Your Role as a Teacher and the Law
Your role as a teacher in China is held with high regard and responsibility for developing the minds of China's next generation. Most people are aware of many of the main cultural differences between China and the west; however, they may not appreciate just how deeply certain contrasting views are held here.
There is one clause in every ESL teachers' contract that has to be there by law. This applies to every one of the many thousands of ESL teachers teaching in China today. As an ESL teacher in China, you may not, under any circumstances promote any political nor religious views. No political or religious discussion is permitted and no teaching materials regarding these matters can be brought into the classroom. Where students ask a question of a political or religious nature, the teacher must not respond, other than to say that they cannot discuss such matters and move the class back on to topic. The seriousness of falling foul of this issue is up there with the sale of illegal drugs and similarly perceived levels of offences. It really is that serious.
All our teaching materials that the school provides the teachers are authorised materials. Any materials brought in by teachers, such as newspaper/magazine articles, radio clips, video or any self-authored materials (including word searches, games, puzzles and songs) need approval from the Headmaster.
We don't wish to stifle a teacher's creativity, but we have a duty of care to ensure that every one is aware of the law and that it is rigorously enforced by both the school and the Chinese authorities. Given that this issue has its own special corner of our website, please appreciate that it's here for a very good reason. If Chinese policy on human rights and freedoms is likely to compromise your own moral standards, then you are well advised not to come.
Another legal point to consider is that of the teachers' qualifications and visa status. Currently, teachers must possess the following criteria to be able to teach in China:
* a Bachelors degree or higher
* be a native speaker of the language being taught
* some form of teaching qualification such as TEFL
* two years work experience (not necessarily teaching)
* be a minimum of 22 years old
Whilst some school may exert some flexibility with the above criteria, at BDW, we do not. We believe that the extra effort we go to in finding appropriately qualified teachers goes a long way in ensuring we provide the best possible service to all of our students and that teachers give due consideration to the reasons why they are coming to China.
Finally, your visa status. If you are offered a job to come over to teach in China on anything other than a work 'Z' visa, DO NOT take up the offer of employment. We have seen countless teachers get into all kinds of trouble over the years because they did not possess the right visa. Tourist 'L' and business 'F' visas are just not going to cut it! It is highly likely that the 'school' in question is not a legal operation. Just as illegal workers in our home countries are treated with seriousness by the law, it is the same in China. Click below to learn more about visa related problems and how to avoid them.
There is one clause in every ESL teachers' contract that has to be there by law. This applies to every one of the many thousands of ESL teachers teaching in China today. As an ESL teacher in China, you may not, under any circumstances promote any political nor religious views. No political or religious discussion is permitted and no teaching materials regarding these matters can be brought into the classroom. Where students ask a question of a political or religious nature, the teacher must not respond, other than to say that they cannot discuss such matters and move the class back on to topic. The seriousness of falling foul of this issue is up there with the sale of illegal drugs and similarly perceived levels of offences. It really is that serious.
All our teaching materials that the school provides the teachers are authorised materials. Any materials brought in by teachers, such as newspaper/magazine articles, radio clips, video or any self-authored materials (including word searches, games, puzzles and songs) need approval from the Headmaster.
We don't wish to stifle a teacher's creativity, but we have a duty of care to ensure that every one is aware of the law and that it is rigorously enforced by both the school and the Chinese authorities. Given that this issue has its own special corner of our website, please appreciate that it's here for a very good reason. If Chinese policy on human rights and freedoms is likely to compromise your own moral standards, then you are well advised not to come.
Another legal point to consider is that of the teachers' qualifications and visa status. Currently, teachers must possess the following criteria to be able to teach in China:
* a Bachelors degree or higher
* be a native speaker of the language being taught
* some form of teaching qualification such as TEFL
* two years work experience (not necessarily teaching)
* be a minimum of 22 years old
Whilst some school may exert some flexibility with the above criteria, at BDW, we do not. We believe that the extra effort we go to in finding appropriately qualified teachers goes a long way in ensuring we provide the best possible service to all of our students and that teachers give due consideration to the reasons why they are coming to China.
Finally, your visa status. If you are offered a job to come over to teach in China on anything other than a work 'Z' visa, DO NOT take up the offer of employment. We have seen countless teachers get into all kinds of trouble over the years because they did not possess the right visa. Tourist 'L' and business 'F' visas are just not going to cut it! It is highly likely that the 'school' in question is not a legal operation. Just as illegal workers in our home countries are treated with seriousness by the law, it is the same in China. Click below to learn more about visa related problems and how to avoid them.
