You are certainly aware of the case of thousands of Syrian and other refugees currently comig in en masse in Central Europe, with families and kids. Some of them are already attending special classes in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands to learn basic Dutch or German. One 12 year-old Syrian started writing German after being the first week in class. This is what can happen when language lesson are effective , and in the case of the class attended by that Syrian kid, it was not with a teacher dancing like a monkey.

If a teacher did something like that at a public school in Central Europe, they would fire him or call the police to send him in handcuffs to lunatic asylum. Just to give you a perspective of how things mostly work in major parts of the world while white monkey dancing is a sub-standard and decadent exception in corporate EFL, especially in China.

As for training center directors or for that matter most any Chinese giving advice - no, I'd nearly do the opposite of what they'd suggest! I've heard the most ridiculous ones actually tell teachers "go in the room and dance like a monkey - the kids like it!". Seriously. I've heard that.

But you aren't refuting the post.

If the teachers decides to dance like a monkey because they know it will work to educate the kids in the long run then thats the claim and promise made here.

I have a number of crazy entertaining 'acts' or 'dances' that I use on distracted or bored kids because I know from experience I'm the one playing a trick on them and that's tricking them into learning something.

As for training center directors or for that matter most any Chinese giving advice - no, I'd nearly do the opposite of what they'd suggest! I've heard the most ridiculous ones actually tell teachers "go in the room and dance like a monkey - the kids like it!". Seriously. I've heard that.

But done right and with a little skill yes a great teacher can know when to 'dance like a monkey' and use that trick kids into learning something.

I will dance like a monkey IF I think that will help kids learn and be proud of it. There is tremendous satisfaction when you win. I accept that might mean you win with less than 10% (so its the same everywhere) but I will take that 10% and have tremendous job satisfaction.

But as for illegal visas or unqualified documents yes you are giving a very very fair warning:

employers actually prefer employees who can't secure legal documents--because said
employees cannot appeal to SAFEA when the employers don't pay them or otherwise honor
their contract (it is the rare Mainlander that actually believes in honoring business
agreements). Believe me, if you are working for a training center in China on an illegal
visa...they will have you over a barrel in a foreign land. Don't expect them to not
screw you over--

They will even enjoy hearing about a fiance and plans to marry a local girl because they know that means the foreigner has huge personal obligations, motivations to stay no matter what happens. This means the foreigner is going to soon have more financial needs and obligations and that means this foreigner can be used, squeezed, scammed and will have to take it.

So the best advice for the Australian is to always remember that no matter what happens he is financially stable, has his own money, remind them he has a paid ticket home (especially that) do not indicate any needs or obligations to stay in China and act like he doesn't need to be there but just wants to be there.

Hi Martin

I think 'troll' on this site must mean 'good old boy' or similar. Either that or the whole sentence was a back-handed compliment? I do notice that those recipients of the word on this site go on to accuse the accuser of being a troll, so it has become a bit of a devalued label, and as such I would personally shy away from using it, in order to sustain a modicum of that originality. I may well be an idiot, or even a deluded idiot for pursuing my Chinese dream and illusive wife but I am certainly no troll, since I am being genuine. Just because I am a market trader doesn't mean I am a troll either.

The sausage man's wife has a delightful 3 year old and it certainly wasn't me who put the bun in the oven.

Hi John
I must say I never thought of it like that. Let's hope I won't mind them exploiting me. If I can get the wife I'll put up with a bit of exploiting.

To your other point. I know you're using your name but I didn't fancy doing that. I don't though regard 'The Trader' as an alias because it does describe what I am at the moment. Sorry to have upset you somehow.

Or just go to Thailand on holiday and bang a few hookers like more normal people do.

Normal people don't "bang" hookers, Silverboy, oops, I mean John O'Shei.

Heh.

Keep at it forum monkey. You can't hide behind a name. I'd recognize your antics anywhere!

The pain in the arse was that my friend who has a degree was rejected by the same
centre. She must have been able to tell that I have innate teaching abilities.

More likely they found that you was easier to exploit, rip off and not likely to be able to quickly find better employment elsewhere. For a shit school, it's the best alternative available, when you can't find an employee that is truly loyal out of their own free will. A degree-less working class hero or whatever your last alias called it.

But Australia is the best place to be. Australia with a low-paying mediocre job is a better life experience day-to-day. Not necessarily wealth or status but comfort and easy living.

Hi VS

Whereas there are some knowledgeable people on this forum who can advise you better. I can tell you my situation. I am 55, and fed up with selling burgers and griddled chicken at markets and other venues. When I started looking for jobs in China I was disheartened that they all required a degree. A degree? A degree to teach your own language, what a joke! I was then lucky insomuch as the sausage in a bun seller's wife is Chinese and she was able to phone up jobs in China and find a sympathetic ear. She got me a skype interview with a training centre. I immediately told them 'I don't have a degree you know. They replied (a young Chinese lady) that that wasn't s problem if we cooperate( in a nod's as good as a wink to a blind beggar tone) She has sent me some invitation documents to get a visa. Do you know of a Chinese person in Australia who can help you with your job search? The icing on the cake for me is that I think the training centre is going to issue me with a degree. I may be wrong but that's the veiled message I got. The pain in the arse was that my friend who has a degree was rejected by the same centre. She must have been able to tell that I have innate teaching abilities. I've had some good advice on this site but unfortunately my main original reason for going to China, to find a wife now looks in some doubt as to future success in that department. But I will go anyway and know for sure.