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Asking the Government to Help ESL Teachers in China
Posted in The Vance Report on 10/18/2008 02:01 pm by Robert Vance
I would like to propose a new government office. Yes, that is right. Just when we need smaller government in Washington I need to have a new position created. Shame on me, right? Well, it is not just me. Although no one really knows for sure, it is estimated that there are anywhere between 10,000 to 20,000 Americans teaching English in China at this very moment. While most of us have relatively good experiences in China, some of us end up regretting the day that we paid that one thousand dollars for a plane ticket to fly here.
At the moment, foreign teachers in China have relatively little options if they are cheated or need help. Sure. There are plenty of American consulates sprinkled around here but unless there is a war or a tidal wave in the area, American consulates and embassies in China are as about as useful as an expired visa. The Chinese government for their part mainly adheres to an attitude of “teach here at your own risk” and its attempts to weed out bad schools and programs in China have been weak at best. In short, there is little recourse available for foreign teachers in China who find themselves caught up in a bad teaching situation.
What teachers need in China is someone who can ‘go to bat’ for them in an official manner. We need someone who can act as a liaison between us and the Chinese Ministry of Education. If I come all the way from the United States under false pretenses made by a school, I need to have a way to at least alert the appropriate authorities and warn other teachers about the problem. Presently, there is far too little accountability in China between English schools and the government. Accountability, of course, is a big problem in other sectors of China’s economy but creating the position of a teachers’ liaison could improve the quality of China’s already booming English business.
Immediately, I can imagine my email inbox being flooded with angry emails reminding me that most American teachers in China do not have to pay federal income taxes. How dare we ex-pats ask for help from our own government, right? This is true. While Americans living abroad are required to file an income tax every year, they not have to pay taxes on any foreign income less than 80,000 U.S. dollars. Most foreign teachers would consider themselves lucky if they even earned a tenth of that income every year.
But does that really matter? I am still an American, right? It is not as if I am over here learning how to be a good Communist or trying to incite a war against America. If anything, thousands of teachers such as myself are engaging students in a kind of ‘ping-ping diplomacy.’ Not only do we share our culture and values in the classroom but we also make friends with our students and their families as well as our Chinese counterparts.
In closing, I realize that having a government agency or position created just to deal with the needs of foreign teachers in China is highly unlikely. I would probably have better luck requesting oversight on people who pick their noses in public. Oh well. It is okay to dream a little, is it not? In the meantime, I guess we are on our own. I suppose that is part of what makes teaching English in China so exciting, right?
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10/18/2008 at 9:50 pm
Hm… you are asking a very poor government a very big favor, Robert. A government that can’t even agree to some basic steps that would help 750,000 rural Chinese people a great deal (see 17th CCP Central Committee’s Third Plenary Session).
You don’t need a government office created. You need guanxi, man!
10/18/2008 at 9:58 pm
@JustRecently,
I am not sure I understand. I am not calling on the Chinese government to do anything. I am suggesting that the U.S. government put someone in charge of overseeing some of the complaints and working with the Chinese Education Ministry to help. I agree with you. The Chinese government in and of itself can’t do much…
10/18/2008 at 11:19 pm
OK, I thought you wanted the Chinese government to do something about it. But I guess foreigners in China will be on their own most of the time, no matter if they teach or do business (the description of your embassies and consulates is true for most countries’ diplomatic services.
People on packaged tours are exceptions, though.
10/19/2008 at 6:36 am
Why would this be just an American thing. Yes there are many Americans working in China, but there are also Canadians, Australians, British… And why would the office cater to just teachers. Perhaps the office would do better if it catered to all working class foreigners in the country. I think it would be a great idea, not only in China, but extend this out to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam… will it happen is the question.
10/19/2008 at 7:54 am
Since China is famous for its lack of accountability , I am surprised that you have not stressed this negative aspect more in your interesting posts,Mr.Vance
I have suspected that a significant portion, perhaps 50% or more of the schools employing native English speaking teachers in China, could be classified as ‘cowboy’ schools, but perhaps I am not correct in my assessment………..?
10/19/2008 at 9:39 am
Mr Vance wrote: “it is estimated that there are anywhere between 10,000 to 20,000 Americans teaching English in China at this very moment.”
Do you have a source for this claim or have you made it up?
10/19/2008 at 5:50 pm
@ESL Daily,
Agreed. That was one shortcoming in the article. I should have suggested that something be set up for teachers from all countries. Obviously there are teachers from all over the world who get in trouble. I guess I was just writing as an American. It would probably be good for each country to hire someone in their Chinese embassies that could focus on these issues. And yes, there are plenty of other professions that could use some attention as well but since this is a China Teaching website…:)
10/19/2008 at 5:52 pm
@j.macklby,
I think expanding it would be great as well although it seems like there is more trouble in China with these ‘cowboy’ schools because of the size of the country. You may be right about the number of ‘cowboy’ schools in China but unfortunately, there are plenty of teachers who think they are going into something legitimate and are completely tricked. They are the ones who need help the most…
10/20/2008 at 12:49 pm
A US government department would have absolutely zero power or influence in China and certainly no legislative ability. It would be nothing more than a talking shop and serious waste of money.
10/20/2008 at 8:43 pm
Let’s face it: the embassies and consulates have tougher cases to take care of:
“Americans doing business in China should be aware that if they become involved in a business and/or civil dispute, the Chinese government may prohibit them from leaving China until the matter is resolved. Civil cases may sometimes be regarded as criminal cases and the defendant may be placed in custody. Civil law disputes may take years to resolve. There are many cases of American citizens being prevented from leaving China for months and even years while their civil cases are resolved.”
As for teaching in China, some prior requests to exchange agencies in ones home country, some research on the internet etc. must do. Before teaching in China, one should have an idea about the country and its comparative state of lawlessness.
I think I agree with Mr Easton that duped English teachers shouldn’t expect much help.