Messages by Anthony

I posted this excerpt in another post (sorry for cross posting) but I figured it was worth mentioning on its own with a flashy "warning" title.

There are "purges" scheduled in major cities in China over the next year or so. They will be targeting foreigners who are:

A: Living in China without registering their residence. This DOES mean you need to go to the police station and register. Not optional as other posters on the forum have suggested. Wait for them to come knocking, and you are on your way to the closest airport or jail if you haven't got money for the ticket home. If in China, PLEASE make sure you find and go to the nearest police station and take care of this relatively easy step.

B: Working on any Visa BUT a Z (work) visa. Period. If you show up for work and find officers in the school, and you do NOT have a Z visa, you will once again be escorted to the border. It is not the school, the visa agent or recruiter that will get in trouble, it is YOU!

C: Foreigners with expired or invalid visas. The last I checked the standard fine for having an expired visa was 500RMB a day until you leave (and pay the fine) or you renew the visa. So 7-8 days of waiting or forgetting could have cost you a months pay, now it could cost you a months pay AND a quick trip to the border.

Not fun right? Trust me, look for the legal jobs and live worry free. There are too many schools here asking teachers to work illegally and too many teachers accepting. Even though a large majority of teachers I have met here have been working on tourist visas, this practice has not gone unnoticed. The exact same thing happened a couple years ago in Thailand. It was common for teachers without degrees to make "visas runs" to neighboring countries every 3 months when their tourist visas expired. It was even easier in Thailand because for most foreigners the visa is issued with a stamp on entering the country. The Thai government has gone to great lengths to stop this practice and China is following suit.

More of the big centers in China are changing their laws to require degrees for work visas, and in fact China is holding job fairs overseas now for professional talent with Masters degrees and above only. So the days of working on tourist visas are coming to an end.

However, outside the major cities a Global TESOL certification and Teaching License are more than enough to get you legally employed. The smaller cities will happily grant legal work visas.

Do your research though!!! Try to talk to other teachers and ask about the visa situation at the school you are applying to. (If you ask for current or past teacher email addresses and they refuse, that's a red flag right there...) And make sure it is written into the contract they send you first and save some big embarrassing and possibly costly errors later!

This is not a post to discourage you from coming to China, on the contrary, if you read any of my other posts you will see I have successfully and happily made a career of education in China, all thanks to Global TESOL. But I want to do all I can to help those of you ready to take possibly one of the biggest and most amazing adventures in your lives have a happier and healthier time in one of the most amazing ancient cultures in the world!

再见！

Update #2

Out of the kindy, back into business English??

Yep, looks like that's the direction I am headed. once again demonstrating the opportunities one can find when abroad. And the benefit of getting off your butts and getting out there!!!

I was looking forward to 12,000rmb a month, 3X my original salary in China, but when the kindy didn't work out, I decided to look in more directions.

As I mentioned in past posts, a legal job is of UTMOST importance when working abroad.

For example, and in reference to several other posts on related topics, there is a "purge" scheduled for the city I am in over the next 3 months. It will be targeting foreigners who are:

A: Living in China without registering their residence. This DOES mean you need to go to the police station and register. Not optional as other posters on the forum have suggested. Wait for them to come knocking, and you are on your way to the closest airport or jail if you haven't got money for the ticket home. If in China, PLEASE make sure you find and go to the nearest police station and take care of this relatively easy step.

B: Working on any Visa BUT a Z (work) visa. Period. If you show up for work and find officers in the school, and you do NOT have a Z visa, you will once again be escorted to the border. It is not the school, the visa agent or recruiter that will get in trouble, it is YOU!

C: Foreigners with expired or invalid visas. The last I checked the standard fine for having an expired visa was 500RMB a day until you leave (and pay the fine) or you renew the visa. So 7-8 days of waiting or forgetting could have cost you a months pay, now it could cost you a months pay AND a quick trip to the border.

Not fun right? Trust me, look for the legal jobs and live worry free.

Speaking of,

As per the tidbit mentioned above, I have had yet another successful interview, however this time teaching business English to adults.

Since I have ample experience and am here, I simply need to do a demo class, and I have the gig.

And what a gig it is. The school is very flexible in schedule, so the students can come anytime they like, which makes it more attractive to adult students. The center was literally buzzing with activity this evening when I was there! And to keep it interesting, some of the classes are trips to Starbucks (who provide all the coffee for staff and students in the school anyways), big English corners and activities like pool, bowling, and parties and heaps of other activity type things.

So that's pretty cool already. Add to that a legal work visa, all Chinese holidays and 10 days paid leave, 35 hour weeks (30 teaching) and an ultra modern teaching environment with small classes and all materials pre-prepared... Then add the salary (now 4X my initial Chinese salary) plus a monthly performance bonus and things are looking pretty good.

I currently have 3 training centers making offers, but this one might just be the winner. The company if anyone is interested is called Wall Street Institute, and they are one of the biggest in the world with locations pretty much everywhere that doesn't speak English already. The Chinese division is called Wall Street English. Google either of them online and you will find the website.

Not sure how they are on hiring unseen over the internet, but you can fill out applications and send resumes though the website.

I ALWAYS research a company before I consider a job, and throughout the years ALL companies have complaints. The reason being pissed off people are much more likely to share their experiences online than happy ones. Human nature. But Wall Street is known for paying on time and without hassles, so that is a big plus. The only negative point I found was that they do expect you to use their branded materials, but you can teach them adding your own style. Since that was the only complaint I was HIGHLY impressed. I also have a good friend who has been working there for years who is very happy there still.

Anyhow, it is back to the world of teaching with wit, humor and charm as opposed to goofy songs and jumping around...

I will let ya know how it goes...

So far so good Megan...

I applied for a few big corporate jobs with "Big" companies, but they weren't hiring, I was just applying.... Big Bucks, but corporate life.... Yuck....

However, using a local Expat site I found a couple very interesting positions. Always worth doing a Google search for "expat websites (insert city here)". Can often find not only opportunities, but advice and warnings as well.

#1 is a training center very near my home in the city center alongside Starbucks and other coffee shops, bakeries, art galleries, museums, etc. I often hang out there anyways. Likely would be kids classes. Nicest thing is it is a walk through the park from my home. No buses or commuting other than through nature.

#2 is very interesting. It is a business English school here in town that does Online training. SO I could make $20 Canadian an hour by sitting at home and having classes via my webcam. How cool would that be? NO commute at all!!

I applied for both yesterday and today they have contacted me looking for interviews. The kids job likely is part time, so I might well be able to do both! Should be interesting anyways.

Just goes to show, opportunities are everywhere in China so for those unsure of where to go or having difficulties in other places, you may want to have a look over here....

8)

Thanks Jere,

No worries at all actually. I am just lining up the jobs and seeing which ones shine through. Currently waiting to hear on an opportunity in Hong Kong which could be a life changer. Either that or a gig in the most modern and ultra cool area in town, featuring Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, English book stores and ample relaxation facilities, all 3 minutes walk from home through a park.... Extra nice to be able to work without a commute...

Either way, win win!

I live in Shenzhen, the direct next door neighbor to Hong Kong. Truly an amazing city but since it is a high tech center and one of the fastest growing cities in the world, there are many headaches as it grows (traffic is a nightmare) and it lacks in culture compared to other Chinese cities because here its ALL business ALL the time. What it loses in culture however, it more than makes up for in opportunities!

Hi All,

Just thought I would share my most recent experience.

If you have been keeping up with the forum lately you would have noticed I found myself a sweet kindy job!

The pay and location were great and the school very modern and new.

However, that's where the goodness ended sadly.

I left the position after the first day for the following reasons:

#1 The agreed upon parts of the contract never happened, including the contract.
- I was given the job on August 4th and by the first day of school and after 4 visits to the school they had still not filled in my contract (pre-written, only needed salary values inserted)
- Not a good sign if they cant sign a contract in a month or even after the first day of work

#2 Work visa only available after 1 year of work.
- Meaning 1 year of paying for my own health checks, visas and working illegally in the country, possibly leading to immediate deportation if caught.
- I have a wife and child here, deportation not an option... Police station RIGHT across the street from, the school.... I guess they thought they wouldn't notice....

#3 Salary changes and penalties
- Salary initially offered 12,000/mtn - Actual Salary 9000 + performance bonus
- Performance bonus based on the following : Times late, use of air conditioning and internet, lesson plan preparation and principals discretion

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS talk to other teachers if possible before signing a contract. The other teachers informed me of how things work. Use Air con without 3 other people in the room, 50rmb fine, leave the computer on after using it, 50rmb fine, someone else uses AC or computer, but you are the last one seen walking out of the room, 50rmb fine. Every minute late, no exceptions, 10rmb fine. So 10 minutes late for whatever reason = loss of 1.5 hours pay....
- Other teachers said no one EVER gets the full performance bonus, no matter what!

#4 High turnover of teachers last term.
- school fired all (12) teachers last term but 3, who started in the middle of the term to replace all the ones who left. Story is they were all bad teachers, I suspect the pay situation and fines had more to do with them walking away

#5 Crazy work hours, Not discussed
- Original workload - 2 X 30 minute classes in the morning and 2 30 minute classes in the afternoon with breaks in between each and 3 hour lunch
- Actual hours 8 - 12:30 and 2:30 - 5:30 always on, no breaks, including feeding, changing clothes, wiping bums and clean up of 2-3 year old babies. English lessons EVERY second when not being a nanny.
- Next surprise - Home visits. Expected to take the city bus, in rush hour traffic after school, all over the city to visit parents homes (for some reason). 1 hour per visit, 1-2 hours (minimum!) No PAY for 3-4 hour overtime and have to pay own transportation..... Ummm, yeah right!

So all in all, a joke! I told them I would not come back if they tripled my salary, and indeed they tried. The parents and the kids loved me. Now they will be pissed at the school for trying to rush in a new teacher.

So where does that leave me??

No problem at all!!! Since I happen to be in China anyways I got a call from my recruiter the next day. She wasn't mad at all I left the job. In fact she is currently trying to make me even more money.

If I feel motivated I can take the following jobs, one or all!

Kindergarten - English Only - Mornings mon to fri - 6000rmb
Elementary School - English - Afternoons Mon - Fri 8000rmb
Saturday training center - 8 hours Saturday only 4000rmb

A quick look at the math shows that a 12,000rmb job that turned out lousy and was only going to be 9000 actually, can now be 18,000rmb if I am motivated.

I will be looking very carefully at all these opportunities before making any decisions, but the point of this posting is this....

Don't feel you have to accept something you aren't comfortable with. If you get here and don't like the deal you are given, look for another, there are always more out there.

Always ask for contact info for past or current teachers. It is from them you find out the real deal and it can make or break your teaching career.

Don't undervalue yourself!! If you don't feel the deal is a good fit for you, don't take it. Better to do a little more searching than work in a place you aren't happy.

So there you go. Now that the new term has started I know there are ample jobs out there, and I am going to take my time and be picky....

Wish me luck!!

Hi Aimee

Well, don't call Owen today, or he will just try desperately you get you here tomorrow! :) School officially starts on Wednesday! Which means 2 more days before I start work and peak time for teachers coming to China!

:)

Jan/Feb is a great time to come but I wouldn't bother contacting Buckland till December. Too early and they will just forget as now is the peak time for them getting teachers out to the schools. During the actual semester they do school visits and take care of hundred of teachers rent, bills, pay, visas, etc, so contacting him now isn't in your best interests.

However, I would contact Buckland early in December and specifically request a school looking for 2 teachers. It really shouldn't be a problem as the school he sent me to had 2 friends from same city in Canada before me. There is no lack of work for teachers, but giving Buckland a bit of notice will help them be prepared for a double job. Really it is better for Buckland and eventually the school as it could seriously reduce travel and headaches.

Good luck and glad to hear so many people are considering Buckland to start out as I did.....

I REALLY need to ask Owen about a cut...... ;)

Hi Megan,

yep, I too know some who did the stay in Canada teaching, but from what I have heard, those who get experience outside of Canada can almost expect better ESL jobs back home since they often have some fundamentals in other languages and definitely cultural experience you could never get back home. I certainly am glad I didn't do it that way. It would have just been a job back home like any other, not a wild and crazy 7 year adventure like it has been!

Ahhhhh

I see you are a long term planner Megan. I really do hope it works out that way, and it does seem like you are doing all the right things to prepare. Be warned though, of every potential teacher I have ever known, only 5% or less actually made it out of Canada unless they were leaving almost immediately after the course, like myself. Jobs, relationships and miscellaneous "stuff" just always seems to pop up. To this day, 7 years later, I get emails from my Global TESOL classmates who took the training, were super hyped and ready to teach, who never left Edmonton.... Not trying to be negative, just my own experience...

As for Buckland......

No worries. Buckland has been around for more than 7 years and they will always have a job for you. If you applied now they would simply tell you great, please send us an email closer to your arrival.

Likely since you are finished your school at the regular school time they would ask you to come in late august, since coming at the end of the semester makes it much harder to find work. Schools wont hire teachers at the end of term. I would send them the email at the beginning of next august then start getting your shots... If you sent them the info now they would likely forget it anyways, since there will be many MANY teachers going through Buckland before next year.

Glad to hear you are studying Mandarin back home. Unless you are a super genius don't expect to do too well. Not trying to be negative, but I could not even imagine learning Mandarin without living in a place everyone spoke it. Even with full immersion here and 2 semesters of Local University level Mandarin, I still ain't that good.... :) Don't let it get you down though!!! The foundation will make you a instant star when you get here and earn you not only brownie points, but possibly MUCH better jobs in the future.

Hope it all goes your way and keep in touch when you hit the PRC!!!!

Hey everyone,

Just curious.....

7 years ago I was a computer engineer for the biggest computer company in the world. I made the choice to leave a 60K a year job to teach English in China for 4000rmb (600 canadian a month....) From 60K to 7.2K.... Crazy right?

I had planned to see China for 6 months to 1 year and then come home and go back into computers....

Yet here I am 7 years later and I am proud to say ESL has become my career and I have never looked back!

So I was curious..... As the economy seems to be getting weaker and weaker back home, but stronger in other parts of the world, what is your story?

You are here on the Global TESOL forum, so teaching is a possibility at very least. But which teacher are you???

A: A career teacher looking to make a new life teaching English in other countries?

B: Looking for a temporary experience where teaching allows you to travel, learn new cultures and meet people then return home?

C: Looking for a way to either get teaching experience for jobs back home or pay off student loans?

D: Taking it as it comes! Open to adventure but no set plans?

Again, this info is not for any surveys or statistical data, I am just curious after so many years of personal experience what people are doing these days....

All for fun, answer or don't......

Regardless, put that training to use, even if just for a 6 month contract. You did Global TESOL's great course, make sure you use it!

Hi Megan,

The touching of the head thing is 100% Thailand, not China. In Thai belief the head is closest to god, therefore holy and should not be touched, especially by foreigners. Also you should try not to point your feet at anyone when sitting, instead curl them under you, as they are farthest from god and therefore unholy.

As for cheese, well, Cheese in Chinese is "Old Milk" which is a turn off to most Chinese people. The common custom here is to buy fresh food for every meal, often traveling to the supermarket 3 times a day, or at very least once EVERY morning. The concept of food left to age and mature is VERY foreign here. That said, you can get cheese, just a matter of where and selection. Most cities now will have some "foreign supermarket" somewhere that has a small selection at least of goodies. Depends where you end up. In my first job, (many years ago mind you) I had to take a 3 hour train to a neighboring city to find the one foreign market (the size of a walk in closet) which had imported goodies, including cheese. However now it should not be so tough. Where I am now I can find a massive selection of cheeses, many more than I ever even heard of back home, as they are imported from all over the world. Also new Costco like stores called "Metro" are popping up which have great selections of imported goodies. Worst case scenario on your holiday you can take a little visit to Hong Kong, where they have everything under the sun. I few more tough items are coffee (unless you dont mind instant coffee, usually pre mixed powder with milk and sugar already) and deodorant. You can sometimes find antiperspirant, but that's pointless here, deodorant I still need to go to Hong Kong for, so you might want to stock up before coming. The locals, for the most part, do NOT wear deodorant...... EVER!!!! But I discovered something very interesting. When my supply ran out, I stopped using it too, and I did not stink... I don't know if its the food or what, but a day without deodorant is a minor thing here, whereas back home it would be an issue.....

As for other cultural things, well, there are many (of course) but nothing too crazy like the head touching thing. People here are much more open and friendly and one annoying aspect of the culture is the staring.... No matter what you look like, smell like or what you are doing, people WILL stop and openly stare. More so in the smaller towns. Nothing can be done about this, you just have to get used to it. I have gotten into the habit of winking and blowing kisses, or simply staring intently back until they turn away. Many people do get put off by it though. Also they will all say hello to the back of your head. Seriously. Everywhere you go, shy people (adults mostly) will wait till you have passed then quickly shriek out "Hello! Where are you from?" The reason I say adults, is usually the kids will come up and say it directly to you, adults wont. I hate to mention a potentially touchy subject, but better prepared than not. You mentioned you were a bigger girl. I am a big guy, so I am speaking from much experience. Your students, friends and others on the street WILL ask you "Why are you so fat?" ..... Guaranteed. They are NOT doing it to be rude though! The language barrier means they use the simple information they have and they will be genuinely curious. I am always honest and tell them. "Western people eat lots of McDonalds and KFC and drive cars too much instead of walking." Instead of taking it as a cop-out, they will simple nod their heads and completely understand. Being "fat" in China doesn't have quite the same stigma as it does back home. In Canada it typically means lazy and no self control, even though that isn't necessarily true at all. But here, ESPECIALLY in the smaller cities it means Strong, Healthy and Rich!! I have people who will ask my why I am fat in one breath, scold me when I tell them I want to lose weight! Most of the men would give a million bucks to be strong and handsome like me! Grandmas often look at me admiringly and tell me they wish their sons and grandsons look like me. Please remember when it happens (and it will, oh it will) this is a country that traditionally has been under fed and skinny as all get out!! Just because you don't look like them and they are curious, doesn't mean they are trying to be cruel, often curiosity more than anything else. Take it that way and you wont feel so upset.

On other cultural tidbit I can think of is that Chinese people are a very humble race. When you give them praise, secretly they will love it, but outwardly they will deny it to the ends of the earth. If you do the same, you will be a star!! When they tell you how beautiful you are (they will) and how smart you are (they will) don't say thank you, as we are taught back home. Instead deny it like you life depends on it! "oh no no no no, I am just a simple teacher, not handsome at all" This will make you seem more humble and therefore more like them. If you learn a little Chinese (which you should anyways) you will become a superstar to them, and then you can tell them "Nali Nali" *pronounced Na-lee na-lee* which means "Where? Where?" and is an idioms for no I am not, not at all. That one little phrase (nali nali) will endear you to everyone who hears and bring you to the Chinese level, as opposed to arrogant westerners, who when praised, admit their superiority and say "thanks"

Well, there a bunch to digest...... Did you get a contract from Buckland yet?

HAHAHA!!!! Megan, have no fear!!!

As I said EVERYBODY I ever sent to Buckland got a contract and a job. Period. Of course they would "like" 2 years experience, but really that is just an attempt to keep away tourists looking for a free place to stay while they decide where to go next. I had no experience at all, literally coming to China 3 weeks after my TESOL course..... They will send you a contract. No degree needed, no experience needed, all you need is a plane ticket to Guilin!

And hey Bob,

Are you actually in China and what documents are you waiting for? You really CANNOT get a work visa yourself. It must be done by the school and typically they are done within China. If you are waiting for invite letters and such from the university then you would be applying for a business visa in Canada, which can be done, but does not legally entitle you to work in China. If you can get a Z visa in Canada good on ya, but I have never heard of it done that way. Every other teacher I know, including me, was told to come on a tourist visa and the work visa is done here.

Waiting is normal in China. China time is different for foreigners. They could very well be waiting to see if they can find some local talent in order to have less worry of walk-outs and no-shows. Or they could simply have forgotten or put it onto the growing "to-do" pile.

The new job I am starting next week is deathly afraid of foreign teachers walking out 1-2 weeks into the job because it does happen a lot. Many folks come over here for a contract and then are overwhelmed by the cultural differences or just the condition of the school/city they end up in and bolt back home on the next flight. That's why the recruiter who got me my most recent job offers 6000rmb to folks not in China, but 12,000rmb to those already here.... A safer bet and they hope to attract more people already in the country who are less of a flight risk.

Stick to your guns and perhaps send some resumes to other schools/universities while you are waiting.

As for the Z visa. it will be the length of your contract, nothing more. So if you left half way through the contract for example, you would still have the time left on the Z visa to get another visa arranged. The school may (if you leave under bad circumstances) threaten to cancel your visa, but I really don't think that is even possible. However, make sure YOU hold on to your passport at all times, unless it is in processing for the visa itself. The school has no right to hold it and it is meant to stay in your possession, though you do not need to carry it in China. No police or otherwise authority figures will ask for it unless crossing an international border or booking a hotel room or flight.

What university did you apply at?