China Law Blog

I'd recommend people check out Ben Ross's blog: http://www.benross.net/wordpress/

He spend several years living and working in China, at least a few teaching English. I've found it a pretty good read, even though I have no desire to teach English in China, but I think it would be a great reasource for those who do.

Well, I met a small group of American English teachers in Beijing last fall, and I got the sense that no matter how stable you think you contract is, it's not stable. The teachers who lasted the longest adapted by holding multiple teaching jobs at once, as one tended to implode frequently.

Also, I recommend that if you are thinking about going there to teach. Leave some savings in your bank at home, and don't touch it. The pay scales seem to be adequate to stay in a reasonable lifestyle, not one i'd want though, but left little if not any discretionary cash for travel. So if you ever want to get home, plan your out before you go.

Best of luck

Hey Dan, thanks giving me the China Law Blog 'bump', though I doubt my entry on teaching English would be good for anything other than a slight chuckle.

But, if I really really wanted to know about teaching English in China or if I had a case, would it be okay to ask you then?

I don't teach in China, but I've known many people who have. It's possible to have a very pleasant assignment, but you can't be too careful in checking out the employer in every aspect. Check on internet bb's as well as ask for personal references from teachers who are no longer at the school. I once was involved in a "rescue" of a young woman who found herself virtually enslaved by an employer. I was literally contacted by one of her parents after they realized that their daughter's phone conversations were monitored. But I also would place a different kind of warning for anyone considering an assignment at a university level: cheating is rampant and many universities have a policy that no student will fail, no matter what. I've personally known three university level professors who found ways to leave their posts (and I've heard of a few whose contracts were not renewed) after they were asked to pass every student or change failing grades to passing ones. In one case, a class began making unfounded accusations of moral impropriety against a professor after he refused to bend his standards; (this professor was just fortunate that he had a 20 year history at his European university and was actually volunteering during his sabbatical!) If you are considering teaching and you would have moral qualms about passing students who don't meet basic standards, then be very careful because once you are in an environment where you are living on campus and beholden to an administration, life can become very complex if you refuse to comply with the unethical demands.

Fact be known... the culture is "Fakery" even within the education system.. higher education seems the worse of the bunch with "private" institutes calling themselves College or University (the latter is most prevelant). The Foreign Affairs Staff are also most "fake" which won't be apparent until you've committed and the Semester begins. Problems stem from Staff suggesting or outright telling Caucasin Foreign Teachers to tell students they are American! Yep.. guys from Africa, Poland, Czech, India, Latin America (Qualifies?), and others.. I was stunned when my suspicions were confirmed. Housing support is "as the Staff deems worthy". Not working were A/C-heater, 29 light bulbs, leaking roof - mutliple locations,kitchen and bathroom leaks, Mold as result of prior leaks and severe dampness, ice block of a refrigerator, fire in the wall outlet, very dirty and not maintained housing though beautiful in appearance ONLY! And, the Chinese staff would ignore you and all complaints. I have unanswered emails and later told that Staff were told to disregard. Oh.. and the Chinese staff wish for Foreigners to teach same subjects taught previously or currently by Chinese Teacher.. as the students english level .. Sucks and Chinese interpretation is Mandatory.. yet.. they stick unknowing Foreigners into these situations! Anyways.. kids are often great, campuses appear beautiful on the outside, deplorable inside with students littering everywhere on the floors - spitting - some even smoke in classrooms when they think know one's looking. All-in-All.. WARNING.. I haven't losted any payments.. except at the Training schools and heard several persons tell of salary losses, horrible treatment and bullying. If you have any Police business/complaint/loss property report.. plan on the usual 2.5 hrs of sitting around in a typical smoke filled primitive office. (wooden chairs maybe with cushioning) If anyone at the Foreign Office can not speak reasonably good english..Well..this is only the beginning of the worst. Oh..many of you will already know of the food, products, and buildings "fakeries".. well.. put on the list workmanship too.. and I know that most things in China are not Ancient but replicas and less than 10yrs old.. many within the last 4yrs in the buildings, walls, and others told to be 1,000s yrs old or older. Money and a great many things involve some or multi-levels of "fakery".. Disception.. Dishonor.. corruption.

Have the policies regarding work visas changed very recently in China? I was originally hired by a school in China in October 2008, but the school emailed me last week saying that my application for a work visa was rejected due to very recent changes in Dalian's foreign employment policies regarding "issues pertaining to age". (I am 22.) Also, can they do that?

Hi Everyone,

I have been living and working in Beijing, China for over 5 years. I hear and now read things like this all the time. I think most of what happens to due to the lack of cultural understanding on the teachers part, thinking that China is the United States and reasons for coming to China are questionable, but sometimes noble. I have that the people who major issues in China would also have major issues in the US.

My best advice for teachers coming to China to work. Is not to focus on the contract but building relationships. You would never cheat a friend and neither would the Chinese. Study Chinese culture and the correct way to behave. It is not the US and bad behavior is embarrassing and unforgivable. Ask yourself why you want to teach in China? If your answer is to better yourself, challenge your teaching ability, and learn to function in another country and something about Chinese culture and what not. You will be welcomed by everyone you come in contact. If you reason deals with changing the Chinese in anyway. You should just stay home. You will only cause pain and sadness where ever you go. It will be terrible for everyone who comes in contact with you. I promise you that.

Leave all that you know about the US Legal system at customs into China. It does not apply and only creates headaches. The first year, allow yourself to make mistakes and maybe not make a lot of money. Work hard on developing relationships and learning Chinese culture. The best reason to come and working in China is the students. The students are very hard working, serious and focused on learning. Time spent with a foreign teacher is like gold, very precious and you are treated that way. ( Now, there are a few students who are like they are in the US. They are few.)

One other thing, don't believe everything you read. Most of this stuff is total crap!!! Be smart and prepared.

Best wishes,
Julia