You've been through the interview process, done your research, and BAM...have a job offer! But what comes next?
**Now, my case is a bit different because I had only reached the point of doing one interview and hadn't gone through the process with several different schools, so bear that in mind.**
The CONTRACT. Duh, duh, duh! Signing your life away and trying to handle it gracefully. I have never had a job before where I needed to sign an official contract. Yes, I've signed a confidentiality agreement for my first postgraduate job, but that wasn't like signing my life away. This was a bit more wearing on my nerves. What if this is all a lie? What if I get involved in something that doesn't really work? A ton of questions were going around in my head.
When I got the contract emailed to me, the first thing I saw was a title in Mandarin. Oops, um, yeah. I can speak some Mandarin, but I only read 30 characters, so that was going to be problematic. I scrolled through the attachment and saw that they attached the contract and the addendum's in both English and Chinese. (The reason for doing that is because I had to fill out and sign both to send to the Expert Bureau in China.)
Being my first time doing it, I learned a few things. This is what I recommend when doing when getting that TEFL contract:
READ IT! Don't just skim it, though it was helpful to skim through it first to get the basic idea and then read it more closely. Make notes on it. Heck, they emailed it to you, so don't be afraid to mark that sucker up. Underline, circle, highlight, do it all. Read it and read it well.
Read it specifically for a few things:
1) The pay. A lot of jobs will draw you by saying they will pay you "up to" amount x. Be wary of that phrase "up to" because it leaves a lot of room for interpretation. Make sure that your contract lists a specific amount of what you will be paid and how often. Also check if that is before or after local taxes.
2) Housing arrangements. If the school states that they will assist with housing, it should be clearly stated in the contract. And not only should it say yes, there needs to be details. Do you need to pay utilities? Is there a flatmate? What amenities are available?
3) Bonuses. Many TEFL contracts include a bonus, but it needs to be written into the contract as a clause or an addendum. In my case, there was a bonus addendum that was very clear as to the bonuses offered and requirements that needed to be fulfilled in order to receive them. Don't rely on the administration or HR department dealing out bonuses at will, have it in writing.
4) Visa support. The contract should list whether or not the school will provide support or subsidize the work visa. I'm going through an interesting process with that night now (more on that later), so it is important to have that laid out clearly from the beginning. You shouldn't be left to the wind, especially if it is your first teaching job. (I realize that I say that not starting my first teaching job, but Sophie-one of my CELTA tutors-told me that it is vitally important.)
5) Health insurance. Yes, you might be young and healthy, but it is important not to let insurance slide. It is different for US citizens than it is for other countries, but see what kind of health insurance the school provides. My school, for example, provides free access to the on-site physician and will pay for any medical cost incurred at a hospital, granted the receipts can be produced. This is not official health insurance and will not cover my in the US. Get the information you need and see what you need to do if you don't want a lapse in coverage.
6) Breaking the contract. What are the penalties for breaking a contract early? I'm not saying that you are going to break the contract, but is important from a legal standpoint to know what you are responsible for if you or the school breaks the contract. It needs to be explicit.
ASK QUESTIONS. Don't be afraid to ask questions about the contract before you sign it. There are more things than what I listed above that you might find more important. If you aren't sure, ask. Don't sign something that you might later regret.
REVIEW THE CONTRACT. Even after reading it several times, review it again to see if there is anything you missed. Those things that will get you are always in the fine print. Do not be fooled by excitement or anticipation and let yourself get drawn into a lousy teaching situation.
KEEP A COPY. The contract should list specific dates in which it is in force. Once you sign it, keep a copy of an original signed contract. I had to send three original signature contracts to my school, so I signed a fourth one for my own records. Always protect yourself.
I hope that this helps you in the contract-signing part of your TEFL adventure. As I continue forward with this whole first teaching job, I will keep you apprised as to how the contract pans out in real life (because we all know that can be completely different).
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