COMMENTARY
When evaluating an ad, look for inconsistencies. If these people are honest, there shouldn't be any; if you find them, be suspicious. Next, look for anything that sounds too ideal or too good to be true.
Notice that the recruiter's name at the top of the ad is "Mr. James Zhang", but the email address at the bottom says, "Frank Zhang". The man is uses many aliases and you almost surely will not know his real name.
He tells about the High School affiliated with the Shanghai Teacher's University. That much is true, but he is not affiliated with either. The University appoints the principal for this school but has no further relationship and takes no responsibility for its activities. No comfort there.
He claims the school's area at 660,000 square metres, larger than the entire downtown of most cities - well over 125 square city blocks - for 2,000 students? Not likely.
Next, we have 2,000 students in 52 classes spread over 6 grade levels; about 40 students per class, not the 'small' classes referred to in his contract, and teachers may well be expected to teach several grade levels. More cause for concern.
He refers to the school's performance over "past decades", but mentions foreign teachers there only since 1997. 20 foreign teachers over 9 years is only 2 teachers per year - for 2,000 students studying in English and French?
Then comes the free fully equippedair-conditioned single apartment, free meals, only 16 hours per week of teaching duties INCLUDING some outdoor activities, and an extra 75 RMB for additional teaching hours. 5,000 RMB "after-tax" cash in hand each month with free living in a "garden city" in "one of the most beautiful areas in Shanghai". Sounds too good to be true because it isn't true.
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A copy of the teaching contract he submitted to me is in the 'Contracts' section and is instructive from many points of view. His contract wording is in BLUE; my comments are in RED.
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Below is the list of questions I sent to him - which he refused to answer. He said he was too busy and anyway would not hire someone like me because I am too much trouble. He also claimed to be 'just a Chinese lawyer' and that his father is CEO of PSB Shanghai. I replied that if he were really a lawyer his contract wouldn't have been so sloppy, and that I knew for a fact his father was not the head of PSB. He replied with some obscenities and that's the last I've heard.
Dear Mr. Zhang;
Your offer is interesting but there are many questions that require answers.
1. First, Who is Mr. James Zhang, and why ia your email address for a Frank Zhang. Are you an official with the school or a recruiting agent? Do you recruit only for this one school or for many schools?
2. Who owns the "Foreign Language High School"? Is it a private business operated by local business people, or is it part of the Government School System? What exactly is the school's "affiliation" with the Shanghai Teacher's University?
3. How can the school have 660,000 square metres for only 2,000 students? How much of that area is buildings?
4. From your figures it seems that the school has about 40 students in each class, at 6 different grade levels. Your contract says "small classes", but 40 students is not "small"; it is very large, and almost impossible to do a good job of teaching a language with so many children. Are teachers expected to teach only one grade level, or many grade levels?
5. Does the school provide a curriculum and teaching materials to be followed, or do teachers have to design and prepare all their own lessons? As you know, full lesson preparation will double the "teaching time". If curriculum and lessons are not available, are teachers paid extra for lesson preparation? They should be, because this is copyright material prepared for the benefit of the school.
6. Your contract fails to mention the visa. As you know, it is necessary to obtain a "Z" working visa to teach in China, and this will have to be obtained by the school prior to my leaving Canada.
7. Your written description and contract do not say the same thing about working hours. The description says '16 hours per week' including outdoor activities, but your contract suggests that there are many other activities and hours in addition to the 16, and then mentions 20 hours and suggests that there will be additional time beyond 20 hours. Also, the contract does not mention additional time such as meetings or administrative activities. I presume these are all included in the 16 hours. Please clarify. What, in fact, is the total of hours each week that a teacher will be busy with school matters?
8. Your contract makes reference to "shifts". What exactly does this mean? Is the teaching day split into parts, where one must teach partly in the morning and then is idle until the afternoon, with nothing to do for several hours? Is all teaching during the day, or do you expect teachers to be available during the evenings and weekends as well? Please clarify.
9. Your contract says teachers cannot engage in any other activities without the permission of the school. This is not acceptable. If I agree to teach at your school, my free time must be my own to do with as I please - including teaching private English lessons if I want to do that.
10. Your contract says that a teacher shall finish tasks "according to the school's conventional teaching regulations", but you don't specify what these regulations are. How can someone sign such a contract?
11. Your description says the salary will be 5,000 RMB per month "after tax", plus 75 RMB for each extra hour, but your contract makes no mention of 'extra' salary except that it may be "the same as the other teachers'". My understanding from your written description is that the 5,000 RMB is for 16 hours per week total time, and that every hour above 16 is paid for at the rate of 75 RMB. Is this correct? Please clarify, because your contract says something different.
I have read many stories of teachers being promised pay for 16 hours, but then were required to work more than 40 hours each week, including evenings and weekends, and were not paid for any of the extra time. This would not be acceptable. Please clarify and confirm, and please also confirm that the 5,000 and 75 RMB are what the teacher will receive "after all the tax is paid"
12. You mention an "additional rewarding salary" of 5,000 RMB, but your contract is very confused about the conditions for this payment. First you say that it is a "reward for persistence in work", but then you say it will be paid if the teacher pays his telephone and internet fees. And the contract says that it will be paid after one year, not after the end of the contract (10 months). Please clarify. If you are not prepared to guarantee this payment I must assume it will not be paid, and I will ignore it.
13. Your contract says a teacher works only 16 hours per week and the school must pay the teacher by the 10th of each month. If the school demands more than 16 hours or if a payment is late, this would constitute a breach of the contract. The school must then pay the teacher US$1,000 for "failing to fulfill the contract", and the teacher has the right to cancel the contract. Is this correct?
14. Your description mentions free accommodation in a "single" apartment, but a "shared" sitting room and kitchen. This is not clear. Please describe exactly what the living accommodations are. Are teachers sharing apartments? Are the apartments fully furnished with tables, chairs, beds etc.? What will the teacher have to supply, for the apartment to be suitable for daily living? You say the apartments have air conditioning, but what about heating for the winter? Please clarify.
15. Your description and contract mention 'free meals', but I have read many stories of these meals being unacceptable even to the Chinese students and that teachers incur much extra expense for food. Where are these meals provided and who takes part in them? If the meals are not acceptable, extra provision will have to be made at the school's expense.
16. If I understand correctly, I must pay my own travel expenses to China, and that after the contract is finished you will pay me 2,200 RMB toward my travel costs. Is this correct? I have read many stories of teachers not being paid this travel money at the end of their contract. What guarantee is there that the money will be paid? Your contract also says a teacher will receive a "two-way airline ticket" at the end of one year. So after one year do you pay 2,200 RMB plus the ticket? Please clarify.
17. What is the length of the contract? Your description says "one year", but since the teacher is being paid for only 10 months, the contract should end after 10 months and all final payments made then. Is this correct?
18. Who signs the contract on behalf of the school? Is it a school official or an agent? If signed by an agent, the contract is not valid and has no value, and the school is not obligated to follow it.
19. You stipulate that a teacher must pay US$1,000 for failing to fulfill the contract. This is not acceptable because your contract does not specify the teacher's duties. You make only vague references to "finishing tasks", "accept reasonable arrangements", "attend meetings", "fulfill requirements", "complete tasks on schedule", and so on. These words say nothing. They are so imprecise that they have no meaning, and can easily be used to claim falsely that a teacher is in breach of the contract.
20. I would like you to send me some photos of the school, of the teacher's apartment building where I would live, and of the interior of the apartments. I would like to know the specific mailing address and apartment number so I can make arrangements to forward my mail.
21. I would like the names and contact email addresses of four foreign teachers who taught at your school last year. I would prefer teachers who are returning to your school again for a second year.
After I have received your response to my questions and have contacted your former teachers, we can continue our discussion. I look forward to your reply.
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