it's late, i'm tired, i'm going to bed soon so i'll make it quick and dirty (and i won't check my spelling:)

I've been at the hongkou NDI for over three years, get paid 16500 a month plus 5000 bonus upon contract renewal. The school isn't great but - it's not bad and infact OK! Sure lessons are painfully dated, and my location is very hot in late spring, early fall because it is an old building, and A/C is expensive - horrible excuse but believable. had to teach kids for 6 weeks, twice a day for 2 years in the summer, hated it but whaddaya gonna do - that's about the worst of it. I mean, i complain but really it's nit picking.

I worked in the daytime my first two years, but a decline in enrollment had me switch to some nights, and the school has made some pretty good compromises on my behalf to get me closer to hours i want. I've had never had a visa problem(or paid any fees), although some visas were quite short (6 months). Pay has been late twice in three years and everyone was called and emailed before hand.

The management of the company i can not speak for (although i know a few personally), but mgt at my school does try to give the students the best edu with the resources available. Every year before my contract has been renewed, with a 500 a year raise, not great but consistent.

The sales team does seem to omit info to potential customers, but hey its sales, i understand. ie the aforementioned lack of A/C for two months of the year (would you buy a Ford if the car sales started quoting repair statistics?)

i teach 25 classes a week, i've been doing it for three years so preparing (for more than a few minutes) is not necessary. My foreign coworkers, complain less than i do:) The Chinese staff, although woefully unpaid IMO, have a pretty good time at school, its a happy place to work. the students are pretty cool, mostly young uni aged females, good attitude. Have had a few VERY minor problem students - and nothing to fret about for more than an hour.

Office hours are 8/9 and yes even 10 hours depending on the shift (10 weekend shifts and we all must work (only) one!! completely stupid but my choice to work there, right?! So for a 5 hour teach day, there's 3 or 4 hours of downtime. no biggie, there's internet, chatting, reading, watching movies... ya it can be boring, but WTF do u want?? you're a FT!!!

lastly - i come to work late every day!!!! Yes, i am charged about 500 a month. i sign a detailed paper every month noting my future deductions. There have been no other deductions of any kind for any reason, ever. Demo classes that we teach, that are successful (meaning student signs a contract) are rewarded with a minimum of 60rmb, not much but something.

we teach about 3-5 English corners a week. the other teachers plan, i don't, my ECs are traditional ECs and students have a good time with different styles of the 3 FTs.

misc... Cockroaches, smelly, dark bathroom, beautiful young girls, nice funny coworkers, good restaurants/delivery in the area/, unobtrusive mgt (at least for the FTs), fast internet, fast working computer, comfortable off-chairs. mgt doesn't like meathead teachers, so shitty part timers are weeded out ASAP, Every teacher, save for one, has been there for more than a year. (PT-approx 13months, the FTs at 2, 3, 3&1/2 years). Even shitty Chinese employees are let go soon after they arrive, sucks for them but leaves a solid crew behind!

I have thought about leaving MANY times, especially during the hot months, but then i look at the state of other schools/pay and realize, those schools REALLY SUCK!!!!!!!! and although i may complain a bit, it's not bad at all at my specific location of NDI.

And lastly - my location was the first Shanghai location for the company(back when it was Only English) the owner of the company was always in the our office. She knew i used to work professionally in TV production (HUGE SIGH) back home and has given me many opportunities to use my talents by writing, producing, directing and editing the schools television commercials. I don't get paid extra but i get time off work to do what i love. - so if you see an NDI commercial (not the shitty ones, mine look indistinguishable from top dollar TV commercials ) that's the work of mostly happy NDI FT

now, back to your regularly scheduled bashing of every other Eng school in China!

cheers (Forza Italia 2010!!)