That tells me that there are too many FTs in China here for sightseeing and having a good time rather than for serious teaching.

I'm not sure that's entirely the right way round. I think a serious and qualified teacher should be able to teach the majority of classes without the aid of a TA. It requires a basic knowledge of methodology and techniques and the will to plan lessons but in most cases an oral english class doesn't need a TA. Indeed one might say that it is against the whole purpose of employing FTs in the first place, namely in order to create an entirely english environment for the students.

It's common place in western schools to find TAs in most classrooms for most subjects and they are a great asset to a teacher who is trying to cater for a variety of different learning styles. The problem is that most FTs don't have the skills to use a TA in this way (they'll simply get them to translate instructions,etc.). Furthermore, the schools and universities aren't employing the TAs to do this. San Migs is correct in saying that they'll probably be used to 'assess' you in some way. Furthermore, as Mancunian has said they do require 'training' and you might be forced to spend as much time and attention on them as you do your students. If you can find a decent one who speaks reasonable english, has a bit of common sense and knows their place then they can make life easier. If not, well ....

Sorry, mate. I beg to differ, and I can't be bothered to argue the toss with you. In any case, I'm retired from teaching. I have just given my two cents' worth, and I'm happy to leave it at that. Let the readership, one by one, make up their own minds. That'll do me fine!