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DosEquisX
Joined: 09 Dec 2010
Posts: 361
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 Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 5:20 am Post subject: Experiences at Baotou Teachers College? |
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I got a job offer to work at Baotou Teachers College.
I looked around online and haven't found any negative testimonials about the school. Not sure if that's good, though I suppose if there was something bad about it that it would be known here. I searched on Dave's and there's a thread about it, but no opinions on the job in that thread (just of the city).
That said, any opinions? Experiences teaching there? |
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7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
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| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 5:26 am Post subject: |
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it would seem to me that not finding negative testimonials about a potential place of employment would be a good thing. even if you did find something negative it all needs to be taken in stride. many of the complaints people have about places have more to do with someone's inability to adapt than the actual workplace itself.
a teachers college is probably as safe a bet as any for esl work. your classes will likely consist of young women who are relatively diligent in their studies. my experience says give it a shot. |
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DosEquisX
Joined: 09 Dec 2010
Posts: 361
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| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 5:51 am Post subject: |
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| 7969 wrote: |
it would seem to me that not finding negative testimonials about a potential place of employment would be a good thing. even if you did find something negative it all needs to be taken in stride. many of the complaints people have about places have more to do with someone's inability to adapt than the actual workplace itself.
a teachers college is probably as safe a bet as any for esl work. your classes will likely consist of young women who are relatively diligent in their studies. my experience says give it a shot. |
My fear is that the on-campus housing would be a huge pain in the ass. I've heard some horror stories about blatant invasions of privacy in those cases. I value my privacy to a certain degree and Asian countries seem to not give a shit about it. I've had doctors share information about my appointments and even OTC drugs I bought at a pharmacy when I was teaching in Korea. I was fine with that. But hearing stories about people from the school breaking into your room while you are teaching is not comforting. Curfews and recording visitors are just a cause for a pain in the ass to me.
I want to find out about that type of stuff and I think it's better to hear that from somebody that was there rather than somebody that is there. |
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DosEquisX
Joined: 09 Dec 2010
Posts: 361
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| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 7:16 am Post subject: |
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This is the contract.
I am a complete newbie when it comes to ESL contracts in China. But some of this is completely ridiculous. I included some questions/comments in the quote (they are bolded).
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CONTRACT
1. Party A [employer] wishes to engage the service of Party B [me]. The two parties, in a spirit of friendly cooperation, agree to sign this contract and pledge to fulfill conscientiously all the obligations stipulated in it.
2. The period of service will be from February28th 2011 to January 31st 2012.
3. The duties of Party B
In the light of teaching requirement and in accordance with specific faculty conditions, Party A will define Party B's teaching tasks and requirements in consultation with Party B. Why don't they specify these tasks/requirements in the contract?
4. Party B's monthly salary will be 6000 Yuan RMB. The salary of the July in 2011 and January 2012 is 3000 Yuan RMB respectively, because the school closes at the middle of that month. The summer vacation (August,2011) salary will be 3000 Yuan RMB. If Party B continues to work here from next March 2012, Party A will pay Party B 3000 Yuan RMB in the next February in 2012. The work of Party B is agreed to be as follows: having 20 teaching periods per week, teaching English, mainly oral English, writing, literature, newspaper reading or western culture but no more than three subjects in one semester. Is the half month payment standard?
5. Party B will receive a travel allowance of 1000 Yuan RMB in the summer and winter vacation respectively. Seems to be standard, right? It will be paid in January and July for two vacations, based on the service of two semesters. For international air fare and train tickets from Beijing to Baotou and Baotou to Beijing Party A will pay Party B a total of 6600 Yuan RMB at the end of Party B service at one time. The Baotou/Beijing bonus is nice though.
6. Party A's Obligations
a. Party A shall introduce to Party B the laws, decrees and relevant regulations enacted by the Chinese government, Party A's work system and regulations concerning administration of foreign teachers.
b. Party A shall conduct direction, supervision and evaluation of Party B's work. Party A shall provide Party B necessary working and living conditions including a single apartment of about 60 square meters which will be furnished and equipped. Ask for specifics on furnishing, right?
c. Party A shall pay party B's salary regularly during the period of the 20th to the 26th of each month.
7. Party B's Obligations
a. Party B shall observe the laws; decrees relevant regulations enacted by the Chinese government and shall not interfere in China's internal affairs.
b. Party B shall observe Party A's work system and regulations concerning administration of foreign teachers and shall accept Party A's arrangement direction, supervision and evaluation in regard to his/her work. Without Party A's consent, Party B shall not render service elsewhere or hold concurrently any post unrelated to the work agreed on with Party A.
c. Party B shall complete the tasks agreed on schedule and guarantee the quality of work.
d. Party B shall respect China's religious policy, and shall not conduct religious activities incompatible with the status of a teacher.
e. Party B shall respect the Chinese people's moral standard and customs.
8. Revision, Cancellation and Termination of the Contract
A. Both parties should abide by the contract and should regain from revising, canceling, or terminating the contract without mutual consent.
B. The contract can be revised, canceled, or terminated with mutual consent. Before both parties have reached an agreement, the contract should be strictly observed.
C. Party A has the right to cancel the contract with a written notice to Party B under the following conditions:
a. Party B does not fulfill the contract or does not fulfill the contract obligations according to the terms stipulated, and has failed to amend after party A has pointed it out.
b. According to the doctor's diagnosis, Party B cannot resume normal work after a continued 30-day sick leave.
D. Party B has the right to cancel the contract with a written notice to Party A under the following conditions:
a. Party A has not provided Party B with necessary working and living conditions as stipulated in the contract.
b. Party A has not paid party B as scheduled.
9. Medical Care,
A. All the Foreign teachers should go to the relevant hospitals appointed by Party A to take physical examinations at the beginning of their service periods. The expenses of the examinations will be on Party A.
B. It is recommended that foreign teachers return to their own countries for major healthy problems.
C. For other medical cases, Party B must purchase international medical insurance by himself/herself in his/her own country.
D. Party A will provide medical insurance inside China for Party B .The medical insurance money will be about 200 Yuan RMB. 200 doesn't seem like a lot In the service period, Party A will not pay any extra money if Party B becomes ill.
10. Others,
A. The water, power, and TV for each foreign teacher is about 400Yuan in all per month. Party A will cover this monthly 400 Yuan RMB. Party B will pay the expenses, if Party B consumes more than 400 Yuan RMB for water, power and TV service. Is this standard? However, the monthly telephone bill (include Internet) of each foreign teacher is requested to be lower than100 Yuan RMB, or the over part of the bill will be on Party B. [/b]How can I know what is or what is not over 100 RMB?[/b]
B. For Internet use, Party A will provide Party B with the set of computer system in each furnished apartment. The Internet service charge will be on Party B. Wait, I thought that the school would cover 100 RMB as per above
C. Should family members visit or accompany Party B; Party B must assume responsibility for all things related to matters pertaining to family members including all expenses, medical care, educational tuitions, etc. in China.
D. Party B should pay monthly 100 Yuan RMB for extra use of furniture and housing maintenance if Party B 's accompanying family members are not employed teachers of Party A. Party A will discount these fees from Party B�s salary monthly.
E. If Party B is absent, in one semester, altogether for a period greater than 3 hours because of his or her illness, Party A will discount from Party B's salary an amount of 70Yuan RMB for each absent hour. If Party B can make up the absent hours, the discounted money will be repaid to Party B. Party B should report to Party A in advance all the details of the schedule for making up the absent classes.
F. Party B should keep the furniture, appliances and facilities in a condition acceptable to Party A in his/her own apartment. Party A will inspect the apartment condition regularly and especially by the end of the service period. In case of damage, Party B should pay for it.
G. For your own good, we hereby suggest you get in touch with strangers and make friends with great discretion. Without PARTY A�s authorization, you are kindly requested not to live outside or provide your accommodations for any people other than your own family members in any case. You are kindly requested not too often to go to the bar and not to come back very late in the night. Social restrictions are a bit extreme for a contract, no?
H. Before Party B leaves the university, Party B needs to clean the apartment and facilities, and then get Permit of Departure ready.
11. Breach penalty
When either of the two parties fails to fulfill the contract obligations according to the terms stipulated, that is, breaks the contract; it must pay a breach penalty of US$500 to US$2000 (or the equivalent in RMB).
If Party B asks to cancel the contract due to events beyond control, it should produce certifications by the department concerned, obtain party A's consent and pay its own return expenses, if Party B cancels the contract without valid reason it would pay its own return expenses and pay a breach penalty of 5000�8000Yuan RMB to Party A.
If Party A asks to cancel the contract due to events beyond control, with the consent of Party B, it should pay Party B's return expenses; If Party A cancels the contract without valid reason, it should pay Party B's return expenses and pay a breach penalty to Party B. Is this also standard?
12. This contract takes effect on the date signed by both parties and will automatically expire when the contract ends. If either or the two parties asks for new contract, it should forward its request to another party 90 days prior of the expiration of the contract, and sign the new contract with mutual consent. Party B shall bear all expenses incurred when staying on after the contract expires.
13. Arbitration
The two parties shall consult with each other and mediate any disputes which may arise about the contract. If all attempts fail, the two parties can appeal to the organization of arbitration for foreign expert's affairs in State Bureau of Foreign Experts and ask for a final arbitration.
This Contract is signed at ............., China, in duplicate, the day of__________.
Party A ___________
(Signature)
Party B ___________
(Signature)
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Is there anything that I should ask? What is missing in this contract?
Last edited by DosEquisX on Fri Dec 31, 2010 7:58 am; edited 1 time in total |
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randyj
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 460
Location: Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 7:54 am Post subject: |
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| DosEquisX wrote: |
Is 400 RMB/month enough to cover this?
It also seems to be a bit over-the-top to include social restrictions in the contract. Is this common? |
The sum of 400 rmb/month may not be enough, of course depending on a person's frugality. Heating using electricity is expensive.
Social restrictions commonly appear in a contract. The devil is in the details of enforcement. |
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DosEquisX
Joined: 09 Dec 2010
Posts: 361
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| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 8:01 am Post subject: |
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| randyj wrote: |
| DosEquisX wrote: |
Is 400 RMB/month enough to cover this?
It also seems to be a bit over-the-top to include social restrictions in the contract. Is this common? |
The sum of 400 rmb/month may not be enough, of course depending on a person's frugality. Heating using electricity is expensive.
Social restrictions commonly appear in a contract. The devil is in the details of enforcement. |
Seeing that I would be in Baotou and it is ridiculously cold, 400 RMB probably won't be enough.
I included more questions in the quote in an edit. This just seems really weird.
There's also no airfare coverage included in the offer. I guess severance pay is not very common on contracts either. |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 8:36 am Post subject: |
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The half-pay-during-winter holiday is becoming more common in contracts. I've got the same thing in mine, all of the new contracts I've seen have the same provision.
However, the rest of it is.....yucky. Telling you whom you can associate with, how late you can stay out, clean the apartment TO THEIR SATISFACTION (we've all seen landlords and deposits and how that works), you have to pay if your friends and relatives use the furniture (??).
I'd give this place a pass. |
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DosEquisX
Joined: 09 Dec 2010
Posts: 361
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| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 9:05 am Post subject: |
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| johntpartee wrote: |
The half-pay-during-winter holiday is becoming more common in contracts. I've got the same thing in mine, all of the new contracts I've seen have the same provision.
However, the rest of it is.....yucky. Telling you whom you can associate with, how late you can stay out, clean the apartment TO THEIR SATISFACTION (we've all seen landlords and deposits and how that works), you have to pay if your friends and relatives use the furniture (??).
I'd give this place a pass. |
I was thinking the same thing. I'm in a touch of a rush, but not enough to go to a school in a bone-cold city with a cruddy contract.
I mean the social restrictions are just absurd. IMO, no contract should stretch this far into a person's private and social life.
Other opinions? |
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nickpellatt
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1522
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| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 10:45 am Post subject: |
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I actually dont think its anything too bad, or too out of the ordinary. Many contracts will have similar, and as already mentioned, the devil is not just in the details but also the enforcement of them.
My personal view, and it is just that, is that if I wanted to work in this place, was happy with the type of teaching and class sizes, and had an interest in being in that part of China ... Id take it. But as I often say here, those details are more important to me than the fine print in the contract.
Ultimately, its all a leap of faith somewhere along the line. |
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igorG
Joined: 10 Aug 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: asia
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| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 11:37 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| many of the complaints people have about places have more to do with someone's inability to adapt than the actual workplace itself. |
"many" is a word used when one does not know the actual number. Such a generalizaiton may also be misleading. Now, I am sorry I do not know the college, but I am getting a hang of these kind of discussions and posts on. They come with a little extra spice that smell like a recruiter, or even a few recruiters.
Be careful what you read on! Most importantly, be extremely cautious about your terms and conditions there. Say for example;
| Quote: |
| Party A shall pay party B's salary regularly during the period of the 20th to the 26th of each month. |
Unusual.
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| Party B shall respect the Chinese people's moral standard and customs. |
Unclear, but "many" contracts have it.
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| It is recommended that foreign teachers return to their own countries for major healthy problems. |
Unusual and unclear again.
| Quote: |
. Breach penalty
When either of the two parties fails to fulfill the contract obligations according to the terms stipulated, that is, breaks the contract; it must pay a breach penalty of US$500 to US$2000 (or the equivalent in RMB). |
Most likely pasted and copied from the local SAFEA agreement. So, is this the SAFEA you've got?
Above all, you should know the employer's standard evaluation of employees/you. Who does it? How? You don't want any local employee to pass his/her judgement unfairly. It happens so often around. Then, you need to know what to expect in a sense of your duties that seem to be unclear as well. It's not just that you sign into an agreement that you'll do your job well. What does that mean really? What are you to do?
On the end, it's difficult to get all that above i'd ask for. Few employers make it as clear. With an unclear gig, I'd make sure I can get out unharmed and that's my best advice for you.
I am sorry I do not know the college, but I am getting a hang of these kind of discussions and posts of some. They come with a little extra spice that smell like a recruiter, or even a few recruiters. That's life. Everyone needs to make living. |
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edbuch
Joined: 16 Nov 2010
Posts: 34
Location: Gansu
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| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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| What a coincidence. I've just been offered the same job! |
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DosEquisX
Joined: 09 Dec 2010
Posts: 361
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| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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| edbuch wrote: |
| What a coincidence. I've just been offered the same job! |
Guess somebody is hedging their bets. Either that or they have more than one opening. |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Hedging their bets. Definitely. |
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igorG
Joined: 10 Aug 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: asia
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| Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2011 8:13 am Post subject: |
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| Guys, maybe there are more positions than one there. It's a college after all, isn't it? Still, I'd be extremely careful about the local entrapment in their one sided and unclear employment agreements. |
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sui jin
Joined: 08 Feb 2008
Posts: 184
Location: near the yangtze
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| Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 4:15 am Post subject: |
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If you are serious about accepting this contract, why not ask the college for the contact details of a current teacher there? Only he or she will know what's what. Terms in contracts are so often irrelevant to the conditions you meet when you take up the job.
But, if you really don't like a contract term, then negotiate it out, or suggest a different wording. |
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