I worked at Longre and can vouch for it being a good place to work.

As you pointed out, there is no job security - if they don't like you they'll fire you. Is that a big deal though? In Shanghai it is fairly easy to get another job quite quickly ( I assume you're talking about the Shanghai Longres - I know they have branches in other cities).

Anyway, I think you're far off the mark about people at Longre not having degrees. Everyone I met there had a degree and many had teaching certificates. You come across as quite opinionated; as if you 'know the deal', but you're really talking through your hat mate.

You reckon it's better to work at a University - go ahead. All power to you. You won't be happy on pay day. At Longre most people made about 12,000 a month. Many made about 15,000.

They were the ones who worked casually though, who didn't sign a contract. In my opinion, it's the best way to work in China. Don't sign a contract and don't commit yourself to anyone. They stay nice that way. If you're a half decent teacher you'll get plenty of work - and if you don't want to do a class you just say no.

Of course, you're working illegally. But so what? Maybe it's different now (I was there a couple of years ago) but most teachers I met in SH were working illegally. Nobody asks and you don 't tell. I heard some people got caught and deported but they were just extremely unlucky. The other 50 thousand went about life there with no problems. Like I said, it may be different now - I don't know.

Anyway, just try not to shoot off at the mouth about things you don't really know about. You've got no idea about teaching in China if you think working at a University is a good idea. I only bothered answering because guys like you really annoy me: the teacher who thinks they've got it all worked out, spouting off advice to newbies, when they're talking utter crap.

So shut it mate.