Job Discussion Forums

chengdu619 · Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 76

I know this thread has been done before. I am going to narrow it down a bit. Does anyone have experience teaching privates, while working for a public university in Beijing in particular? I am considering taking the plunge. Ultimately, I need the money. I am thinking of 6 extra hours per week. The place is about 5 subway stops from my school. Anyone have any suggestions? I have asked another FT at my school and he said everyone does it. However, I cannot afford to lose my current job, mainly for visa purposes. Any ideas? Is it worth the risk? And what is the risk?

Thanks

The Ever-changing Cleric · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 1523

i've mentioned it on here before, but noone else confirmed it with their own info. my current contract allows me to do outside work. its a change from the previous contract where outside work was also not forbidden, but to do any part time jobs, we had to request permission of the FAO.

just do the part time job (keep it quiet), many teachers do it, including the chinese teachers. if you're worried about the repercussions of anyone at work finding out, check your contract to see what penalty may apply, then act accordingly. my contract from two years ago stated part time work without approval was a violation of the contract and could result in a breach penalty or dismissal.

ttorriel · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 193

If you "need" money then you've come to the wrong country; unless of course you have legitimate western teaching credentials and can get a job in the International schools that pay comparable U.S. type salaries for their teachers.

samhouston · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 418 Location: LA

I'm sure ttorriel's brilliant post clears up a lot of potential misunderstanding. Keep up the good work! Be sure to write a snappy post script demanding an explanation for the discrepancy between the OP's name and city.

I will now continue with this brilliant post of my own, first by stating that I've never even been to Beijing. But my golden advice is not tied to any particular location. You mentioned talking with a FT at your school about your situation. Never bring it up with him again. Foreign teachers can be a treacherous and outright treasonous bunch, sitting up late at night spinning plots and scheming their own deceitful power plays.

Five subway stops away is a good distance, although a few blocks would probably suffice. Review the French Connection for instruction on how to properly lose a tail on the subway.

I could be terribly mistaken here, but I doubt a FT in good standing with his school would get the boot-and-RP-revocation treatment in response to doing some casual cultural exchange on his own time. Unless your superiors are sniffing out a reason to give you the ax, why would anyone care? I'd say they don't. Go for it.

Lobster · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:01 pm Post subject:

That's good advice, and here's another bit. Don't recruit students from your own university for exactly the same tongue-wagging reasons.

RED

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

Not sure about Beijing. In these parts, the issue is not with your school, it is with the PSB. Although contracts say you may not teach unless you have permission, it has been standard to not give permission. Somewhat like the Chinese way of saying that you can't teach elsewhere.

I have heard, just heard, of FTs who have been expelled from China for teaching outside of their school. It is illegal. Only schools properly licensed are allowed to employ FTs. If you go to Wang Hung Low's English Training School and teach, you are violating, not only your contract, but Chinese law. So is Wang. He can be fined. You can be expelled.

I can only imagine this happening if the mistress of the PSB chief or his wife runs a school which competes with Wang Hung Low's school.

I have tried to do some side teaching but it is usually more trouble than it is worth. Those of you who are taking in several thousand doing it, good for you

chengdu619 · Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 76

I will report back after this week. Oh, and the discrepancy between my name and my location of work has to do with my love for Sichuan (actually not Chengdu in particular). I chose Beijing because I am familiar with the city, but if I end up spending a long time in China, I think I might move out Southwest.

chengdu619 · Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 76

Hansen, that is a consideration. Anyone know how to check if a place is licensed or not?

The Ever-changing Cleric · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 1523

Solana · Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 30

If you "need" money you're in the wrong country: Unless you're 1) independently wealthy, 2) operating a profitable business on the side while teaching, or 3) planning to stay in China forever ... there will come a time when you will need money. Some of these schools pay so low (although good by Chinese standards) I have a hard time believing people there are not doing anything for extra somewhere.

Where in the world do you get travel expenses and, most importantly, where do you get the money to move on when it's time to do so?

chengdu619 · Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 76

Just keeping everyone posted. Things are going well. I anticipate one more year in Beijing after this one, and then off to some smaller city.

One comment regarding "needing " money in China. I agree that China is not the place to come if you "need" money. But the truth is, I can make more here than I can in the U.S. I am not proud or ashamed of that. It is simply the truth. If someone is at all enterprising here, and makes it a point to save, then they can save. How much is another question.

In my opinion, 500 dollars a month is a piece of cake. I think 1000 is doable as well. Now, 500 or 1000 a month, you might say, is not much ( 1000 from TESL gigs would require a lot of leg work I admit, as well as some time stringing the gigs together), and I agree, but it is better than back home and I am simply not complaining.

Anyway, as always, I appreciate everyone's responses.

I think I am going to start another forum on "Life After the Big City, Work in China's Small Towns."

Best

Chris_Crossley

Solana · Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 30

At this point, I'm practically sure I'm coming to China after December. Finding the right first job there will be key, as well as attempting to get at least 10K which I know is hard from just a job alone. Any particular regions where my chances of making, and saving, a little more money would be higher? I know nothing yet about the regions and cities of China.

Is it better to come to Beijing or Shanghai at first, or is it easier to find something more provincial?

And, is it easy to remit money back home each month?

Chris_Crossley

You might just want to be adventurous and go to a provincial city where there might not be as many FTs as there are in BJ or SH. You would certainly find yourself the centre of attention of the locals: I should know because I certainly have been just that over the past eight years in Wuhan in Hubei Province!

As for remitting money home, I used to do that fairly frequently in my first few years here since I had creditors to pay off back home. Thankfully, I achieved this goal by Christmas '04. Chinese law states that it is possible to remit up to 70% of one's income to bank accounts abroad, provided that the school one works at has paid appropriate taxes to the government. (I've heard about dodgy ones that tried to dissuade their FTs from doing this because they were evading their taxes.)

I've stayed in the same provincial city (Wuhan) for practically all eight years of my time in China, so I know that, if one can find the "right" job, one can more or less remain there and live more than comfortably on one's salary given that the cost of living is usually much lower than in the "big" metropolises like BJ and SH.