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Post by alexis on Sept 5, 2004 9:50:32 GMT 7
So many of the contracts we review all state 18-25 hours a week. Yet everyone seems to expect a 40 hour week? Is this normal?
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Crippler
Barfly
Beware the conspiracy!
Posts: 345
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Post by Crippler on Sept 5, 2004 11:21:05 GMT 7
Hmmm, what is normal. I work for a public high school and my contract is for six 45 minute lessons a week. I figure I spend about the same amount of time preparing. So work about 9 hours a week. Of course I spend some time talking to teachers about English. Maybe 15 hours max with 4.5 of that in direct teaching of students. My contract says 40 hours a wek at the school but I can come and go as I please outside of actual teaching. Many of the Chinese teachers ask me if have anything to do offsite and volunteer to accompany me as that is only way for them to get out during work hours. (and I get 60 days vacation plus all Chinese holidays.
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Post by con's fly is open on Sept 5, 2004 11:48:48 GMT 7
There are TEACHING hours and OFFICE hours. Time in class is hard work; time in the office ranges from rushing to prepare for your next class, and surfing the net while smoking. You're supposed to prepare lessons then, of course, but then there's kibbitzing with co-workers, answering Chinese teachers' English questions, saying "Hello? Waht's your name? How old are you? What colour do you like?" to prospective students whilst their parents beam, and generally being an ornamental white face.
Just make sure your basic teaching hours are specified in your contract, and overtime pay spelled out.
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Post by MK on Sept 5, 2004 12:39:07 GMT 7
I do 16 x 45 Min classes, but my actual office hours are supposed to be 40 per week...this is not enforced because the foreign teachers have devised a system where we take turns to be 'on call' in the office during the afternoons, and this seems to keep the school happy.
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Post by ilunga on Sept 5, 2004 13:17:11 GMT 7
I feel like a right bum. I'm currently teaching nine 40 minute classes a week. As of next week there should be another four-six 30 minute classes as well as a three hour saturday afternoon session, depending upon the demand for it.
I have no office hours requirements either but I feel bad if I don't at least go in and chat to the Chinese English teachers for an hour or so a day.
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Post by Nate M on Sept 5, 2004 13:20:39 GMT 7
I technically work 14 teaching hours per week, 45 minutes per teaching hour. In reality, my schedule is 7 one and a half hour classes a week, Monday-Thursday.
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Post by con's fly is open on Sept 6, 2004 18:04:39 GMT 7
I teach 11 classes a week at 90 minutes each, for 4000 yuan a month. Factor in the plane ticket, plus free rent and food, I rate out at just over 80 yuan per hour.
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Post by con's fly is open on Sept 11, 2004 17:09:17 GMT 7
You should build a life-sized Proust dummy with a tape recorder in its mouth that says "Shenme? Tibudong. Zai nar kafe?" whenever there's a loud noise. Perch him in your seat 15 minutes before every meeting and go for a beer.
Frankly, I think I could hold 4 different teaching jobs with this idea. Loud Laoshi(TM)
Patent pending.
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proust
Upstanding Citizen
Posts: 84
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Post by proust on Sept 11, 2004 18:37:32 GMT 7
A life-sized Proust dummy already exists. It doesn't explain, it doesn't complain, it doesn't volunteer. It only occupies space. It contributes nothing to a meeting beyond emitting an occasional deep sigh. It gives no satisfaction.
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Post by Lotus Eater on Sept 12, 2004 18:17:22 GMT 7
6 x 100 minute classes - finish lunch time Wed, start 8:00am Monday. sweetest timetable I've seen. University students, no hassles, just charm and politeness. I am writing 2 of the courses so that takes additional time. The generic contract states 16 hours per week, but I made certain they changed mine to 12 back when I signed it in April - a really good move when they tried to give me 16 hours this semester.  |
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Post by Hamish on Sept 12, 2004 18:43:01 GMT 7
Mon 1900-2030
Tues 0800 1100, 1900-2030
Weds OFF
Thurs 0940-100
Fri OFF
Sat OFF
Sun OFF
Schedule change in November.
Who knows.
It's a full, rich life we live here in the Middle Kingdom.
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Crippler
Barfly
Beware the conspiracy!
Posts: 345
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Post by Crippler on Sept 12, 2004 19:45:23 GMT 7
Monday - off
Tuesday - 2:55 - 4:35
Wednesday - 3:50 - 4:35
Thursday - 2:55 - 4:35
Friday - 3:50 - 4:35
Saturday - off
Sunday - off
Wears me out!!!
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Post by con's fly is open on Sept 12, 2004 21:13:14 GMT 7
Office hours are no measure of anything, so: M: off T: off W: no classes, might as well be off R: 4-5:30 F: 4-5:30 S: 8-9:30, 10-11:30, 1:30-3, 3:30-5 u: 8-9:30, 10-11:30, 1:30-3, 3:30-5, 5:30-7  11 classes, soon to be 12, each with a different lesson plan. That last class is a new one, and after the horrible weekend I work, the extra mile there hurts. |
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Post by burlives on Sept 12, 2004 21:29:28 GMT 7
Currently I work 12 periods, Monday to Wednesday. That's it. I may as well kill myself now because I'm going to lose my mind doing nothing on all those days I have set aside for study. I got this gig by asking for less money than usual and I've had to fend off the boss who wanted to let me have the opportunity to take some overtime. One teacher didn't show so there's classes hanging and I could have worked an extra four periods, up to the standard 16, and all for "overtime" pay, not a renegotiated contract. If I had the standard contract here, it would be 16 periods and more money than my 12 plus overtime for 4 deal. They didn't jump at my offer to do the 16 for standard salary plus 1000.
It's all crap anyway. It all depends on what chance you have to love what you do.
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Post by con's fly is open on Sept 13, 2004 13:49:42 GMT 7
Whaddya gonna go for, Burl, the extra money or the extra time?
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Post by Lotus Eater on Sept 13, 2004 14:27:35 GMT 7
Give me the time, anytime. I can travel/explore after I have done my 12 hours Mon-Wed. There's a lot of China and around here I haven't seen yet!
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Post by burlives on Sept 13, 2004 15:39:50 GMT 7
I took the time off for 1000 less, Alex. I have an earnest desire to study the Chinese writing system and the English grammar system. Shoot me now. I can listen to conversations and guess gists but watching all those giant colourful squiggles on shops and street signs and the itty-bitty fly scat on the menus, I feel a big gap in things. Kill me. I've developed this interest in English language phonetics and, of course, grammar. I'll be doing battery acid shooters before I know it.
All my current students are at second-year college level and they might as well be thirteen-year-olds. They're like half the size of me with these scrawny bodies and bad dress sense and red-faced giggle habits and the intellectual initiative of a pin despite half the time actually knowing all the answers. From the third floor I'd have to go head first to get anything done.
It's going to be a bit of a haul, this semester. And then at the end I'll have become attached to the little bastards and the way of doing things here and to the food in that good if hilariously managed Sichuan place and then I'll probably up and leave again. Mobility seems to have its own price.
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