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Could Foreign Teachers in China Use Some Extra Help?
TeachAbroadChina.com ^ | 10/17/2008 | Robert Vance

Posted on 10/18/2008 2:23:08 AM PDT by robertvance

At the moment, foreign teachers in China have relatively little options if they are cheated or need help. Sure. There are plenty of American consulates sprinkled around here but unless there is a war or a tidal wave in the area, American consulates and embassies in China are as about as useful as an expired visa. The Chinese government for their part mainly adheres to an attitude of "teach here at your own risk" and its attempts to weed out bad schools and programs in China have been weak at best. In short, there is little recourse available for foreign teachers in China who find themselves caught up in a bad teaching situation.

(Excerpt) Read more at teachabroadchina.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: china; embassies; foreignteachers; travel
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There are more than 10,000 of us foreign teachers from America over here. Sometimes it feels as if we are alone...
1 posted on 10/18/2008 2:23:08 AM PDT by robertvance
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To: robertvance

I’d help them leave China. Other than that they are on their own.


2 posted on 10/18/2008 2:24:15 AM PDT by Mobile Vulgus
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To: robertvance

What kind of remedy are you looking for?


3 posted on 10/18/2008 2:30:38 AM PDT by papertyger (Chauvinists yell "racist" when they're embarr"ist")
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To: papertyger

I think the article is pretty self-explanatory. American taechers have very little recourse if they get cheated by a school.


4 posted on 10/18/2008 2:34:05 AM PDT by robertvance
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To: robertvance

Do i need to read the article to find what you want done?


5 posted on 10/18/2008 2:40:09 AM PDT by papertyger (Chauvinists yell "racist" when they're embarr"ist")
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To: robertvance

I can’t believe anyone trust going to China to live and work. Don’t they have plenty of teachers? What is the goal of being a foreign teacher in China?


6 posted on 10/18/2008 2:47:30 AM PDT by healy61
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To: healy61
What is the goal of being a foreign teacher in China?
It's clear that such people imagine they are saving the world, but all they are really doing is contributing to destroy their own countries back home by giving the Chinese a leg up.
7 posted on 10/18/2008 2:59:07 AM PDT by Mobile Vulgus
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To: robertvance

If you think that’s self explanatory, I fully support what you’re doing. Keep teaching in China.


8 posted on 10/18/2008 2:59:53 AM PDT by BykrBayb (May God have mercy on our souls. ~)
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To: Mobile Vulgus

If they do for Chinese students what their kind has done for American students, this could be a good thing.


9 posted on 10/18/2008 3:05:07 AM PDT by BykrBayb (May God have mercy on our souls. ~)
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To: robertvance

Any country in Asia pretty much has the same issues: How do you go about suing a company in a different country with different rules and a different language? It’s hard to receive damages from AMERICAN owners of ESL schools in Japan. The best thing to do is form a general union with native labor, immigration, and tax lawyers. This has worked in Japan although it is an arduous process. You can only really sue for lack of wages as well. It is near impossible to receive damages for sexual harassment, abuse, or any “paperless he said/she said”.

But it is not impossible. My friend threatened to sue his ESL school for lost wages through GU (general union) when they went belly up (in Japan) and they suddenly found the @$5,000 they owned him.


10 posted on 10/18/2008 3:16:40 AM PDT by struggle ((The struggle continues))
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To: robertvance
Embrace the suck. Get used to it. It takes a special type of person to live overseas and accept that not everything will be to their liking. I have lived in a number of foreign countries and am now living in Thailand. I own a company here and could go on for hours, if not days, about problems I have had dealing with the Thai government. Would I give it up and move back to the US? Hell no. The benefits and the good experiences far outweigh the bad. If it didn't, I would have moved back years ago. Since you are still in China, I assume the same is true for you. If I needed a US bureaucrat to make my life easier, there are plenty of houses on the market back in the States.
11 posted on 10/18/2008 3:29:29 AM PDT by killjoy (Life sucks, wear a helmet.)
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To: robertvance

I was thinking about going over there to teach just to get the experience of Chinese culture. Thanks for the post.


12 posted on 10/18/2008 3:30:08 AM PDT by wildbill
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To: robertvance
There are more than 10,000 of us foreign teachers from America over here. Sometimes it feels as if we are alone...

In a nation of more than 1,000,000,000.....you are.

Perhaps instead of crying for help, you could organize and present your grievances to the Chinese government. I'm sure the NEA, the AFT, or any other teacher's union would be glad to help. I can't see how the government of that worker's paradise wouldn't respond in a kindly manner to such overtures. All you would have to do is convince them that the treatment you are receiving is "not fair."

Who knows, perhaps that absentee ballot you cast for Obama will help put him in the White House and that after Jan. 2009 China, like the rest of the world, will feel a bit more simpatico with the US and all your problems will be solved.

13 posted on 10/18/2008 3:48:53 AM PDT by Roccus (POLITICIAN.....................A four letter word spelled with ten letters.)
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To: BykrBayb

LOL, true dat! At least our crap educational system would have SOME use by destroying our enemy’s kids instead of our own for a change!!!


14 posted on 10/18/2008 4:08:59 AM PDT by Mobile Vulgus
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To: wildbill

Mr. Vance and I understand the reasons we are here. You folks are “there”. I have been “there” but you all have not been “here”. That much is evident from the negative comments Mr. Vance always gets from some of you.

My first goal - changing minds one student at a time. Understanding and empathy do not enemies make.

My second goal - every day is an adventure. See inchinahil.travellerspoint.com.

Living and working overseas is never easy but it is fun most of the time.


15 posted on 10/18/2008 4:35:19 AM PDT by inthaihill (Teaching and loving my Chinese students in Sichuan, China)
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To: robertvance
In short, there is little recourse available for foreign teachers in China who find themselves caught up in a bad teaching situation.

Why don't these foreign teachers in China organize demonstrations, sit-ins, and other forms of public protest?

/sarcasm.

If a country isn't making you feel welcome... well, maybe you aren't welcome.

Regards,

16 posted on 10/18/2008 5:03:23 AM PDT by alexander_busek
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To: Roccus

Unfortunately, my absentee ballot got lost in the mail on the way here. I wasn’t really planning on voting for anyone until Palin joined the ticket. I would have voted for McCain hands down if I had the chance. Don’t make assumptions about my political leanings. You have no idea...


17 posted on 10/18/2008 5:29:21 AM PDT by robertvance
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To: wildbill

It’s great for some and hell for others. The other will home and hate China forever.


18 posted on 10/18/2008 5:30:37 AM PDT by robertvance
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To: alexander_busek

Believe me, I feel welcome. I’ve been very lucky and had great jobs. Unfortunately, others get cheated, have lots of trouble...I just wish there was more recourse for them...


19 posted on 10/18/2008 5:32:00 AM PDT by robertvance
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To: alexander_busek

Your sarcasm is lost on me because I don’t think you know what you are talking about. People here ARE allowed to protest as long as it is not against the government. So maybe that’s a good idea...


20 posted on 10/18/2008 5:34:43 AM PDT by robertvance
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