Ask Headmaster Ken

Dear Ken,

First and foremost I would like to thank you and Dr. Greg for taking the time to create such a thorough and informative guide for prospective teachers and anyone interested in living and working in China.

I have question(s) for you regarding teaching English sans degree and TEFL certification and will offer some background information about my job/career search so far. I would very much enjoy living in China and if I accept this offer I would plan on living there for many years, but I want to make sure everything will be legal before taking this life changing step.

Currently I have been in contact with a few schools (from Inner Mongolia to Shaanxi) and am partial to a private language school in Beijing that deals exclusively in teaching kindergartners (my experience lies within this age group). I have been communicating with this school since September 2009 and they have decided to keep in touch with me until they recruit for September 2010 semester. Below is what the school offers. My main concern is about the visa and legalities.

1) 5000 RMB per month + Accommodation near The School.

2) Visa Service - After I sign the contract the school will email me a copy of an invitation letter so I can apply for an F-Visa. The school is also responsible for renewing or changing the visa during the period of the contract. It also mentions: *Work visas (Z visas), require another medical exam from an authorized hospital, this is different from the medical exam required by the Education Bureau, and will cost 650 RMB which foreign teachers shall be required to cover.

3)The Language School provides the Foreign Teacher with a week crash course in TEFL.

4)$1,000 USD airfare bonus on completion bonus *Foreign Teacher's are responsible for their airfare to China.

5)Other Bonus etc. - Free Mandarin Lessons, Free Meals on campus, Paid Chinese Holidays, Airport pickup, Registration at local Police Station, Medical Exam, Orientation *Medical Insurance not provided, but a list of available coverage and links provided.

I will add more information once it becomes available to me. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks Again MKL!

-Ess

If you have read the Guide then you know we strongly advise against entering China to teach English on a tourist or business visa.

There is no guarantee the school will or can convert that F-visa for you. What if they decide for any reason to change their minds after you arrive in China?

Tell them you will be happy to complete the medical exam back home so that they can apply for your work certificate and Z-visa letter of invitation. If they insist that you arrive on an F-visa, I would personally pass on the offer.

Aside from visa issues, 5,000 yuan per month for working at a kindergarten is well below fair market value in Beijing as private kindergartens tend to be among the highest-paying institutions in China. It is unlikely you will be very comfortable with that kind of salary in Beijing even with free provided housing.

Without a degree or TEFL certificate, you will be looking at salary offers of 4,000 to 5,000 yuan per month. This type of income is viable in second- and third-tier cities but certainly not in first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai. You should be focusing your job search in less developed cities only.

Best of luck to you.

Ken

To the OP:

A salary of 5,000RMB is totally unacceptable. I would be looking for anything over 8,000RMB per month - not including benefits such as: airfare, accommodation or housing subsidy, travel allowance, and a bonus. If the employer is not offering this, I'd strongly urge you to continue your job search. Kindergartens do tend to pay better. I used to work for an "international" kindergarten and was earning over 12,000RMB per month with many benefits. My situation is a bit different than yours because I have a degree and a TEFL qualification plus over 7 years teaching experience.

Best of luck!

5K for Kindy work in Beijing is too low. Kindy work is hard work, possibly the hardest teaching work there is.

Pay issues aside, with no Z visa in advance, the deal is still a soup sandwich. The only reason a licensed school would suggest it is because they want the option to dump you after you arrive if they don't like what they see.

They are dodging their responsibility.

If, on the other hand, they are not licensed, run, run, run.