gonzo
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« on: June 18, 2012, 10:45:41 PM » |
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This is based on my experiences only and I'm sure others will be different. However, 5 years at 2 universities, and 5 jobs lined up by my employers may count for something.
1. The hourly rate you are quoted will be 50% or less of what the outside company is paying your school.
2. The outside employer is often in a business related to your employer, e.g. a Jiaotong [transport; specifically railways] university may send you off to a SOE making passenger compartment seating. Or your college president is drinking buddies with the boss of the outside organisation and they pee in each other's pockets. The bottom line is, they didn't cold-call asking for a foreign teacher.
3. Your class will always be after hours. The students, compelled to attend, are tired and bored, apart from the class "monitor" and a few other Party suck-up types, who feign enthusiasm. Overall, their English levels will be abysmal and they are generally unteachable. You can't work out what to teach them anyway, because all they want to do is go home, have dinner and sleep. Absentee rates will rise. You'll spend much of your time clock watching, as will those of your class who are still awake.
4. The class can be canceled, and everyone will know but you. You hang around outside an empty, locked room until the janitor turns off the lights and shoos you away. It's generally your school liason dummy who forgot to tell you, and finds it funny.
5. In wooing you to this job, your school will lie to you about what a wonderful teacher you are, how your reputation has spread, and how the company specifically requested you. Refusing these jobs will not endear you to whoever's pocket you were destined to line, but it probably won't get you the sack either.
Actually, by far my best class in this category was a small group of SOE/Joint Enterprise CEO's within the Shanghai Electric group. Most were Ph.Ds, several had lived overseas, their English levels were good to excellent. They loved debating world events, and crticizing their government. We met every Sunday morning for 2 years. They took my family to swanky restaurants and on holiday to golf resorts.
Another one, the Shanghai Tunnel Corp. was interesting when we did field trips, such as under the Huangpu with helmets and boots. Also some lovely foreigner-friendly ladies.
It was only when, faced with a long, hot salary-less Summer, I applied for and got a job from the Shanghai Expat website, that I realised how I'd been exploited. 400 RMB an hour, as opposed to 125 through the school.
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cruisemonkey
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You could be next.
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« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2012, 12:06:43 AM » |
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That's interesting... and good to know. If I'm ever asked, I'll have a pre-prepared excuse ready. Thanks!
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The Koreans once gave me five minutes notice - I didn't know what to do with the extra time.
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gonzo
Barfly
Posts: 842
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« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2012, 03:18:01 AM » |
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Oh, and I forgot to mention that there's generally no reason for these classes. A factory floor technician may need to read some basic English, but they learned that years ago. These good, hardworking folk have no need for English, but conventional Chinese economically driven wisdom says otherwise. A bit like forcing GM technicians to learn Chinese on the basis that the company does a lot of business there. Wouldn't that go down well in Detroit.  |
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KeyserSoze
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« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2012, 03:26:23 AM » |
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IMHO they arrange the class to line someone's pockets with the difference you described in your first point.
I always refused these positions, especially after others offered me something resembling the going rate of pay.
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I'm shreddin' like Al Yankovic.
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dragonsaver
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« Reply #4 on: June 19, 2012, 03:27:23 AM » |
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My university hired me part time to work weekends teaching conversation to the English minor program. It was taught 2nd term for freshmen.
The Dean also hired me to teach high school students going to the USA. It was a 2 month job and repeated for a couple of years.
I was also hired to teach Listening and Speaking to an all Chinese student parallel program in the same college at my university. This I did for 3 years. Approx 18 extra hrs/week.
These were all in addition to my full time position.
I was paid 100/hr AFTER taxes for all these jobs.
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Be kind to dragons for thou are crunchy when roasted and taste good with brie.
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gonzo
Barfly
Posts: 842
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« Reply #5 on: June 19, 2012, 07:13:07 AM » |
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Dragonsaver, I did lots of these school associated classes as well, but didn't include them in my rant. However, the Renmimbi Principle still applies: a middle man is making a healthy profit from your labour.
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Raoul F. Duke
Lovable Rogue
Despot in Absentia
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"Be specific if you order the mushrooms!"
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« Reply #6 on: June 19, 2012, 09:18:28 AM » |
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What he said. It's been my experience that side work or overtime offered by a full-time employer will pay you a tiny fraction of what you could get on your own, and should at least be carefully examined if not outright rejected.
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"Vicodin and dumplings...it's a great combination!" (Anthony Bourdain, in Harbin)
"Here in China we aren't just teaching...
we're building the corrupt, incompetent, baijiu-swilling buttheads of tomorrow!" (Raoul F. Duke)
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wOZfromOZ
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« Reply #7 on: June 23, 2012, 03:00:59 AM » |
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My take on these 'extra' hours is that it's just doing a favour for a friend. If he/she is a friend then he/she will give you a good rate. I had this sort of 'friend' back in 2003 in Jiading with one of those company classes. When I found out (at the end of the course)
what my friend was raking in I politely went to him and asked for a 100% bonus - he came good with that on the spot - 2000Y not too shabby 9 years ago!
Fact is I much prefer extra private classes in my place where lessons become a social event. I've had 6 extra classes (2hrs sessions) this past 10 months with mostly friends of my kids. The mums come over and everybody is happy! It's all going to come to a screaming halt tomorrow as we're pulling up stumps and heading back to Aus.in August.
Farewell to all and goodbye to my second home - SHANGHAI
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Raoul F. Duke
Lovable Rogue
Despot in Absentia
Gender:
Posts: 9577
"Be specific if you order the mushrooms!"
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« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2012, 07:46:07 AM » |
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It's all going to come to a screaming halt tomorrow as we're pulling up stumps and heading back to Aus.in August. Say it ain't so, Wokka...the place won't be the same without ya.  You've always got a seat at the bar here...please don't be a stranger! |
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"Vicodin and dumplings...it's a great combination!" (Anthony Bourdain, in Harbin)
"Here in China we aren't just teaching...
we're building the corrupt, incompetent, baijiu-swilling buttheads of tomorrow!" (Raoul F. Duke)
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gonzo
Barfly
Posts: 842
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« Reply #9 on: June 23, 2012, 11:35:10 PM » |
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From meeting up with wOZ at his Shanghai school just after Christmas, I know he'd prefer to stay, but his missus [her indoors, as Arthur Daly would say] has to be back in Australia or have her visa expire. I'm sure he'll be back at some stage.
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wOZfromOZ
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« Reply #10 on: June 25, 2012, 02:51:57 AM » |
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Spot on Gonzo
We'll be back probably after another 2-3 years ......who knows? Yesterday, ione of my students (gorgeous Gr10 girl who I've taught 35 lessons to) presented me with this awesome
water color sketch she'd done herself over several days. This is the part that I've got to come to grips with - I will definitely miss the pleasure of seeing that infectious laughter she regularly produces and the charge of pleasure and energy I have got from teaching her every Sunday morning.
What awaits us as a family when we go back to Australia? Our friends here cant believe Australia is that good that we'd leave the excellent lifestyle we enjoy here. Ah such is life!
Cheers boys and girls
all the best to ya Raoul
adios
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Granny Mae
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« Reply #11 on: June 25, 2012, 09:34:06 PM » |
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Which city are you going back to?
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wOZfromOZ
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« Reply #12 on: June 26, 2012, 01:08:01 AM » |
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So there's the reason - We'll go back to my home town of  Hervey Bay, Q. . This place used to be Heaven on Earth and still is except the population has grown so much and so quickly. |
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gonzo
Barfly
Posts: 842
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« Reply #13 on: June 26, 2012, 03:50:31 AM » |
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So there's the reason - We'll go back to my home town of Hervey Bay, Q. . This place used to be Heaven on Earth and still is except the population has grown so much and so quickly. And about to increase by four. Any work lined up wOZ? ps this is my thread so off-topic is allowed. |
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wOZfromOZ
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« Reply #14 on: July 30, 2012, 01:10:33 AM » |
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Hey there Times come and times go@!! thanks Gonzo .....off topic it is then!! LOL My in-laws have moved in and tomorrow we'll move out and back to Aus with a stopover in KL. (My wife's parents were so impressed with this place they decided to rent it after us! Makes our packing and cleaning chores so much easier. Last night we went to a wedding of two of my fellow Geography teachers from the school I've taught at this past 4 years, WFLMS, Shanghai. There were about 300 guests and you guessed it one overseas family. I as required as to give a speech which as warmly received but I certainly didn't expect to get a gift for that! Absolutely beautiful sculptured rock. (Great@!!! ungrateful bugger! I'd done all the packing and posting of cartons back home to Aus.) Anyay, Gonzo, work  ....that dreaded 4 letter word. I'm going to have to give that some thought when we get back!!  Gotta make sure the 'rugrats' have got a roof over their heads and food on their plates. SO, It's GOODBYE CHINA from me and her indoors ( As Arthur Daly would say!! lol) Cheers wOZfromOZ |
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