i worked here a few years ago for 3 months. the curriculum is ok, they give you books and schedules and how to teach the kids. pay is on time and they may nickle and dime you some times. the problem is the housing, staff, and managment. they will wine and dine you when you arrive because they have a hard time keeping people there (especially desirables), thats why the senior english teachers (canadian couple who are high school dropouts and are very very racist, feeling like the white knight amongst the chinese) are old and a little dim (g[edited] and his wife).if they are still there they will give you hell if you dont agree with their ways. the rooms they provide are decent except for one little thing which is no heating! remind you that jiamusi gets about 40 below in the winters. i changed my room twice and neither apartment had heating. however they will give the only apartment with heating to the preferred teachers. the town itself sucks, there is nothing to do there.the ta's that you work with pretty much run the class. they will go above you and do things specifically that you were suppose to do. they make you feel inferior and crappy. if they give you gifts too, its because the head master told them to (han mei i think it is). yes, they do snoop around in your apartment when they please.most people who are looking for better opportunities leave ivy with in 3 months because of the hellish conditions.