Job Discussion Forums

[donb2222]

I know it is all about money (This is China). The schools want to make money.
I would assume that having FT's would be profitable for most schools.
Also, my assumption is that having happy FT's would increase profits
for a school.

I am now employed at a public high school in China, and I am very happy.
But, I read here of so many abuses of FT's, and I really do not understand
why some schools would rather abuse their FT's than to keep their FT's
happy and not have to replace them every semester, year, etc.

In conversations with the administrators at my school I have learned that they are aware of forums like this, and that they are also aware that unhappy teachers will tell anyone and everyone of their bad experiences.

Anyway, I can understand a schools or schools owners desire to make a profit. I just cannot understand why some of them would not realize that to make more money they need to keep their employees happy.

[rmcdougall]

Ft's are usually only window dressing.

And easily replaced with a few internet ads. The next one is always coming, which is great for those in hiring positions.

[Sonnibarger]

MOST Chinese bussiness owners do not think long term.. you see it everywhere not just schools... they cheat you once to make an extra 5rmb... if they gave a fair price the first time they would have a loyal customer and made a lot more money over time...

[funkystuff]

[roadwalker]

Most BUSINESSES don't think long term. Particularly businesses with clients who aren't looking for a long term business relationship. Language schools treat customers like they are buying a used car: the dealer knows the customer is not likely to come back if they don't close the deal now. Foreign teachers and Chinese one's for that matter are valued for the ability to either bring students to the lot, and/or the ability to close the deal.

Of course there are schools better than the average and others that are down right criminal. The better ones probably try to make long term deals with universities or businesses. I don't think you can make it a Chinese thing. There is an extra layer of problems in that miscommunication can cause misunderstandings as well can cultural expectations. Some of the posters on Dave's seem to have found good experiences in the private sphere.

[evaforsure]

[theincredibleegg]

Maybe because...

1. An FT is not important for his/her teaching qualities. An FT is important for face. Just about any foreigner can be face for a school, as long as they're white and have fairly good English. So an FT with a few years of history doesn't matter much - The next one will pretty much the same anyway.

2. An FT is viewed as a temporary resident of China (and the school). Why establish a good long-term relation with a person of temporary residence?


???

[Ariadne]

This is straying off topic a bit, but the poster who mentioned temporary residence made me think of all the Chinese teachers who have been at this university for a long time. They have lived in the same apartments on campus for many years and yet very few of them make any effort to make their apartments into attractive homes. I've asked a few to explain and they say that the university isn't their home and they tell me where their real home is. It's a place they only visit in the summer and Spring Festival. Sure, I call my hometown home too, but I've tried to make my apartment here comfortable and homey, with things on the walls, pillows on the chairs, and various odds and ends that make life more comfortable.

.

[brsmith15]

Some years ago, a colleague of mine and myself designed and gave a number of seminars for new managers in the US. He had a PhD in psych and with my business background we made an interesitng team. The main theme of our presentations had to do with treating folks with respect and dignity - - show loyalty to your emlpoyees you'll get it in return.

One of our big disappointments was that even though people seemed to agree with what we were saying, few actually made th changes they should have. One day, in a fit of frustration, I asked my friend why some of these people revert to the "You're-pond-scum-and-I'm-the-boss" approach after being shown uncontrovertible evidence that softer methods work and work well, including increasing profits.

His answer?

"Because they think it works."

Same with Chinese managers. They think it works. It doesn't, but they think it does.

[englishgibson]

[Fred Smith]

[suanlatudousi]

So, Fred, that means you'll be leaving China ?

[Buck Lin]

You are just bait to get students to enrol and then when you find you have no support you leave and the Chinese English teacher picks up your classes. Taiwan is different because you work with the Chinese English teacher. They teach structure and you back it up with activities.

[Sonnibarger]

Fred... one thing i had added to my contract was... that any meetings/extra classs the school must provide me written notice 1 week prior... most schools will ever have their *beep* together enough for 1 week notice.. I never do anything outside of contract hours unless i want to..

[rmcdougall]

I have some excellent teachers from the Philipines teaching for me.

They are always 15 minutes early for class.

They stay 30 minutes after class.

They volunteer for all extra ciricular activities.

They live near campus, after we told them we needed people to live in this area where we Australians find undesirable and want to bus out of.

They participate in English Corners and other activies at all times.

Compare your performance to the above and see why my program has done very well!