Comments for Middle Kingdom Life

Comment on Foreign Expert Certificate Now Blue by Dr. Greg

Dr. Greg — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:54:46 +0000

Hi and thanks for your question. This comes up a lot and has been answered by school owner Ken Hayes. You can find that here: School Won’t Give Me My Foreign Expert Certificate.

The FEC technically belongs to the school and some schools are extremely territorial about it, as it can create problems for them if you don’t return it when you leave. As a matter of law, you need it to change money but, to be honest, I’ve never used or needed the FEC in all the years I’ve been here. When I need to change RMB into dollars I simply ask a Chinese friend to do it for me or I use the gray market money changes in front of Bank of China’s main branch.

Comment on Foreign Expert Certificate Now Blue by Song

Song — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:46:38 +0000

My school refuses to give me my foreign expert certificate, saying that the Foreign Expert Bureau told them we are not allowed to carry them on our persons and that the school is responsible for it… Is this normal? It seems to have been different a few weeks ago…

Comment on How to Apply for a Teaching Job by Dr. Greg

Dr. Greg — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:19:23 +0000

Thanks for the feedback and the notice about the links. Both links have been corrected.

Comment on How to Apply for a Teaching Job by donnacha

donnacha — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:11:26 +0000

I’ve spent all night reading this site, very interesting, thank you.

Just a quick note to alert you that both the sample résumé and the cover letter linked to in the above post are missing.

Comment on SAFEA, Foreign Teachers, and Chinese Boxes* by Mark Repesh (MaKe)

Mark Repesh (MaKe) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:21:14 +0000

I had heard about the 5 year rule, but until last summer never seen it enforced. However, before I acquired my current position at a foreign language school outside Chengdu, I was told that I would need to return to the US for 6 months before I could work again as a teacher. I do not know where they arrived at 6 months hiatus instead of 2 years, but any extended period of time a hardship for me because I am married to a local Chinese woman. Leaving for 6 months, would force family separation.

With the assistance of the school, I was provided with the name and telephone number of the head of Foreign Affairs in Chengdu. After a long discussion with this understanding individual and he agreed to allow me another year of work, because of my marital status. It was also necessary for me to provide documentation support the fact that my wife works in China and that we own our home here, but the school was allowed to hire me.

I hope that this concern does not become a yearly problem. though, I’ve come to realize that there are many laws, but few are enforced.