A TA is like a spy, I can teach an oral english class by myself, I don't need nor want external help from someone less qualified than myself.

Never a truer word said, San Mig, it is always part of their training. I used to actually find it amusing. The trick is this-can you charm the birds down from the trees? You have to do that, so you overcome their training and they become more loyal to you than their superiors-it's all down to building trust and confidence. I've had half a dozen TA's and I managed to have an understanding with all bar one, a bloke(nice enough chap though) With the other five I used to fill in for them if they wanted a day off and they would do the same for me. It's even possible to have regular sex with your TA and that can be highly convenient. But you're right-spying little Madams they can be. As for the bloke, I had to hand it to him, he always told me when he felt he had to report something to the bosses...but, I understood, it can be nearly a life or death situation for a Chinese to lose his job-anyway the repercussions for my misdemeanors were tellings-off and lectures which would go in one ear and promptly out of the other. Well said though San Mig-good point.