 45
Questions to Ask before Accepting that
Contract to Teach English in China
What to ask - How to decide
Getting that
first serious job offer is a very exciting thing! But,
after you dance around a few moments - stop and catch
your breath - and start to think about things you must
know before making a final decision. This page is
designed to help you know if you should take that job -
or not.
Some
important questions to ask:
Don't be shy -
these are important things to know before moving
yourself halfway across the world. But, don't ask all
these questions in one shot! You'll scare your potential
employer! Spread them out a bit!
What is expected
of me on a daily basis?
How many classes
a day will I be expected to teach?
How long is each
class? Is each class considered "one hour" even if it
is only 45 or 50 minutes long?
Will I be
expected to stay at the school even when I don't have
classes?
Will I have
responsibilities other than teaching? (like cleaning
your classroom or the school, recruiting students,
evaluating students for placement, handing out flyers
for the school, etc.) If so, will I be paid for that
time?
Does the job
provide housing? Is it furnished? What does
"furnished" mean? How are the bills paid? How far is
it from the school? Is it easy to get to work from
there? Do I have to pay a deposit for it? How big is
it? Will I have to share it? Is there a monthly
"maintenance fee" that I must pay? How much is it?
Who is my boss?
To whom do I report? Who evaluates me?
What criteria is
used to decide if I am successful?
How much sick
and vacation time do I get? Who decides when I can use
it? Can I use it all at one time? Does it accrue
monthly or can I only use it at the end of my contract?
Is there a bonus
or gratuity payment at the end of my contract (this is
required by Korea law )? How much is it? How is it
determined?
What teaching
resources does the school provide? Teacher's manuals?
Photocopy machine? (who regulates its use?), OHP?
Internet? (great for lesson plans and finding
activities), Computer? Printer? Paper? Chalk/Markers?
(really!)
Is there air
conditioning and/or heating in the classrooms? (this
could be important!)
How many
students are in a class? How are they placed or
evaluated for placement?
How do we decide
if the students are progressing or successful?
Will I have a
work space available at the school? A desk, an office?
Are there other
foreign teachers at the school? Can I talk to them
before I make my decision?
That's just a
start, but you've got the idea by now!
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"Twenty
years from now you will be more disappointed
by the things that you didn't do than by the
ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the
trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.
Discover." -- Mark Twain |
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