By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: Western babysitter/tutor in Nanchang. What to ask?
This Sunday I will be introduced to two twin girls aged 8. Their parents want them to spend the weekends with me so they can improve their English and learn about other cultures. Now, I don't know what to ask for when it comes down to money. As they want me to start Sunday, but no price has been discussed and from there of on it will be a weekly endeavor.
Some background on the family:
Family is, in my friend's words, loaded. They live in my district and thus getting there takes no time at all. Their little girls have spent half a year in the United States, but what their English background is.. well, that is anyone's guess.
My background:
Currently a 21 year old language student in Nanchang, at Jiangxi Normal University on a student Visa. School told me it would cause no problems if I take a part-time job on the side, as long as my primary goal was studying here, which it is.
I have lived in the US for over 4 years, and in the UK for half a year. My mother-tongue is not English, that would be Dutch. However, I was brought up bilingually from an early age.
When it comes to teaching I have taught my classmates and been the babysitter of another set of twins, aged 12, who were on the autism spectrum. Which would count up to 3 years of teaching experience, if you could use that terminology.
Thank you for reading.
9 years 12 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
Hi Tinholt
The stock answer is that your school is wrong. It's not ok for you to work on the side if you are on a student visa. There was talk a while ago in the Chinese press that they were thinking of changing the law, but they did not actually change it.
You don't say if you are male or female, and that is important.
Don't take this the wrong way, but if you are a 21 year old male, you are leaving yourself open to all sorts of things if you will be spending weekends with a pair of 8 year old girls. Personally, I would not put myself in that position unless there was an adult female there at all times.
That's common sense, from a British point of view.
If your a female, this is not an issue. Sexist I know, but that's how it is.
So, I would go along to meet the family, explain to the parents about the law in the UK regarding an adult spending time with kids. If you are a bloke, ask that a family member is always there. If anything, this will show them how professional you are 
.
As for payment, explain you are not allowed to accept payment because of the law. Then, make a point of bringing out a scrappy old laptop or phone, and apologise for having such dated equipment.
If they are loaded you will have a new macbook and Iphone6 in no time at all. Payment solved 
.
Have fun. I am sure you will be a great teacher to the girls.
But just cover your back. Don't leave yourself exposed to any unfounded alegations at all.
Just to add to that, if you are alone with the girls and they are sick on Monday, it will be your fault. It could be anything from giving them cold water to letting them watch Tom and Jerry cartoons. Chinese always find someone to blame for anything.
I know this because I have a Chinese wife and a child, and everything is always my fault 
Hi Tinholt
The stock answer is that your school is wrong. It's not ok for you to work on the side if you are on a student visa. There was talk a while ago in the Chinese press that they were thinking of changing the law, but they did not actually change it.
You don't say if you are male or female, and that is important.
Don't take this the wrong way, but if you are a 21 year old male, you are leaving yourself open to all sorts of things if you will be spending weekends with a pair of 8 year old girls. Personally, I would not put myself in that position unless there was an adult female there at all times.
That's common sense, from a British point of view.
If your a female, this is not an issue. Sexist I know, but that's how it is.
So, I would go along to meet the family, explain to the parents about the law in the UK regarding an adult spending time with kids. If you are a bloke, ask that a family member is always there. If anything, this will show them how professional you are .
As for payment, explain you are not allowed to accept payment because of the law. Then, make a point of bringing out a scrappy old laptop or phone, and apologise for having such dated equipment.
If they are loaded you will have a new macbook and Iphone6 in no time at all. Payment solved .
Have fun. I am sure you will be a great teacher to the girls.
But just cover your back. Don't leave yourself exposed to any unfounded alegations at all.
Just to add to that, if you are alone with the girls and they are sick on Monday, it will be your fault. It could be anything from giving them cold water to letting them watch Tom and Jerry cartoons. Chinese always find someone to blame for anything.
I know this because I have a Chinese wife and a child, and everything is always my fault
