Thank you, Silverboy! I hold two masters degrees and had years of teaching experience in the States before venturing to China. My experience and qualifications didn't buy me a sliver more of professionalism or respect from employers in the P.R.C. than was afforded lesser experienced instructors. We are all just grist for the language mill and molded into Foreign White-Meat McNuggets in the English Happy Meal.

Yes, indeed, English is a BUSINESS, not an academic endeavor in the minds of most Chinese employers because all the ones I encountered in my time there were businessmen, not educators. They had not interest in knowing why some teachers were more successful with students than others. Maximum workloads and physical appearances of teachers were far more coveted than ability or dedication to proper English education.

As usual, it's also interesting when posters such as Arthur defend the "good" training centers, but fail to ever name any of them. Such glaring omissions make the defensive and desperate recruiter stench begin to rise and stink up the discussion.