In defense of NDI

I do not intend to get into any slanging matches over the article by John Mann - 7th September 2009 - but I would like to mention my own personal experience with New Dynamic Institute.

I joined NDI in October of 2005. The company had been operating at that stage for one year in Wuhan, capital city of Hubei. I am the longest serving foreign teacher in NDI and have almost completed my fourth year fo service. I am currently destined to enter my fifth year of service by signing a new contract.

As with any cross-cultural exchanges in a foreign country there are going to be problems, misunderstandings and indifferences caused by communication problems that arise from the fact that we are aliens and guests in the land of China.

The NDI company was founded by professional Chinese educators who are fully qualified to teach in the PRC. As with many organisations, as they grow there arises the need to appoint management in centres around the country that have little experience in dealing with foreigners and in dealing with the very difficult labour relations policies under SAFEA guidelines. It is inevitable that mistakes are made and also inevitable that indifferences arise.

NDI is not a franchised organisation and it is managed from a central administrative body. In four years the issue of late payments on salary has only arisen 3-4 times which is an exceptionally good record. The only sin was that perhaps regional management did not inform staff beforehand on one or two occasions. I have found this company to be one of integrity, one of honesty and one that I have had no problems in recommending other foreigners to join.

Many foreign teachers, whom I assisted to recruit or whom I know, have been in service to NDI in one city or another for almost as long as I have. If there were serious issues that have arisen then I doubt that they would be renewing their contracts year on year. I suggest that even if the suggested problems stated by John Mann were truly stated and justly interpreted, for every problem that arises there is a solution and one need not condemn an entire organisation based on one report.

As foreigners we have to remember one thing; a teacher is a servant and not a master. Many foreigners have personal character issues and problems when they come to this industry. Likewise, the Chinese who are appointed managers in this industry are on learning curves and some are suitable and some are not. Adjusting to life here, adapting to the way things are done or not done, is something we choose to do. If an individual comes here expecting life to be perfect then perhaps they got off the wrong plane and perhaps they should pack up and move on.

For any Chinese educators out there who might read this article; if you really want to be the best in this industry - remember that your Foreign Teachers are a minority group. They should not be treated as a Chinese servant would be treated because they can make you or break you. They are difficult to find in number and in quality and as equally difficult to replace once they have entered your service.

In conclusion, NDI from my personal experience has been an exceptionally just and fair organisation. Not one of the foreigners whom I have ever recommended has been ripped-off unfairly. I am aware of some foreigners who have brought problems upon themselves by not conforming and were perhaps reacting out of cultural indifferences or previous offences within their own character definitions.

For both NDI management and the foreigners who are currently in service to NDI, I hope that any problems that arise can be solved diplomatically and that both the company and the foreigner continues to prosper and enjoy the fruits of serving together.

At the end of the day, it is the Chinese community and their needs for ESL tuition, that are the most important consideration in this equation. Our focus should remain on the professional ethics of excellence in customer service and in the city where I reside and teach, NDI has been awarded the leading ESL provider by the Education Department in this region. That was in response to customer and student surveys in local and regional educational institutions. One need not rest on such accolades, but seek to find ways to improve and become better servers of the community in which we work.

Congratulations on the 60th National Day celebrations to all Chinese citizens and community leaders.