Part-Time Foreign Teacher

[Missi]

I have agree to help my school out through some "interesting times". We have 34 classes (18 grade 1 and 16 grade 2). I have agreed to teach 30 lessons a week.

We have a girl who is new in town and who will be living with her fiancee, who is working for one of the local companies. She would be a part-time teacher teaching four lessons a week. She has some teaching experience.

The school has agreed to pay 100RMB per 45 minute lesson. (Remember this is a small town), but the biggest question we have, should we supply her with a VISA, Expert's Certificate, Medical Certificate too?

[Lotus Eater]

You would need to be getting amazing money for that many hours. You'll go nuts trying to do all the preparation.

If she is already here she should have some of that stuff sorted out - and for 4 hours a week it seems a big investment for the school. Why don't you give her 14 -16 hours and decrease your load, and then the 'extras' would be normal?

[Dr. Gonzo]

bmisiuda said:

I have agree to help my school out through some "interesting times".

The school has agreed to pay 100RMB per 45 minute lesson. (Remember this is a small town), but the biggest question we have, should we supply her with a VISA, Expert's Certificate, Medical Certificate too?

The legal answer is yes. The practical answer is no. Cash in hand, nothing in writing.
Many of us here have done this as "side work". We're only authorised to work for our employer, but have taken extra jobs.

[Mr Nobody]

That's what I am doing. extra sodding work. It's a pain but we want to go back to Oz at the end of this term for a trip.

Combined income for 24 lessons per week is about 7500 per month plus all stuff like housing etc.

I don't know why people keep saying that 4000 is a low wage for 16 lessons but turn around and think that 6000 is somehow better for 24 lessons plus office time. I can't see how it adds up that way. But that's just me. 24 lessons is about the comfortable maximum workload for me. Anything more is beginning to be hard work.

For 30 a month, if I ever did it, I would be asking a crapload. But I teach college kids and have to do plans etc.

The other point, i agree with Gonzo. If its cash in the hand, then it is up to her to get the toher stuff like visas etc. Can't get it for part time work anyway, I think.

[joe]

If the woman in question really wants a suitable visa, and has access to company letterhead that can be posted from outside China, have her or someone write a letter to your school setting up a business trip for the purposes of consultation. Have your school invite her, and that's an F visa right there (assuming this works for public schools as well as it works for companies, which it might not; and assuming there's some way around whatever visa she currently has, which there may not be).

But I sincerely doubt that anyone taking part time work to offset the boredom of waiting around for her hubby-to-be to come home is actually going to worry that much about it. So, pay cash and let her fiance worry about her health.

[Missi]

My previous headmaster was sent to prision, and we just got our new headmaster in. He's pretty cool and had asked my opinion on the matter. Dr. Gonzo that is my opinion as well.

Another problem I found out yesterday, is that the temp headmaster agreed to 100RMB and the new headmaster feels that's a little much. I can't wait till he gets my pay stub to sign at the end of the month!

Lotus, don't worry about me going nuts, I was there a long time ago. And the Grade two's previous foreign teacher did nothing with them in the "spoken English" department and only grammar. He hardly spoke in the class and the students never. So they are getting the same lessons as the grade ones, as they are WAY behind where they should be. I'm not tired (sure my feet ache at the end of the day) but have very little free time.

[Newbs]

bmisiuda said:

My previous headmaster was sent to prision

Sounds interesting, Missi. I don't think I've ever worked for a headmaster who was sent to prison. Can think of one or two who should have, but.

Twice I've worked with other teaches who's interest in their young pupils was not too healthy, if you get my drift. In one case the cops came into the class room one day and marched him out. The other one, last I heard, was rotting away in a prison in Thailand. I can't get too worried about how he's getting on.

Anyhoo Missi any goss you can share with us?

[Missi]

You want the headmaster gossip? or the gossip that I caught some students making out while a bout of insomnia was kicking in? or the gossip of the nicknamed foreigner "fafeng" from the junior school was in the VIP room at the local disco with a 17 year old (he swore she was older as she was at the disco on a school night)? I have lots of gossip.

Headmaster gossip, well he accepted bribes from a book seller for pirated books. So the headmaster would tell the teachers that they would be using these books to teach from, so the students would have to buy them. The bookseller got caught in Kumming, and the police got the laptop with my headmasters name on it with the money info. Then we got the Party Secretary who- well..... let's leave it at that. He became the temp headmaster for a few months being the good politican didn't want to cause anyone problems so I was sortof left on my own for a while in a lot of angry and confusion- but that's a whole 'nother story. Finally we got this new guy in who as I said seems pretty cool.

Everyone is spreading lies about me. Saying what a talented, wonderful, good, skilled, strict blah blah blah things about me to him. I've tried to convince him I am stubborn, tempermental, confusing, loud, over-bearing, and have a very bad attitude to people and he dosen't beleive me. Why is it that people in general beleive others about somebody else and not the person themselves?

[Raoul Duke]

Missi,
30 of that kind of class is too damn much. You're going to hurt yourself. And/or drive yourself nuts. Please reconsider this.

100 per class is a bargain for this kind of load...even in a small town. If the new headjob won't pay the agreed rate, tell him to shag his ass over to the classroom and teach them himself. If you're going to work yourself to death, you might as well go out with a few samolians in your pocket.

Don't lose sight of the fine line between cooperation/kindness and insanity/abuse. Don't get played for a chump.

Speaking of insanity/abuse, how did it come to pass that one teacher is working 4 classes and the other is working 30

[Lotus Eater]

Absolutely agree Raoul! I couldn't give my best teaching to more than 16-18 hours of classes - 30 I would be a useless mess, too tired, to uninterested, to really throw my all into teaching the end of week classes. I don't think it matters if you can repeat classes - it is still for me the energy level required for each class and each student that takes it out of you. _{And I think I have a fair reputation for having a pretty high energy level!}

Missi - you NEED time to re-energise - pass some of those classes off!! YOU are NOT responsible for the schools 'interesting times' - why let/help them get away with a lazy solution instead of a real solution?

[Raoul Duke]

I'll vouch: Lotus is a live wire!

And she makes an outstanding point...the school's trubbas are NOT your responsibility. You're not getting most of the profit from the place; don't shoulder most of the load killing yourself for their problem. Especially since they're waffling about paying you a decent wage in the process.

I'm teaching 24 a week right now, with some fairly heavy grading and more book-writing coming up. It's killing me. Don't try 30!
I'm sure some mutants will come on here and tell us they teach 42 a week and party till dawn every night. Don't listen to them...they're obviously insane and will go up in a clear green flame someday.

[Missi]

I know they are insane if they say they teach 30 and party every night.

To be honest, I am not having any problems teaching this many classes. Even though I am scheduled to teach 30 a week, maybe one week a month its actually this many. This week sports comp, I teach 20 this week, next week English Comp, I teach about 26 next week.

I am still keeping the me time, facials, massages just me going away from people to relax. The school is thinking about giving me a free airfare ticket on top of my contract to go to Canada for Christmas. Now here's the kicker, I probably won't take it.

Don't worry, I am making a HUGE profit. And I am sortof enjoying the busy pace of life. Reminds me sortof like my life in Canada before I came over.

[Raoul Duke]

bmisiuda said:

Reminds me sortof like my life in Canada before I came over.

Which, it must be pointed out, you could have stayed in Canada and had....

I'm glad you're doing OK with it and happy with the money. I guess that's the important part!

[Lotus Eater]

admin said:

I'll vouch: Lotus is a live wire!

Rrrrrraoull - there are additional ways of being energetic - you didn't HAVE to tell everyone!

Missi - didn't you escape from that in Canada? Why go back to it as lesser money?

[Raoul Duke]

By the way, back to the question in the 1st post: Ordinarily, part-time jobs do NOT come with visas, permits, airfare, or any other benefits. It's just a straight hourly salary. There are exceptions, of course, but this is the general rule.

[Mr Nobody]

I actually think there is a requirement or something somewhere in the application for ostensibly full time work, as in dedicated to the institution that gets you the visa/permit thingy.

[Missi]

I just want to see if I could still do it. Work the long hours that is. The money doesn't really swing me either way. I would just as be happy teaching 18 Grade 1's and making a little OT and have lots of time.

The school has said that as soon as I feel that it is too much just to let them know.

Thank for the help on the VISA and stuff!

[con's fly is open]

Missi, what Raoul said. You're taking on an AWFUL lot of work. If you know the time frame within which you'll take on this much work, and why you're putting yourself throug it, and have assurances as to when your life will return to normal- well then, fine. But, what is that Japanese word for death from over work?

I'm humping a total of 26 hours a week right now, and it feels like every aspect of my life is suffering from neglect: work, sleep, society, personal grooming... maybe I'm starting to get the hang of it, and I'm certainly looking forward to a bunch of moulah, but damn, I'm earning it.

[Missi]

The only thing I am actually missing out on is being able to sit down with friends and have a night of drinking. That's pretty much it.

[Lotus Eater]

I still don't understand WHY you don't pass some of the work off onto the P/T'er? She's there. probably quite happy to do extra - 4 hours a week is barely worth getting out of bed for. Keep the classes you like, give her a chance to make a bit of real money.

WHY miss out on anything when there are other options? Why work that hard, why run the risk of not giving your best to the last classes of the week when you have to be tired?

For me, I don't think the guanxi or the money compensates for any of these things.

[Ruth]

I currently teach 4 lessons a week at my 'real' job. Used to be 6, but this year I teach two classes twice a week each. I'd go stir crazy if I didn't have my private students.

[Raoul Duke]

connell said:

it feels like every aspect of my life is suffering from neglect: work, sleep, society, personal grooming...

Don't believe it. He was sashaying around the school in a genuine Vrescae t-shirt today.

deborann said:

I don't think the guanxi or the money compensates for any of these things.

Oh, jeez, I hope you aren't counting on any guanxi/gratitude/owesies out of this. Once the crisis is passed they will once again have only a vague recollection of who you are.

Sitting down with friends and having a night of drinking is nothing to sneeze at. It's a valuable asset some of our more isolated members would kill to have available to them!

[Missi]

Well here's the new score. With all the problems with the FAO I have been having, after next week, I am hoping to sit the new headmaster down and explain what has been going on. I currently am in demand, and they need me right now. I don't mind helping the school out, as long as they are willing to help me out. I will be asking for a new FAO and explain teaching this many lessons I am ok with, but the extra baggage she adds on in the means of stress and worry, I don't need.

[hankuh]

bmisiuda said:

I will be asking for a new FAO

You can really do that?

[Ruth]

Use all the bargaining ammunition you have to get the witch out of your life. Hope it works.