Taffy,

Respectfully:

The recruiter 'introduces you' to XYZ Middle School in Huludao in Liaoning. The recruiter gives you the name and telephone number of a person "at the school" who he SAYS is the "Director of Foreign Affairs".

Now what?

You call this 'person' whose English skills are limited... how do you credentialize her or the information? Could she be the recruiter's wife?

Few Chinese high schools have English websites. You can google translate the many pages of their Chinese website if they have one, but then what? If they have current foreign teachers, you can ask for their telephone numbers in China. You are not likely to receive contact information for the teachers that quit or did runners.

Then there is the issue of living in Huludao and the school's FT residences.

I still recommend that NES newbies in China limit themselves to direct contact to schools with English websites. For Universities this is a no-brainer.

A while back I even outlined how to directly contact and credentialize national English school 'chains' in China (as Trump Diplomacy).

Recruiters are not necessary. Yes, if you are working in China and familiar with the procedures, you may be able to use multiple recruiters as tools in your search, as you suggest. And if your wife or girlfriend is fluent in Chinese, you are fortunate.

But for almost all first-time teachers in China, I believe that recruiters are a dangerous commodity and an unnecessary risk.