Job Discussion Forums

MarkieP52 · Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Posts: 11

So I may have my first real offer, but I just want to make sure...

Dear Mr. Mark,

Dear sir,

Currently we are recruiting foreign teachers to teach English in our partner schools. We saw your resume on Jobchina.net . We sincerely hope that you can come and join us. Allow me to introduce our school first.

1. The school is located in pingliang, Gansu province, in Northwest of China.

2. You will be teaching oral English to students aged 16-18 years old.

3. Salary : 6500RMB Air ticket reimbursement RMB 7600 upon the completion of one-year contract

4. Holiday: basic pay 5. Z-visa sponsored 6. Free furnished apartment 7. You will have a Chinese teacher to assist you.

8. The school needs two foreign teachers, you are welcome to invite your friend to come with you.

About our company: Based in Beijing, Huayu-sunshine education Co.ltd is specialized in English textbooks publishing. In 2009, our new oral English textbook 360 oral English course, geared to middle school students, was published. Since then, We began to find partner schools to try out our new textbooks and we hire many foreign teachers to teach in the school and give us feedback so as to improve our text book.

If you are interested in the above positions, feel free to contact with us. We sincerely hope that you can work with us. Contact details of Former foreign teachers who work with us provided upon request.

MOD EDIT

Add: No.3, Dongguantou Road, Fengtai District, Beijing

Has anyone heard anything about this specific school or person or whatever? The only thing I'm afraid of is not getting reimbursed for my airticket. Thanks for taking the time to help a noob out (again).

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

popsy · Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 11

Pay attention, its not a job with a school, it is a recruiter and a notorious one in that area. Avoid. Try to work with a reputable recriter or go durectly with a school.

MarkieP52 · Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Posts: 11

Ahhh is it the "partner schools" that I should avoid then if I get more "offers"?

*Edit* Also what makes her notorious?

randyj · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 8:23 am Post subject:

This kind of arrangement between a middle school and a book publisher is one I have seen before. At my school last year the administration hired a "volunteer" from Canada. The school provided her lodging, handled the visa, and paid her a nominal, subsistence wage. She was also receiving a salary, the larger part of it, from a publisher that supplied books to the school. The school administration considered this a good deal, since they had to buy their books somewhere. The foreign teacher was receiving a good salary, and the publisher was selling their books. Pretty much everyone was happy.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Stay clear. X2 notorious. Besides, lots of other jobs that are in better locations, work less hours, and pay more money with greater benefits. Have a look at the job board here.

MarkieP52 · Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Posts: 11

Aha mixed results :p I think I will pass for now mainly since they are asking for a passport ASAP and I don't have one and don't feel like paying a lot of money to get one quick. Thanks for all the responses I'll keep looking.

teachaus · Joined: 04 Apr 2009 Posts: 54

If needing a passport ASAP is one of your criteria for turning down jobs then you are going to turn down a lot of jobs. It is relatively common, even normal that early in the process they will ask to see a copy of your passport - so that they can be sure that you do have one and so would be able to take the job if they gave it to you. I think you are doing the right thing turning this particular job down - though for reasons other than the "passport ASAP". If you are serious about getting a job in China teaching ESL then I would suggest that you do start the process of getting your passport - or you are unlikely to get very far towards finding and getting a specific job until you do.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

I agree with Teachaus. While there may be other reasons for being suspicious, I would query the OP's readiness for the international life if he/she doesn't have a passport and I expect a recruiter would have the same questions.
I know of no employers who pay airfare upfront so to be worried about getting the dough at the end of the contract is something 99% of us share.
Contact with a current or past teacher should clear that up.

Big Worm · Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Posts: 171

Also, you must be off your rocker for thinking about teaching in western china for 6500.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

On subject of the remuneration package, I would also query the adequacy airfare allowance.
I live in the Pacific Basin and I can't get to the job and home again for under RMB10,000.

MarkieP52 · Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Posts: 11

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

Kysorb · Joined: 30 Jul 2010 Posts: 253 Location: Beijing

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Mine was RMB10,000 in my first year (2004) and it has remained unchanged until my last year (2010).
I think in the early years the allowance covered my fare, but it is about RMB1500 short now.
I recall that my first college wanted to make sure that I had made a round trip and therefore saw the money as a refund.
In later years they wised up and saw it as an allowance towards the fare.
The OP's stated allowance seemed low but interested cormac's is only RMB6000.