Actually, it is not the Ningbo Beilun High School that is bad. The Chinese section has a good reputation, but a few years back some shady Chinese characters (investors) opened this “international program” there, calling it a “Sino-US” program (there is nothing of the “US” in it, except that they send students to the US every year to visit some “affiliated” schools). Actually this place is just a GAC/ACT joint, where students are not even required to be present during the courses. Many would leave for several weeks, their marks manipulated by the Chinese administrator, Grace (Chen Lei) in exchange for “red envelopes” from the parents, etc. Now, due to the bad reputation of the “international” students within the school, the main school administration has asked the program to leave. I’ve heard that it will happen this year or next year, most likely to move to Bin Hai (or Bing Hai) High School in Beilun.

Now, about that Chinese woman administrator – Grace (chenlei_grace@163.com). I spent more than a year there, and I can tell you, she hits all time world records for being unprofessional, cunning, lying, deceiving, manipulating, cheating, making up stories, playing behind your back, the list can go on and on… Every year she will try to lure foreign teachers with a good salary promises and smiles (you are not needed after one year because you will know the truth already by then). After you sign a contract, you will become a hostage to her irrational behavior, and she will try to make you do things that are contrary to the ethics of a professional teacher, like writing students’ works so they can pass, appearing in some meetings pretending to be someone else, etc. If you try to leave, she will give you (or not at all) a letter of release with the lowest performance score. There were 22 foreign teachers there in the last two years (they need only 5 every year). Most left before finishing their contracts. Working with her was like dealing with a sadistic psychopath. By the way, just like with other illegal operations in China, they will pay you in cash (no Chinese tax paid, good salary), no real health insurance (your bills will be evaluated before you leave, and they will or will not honor them, depending on their whims…). Also, watch out for the investors (Mr. Yang and his “secretary”, Christina). That couple, although they pretend to be “neutral”, they play the same game along with Grace. This place offers nothing that normal academic institutions are about. They do not teach integrity, honesty, there is no academic spirit in that place. Contrary, they support cheating, and foreign teachers are always blamed for anything and everything. Grace Chen Lei created a real monster there. Attached is an ad that this program runs on Serioustechers.com to lure foreign teachers for themselves and for another school (same Chinese investor) in Zhoushan, both in Zhejiang province, China. If you are looking for a place to teach, grow and develop, forget this one. All the best on your job search in China.