My Job as an English Teacher

I figure I need to address my current situation teaching English in Shanghai. Many of you have heard that I was struggling to find a zen state working lots of hours for incredibly low pay and dealing with the maddening aspects of Chinese company functions.

This is all true.

However, I am currently in a better place now, having accepted my lot--at least for this term.

I applied for CIEE's Teach Abroad in China, Immersion Program, last spring. I was accepted fairly quickly and was awaiting placement around the time of graduation. The immersion program would've placed me somewhere in Guangxi Province, a poorer rural autonomous area in the south of China. I felt like I wanted to avoid the city and see some new things, as well as be provided free language lessons. As I waited for a placement in Guangxi, I got an email from a girl who had just received an offer from Shanghai Jazz and saw my name listed as a co-teacher at the same school. I have no idea why my name ended up on the list for a different program. I then received an email from the CIEE coordinator, letting me know that I was offered a placement at Shanghai Jazz, which I was allowed to accept if I were to switch programs. She advised me that the Shanghai placement is a “coveted” one and that Immersion placements were slow in coming. I took the 48 hours to peruse the brochure and chose to switch to Teach Abroad in China and take the placement at Shanghai Jazz.

This was a very difficult decision for me. I was apprehensive about living in Shanghai again, knowing that it stressed me out when I lived there before. It's big, loud and dirty. Despite constant comments about its Western-ness, Shanghai is still very Chinese and comes with the stares and indignant treatment at the grocery store. So I pondered and pondered, eventually coming to the decision that working there would be quite different and it may open up other opportunities for cool jobs in the future. The brochure informed me of the salary and accommodations, which seemed reasonable for a teacher with little experience. It was also more than what I would receive in Guangxi.

To be completely honest, I probably didn't look hard enough at the brochure and contract, or at least look critically. My experience with CIEE in the past was so positive that I was confident they had my best interests in mind. Know this: that is not true. They may be a nonprofit, but they have certain placements that are run in a very businesslike and impersonal manner, which I am experiencing now.

Long story short, I am paid the lowest amount in the entire Teach in China program, though I live in the most expensive city. Furthermore, the time commitment is essentially full-time, when adding in commute, sitting around and actually teaching. This is supposed to be a part-time job, where you become as awesome China-hand in your spare time. My spare time is between classes (afternoon nap-time) and the evenings/weekends. Yes, whinge, whinge, it's a REAL JOB, but I'm not being paid like it's a real job. I'm also not given certain freedoms like a REAL JOB, like locating a place to live that suits my needs or *gasp* negotiating my contract for better terms.

I live in a great area, near the South Shanghai Railway Station and by Shanghai Teaching University. It is a pretty Chinese area, though the surprising surge in foreigners is ruining my cred as the lonely white person in the neighborhood. However, I do not work in this area. I work an hour away by public transportation from the Jazz headquarters and both of my kindergartens. The brochure informed me I would be 20 minutes away, but I am only 20 minutes away maybe by taxi. I can't afford a taxi, silly. So that's why I spend so much time commuting, even though my working hours are relatively short.

Then, when I have morning work, I have to wait around until 2:40pm for my afternoon classes to start. To catch a ride from Jazz, I get in the "school bus" aka minivan around 1:30pm. Most of the commuting provided by work involves a lot of downtime. These small allotments of time make it very hard to do anything except read my Kindle or maybe my Chinese book. And generally, the environment isn't the best for studying. I am pretty good at finding a zone, but often once I find it, it's time to go. I don't feel very productive most days, which takes its toll on my Type-A personality. This is one area I am constantly improving in, which is why I am managing at present.

There are many other irritants involved, including cultural differences, respect issues and all the grating things about living in China that seep into my work life. I could go on and on and on...

Short story long, there are many smaller issues that are adding up into some huge issues here and my happiness is definitely at stake. However, I go to the gym, take Chinese class and find things to occupy my time.

Exhibit A: Thanksgiving graphics.

I tried to flip these horizontally but it just kept reverting back. You get the point.

Oh and by the way, my pay is about half of the going rate in Shanghai. It's embarrassing to discuss with other foreigners (and it comes up often) and it's just ridiculous that I paid to have CIEE help me out, and I ended up being effectively scammed. Whatever. We'll see what happens.

Quick poll before you go: Should I buy running gear or an oven? One is for my personal performance and killer bod, the other is for treats and holiday times. Kthxbye!

ellen