The OTHER Side of TEFL . . .
What you DON’T hear about TEFL on the Internet
On the Internet we read so many stories about crazy TEFL schools around the world, crazy recruiters, crazy countries and ideas, but it seems no one ever posts about the difficulties that teachers cause or the craziness that teachers bring to the mix.
It is pretty much a one-sided story out there. Unless, of course, you are reading the Chinese EFL School Owners forum (if one exists).
Anyway – I thought long and hard about what to name this post.
Some strong contenders:
WTF?!
What are you guys watching on TV over there?
Are you all crazy!?
Do you BELIEVE everything you read?
Yeah . . .
What has me saying that?
Well, today – and the names will be changed to protect the innocent – a teacher who had already been hired and was 90% of the way through the visa process for taking up her position in China – and part of that process was to take a final health exam on the China side – wrote me the following:
. . . I was warned to NEVER let anyone, no one, draw blood or stick a needle in me.
And, I will never take a Chip.
[she means have someone insert a radio tracking chip into her body - like for a dog or from Sci-Fi movies!]If these two things are promised to never happen, all is well.
(If you think my questions are out of line then you are not aligned with the real world.)Note: in the contract the written words must be in ink, everything that I have written above.
I don’t see why what I have asked (demanded) are out of line.
My response was as follows:
I am curious where you heard about getting a “chip” – amazing! But I’ve not heard anything about such a notion.
She wrote back AGAIN saying:
Note: in the contract the written words must be in ink, everything that I have written above.
My response: The part about the “chip” is a little bit like insisting that there be a clause that you won’t be required to ride in their space ship.
About the use of needles by a clinic, that I can’t guarantee and I quite doubt the school will put that in the contract – they can’t really, as they don’t own, control or manage the health clinic. Contracts are printed in ink though . . .
OF COURSE you have control over your body while in China. Absolutely. No one is going to hold you down and force you to do anything. But the medical exam is required for the final validation of your working papers (it is so in every country in which I have ever worked over the last 21 years). If there is a test required for that exam and if the procedure for that test requires a needle, you may certainly refuse that. However, how that affects the health exam and if the provincial authorities agree to finalize your working papers – that is a different story.
My personal opinion, is that if this is a deal breaker for you then let it break the deal. Life abroad is full of such things that need to be handled on a semi-regular basis. It ain’t America. Over the last twenty years I’ve signed blank contracts, had blood tests, had schools hold my passport, all sorts of stuff that people who know nothing of the real world out here yell about on the Internet.
But once you get to know the wider world a bit more there are often reasons why things are done, things operate a bit more on faith and trust abroad and personally I think that is a very GOOD thing.
Will you always have the choice to refuse a procedure or anything done to your body, of course.. Will it queer the deal for you on that side or anywhere else or lots of other places, quite probably.
The contract isn’t going to change – nor are China immigration rules – in this instance.
TED’s Tips™ #1: I don’t even know what to say for this one! What would you suggest to someone who believes that taking a health exam in another country will include getting a “Chip” inserted into your body or brain??
What are you watching on TV over there!?
Gives a whole new meaning to the marketing phrase, “Intel Inside” doesn’t it?
What’s up in China? Learn what kind of jobs are on offer if would like to Teach English in China. I help place people in China – it is great fun – and you can start your career often at a higher level in China than you would in Korea, Japan, Taiwan or even Thailand.
Tags: Teach English in China, teaching English abroad
Uncategorized | Ted | 
March 16, 2010 8:19 AM
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