Two things to remember about China
-- Roger Chrisman, May 21, 1999
One
Nothing is final.
Two
Everything is a relationship.
--my Tai Qi Teacher and colleague
In China relationships are king. So work on yours with your employers --
the Foreign Affairs Office at your school and the academic department you
teach in. Here a contract is merely an invitation to develop a real working
and mutually beneficial relationship with the folks at your school. In the
end it will be the relationships that get things done, not the contract.
Relationships take time and effort to build but they are essential tools
in your profession in China. Consider your contract an invitation to build
mutually beneficial relationships.
Job choice and life in China advice. This site thoroughly explains how teaching English in China as a foreigner is de-professionalized, how this makes the job difficult and frustrating and how this impacts foreign teachers. Everyone involved in teaching English in China in any way will benefit greatly by careful consideration of the serious issues presented on the
Middle Kingdom Life website and companion blog. A must read.
http://middlekingdomlife.com/guide/