Hello, Dr. Harris,

Requesting a copy of the main photo page of your passport is standard practice in China and South Korea (the two countries where I taught English). Other posters may have additional ideas as to why, but I think it is mostly to verify your identity, learn your age, and your race.

Nantong was my first city in China in which to work (I was there briefly in 2003). I assume it is better now, but basically I was not happy there (not because of the students, but the city itself).

Also -- and sorry to be rather negative -- you should not assume that having a Ph.D. will grant you any better level of working conditions than what is usually provided. The college where I taught in Nantong (as well as larger cities in China) had NO heat or air-conditioning. Your bosses will be in temperature-controlled environments, but most likely you (and your students) will not. Don't expect much, if anything, in the way of technology to be available, and you will likely discover that the provided course text, is largely useless (requiring you to develop your own teaching materials). If internet access is provided, expect it to be slow, and frequently not working.

If your living accomodation is on campus (do you know if if it on- or off-campus housing?) you will have limited privacy and they will likely scrutinize your efforts to have an independent life outisde of campus, usuing the excuse that they are "responsible" for you, and therefore prefer you to inform them everytime you wish to venture off campus.

The best thing you Ph.D. is doing is helping the "leaders" to market you and charge students (and parents) more money to attand your class, but you will receive a salary not much above one paid to someone with only a bachelor degree. You will likely not be included in any edcuational or curriculum discussions, and your Chinese colleagues will likely keep a distance -- especially ones that teach English. I was perplexed by this habit in the beginning, but later I came to understand that these folks are afraid to reveal their English-speaking limitations to you.

Good luck, but ask LOTS of questions, and get as much clarification about terms and conditions before you depart for China. If they balk at answering lots of reasonable questions, then steer clear of the place. Don't settle for responses such as "No problem," "You needn't worry about that," etc., that never address your concerns or provide more specific information. They are being vague for a reason. Have you been able to communicate/correspond with foreign teachers would lived and worked there before you? What have they told you about your students? How many different groups (and how large) will you have, and what courses are you expected to teach?