Hi Everyone

[DaWildOne000]

Hi guys, I am brand spanking new on this forum as you can see from my post count. I'm an Australian math teacher who is looking to work in a chinese school possibly teaching AP Mathematics. In the past I was limiting myself to the Guangdong region, but I have decided to no be so picky with the location.

 

I am concerned however of people stating that I should ask the contact details of a foreign teacher working in the school or one that was once working there. I do not understand the reason for this. If a teacher has had bad experiences with the school, they may or may not be honest, they will most likely be biased with their thoughts of the school itself.

 

I am currently studying the very basics of chinese, but I would like to ask how else I can better prepare for china.

 

Thank you.

[Demonic_Duck]

Well, it seems like common sense (if you do have the opportunity to do so) to talk to current employees of an organisation outside its HR department before taking a job. They may have biased opinions of their own, but it's HR's job to give biased opinions (i.e. they want to present the best image of the company they can in order to attract the best talent, even if doing so means glossing over some unfavourable aspects).

[edelweis]

A foreigner can also give practical information that a native might not think or know to tell you about, like squat toilets, living conditions by Western standards, "security" curfew, cost of living with the "foreigner" prices, practical experience dealing with the local PSB, where to find/buy whatever they had trouble finding/buying etc.

[roddy]

At the very least it means they've employed a foreigner before, and you're not going to be the guinea pig while they figure out how to get visas, find you accommodation, arrange your classes, etc...

[ChTTay]

I'm not really sure why you're "concerned" about asking to speak to current and past teachers. If you're applying for a job in another country, in a place you've never been (or maybe heard of), it makes sense to get as much information as possible about that place and the school. To find out what the place is like, what the school is like.

The above reasons by demonic duck, edelweiss and Roddy are all sound.

Also, do you think the school will really give you contact details for someone they had problems with or a falling out? Heck no! They'd rather say they don't have any contact details (which should set alarm bells ringing). It's a good idea to speak to someone current and past as you'll most likely get an honest appraisal of the school - the good and bad. They will most likely be people the school has a good relationship with. Even so, they will still be mostly likely be prepared to tell you the truth. For instance, is the schools location a pain to get to, are they far from the center, are the class sizes insane... Etc

[DaWildOne000]

Thanks for the great tips guys. Umm... since I have some more questions / troubles, i'm just going to post it here again instead of creating a new thread.

 

How would you compare the financial benefits between schools? From what I understand there's only small differences on the amount you get taxed from city to city. Majority of the taxation rate depends on the amount of gross salary you're getting. Usually I estimate that I'm going to get taxed between 20-25% range (although i know its slightly more complicated than that). But recently, a school offered a gross salary at first, then quickly stated a net salary which was only %5 lower than the gross. I knew this couldn't be right, when I confronted them, they said they would pay the larger sum of the tax. Is this dodgy or is this a common practice with schools and businesses as they have certain expenses to show for paying less tax? My big fear is ending up with a large amount of debt to that cities tax agency just because my school didn't hold onto enough of my pay (on the other hand the contract simply states the net amount I will be paid). This is so confusing as some other schools quote a yearly amount and others quote monthly amounts with varying contract lengths 10-12 months.

[ChTTay]

I don't know the ins and outs of the tax system but what the schools state your pay is (net/gross) is what your pay is. They don't promise you 15k and then you lose 2k to tax. The amount of tax for us here is really small. You won't even notice is.

You definitely won't find yourself indebted to the local tax collectors. They probably don't even know or care that you exist.

You seem to have have very unique worries.

 

Once you get here you'll be fine.