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Q: Am I wrong for being angry at my school?
Now don't get me wrong, I know getting paid to do jack is ideal to most people, but it wears thin very quickly. I've been working in a private school for almost two months now, and it's always been fairly quiet. Now the school term has started, this week I'm required to come in 2pm until 9pm and I have the grand total of 0 students. This doesn't cover Saturday, where I'm required to work 9am until 9pm where once again the total of students amounts to 0.
I'd like to think I won't waste time, and use this free time to, I don't know, learn more Chinese, continue writing my novel that I started when I was 16 or maybe setting up a company or polishing my CV. However doing this in an environment where I have an office full of girls taking loud phone conversation every 2 minutes and the odd child running in to touch the foreigner, it really isn't ideal.
Am I wrong in feeling pretty angry at the school? (whose boss by the way is blaming everybody but himself for the lack of students) Or should I just enjoy this free time as it is?
I hate being bored so much. I'm even thinking about changing schools, but I'm sure other teachers here are aware of the sort of contractual agreements you get into when you start working at a school, and like I said I'm only 2 months in.
10 years 33 weeks ago in Business & Jobs - China
I was in a similar position in my first teaching job in China, although at least i had a few students on occasion. The first thing is make sure you are getting paid: if there are no students coming in, there is no income for the owner and the first casualty (in my experience) is salary. Before i left that job, the other staff members had not been paid in 2 months, i was lucky to leave with all salary owed! I understand your frustration, but i recommend finding an online activity to pass the time. (maybe that novel can be resurrected 
) You are there as the 'foreign' face for parents to see. Just hang in there !!
I was in a similar position in my first teaching job in China, although at least i had a few students on occasion. The first thing is make sure you are getting paid: if there are no students coming in, there is no income for the owner and the first casualty (in my experience) is salary. Before i left that job, the other staff members had not been paid in 2 months, i was lucky to leave with all salary owed! I understand your frustration, but i recommend finding an online activity to pass the time. (maybe that novel can be resurrected ) You are there as the 'foreign' face for parents to see. Just hang in there !!
This is communist thinking at it's best. Seems you have plenty of time to look for a different job. Obviously money is needed, but so is something to do. Being stuck in a room without doing something is really not a good way for a vampire slayer to spend her time.
1. Read Contract closely!
2. Find one thing (or more) which School doesn't fulfill by the Contract!
3. Find new School.
4. Submit 30- days Resignation notice to the office.
5. Join the new School in 30 days after 4.
It is always nice to sign Contract with 30-days Resignation notice in it. School is required by Chinese law (SAFEA) to submit all necessary documents (Release letter, FEC Cancelation, and more) to FT in 30 days after the 'last working day'.
ironman510:
She's probably got a 10 week notice written in her contract some where, rarely ever saw a standard 30 notice in China.
icnif77:
I asked for it at my last 2 Contracts. I saw Contracts with 90-days RN, which I refused to sign.
If you are that desperate for something to do , how about coming up with some ideas for my add campaign for SEX IN CHINA ON A 30 DAY VISA?
It doesn't pay anything however you get the satisfaction of annoying the crap out of people .
That or messing up Wikipedia entry's
slice_999_k:
Good idea. I'm sure there's a way of doing both simultaneously.
Scandinavian:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Cent_Party doesn't have Silva listed as an example...... yet
0 studens?! Your boss needs to get on the sales teams @$s!! I have currrently more than 100 students....
As I am not not a teacher I cannot specifically speak of your situation.
But I can say this...my job here...working for a foreign company in factories...has given me a similar experience.
I have way too much freaking time on my hands because of slow production periods and I get myself into way too much trouble and spend way too much money not having anything to do for weeks at a time.
If I was busy I would spend less money be less bored and get in far less trouble.
I suggest if you are that displeased with your situation...either ask them for more work or find a new job.
But on the other hand you are living the dream of most Chinese people...being paid to do almost nothing.
Hulk:
Same problem when I was in China. When I started working, I rarely encountered 3% of the scumbaggery as I did while living free as a bird. Didn't work for a year, then for 3 months I worked... those 3 months were my best months in China, aside from the time I spent with my wife.
I too have a similar situation... I have to be in the office at 9.00 ( but I am rarely there before 10.00 )... then I have a 30 minute class at 12.30... then a 30 minute class at 17.30.. leave office at 18.00.
Luckily I have my own office.. I spend my days watching Youtube. Boredom is my daily companion ! But,I wish I was busy,I want my time to be productive.I really don't like being paid so much for doing very little - it just feels wrong... Oh,you are only 2 months in - I have done it for the past 12.I can't offer any advice apart from what has been said already,you just have my sympathy and understanding.
Anyway,I am having a holiday in H.K.next week ! 
If you have lots of time in front of a computer, why not play the stock-market.http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-Stocks it requires some work to read about activities at the companies you invest in.
After all. In many years when you grandkid asks you. "Grandmother, what did you do when you lived in China" do you want to answer
a) "Watched cat-videos on a thing we called YouTube"
b) "Made a killing on the stock market which i why I can afford to get you this awesome remote controlled flying saucer"
I have quite a bit of time on my hands as well. I know how frustrating it can be. Even more so when I really, really don't want to be doing this job and the only reason I am here is because it pays. If I could get any other job at all, I would be out of entertaining or "teaching" as they like to call it here.
You're right to be annoyed, but I suppose on the flip side, it's better than being completely overloaded.
Are you still getting paid? I would love to sit there and do nothing for the same salary. 5 years ago I taught at a private school too. One teacher was always complaining about not having many classes while getting paid the same salary. She just got fired. Learn Chinese in your office, ask those girls to teach you some characters, practice character writing... Would you rather teach 20 screaming kids, seriously? Besides, they can do nasty things if you leave after 2 months. They might not give you a release letter or cancel your visa and you'll have to go to your country again and only then be able to come back to China. Bosses and schools can get angry too. Just wait for your classes.
Nessquick:
who the hell can call himself Cleopatra with this face and replying every post in the same manner and way, as some of our "favorite friends" of this board ?
Being angry is never wrong! Assume your ultimate form!!!! 
Been there done that. It's great for this to happen for a month or so every 6 as it's a welcomed paid working holiday! 
But if you think this is going to continue and you want to get out then CHECK your contract. There might be a clause that states they will provide you with ALL tools required to fulfill your job, last time I check STUDENTS would be a tool needed to do your job!
