Share your experience, good or bad, teaching in China. One of the most useful tools you have as you research teaching overseas is the personal accounts of your peers.

If you have an experience to share please write it to us by visiting the contact page.

By Maxine Russell:

Many have written that outside major cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, in loss commercial areas, there is less of a corporate greed amongst business people and fewer "Triad" type organizations operating . Another advantage away from a major city is that foreigners are of a greater scarcity and may be attracted with a better offer. Comments about Shandong were very favorable.

Many others write, "Despite any of their vocalized intentions to protect US citizens, the U.S. Consulates are inadequate and most of all uncooperative in doing so." The fears are that if an American teacher gets into trouble, the U.S. Consulates are too busy with adoptions, renewing passports, and approving documents for marriage. Their focus needs to change. Others often mention that "the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou is occupied with Chinese Nationalists who work there. The red tape is enormous since they are the only U.S. Consulate in China that does certain visas." Others write, "Incompetency and denial of responsibility are rife in this consulate, in my experience.

No one should take any job in China unless they have personally spoken with former and current American employees at the particular school. It is also important to form "support groups" of other American teachers that can be there to help one another. Also, ideally it is best to take the time and money and go to China for a week to see for yourself in person. Meet with the managers, owners, etc. and make sure the working conditions are as promised.

Many of the private language schools obtain work permits for the teachers by effectively buying work visas from government approved schools. Foreign teachers are falsely placed on the payroll of the school and obtain the work permit illegally that way. Many teachers write with horrific situations but are afraid to report them for fear of reprisals. Teachers have written that they taught at the North University of China Fenxio. The job was arranged thru UCE which turned out to be dishonest and incompetent.  UCE subcontracts teacher's services. One teacher wrote, "The North University of China Fenxio is a great school that takes care of the foreign teachers, but do not use UCE. They will make promises but will pass along any problems to you and ignore you if you complain.

Others experienced negative experiences at the Shaoguan University in Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province. They didn't let the teacher read the contract until the teacher arrived in China. It took them 5 weeks to obtain the Expert Certificate and Residence Permit. The living conditions were dirty and in poor condition. The salary was always paid late. Teachers feel conditions won't improve there because the leaders have too much power. Recommendations are for the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou and the U.S. State Dept. to keep records of bad schools in China as well as have every school there be licensed. Never be the only foreign teacher at a school. There is safety in numbers.

By Maxine Russell:

I received a positive comment about the Root School in Pingyao, Shanxi. It states it is a wonderful place if you don't mind a challenge and severe air pollution. It is run by a family. Housing is on campus. One needs to be flexible with your days off. Another teacher said that the web site Shanghaiexpat.com offers good insight by both expats and helpful Chinese people. Many warn that there is more corruption in Guangzhou than other major cities. A few others wrote of positive experiences in Luoyang, Henan Province.