Had the writer of this post taken the time to mention that there are many downsides to teaching in China, it would have been more acceptable. The truth is not quite as palatable as he would have the unsuspecting believe. Granted, China represents a good opportunity for those interested in gaining valuable teaching experience abroad. It can be an enjoyable experience as well; however, the pitfalls are numerous and many teachers return home wishing they'd never taken the time to discover this the hard way.

The US Government has warned that as many as 30% of teachers who venture to China with high hopes are either cheated or have in some way entered into situations that range from dangerous to uncomfortable. Anyone wishing to teach English in China should therefore be extremely dilligent in doing their research and should adopt a rightfully cautious attitude before making the leap.

Yes, you can be one of the lucky 70% that have worthwhile experiences as EFL teachers in China, but even then there is a huge amount of adaptation necessary, and one must be ready to redefine what they consider an acceptable work environment.

The writer of the post that this poster is responding to is obviously a recruiter. Don't be taken in by his glowing appraisal of the EFL situation here; moreover, be aware that recruiters have a very bad reputation in China - experienced teachers here avoid them like the plague.

Now, having said that, let me reverse course for a moment and add that it is possible to have a wonderful experience here. I've been here for three years and have no intention of leaving. However, I've had to learn the hard way. I was shocked to discover how many dishonest people are involved in the EFL China business, but now I know their games and I've learned to avoid them.

First and foremost, never work with a recruiter! Private schools? Pretty iffy. Read the forums here and elsewhere. Make wise, informed decisions. Above all, remember that what you are promised will rarely match up with what you find when you get here. Many teachers find themselves living in rat infested run-down apartments and teaching in dillapidated "schools." Often teachers are cheated out of some of their pay and their promised airfare. Many teachers have written about never getting paid at all and being fired for no apparent reason. There have even been well documented situations where teachers have been physically abused. Yes, many have found themselves in unbearable situations. The list goes on, but hopefully you get the picture...............................DO YOUR RESEARCH!