most diplomatically.

Good luck at the new job.

[arioch36]

Take them to dinner, buy them baijiu

[Anda]

Tell them it is the law that they must provide you with a release form stating your period of employment and finishing date and signed with the school's seal. Tell them that you will have to go to Foreign Affairs if they don't provide it and have the local Foreign Affairs address and phone number with you and show it to them.

[flutterbayou]

My advice and the take to dinner scenario are best.

I don't think it is necessary to get tough from the start. Telling people what they have to do rarely works out well.

In fact, if the fruit basket and dinner wişth beijou don't do it, just have your new employer request the letter. Since it is required that they do so, they will not cause any problems nor resist another Chinese on the matter.

But do not get huffy.

[Anda]

I am polite normally but I find that is useless with places like Funing Teachers College where I worked, as you get indirect answers and walked over. My first year was great but the English speaking principal left and it went down hill quickly after he left. You sound like you also work for the type of rubbish I did so get out the stick and use it. Be polite to people but not rubbish.

[Lorean]

Ask them kindly and calmly.

If that fails, go super-agressive on them.

[Mei Sheng]

Now in Shanghai, the PSB or whoever issues the Z-visa/FEC, requires a form to be filled out and chopped. It is not a standard "recommendation letter."

My previous employer balked at providing a standard recommendation letter. A friend of mine stumbled across the chop and fabricated a letter on my behalf. The PSB would not accept the letter and gave the new job a form that asked questions pertaining to the applicants moral character, friendship towards China in the classroom etc..

More than a mere "Release Letter", which basically confirms that the teacher worked somewhere between certain dates and completed his/her contract, is needed now in Shanghai.

Good Luck!!

[SpedEd]

[arioch36]

Good Luck!

PS, the most heinious crime a foreigner can commit is publically bashing his school. SO if you stay in the same area, or wan to, try to avoid this

[Moon Over Parma]

I actually posted a legitimate jpg (taken from a PDF form) of what this release FORM is (it is not a "letter" in any traditional sense), in another thread on this board. Do a forum search for it and you will have a physical idea of what form you will have to get if you want to switch schools. Good luck.

[SpedEd]

[SpedEd]

I approached the director today to inform her of my intended departure and resignation from the school's FT position. She didn't take it well and made various comments re. canceling the visa that day and even calling the police. Like I said, she's a real charmer to deal with.
Both she and the recruiter seem to have an exclusive relationship and neither has been helpful in any way with providing info other than threatening bs. In a nutshell, they are trying to intimidate me into staying here - I won't let it happen.
Specifically, the director told me the visa will have exactly 10 days on it to allow me to 'take care of things'. Well, that's unreasonably short, imo, so I will have to rely on the new school's ability to assist me with 'taking care of things'. I have to say that the visa situation over here is making me dizzy right now, in addition to the stress of the ordeal.
I feel it's the right thing for me to leave since the school blatantly refused to abide by the contract (it was clearly broken), although nobody around ever admitted to breaking the contract. It's really because of this that I decided to leave the school.

[vikuk]

[Moon Over Parma]