Suzhou Expat - The expatriate portal in China

There are a number of "newish" schools & training "institutions" with all sorts of B.S. accredition(s) popping up all over Suzhou. Take a look at their website if they have one. Note the "copy & paste effect" with untraceable accredition ?

If you are a foreign teacher currently in town,take out your little notebook, and check the following :

1. Salary. Let's see.

9000 RMB p/m for say, 20 classes per week.
This may (or may NOT) include your housing allowance....which in Suzhou you will be looking at a minumum of 2,000 RMB/month unless you want to live in a dank, decrepit, dirty dive on the 6th floor with an unlit stairwell. 4 "Ds" get it ?

So, 9,000-2,000 = 7.000 20 classes a week = 80 classes per month. 7000/80 ... Wow ! 87.5 RMB per hour. Hold me back !

Considering the tuition fee paid by the parents, *someone* is making a killing and it won't be YOU, SUCKER !

They'd be getting anywhere from 40 to 200 RMB per student per class (pass the calculator, please) and you will be getting the steam off their ahhh.....close the toilet door please !

2. Air Fare. They might be gracious enough to pay for a one way trip back home after a year, and you may find the amount is capped at 4,000 RMB. That is, of course, if they deign to pay it ! Ha ha !

3. Visa. This should have been at the top of the list.

If the organisation CANNOT provide you with a Z class visa, residence permit and/or Foreign Experts' Certificate then you are dealing with what amounts to criminals. If you teach there, or anywhere they send you, without an appropriate work visa then you are breaking the law.


RUN.

4. Green Thumbs.

Do you enjoy working with your hands ? Does farming suit you ? You might get "farmed out" to other Companies/schools/kindergartens and what not.

Oh, BTW, you WON'T be paid for travel time both ways either my dear friend.

You might get 10 RMB for BUS FARES (you're kidding, right ? NO, not kidding).


5. What book and which page are they on ?

Gotta love that one. "We don't really know..."

How's that little voice sounding now ? Is it up to screaming: "RUN" by this stage ?

6. How's your back ?

Do you like back-to-back classes ? Oh, only 4 in a row, with a 5 minute break in between each class, and NO time off for dinner. Do you like teaching until 10.30 pm at night ?

How is your sleeping-in plan for Saturday looking ? Shot to pieces ? Never mind, at least you'll get Sunday completely free - maybe.

These outfits will take, the foreigner (YOU), for as far a ride as they can take you. SUCKER !

Do yourself a favour. R.U.N.

* If they have "just moved" location, RUN.
* If they have just opened then RUN.
* If they want you to do unpaid demo classes and represent "them" here and there to potential clients, perhaps even wear a suit & tie - Unpaid - RUN.
* If you are hired immediately after the job interview and are requested to teach that very day - and they don't even make a copy of your CV then, you guessed it, RUN.

Now, have a look at your little notebook AGAIN.

If it looks like a dog, pants & barks like a dog, smells like a dog.... then:

YOU WILL GET BITTEN.

RUN!