I have just returned from a harrowing 2 months working for Yuming.

They lied to me over and over again. The contract wasn't honoured. You can't argue because the Chinese version will be the only contract taken into consideration.

I was told I would be in a city, where in fact I was in a village (for want of a better word) with no foreigners, teachers or otherwise). They promised me they would find me an apartment with internet, washing machine, fridge, microwave, telephone, etc. There was nothing when I moved in.

At first it was exciting. But gradually my health deteriorated, due to poor food. Everything had to be fried, or I could live on noodles and dumplings, which as a diabetic are not the best choices for my diet.

Anyway, the job itself was a nightmare. Each class had more than 55 children, who were incredibly badly behaved. Foreign teachers aren't allowed to punish the children, and whilst I would never hit a child, I wasn't even allowed to make the naughtiest children "stand up" at the front of the class. I was told to make the classes "interesting", but no one was prepared to show me how to use the machine to show overheads, video clips, etc. I was told to play games - but how do you teach a game to 60 kids who don't speak a word of English?? (Suggestions welcome btw.)

I was then told that the school wanted me to give the students "homework". Yuming told me that they would copy what I wrote on the board, then show it to their parents. After about five weeks of this, I was then told that I shouldn't spend 15 minutes checking their writing because it was a "spoken" English class. FRUSTRATING!!!

Oh and in the end they didn't want to pay me for my last month's work. I had to sit in their office for hours, waiting for the money. They had to give in because I wouldn't sign the termination agreement. Oh and the journey to the office took two hours and two buses to get to, even though I was now suffering from pancreatitis due to my deteriorating health. Bear in mind that they repeatedly told me that I was in the "city" whenever I complained .....

Please please please do not take a job with this organisation. I realise that some people are happy there but they are very definitely in a minority.