I worked for ZIA for 3 semesters. Xiuwen School is the sister school, both run by the same people. If you're the kind of teacher who thinks "Do page 43" is a complete lesson plan, you may like working there. I did not. I have an M.Ed. in Special Education, plus a TEFL certificate, with about 20 years of teaching experience. I went to China to build my international teaching experience so I could get college level positions upon my return home. Although my supervisor praised me for my communicative teaching and rapport with students, and videos of my teaching were used the semester after I left as examples for the remaining staff, he preferred teachers who taught in the Direct Method that is favored by most Chinese schools.

This supervisor, who oversees the foreign staff at both schools, also has problems with managing the accounting tasks. As a result, while pay was deposited on time, the amount wasn't always correct. If the school overpaid, the supervisor tried to pressure us into repaying the overpayment to him in cash. He mostly did this with female staff members. Pay slips, detailing how much was paid for salary, housing, utilities, etc., were rarely given, and were usually incorrect. For example, my housing allowance increased from one year to the next, but my pay slips showed the increase in my salary. I was unable to get a corrected version of the pay slip, which may create problems for me when I go home. Although my contract ran through March 8, I was only paid through February 25. Ostensibly that was because the last week was a holiday, but the date on my contract was set so I would be paid for the holiday. It was a rather petty thing to do, and the school could only do it because I had left. That's the sort of person I was dealing with.

I loved working at ZIA, since these are the kinds of problems that you don't have to deal with daily, but the environment outside of the classrooms was toxic. The staff was all male (except me), and mostly people who went out drinking with the supervisor. My students were wonderful, and my Chinese colleagues were great to work with.

If you're a male teacher who enjoys hitting a bar after work, doesn't care all that much about education, and can tolerate not having a paper trail for your pay, you should enjoy either of the schools. If you're a professional educator who expects to be treated professionally, you'll be unhappy.