Hi,

In my few years experience in China, I have yet to find a Chinese-owned language school or training centre that is as ignorant of their 'industry' as you seem to believe. It is very simple - if the school you refer to is refusing, point-blank, to give you contact information of their present or past foreign teachers, then they do not want you making contact with any of them - or maybe they have never employed foreign teachers before and don't want to admit it. They almost certainly have something to hide.

Either way, my advice to you is to tell them very firmly that you want contact information within, say, 24 hours or you will not work for them. If you then get that information, follow it through and be as careful as you know how. If you do not get the information then simply and quietly cease all further contact with them. You might also ask them in the same e-mail to confirm that they are authorised by their local Department of Foreign Affairs to directly employ foreign teachers. If you do not get an immediate, unequivocal "yes" to that question, then gather your skirts and run.

Remember that the school you choose to work for becomes your lifeline in China. They are supposed to pay you in full and on time. They are responsible for your housing, shelter, and comfort. They are also responsible for your general safety and well-being. They are also responsible - at their expense - to provide you with your legal status as a Foreign Expert and all that this entails. They may also be responsible for paying your fare home at the end of your contract. If you go to work for them and find you have made even a small mistake then you can find yourself in serious trouble.

If, therefore you are not SURE that they are a genuine outfit - give them a miss, as there are many teaching jobs on offer in China pretty much all the while. By asking the right questions and acting correctly on the answers you receive, you can - like I have - avoid the pitfalls that attend upon less than reputable establishments - and there are many of them.

Beware!

Dave