I'm ignoring all that stuff about glass cubicles etc, since we don't have any at the place where I work. I don't work for EF, and have never worked for EF. I'm guessing that's where the glass cubicle stuff is coming from.

As for not being allowed to leave... it's the same as any other non-teaching job I've had. As long as it is appropriate, I can come and go as I please. I'm just about to walk up to the shop to buy some things, and maybe we will go out for lunch. I don't feel unreasonably restricted.

: Now, in a university because you have only one or two lesson plans a week, it's not difficult
: to, get your plans together (based on their text books) and do any marking all in two
: hours a week. If[the university] they only pay you 5500 for say 15 hours teaching plus
: your two hours for plans and marking papers (not much of that) you will earn about 323
: RMB per hour.

I have 3 lesson plans a week. So, I think I'm doing okay on that front. But I repeat the same lesson 9 times to cover the 370 odd students that I am supposed to teach. I would say that's the biggest drawback. With 370 students, I'm lucky if I can remember all of their names let alone track their individual progress in my head.

Dongbei Shida, one of the big universities in Changchun, has just reduced all of their English FTs' salaries to 3,000RMB per month. Most of those jobs are now being filled by religious types, who have their salaries supplemented by their churches back home. I'm not in a position to comment, but I would guess that the quality of teaching there has just taken a massive nose dive.

I think the other universities in Changchun are still paying around 10,000RMB.

Which city in China were you in when you earned 12,000RMB per month? And was that before any additional private tuition? EF salaries in Beijing are 12,500RMB, but that's before rent and tax which I think leaves you with around 8,000RMB in the hand. Not enough in my opinion to live in an (IMO) expensive city like Beijing.