[quote = overseasvet2] The remaining teachers still talk about that group 10 years on. They are remembered fondly. [/quote]

More evidence why teachers should change jobs frequently and do runners - its good for your mental health. Who in their right mind would want to be a "remaining teacher" that remembers a group from 10 years ago. Thats just sad.

As to the end of contract whinge, its just common sense not to rock the boat at the beginning of a contract. As a contract draws to its end, teachers with issues gain confidence once they have a new position and are emboldened to speak out. Once I get me last paycheck here, I'm going to trash this school on ISR but until I get my last check, I'm all smiles.

Thanks Morgan and Blueseal. It was a real help. It sounds sketchy at NIS and I think I'll work through my visa issue with China

@Traveller and DL MOrgan:

Any comments on the recent ISR review that claims NIS has broken all contracts in violation of both Russian and English versions and that no Summer salaries will be paid?

Any truth to these allegations?

[quote = hallier] For the record, I have worked in 3 different schools in China (great one, good one and terrible one). Each got me into the country using the proper work permits etc. [/quote]

I'm curious about the procedure each of these times.
Did the school provide you with a letter of invitation, which was then used to get a Z-Visa, which was then turned into a residence visa, the health check being done in China. That was my experience.

OR did the school require you first get a health check in your home country, send them the health check with appropriate notarizations and then send you a letter of invitation? Thats what the school I'm going to now wants.

@Emily

As I understand it, you need only a letter of invitation for a Z Visa.

[quote = mathman] Having been granted a Z visa previously obviously helps. [/quote]

I get more confused the more comments I read. China clearly needs to get its act together. The school I'm going to had me do my medical first, as a requirement for the letter of invitation to get the Z-Visa. And NO WAY would they accept an email of the results. Nothing but the originals will do.

I did the health check in late March and I still haven't gotten my letter of invitation.

Dawson Moans: [quote]Higgs: Sadly you are what is wrong with international education. To think that you actually think you somehow "taught" your students is even more dethpicable.[/quote]

What did they learn from Gurung? They learned that their bullying ways pay off whereas in my classroom, where given that ilk I would tie grades to behavior, they would learn cooperation pays off.

Sometimes Dawson you need to think outside whatever it was that they taught you in "teachers college" and give up on your self-righteous and holier than thou attitudes and do what works. Poor Gurung only made a bad situation worse and in so many ways.

What struck me first off was that he was in a lunch line with the little savages. In a situation like that, I wouldn't break bread with them. I'd put a huge distance between me and students like that. They were bullies and I'm guessing raised to be bullies and had years of practice bullying maids and cooks and drivers. Gurung was just one more victim to them and he gained nothing by being familiar. Like I said, it was pearls before swine.

@emilyhurd

China Travel Guide has info on getting a Z-Visa:

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/visa/work.htm

I taught in China three years ago and the process was very simple: the school sent me a letter of invitation and I got a Z-Visa.

@Dredge

I can also add the new hassle of getting a work permit, which used to be so easy.

The reasons for me are, in order of importance:

1. Some of the most excellent students in the world who not only tolerate but seem to appreciate a teacher centered approach. They love to hear lectures and I love to give lectures.

2. The money. I'm going to a job that pays $50,000 after taxes plus I get free housing and completion bonus. For me, that's a good salary.

3. The travel opportunities. My best trips have been by train starting in China and covering multi countries. I already have my CNY trip of a lifetime planned.

4. The women and I'll say no more on that.

All in all, I love working in China but it does wear on you after a couple of years.

Hi Psyguy, I had no idea this was the standard procedure. Still, I think the school I'm going to is overkill.

Let me ask you this, after I get the health check notarized by a local notary and then authenticated by the Secretary of State in my state, do I then have to get it authenticated by the Chinese embassy?

In the past, to get a Z-visa for China, the school sent me a letter of invitation and I just went to the Chinese embassy and got a Z-visa. After the health, which was done in China, the Z-visa was turned into a work permit.

Has that process changed recently?
Are they now requiring a health check be done in your home country before you can get the Z-visa?

lifesucks misrepresents: [quote] You talk of 'trashy students' and yet openly admit that you are a trashy teacher,[/quote]

What I said was, given trash students, I do a shitty job. I think I made that clear with the "Pearls before swine" comment, a Biblical reference obviously lost on you.

The fact is that while the sainted Gurung spent weeks in prison and only got out thanks to the intervention of the international community, myself included by the way, the bad higgsboson avoided prison and saved a big chunk of money.

And really what did I do that was so wrong? I only gave the rich twats what they wanted anyway, all As and Bs, and probably taught them something about life: if you do nothing else but behave properly, you just might get over in this world.

Life may such for you, lifesucks, but it doesn't have to suck for everyone else.

This whole episode is just more justification for dealing with schools defensively - in other words, do them before they do you.

Gurung sounds like a fine and honest man but he's like throwing pearls before swine. His former student is a witness to this. Because Gurung cared so much, he was bullied by his students and the school, as expected, did nothing to help him.

When I was in Kuwait, I had students that sound much like the ilk described at Qatar Academy - rich, lazy and entitled with the worst case, most confrontational parents you can imagine. Once I realized the type of trashy students I was dealing with, I inflated their grades and tied their continued success to behavior. I can't say that their behavior was good but it was manageable and, when all is said and done, I earned a high salary for doing next to nothing.

Obviously Gurung was too good for Qatar Academy but that's only because he cared too much. Qatar Academy deserves teachers like me, who don't give a shit for shitty students and know how to enjoy a big easy.

[quote = Wiseteach said] QA HAS TIES TO A PRESTIGIOUS US UNIVERSITY - TEXAS A&M[/quote]

I think Wiseteach is on to something here. We should bombard the Texas A&M provost with emails telling them to sever all ties with QA. That would be a good first move and would probably be therapeutic. This is bringing up memories of student behavior in Kuwait and pissing me off.

[/quote=Inman] This COULD happen anywhere. [quote]

No, this could only happen in the ME. You could get fired anywhere if you get on the wrong side of a spoiled student - that could happen anywhere. But only in a shit hole of a ME country like Qatar will they throw you in jail for pissing off a rich and spoiled brat.

I can just imagine the abuse this guy had to endure, probably counting the days to get out, and once he dared to open his mouth so it was off to jail he went. I had the same type of experiences in Kuwait. Arabs don't want teachers, they want timid servants who know their place.[/quote]