Be very careful when applying for a teaching job in China!

Last activity 18 September 2018 by VANNROX

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Anthony001Member12 September 2018 03:35:05

If you want to work in China as a teacher or, in a school environment, and if you are a foreigner pls read this!

Be cautious! There are a lot of bad schools and BS recruiters in China. I was surprised to see this!

Some examples: You sign a contract, and suddenly, the school wants to change the employment conditions upon your arrival; if you don't agree, they cancel the contract and you are screwed. Or the school hires you and promises to arrange with the permit papers, but the reality is different; you are at risk, until the immigration cops turn up and the school gets into a mess including you. Or, worse case; the school, suddenly shut down, and you are left out; no or little financial help, no help whatsoever to complete the job paper work. It stinks horse poo. Or you prepare all job VISA papers which can be very costly; you pay for the flights, and accommodation, just to find out that you will not get reimbursed upon arrival or just partly reimbursed!

And what about the agency who charged my friend (a teacher from the USA with 16y teaching experiences) 500 USD to find him a "top job". All BS. The papers the agency used were not correctly done. My friend lost money, and time. And then, how about all the low paying schools, and part-time jobs leaving you with mediocre payments even though you have superior degrees and valid experiences from west? Schools here are mostly about making a lot of money and less about global reputation.

Some Chinese employers lie to the parents telling them that the teachers have all sort of superior degrees from top schools abroad. Then they charge them a high fee. But the teachers get a mediocre salary. Greed is killing. WATCH OUT! China is too much about Guanxi and to make money for the schools and less about reputation, building a brand and set a strategy that is good for the students, and the employees; the Chinese protect the Chinese at the expense of screwing foreigners up, that is Guanxi in a nutshell from a foreigner point of view!

I also learned that you may get a shit contract the first 6 months, and if you do superior well, you may get a pay rise and position advancement fairly quickly. That is on the positive side of the coin...
But the words “quality”, corporate politeness, and “superior performance” are of a different nature here. You are often assessed by managers who are less qualified than yourself. And last but not least, most of these “teaching abroad schemes” don’t pay for your future pension. So PLAN YOUR LIFE AND TIME AHEAD! However, some schools take their reputation seriously, and they want to keep students, foreigners, and parents for the foreseeable future. They pay well and meet their obligations. They are few, but they exist.

Ps. I am not saying that all Chinese people are bad people. This article is about institutions. But in the end, institutions are managed by people. I have some good Chinese friends, mostly from abroad, and my GF is local (but she is also 25% Taiwanese with an open mindset, and very polite manners) which makes a difference. And I like Chinese ancient history, the food, and the landscape; truly awesome!

Thanks!

genuineaussieActive member12 September 2018 04:28:18

Anthony...Hi
I won't say well written... because it wasn't...but what you say is valid.... and so very very true...
James

BurchyActive member12 September 2018 06:11:09

Hi Anthony,
When looking for a new job ALWAYS do your research, or you finish up with a bum rap like above. And if it is bad, go to the local Bureau of Education as well as talk to your local Embassy - especially if you feel it is so bad they (the Embassy) should be in a position to warn others.

I've seen a lot of bad mouthing from (Professional) teachers who thought everything would be as their home Country or even cushier! This is China! At ground level in some industries (education for one) it is still many years behind the West. DO YOUR RESEARCH and DO NOT expect to be coming for a paid vacation!
Check with your Embassy in China BEFORE you select that job.
The GOOD schools / institutions don't get praised in public (like this) because the Expat teacher was very happy with his / her deal and I'm sure got as much out of it as they put in. So they don't complain and, equally, don't (need to) compliment in public.
I only see Expat teachers who, with due cause or not, complaining.
I have been here (as an engineer) for over 10 years and have nothing but praise for my better qualified colleagues. Always soaking up new knowledge like a sponge.
My twopenn'orth from English Expat China 2003 to date.
PS My (Chinese) wife has been running a teaching school for oral English for local Chinese kids for the last 12 years and, to my knowledge, has had only 2 "bad eggs" and BOTH did not properly read their Contract / Agreement and/or resolve doubts/issues before coming and then tried to change it after arrival.
Cheers

genuineaussieActive member12 September 2018 07:37:01

Burchy
sorry to rain on your parade....I've been in China on & off since 1983...possibly before you were eve born...(Just joking)
Each time was within the education system...
Each time was for at least 1 School year
& now I've been in China for 10years continuously ...
I wonder ...Does your wife have a degree in "Early Childhood Learning"...if so... it must have been gained overseas...If not...She has no right to be teaching a subject that she's not qualified to teach
Foreign Teachers... Many good... & yes.. many Bad....that's a fact...yes some just think its a holiday... but there are those of us that believe in our profession....& work our butts off..
You... an Engineer.. good for you... but you aren't involved in the Education system....so don't make uninformed comments....
Representation to the Local Education Board is totally useless... going to our respective Embassies..haha ..they are to busy crawling up the arse of PRC to take anything you or I say seriously...... & they certainly won't make waves...
get down from your engineering High Horse....join the real world....
What Anthony originally is FACT....
James

althafelinaMember12 September 2018 18:03:52

Hi! I will be arriving soon in China. Probably 1st week of October. I was quite anxious about what I have just read and in case things will not work well, are there organizations or agencies and numbers which I can call when the scenario turns the other way around? It is my first time to be teaching outside the country and just want to be sure on what actions to take.
Thank you for the information.

Althea

datran812Member14 September 2018 16:49:54

Thank you all for the input. I have a question with regard to the contract. I got an offer for a postdoc position at a university. The professor, however, reluctant to send me the contract. He even said the university will apply visa for me, so I do have to look at the contract. Please let me know what do you think about this. Should I take this job?

Thank you very much for any advice.

Duc.

lingtrixeduMember17 September 2018 08:53:12

25% taiwanese? dude, are you sure about this? i wonder if this is a real thing...

BurchyActive member17 September 2018 11:05:15

Hi James,
If you have been teaching since "before I was born" it will make you a VERY old person, because I passed formal retirement age 13 years ago but I "retired" just 3 years ago. I loved my work even though, or because, it was on various petro-energy construction sites.
I did not say my wife taught English! but I said she runs a teaching school. She established it AND the school has all the required permits and permissions and fire authority inspections...
Yes, I'm an engineer and believe in my profession; a requirement for which is to pass on my experience to younger engineers. That, I believe, could be classified as 'teaching', yes? If so, I have been "teaching" for around 45 years.
Half of my career required six 10hr days each week for 8 to 12 weeks per shift (depended on contract). So yes, I know what it's like to work one's butt off! I think it makes me reasonably informed about "teaching".
I understand Expat teaches in China work a 40-hr week, 2 days off. Sheeeez - such a cushy life
I go with your comments about 'local' respective Embassies for help; but if you don't inform them of the mess you sometimes find yourself in, you are possible letting down compatriotes who ask their home Embassy for advice.
The Local Education Board in this neck-of-the-woods are pretty keen to see things are running right = occassional school checks on Expat teacher's visa, working hours and even had one teacher taken to the local bank to check his account. I don't have any knowledge of an Expat teacher taking a complaint to them, sorry.
Not such a High Horse
But the bottom line advice is still "do your research"
Cheers, Burchy

VANNROXChina expert18 September 2018 14:08:28

632

Hey everyone.

Well, when I first moved to China, I too was taken advantage of by the "bait and switch" technique. It happens. This is China. So beware.

The bad news is that China follows it's own rules, customs and laws. Most of which are strange to a foreigner. It can come as a shock.

The good news is that China has changed over the last few years and crime, corruption and illegal business practices are taken very seriously now.

Take your time. Seriously interview the school before you accept any teaching position. Realize that any agreement will be in the favor of the Chinese business and the Chinese national involved. To believe different is to live in a fantasy world.

My advice is harsh. Accept the world that you are moving into, or abandon your plans. There is no grey area. Best of luck.

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