I agree with some of the things you said, but even I found your post to be a little negative. However I did agree with some of the things you said, but only to a point.

Yes, it is true there's no way to know if the person your talking to does actually work for, or did work for the school you are thinking of working for. That is why you don't ask for just one name, but three. Any school should have no problem scrounging up the names and phone numbers of 3 people who worked for them prioer, or who do now. If they can't, than be wary. It's a alot less likely that a school will be able to locate and coerce three seperate foreigners into lying about having worked there, and ebing thorough enough to have them all tell the same lies.

Yeah, schools change their names online, sometimes, but rarely. In the end though that's not as common as this poster pointed out. It's the recruiters and middle men agents like Miss Liu and Yuncheng IELTS school that use different names on a regular basis. They operate in a grey area of psuedo legality, which often crosses that thin red line into full illegality, so it;s no wonder they have so many aliases. Schools though, it's a lot harder to change your name. If someone gives you a school name and you can find zero about it, not even a web site, that might be an indicator something is wrong. Might I say, because I have tried to research well knwon school and had a hard time finding information about them online. This could also be seen as good, since usually it's only if your bad that yuo have things posted about you in the ESL and EFL world.

I'd agree, I had no cushy life back home in my country, long work weeks, tight budget, often living from week to week, a very common stry for most foreigers who come here. I have found far less stress working and living here, as money is easier to come by and make than it was in my home country. Not having as many worries is certainly a thing that makes me very happy.

Basicaly I agree with the things the poster said, to a point, however I think they are being a bit too negative, only because they give no solution to the problems proposed.

Yes, schools lie, people lie, all truth, but that does not mean there is not a solution. Comon sense realy is a powerful tool you know, and in the end, someone can simply say no. I will admit, finding work here can be a big problem, trust being a major issue. You just have to grit your teeth and make the best decision possible. Sometimes it works out, sometimes you get screwed. However, your a heck of a lot more likely to make a good decision if you follow my advice and that of others like turnoi and silverboy, than to just get so gun shy that you do nothing, believe me.

Always ask to speak with at least 3 current employees, if they don't have, then prior employees. Don't get emails, because you'll just get some Chinese people emailing you pretending to be FT's.

Ask for a website. Most legite schools have websites. Ask for an address, a school can claim a different name, but not a different address. If you google an address and it comes back with a different school name, hmm, somethings fishy. If you have difficulty searching using English, ask a Chinese friend to do it.

Make sure the school sends you pictures of the apartment you will live in. Make sure it will have everything you need, from internet access to a computer to hot water. Believe me, you'd be amazed at what some apartments are lacking in regards to the most common and necessary of things.

Ask a lot of questions. Sit down and make up a list of all the things you want to know about. here is a sample.

1. How many classes a week will I be teaching. Classes, not hours. Actual hours and actual number of classes is a bait and switch scam that school have been running for years to confuse teachers. Don't get hours confused with number of classes, schools like to say 25 hours, but that's actually just them counting the number of minutes in each class and converting it to hours.

2.How ong is each class, always remember to ask that one, some schools are now teaching super long classes of one or even 2 hours in length.

3.Is it a public or private school. While a seemingly small matter, it really isn't. A public school is more likely to treat you better. It's no guarantee, but it's more likely. Also, private schools, always, always make more money. If you are ebing offered a job teaching 20 classes for 5,000 at a private school, then I'd pass, you can get working public.

4.Are there any office hours? Schools will often intice you with low classes higher pay. However, they will often leave out all the extra work they expect you to do. Interviewing students, taking time to help them after classes, or just having to be there for whatever, is inb my opinion work. If your requiring me to be there and I may indeed have things to do that come up, I'm working. You will never get paid for this time, so if there are 25 classes in a week, and it's a 40 hours week, your spending 20 hours sitting on your butt or working on and off throughout the day. It's all free work to, so be sure you ask about this.

5. Do they cover the cost of electricity and water. Not so small a thing, believe me. If it's hot, or cold enough, say good bye to a few hundred atleast per month if they don't cover these necessities.

6. Where is the apartment located, on or off campus? Believe me, off campus is better. If on campus, look forward to being locked in after a certain time, and not being able to get out, or back in without a real hassle. Are you a prisoner, nah, your just surrounded by walls and can't go anywhere until 7 am. While in truth you could, there will be a night guard, he must first be there, or awake, and maybe even then he'll give you a hard time. Personally I prefer off campus.

7. How much paid vacation do I get? Very important question, and one most FT's completely glance over. What you folks don't realize is that, if you work for a public school, your going to be getting two months off of work, fully paid. If you work for a private training school, you won't get that time. You will get some aid holidays, which all together add up to a decent amount, but you also get those at a public schol, plus the summer and winter holiday paid, which rivate schools don't give. Something to keep in mind when job hunting.

8.How much time is there in between classes? This is another question asked by almost no FT's here. Say your first class is at 9am. Great, when is my second class? Seem like no big deal? Only if you don't mind spending 9 hours working to teach just 4 classes. Schools can be tricky. They want you to be there the maximum amount of time for the minimum amount of pay. However, some schools are real whores in this regard, and will gorge and gouge you to the fullest extent. It is not uncommon for some teacher to go in and sart at 8:30, and not be done until 8:30 that night. Yet they only ended up teaching 4 classes that day. Now, I don't care if I can go home, or do what I like between classes, I want my day to be over by a reasonable time. If I have to leave and go home 4 times a day, well damn, that's some tiring, well, you know. Make sure your schedule is a reasonable one, without huge gaps in between classes.

9. How many students would be in each class? As someone who has taught as many as 70 middle school age kids, I can tel you, it's no picinic sometimes. While you can control that many "most" of the time if you are a decent teacher, it is quite difficult to teach so many people fo so young and age. If someone tels you classes will have over 50 students, well, you might want to reconsider. It is posible to do, but you must be a skilled teacher right out the gate, otherewise they will eat you alive.

10. What is the name of the school? That one seem obvious? You'd be amazed how many people overlook that one.

11.Is over time required? Another often mised one. Often schools will tel you how many classes you will be teaching, if you ask, but they are realy only teling you how many you'll teach during their "slow" times. Some schools are now offering contracts which have different work hours for differen times of year. Make sure this ain't the case, and that you have the same amount fo hours, and they are agreed upon as the "maximum" amount. No words like "may" or "minimum", make sure the maximum amount is spelled out, and that nothing in the contract is vague.

12. Can I see a copy of the contract? That's pretty common, and usually a school will send you one. However for some reason, for the purpose of deceit of course, they will send you a sample. I do not kid you when I tel you I have received contracts that were samples alright, and not even about the job I was applying for. Never accept sample contracts, they are indeed that, just samples. Make sure you see the actual contract you will be signing, it will answer many of your questions if it is not a sample. however, ask the quesitons anyway. Also, make sure to explore any vague language, now matter how trivial a matter it may be. Any vague area will be exploited to your detriment.

13. Can I see pictures of the school? If they give you a website address, this may be moot, but I always ask anyway, as homemade pcitures can give me some clues that website pictures don't. You never know.

14. Do you cover all visa costs? This one is very important really. Some here in China are not, well, working on the best visa, that's all I'll say. Whatevr your visa though, the school should cover all costs. The best schools, if they must have you go to HK, will even give you travel money for expenses, since HK is not cheap at all. Whatever the case, a school should cover all expenses, even if you are getting the visa before you come. You must make sure this is in writing and in your contract.

15. Would I receive a holiday travel allowance? Almost al schools give this, and it usually a one time fee during either the summer or winter holiday, depending on when you start. The amount is between 1,100 and 2,200 rmb. This is common, and any good school will offer it.

16. How much is airfare reimbursement? This one is very important, and a dying practice. Schools are getting so greedy they try and find more and more ways to screw you over. This is one. Generally airfare reimbursement is equal to one month salary. If your only making 5,000 though, I would say it should be at least 7,000. If more than 7,000, it in my opinion should be equal to that amount. This "bonus" as it is called is becoming a thing of the past. Ask for it, most schools still offfer a bonus, some though are trying to get rid of it. I have seen some school offering just 3,000, absurd of course. I could not buy a ticket to the USA for 3,000.

17. How many students attend your school over all? I always ask this, just to see how big and successful a school is. If they try to claim poverty or hard times, yet they are a private school with 10,000 students in a poor city, I will be skeptical.

18. Do you provide health insurance or accident insurace? Most decent schools will provide some kind of health coverage and or coverage in case of an accident. Make sure to ask for the exact amount of protection offered, if you don't ask this, they sure won't tell.

19.What hours would I be working? Another often ignored question, and very important. Many coming here assume they will be doing 9 to 5, or 8 to 5. nope. Schols have split schedules as often as not, and you may find yourself having to come back for a second shift in the evening. Ask this question always, and get details.

20. What days would I be working? Another obvious question which is just as obviously over looked by the over eager expat. 5 days a week does not mean you will have weekends off, and if it's a private school, you likely won't. Maybe you get two days off, but not back to back. Or maybe you are working 6 days a week. There are many piggish schols out there pushing the envelope because of expats who are professional stoics who will take just about any punishment that can be dished out. Expect schools to try and take advantage unless you put a stop to it before it happens. Ask questions ask questions ask questions. if they have a problem with answering them, walk.

21. Where is the school? Another question that is often overlooked, though I'll admit not as much as some of the others. I hve knowon teachers who forget as quickly as they were told where. Make a point of knowing and of researching the area. How many people live there, where is the region in regards to it's economic development. Is it rich, poor? Al these things can and do factor into salary.

22. How much is the salary? This ones a no brainer, but it's amazing how many no brains there are out there. Always ask this, especially if using a recruiter, God forbid you actually do. Often recruiters will say one number, which is totally fictional. You'd be amazed how many Ft's take the recruiters word and never even think to ask the school the one time they talk to them before departing for their new job. Always ask.

23.How much paid vacation time do I get? This is in regards to private schools for the most part. In addition to paid holidays you should get some personal vacation time. Generally it is 2 weeks, some places it might be more, but I wouldn;t bet on it. These places are in business year round. However, some places will offer more time, sometimes upaid, because of a drop off in students. This leads to your next question.

24. How much unpaid leave is there? Some language schools are hurting, usually because of poor management, imagine that. Make sure there is no unpaid leave, or if there is, how much time is it. It's never fun to go work somewhere, only to find that half way through your gonna loose a month of salary.

25. What amenities does my apartment have? While pitures speak a thousand words, they don't always show everything. Ask if there is a dvd, stove, ask if it is electric or gas. Does it have a microwave, washer. While the microwave is unlikely, the washer should not be. I have heard stories of people having to hand wash clothes though. Is there a phone, and if so, who covers the cost? Internet and computer, and if so, who covers the internet cost? You;d be amazed how much these things add up.

26. This is more advice than a question, but watch out for the word "tax" in Chinese contracts. While it's not always the case, sometimes a school will try and tax you far more than is legally acceptable, and all they end up doing is pocketing the money anyhow. As I said, not always the case, but be wary when you see it in a contract. Make sure the taxation is legal and of legal percentage.

That's it, these questions should allow you to find out all you need to know about any school your considering working for. I hope it helps some newbies out there considering coming to work here.