Teachers Discussion Forum

Wuhans gone crazy -- Frustrated -- 17 March 2010

I recently paid a visit to Wuhan, and in the process paid a visit to their Security Entrance and Exit Bureau, so I could get my tourist visa extended. Something I've done many times in the past. ...

Re: Wuhans gone crazy//No, I do not think so -- Turnoi -- 17 March 2010

I smell a rat and have a guess who you are. If you are the person I think you are, I can tell you this: If you decided to become a bit more humble instead of attempting at lecturing other people all ...

Re: Wuhans gone crazy -- Foxy -- 17 March 2010

It's good that you have posted about how the PSB in Wuhan conducts its business. We can get a flavor of what can happen to foreigners at a PSB by reading your post. I can't say I'm ...

Re: Wuhans gone crazy -- Turino -- 17 March 2010

Believe me, Wuhan Public Security Bureau isn't alone in being incompetent and vindictive. I can name two other PSB offices that are crocks of s**t too, based on my own dealings with them. What ...

Re: Wuhans gone crazy -- Frustrated -- 17 March 2010

That's just not fair. If someone pays and is denied, their fees should be refunded. What I don't get, well I don't get a number of things. First, why even have boxes on their to check, ...

Re: Wuhans gone crazy -- Turino -- 17 March 2010

Exit China asap. Every day of overstay will mean a fine of 500 RMB, up to a maximum of 5000 RMB.If you overstay, you'll get another visa, a * visa, costing you the same as an L visa, but the * ...

Celta qual-no degree -- JG -- 15 March 2010

Any advice gratefully received. I have very recently completed the Cambridge Celta cert and am now looking for work (pref adult education)to get my experience up.The problem I seem to face is that ...

Re: Celta qual-no degree -- No Shame -- 17 March 2010

There is an obvious solution to your problem. You should only do it it China though. They don't care over there. You know what to do!

DELTA CAMBRIDGE MODULE 1 EXAM -- MERY -- 15 March 2010

Hi all, I was wondering if any of you has a DELTA MODULE 1 exam paper to share. My exam is coming soon and I'm looking forward to doing more practice. Maybe you've done it already and would ...

The hard business of running a crappy training centre -- Turnoi -- 15 March 2010

Running a crappy training centre is a hard job these days - too much criticism, a lot of angry people, a lot of energy to be spent on cheat and deceit, and all that. All that could make the life of ...

Re: The hard business of running a crappy training centre -- englishgibson -- 16 March 2010

while i agree with you, i've got to say there're much bigger crocks to post about if it comes to education in china. just take a good look at the local public education and its system and ...

Re: The hard business of running a crappy training centre -- Silverboy -- 16 March 2010

I would like to disagree with that. Crappy training centres are the NO 1 PROBLEM when it comes to education in China. They are all useless and need to be eliminated ASAP!

Re: The hard business of running a crappy training centre -- englishgibson -- 17 March 2010

let's focus on the topic, shall we? NO 1 PROBLEM is the source of ill prepared young generation and that surely cannot be the private language schools/centers as they are just a piss in a rather ...

Re: The hard business of running a crappy training centre -- Oldtimer -- 16 March 2010

while i agree with you, i've got to say there're much bigger crocks to post about if it comes to education in china. just take a good look at the local public education and its system and ...

Re: The hard business of running a crappy training centre -- Turnoi -- 17 March 2010

I have heard that there a certain oldtimers to beware of as well - those who apparently work for crappy Yuncheng IETL...LOLl

Re: The hard business of running a crappy training centre -- Oldtimer -- 17 March 2010

I have heard that there a certain oldtimers to beware of as well - those who apparently work for crappy Yuncheng IETL...LOLl Some old goats make many typos and grammatical errors, a subset of them ...

Annoying things at Chinese universities and schools. -- I'm no nitpicker! -- 15 March 2010

It really annoys me when the washing machine in your apartment does not work, the toilets are blocked, the shower tray is cracked, the air-con/heater does not work, and these problems take ages to be ...

Re: Annoying things at Chinese universities and schools. -- Monitor -- 15 March 2010

It really annoys me when the washing machine in your apartment does not work, the toilets are blocked, the shower tray is cracked, the air-con/heater does not work, and these problems take ages to be ...

Re: Annoying things at Chinese universities and schools. -- Turnoi -- 15 March 2010

They seem to be somewhat disorganised. Did you talk to your FAO about that?

Health Care - Aston school -- ltmom -- 14 March 2010

I have been working at an Aston school here in China and one of the reasons for me taking this position was because it offered a health plan. So when I took sick last month I went to use it. WHat do ...

Re: Health Care - Aston school -- Monitor -- 14 March 2010

The owner/president/CEO of Aston or American Educational Service, what ever he wants to call his position is an American who loves the poor labor standards of China. If you work for training centers ...

Warning regarding crappy Aston! -- Turnoi -- 15 March 2010

Sorry to hear what happened to you, but it is good that you told us. But I do not wonder that such things happen as Aston is shabby training centre chain (probably another franchise crap), and all ...

Re: Health Care - Aston school -- Silverboy -- 15 March 2010

Myself and other posters like Turnoi have been warning others about the pitfalls of working at Aston several times during the past two years. Aston is run by, and has always been run by a bunch of ...

Re: Health Care - Aston school crap -- Turnoi -- 15 March 2010

Aston Wuhan is crap, ALL Aston schools are rubbish, this is an evil organization, KEEP AWAY! I fully agree, Aston is crap, and so are all Aston centres! Who the hell needs them? They should be ...

Re: Health Care - Aston school crap -- Chengdu CT -- 16 March 2010

Thanks for posting the update. But really check the boards for information on schools before you sign up with them. With as much as has been written about crappy training schools you only have ...

Re: Health Care - Aston school crap -- Raoul Duke -- 16 March 2010

I too have been trying to warn people away from Aston for many years now. "Evil organization" sums it up quite well...the entire company is rotten to the core (and certainly to the top!) and should ...

International banking and offshore accounts -- cunning linguist -- 12 March 2010

Hi, fellow Brits and expats. I've given some thought to the topic of this post, done a little research and need some practical advice. If you have experience of this I would be very happy to hear ...

Re: International banking and offshore accounts -- Turino -- 12 March 2010

I've been told by my bank that it is possible to state residency, ( tricky isue), of another country as the prime reason for tax avoidance. We fill in a form online and then wait for the response ...

Re: International banking and offshore accounts -- cunning lingust -- 12 March 2010

Thanks Turino. My tax accounting period is the same as the Inland Revenue tax year so the 9-10 month rule would be easy to comply with if I changed my accounting period. I do pay Chinese tax on part ...

Re: International banking and offshore accounts -- Turino -- 14 March 2010

Yep,you can either opt to pay tax to the UK tax office or to that of China. However,if you choose the former,I advise you to make sure you are totally aware of the regulations that would affect ...

Re: International banking and offshore accounts -- cunning linguist -- 14 March 2010

How it seems to work for me is that Chinese tax is deducted from my monthly salary ( no option) so I get the nett amount. China and the UK have tax agreements in place. It means I can offset any tax ...

Re: International banking and offshore accounts -- Old China Hand -- 12 March 2010

There have been reports online lately that foreigners teaching here legally who have reached the age of 60 have not been able to extend their work RP's. In addition, other reports on the net have ...

Re: International banking and offshore accounts -- cunning linguist -- 12 March 2010

Thanks OCH. Yes there are lots of things to ponder. But I would not change my nationality. I suppose true love is unconditional and I would like to get married again, yet like Silverboy I do have a ...

Re: International banking and offshore accounts -- englishgibson -- 13 March 2010

Old China Hand has said it. On topic, i'd consider Macao's banking..just a thought. Cheers and beers to all the hitched in China that've got some advantages out of that love

Unqualified colleges should be closed down -- cunning linguist -- 12 March 2010

If readers are interested in standards in education in China then I would recommend this article from China Daily (who it seems are no longer censoring my comments). ...

Re: Unqualified colleges should be closed down -- Turnoi -- 12 March 2010

Perhaps I should e-mail him and invite him to become a Forum contributor? I would imagine that if he was made aware of the practices of some training centres and private language schools he might ...

Re: Unqualified colleges should be closed down -- englishgibson -- 13 March 2010

Yes, these poor private centers in Chinese education are just a disease, but how many more students come out of Chinese public schools ill prepared for life? There's an anual party meeting in ...

Newly qualified CELTA or Trinity course teachers -- Tuppence -- 10 March 2010

Hi, I am currently studying for a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics and TEFL and in the coming months I will begin my final dissertation research project. For this I am interested to contact ...

ESL Teachers in Puerto Rico -- Leah -- 10 March 2010

I need to connect with someone who teaches or has taught ESL in Puerto Rico and is NOT a native of the island. This is also for a TESOL Master's project. I need to interview you regarding your ...

Class project (Master's TESOL) Alliant International University -- harold -- 10 March 2010

I am a student in a Master's TESOL program in San Diego. For one of my class projects I must interview an EFL Korea Teacher. I would just like to get some basic information from you . If you are ...

How to start teaching English online -- Nuala Matthews -- 8 March 2010

I have a degree, a Tesol qualification and 3 years experience teaching English as a foreign language in a private school in the UK. I would like to start teaching English online using Skype (or ...

Post free your tutoring ads on this board -- Tips -- 10 March 2010

http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/tutors/index.pl

Re: How to start teaching English online -- Turnoi -- 10 March 2010

Place a free advertisement on a board like this (in the appropriate section) to look for students. That's all, I think.....

Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- Sean Meran -- 8 March 2010

If I want to earn the equivalent of USA $60,000 a year (what it can purchase in USA), how much do I need to earn in PRD Yuan to live in China at the same standard of living?

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- Old China Hand -- 8 March 2010

I can't answer your question with any degree of accuracy until you provide more details such as where about in China would you be wishing to live and work? There's a big difference in the ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- Silverboy -- 8 March 2010

Drinking in Western bars in China is a total waste of money. As for hookers, expect to pay 200-300RMB for high quality girls and good service in places like Wuhan. More for the best girls in places ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- seanmeran -- 8 March 2010

Thank you for your attentive response. The answers to your question are: Jilin City, Jilin Province; A furnished apartment is offered; I am not a vegetarian but also not a big eater; I'd seek to ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- cunning linguist -- 9 March 2010

Your question comes up fairly regularly on the Forum in various forms. I have the daily currency exchange rates as a feed onto my computer desktop. Of course this is not the whole story, and I also ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- seanmeran -- 9 March 2010

First, thank you for the time and attention you gave to your response. The unexpected kindness of strangers is always such a wonderful gift to receive. Please let me know how I might reciprocate. I ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- cunning linguist -- 10 March 2010

It's always a pleasure to try and help, especially when the questions asked are lucid. To answer some specifics. Yes I use the same formula for calculating the comparison. I work on 1-10. Total ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- Silverboy -- 10 March 2010

I think that is all good advice, especially about cooking at home. I am jealous that you can cook, I can't, so I beter find that multi-skilled Chinese wife I have been looking for soon! Good ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- cunning linguist -- 10 March 2010

Hi Silverboy, I thought you had found the ideal woman? Cooking is fun for me. I had a cook-in at my apartment year last with my students . All the classes were invited over a couple of evenings, but ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- Silverboy -- 10 March 2010

Hi CL, nice to see you posting here again. I have actually met a woman I really like, she is really great, but a career woman, although she only works part-time now and owns her own luxury apartment. ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- cunning linguist -- 12 March 2010

Hi, yes I post when I have time and feel I can contribute something. You lucky man, spoilt for choice with the ladies. Time to get your checklist out again I think - Ha Ha. I think Turino's ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- Turino -- 11 March 2010

Some advie from me - take it or leave it,as you like! Chinese career women tend to have jood jobs,by Chinese standards,that entail their working in one city only,their hometown.Usually,they will not ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- Turnoi -- 11 March 2010

I personally have no experience by being married to a Chinese woman. But I have had a happy, stable and long-lasting relationship with my Swedish wife who has given birth to several children who are ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- Silverboy -- 12 March 2010

I agree with a lot of what you said. A career woman will likely want to stay in the provincial capital where she lives, or will want to move to some crap place like Shanghai. Then I will be back ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- Turino -- 9 March 2010

Thanks for another of your enlightening posts!As can be seen from what you have posted,it's possible for a louwai to live well in many parts of China off around 2500 Yuan if he is a careful ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- cunning linguist -- 10 March 2010

Thanks. I must come clean and say that I save very little but it is possible to save a lot more. The rest of my salary tends to be spent on travel, hotels, eating well and entertaining. If I have ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- Turino -- 10 March 2010

I've adopted the Chinese habit of asking how much things cost. If I heard correctly the apartment, built last year, was 90,000 rmb. Goodness, when converting the currency I couldn't buy a ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- Silverboy -- 10 March 2010

90,000RMB sounds cheap, that also buys hardly anything in Australia these days, but that 90,000 is a lot if it buys a shoddy and poorly constructed apartment. You are right about many of the Chinese ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- Turino -- 11 March 2010

Allow me to add that there have recently been many tower blocks constructed for city dwellers, even in smaller cities and so-called 'counties', which are the equivalent of large towns, in ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- cunning linguist -- 12 March 2010

Following your own and other observations on property prices I misunderstood when I was told the price of my private student's apartment by her mother. So I checked further. Seems that the 90,000 ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- Old China Hand -- 8 March 2010

Yep, Membership of a fitness club will set you back, maybe 2000 RMB/12 months. Your style of life apart from that will cost you at most 1500 RMB/month. In Jilin city, you'd expect a salary of ...

Re: Old China Hand - Purchasing Power of Yuan? -- seanmeran -- 9 March 2010

Again, thank you for taking the time to respond to my post ... most appreciated! Your cautions on overtime really caught my attention. I was thinking I'd add about another 30 hours a week to the ...

Small classes, young kids - HELP! -- Matt Toy -- 8 March 2010

I've just started teaching classes of between 2 and 14 students (kindergarten age mainly), after teaching classes of over 30 for more than two years and, although I know it will take time to get ...

Re: Small classes, young kids - HELP! -- Nikki -- 11 March 2010

Hi, I taught 8-10 year olds in china last year and I had the same issues in getting them to pay attention. One day I made a competition between the girls and boys, if they were bad they lost a point ...

Re: Small classes, young kids - HELP! -- cunning linguist -- 11 March 2010

Just a quick reply. In the past I've worked with age groups from pre-school (but not in China), to mature adults. Behavioural problems are not unusual, especially if you have a few hyperactive or ...

ECA Guangzhou (recruiter) -- englishgibson -- 7 March 2010

I've just had a rather peculiar experience with a person named Kevie that contacted me by email a week ago to offer me a job in a Guangzhou's public school. The offer was at 7,000 RMB for up ...

Re: ECA Guangzhou (recruiter) -- Turnoi -- 7 March 2010

Recruiter scumbags who geld hold of personal details of foreign job applicants might use the data for their own evil purposes other than finding a job for the applicant. Such a purpose may be forging ...

Re: ECA Guangzhou (recruiter) -- Smitty -- 7 March 2010

That is exactly why you never send anyone your scanned passports or degrees online because in China they normally sell the information on the black market, build credit profiles, or yes, use them for ...

Re: ECA Guangzhou (recruiter) -- Turnoi -- 10 March 2010

That is exactly why you never send anyone your scanned passports or degrees online because in China they normally sell the information on the black market, build credit profiles, or yes, use them for ...

Re: ECA Guangzhou (recruiter) -- Monitor -- 7 March 2010

That is exactly why you never send anyone your scanned passports or degrees online because in China they normally sell the information on the black market, build credit profiles, or yes, use them for ...

Re: ECA Guangzhou (recruiter) -- englishgibson -- 8 March 2010

Monitor, it sure is better to be safe than sorry. Well said. If an employer asks me for such documentation i'll have no pro but if a recruiter then NO. With the current trend around and some ...

Re: ECA Guangzhou (recruiter) -- englishgibson -- 7 March 2010

quite a threatening trend and we should be worried. my worry also comes with the latest scam "Nigerian Letters" as some countries' investigators call it. i bet some of you might've recieved ...

Re: You can't 'Stay away from MunHwa Language School' -- Sandy Combes -- 6 March 2010

I would like to post a reply to this woman's letter about Mun Hwa...I have worked at Mun Hwa for two years, and all I can say are good things about it! The woman who wrote the previous letter ...

Bizarre Cheats' Triangle (Degree Mill) -- Insider -- 6 March 2010

The triangle consists of Budding FT, Chinese recruiter amd,last but not least,School FAO. See below - From: Chinese Recruiter Subject: Re: Chinese Middle School To: Budding FT Date: Wednesday, March ...

Re: Bizarre Cheats' Triangle (Degree Mill) -- Turnoi -- 6 March 2010

Degree Mill Triangle - deceit, cheat, and crooks! There are now Chinese recruiters involved in producing fake degree documents and Western laowai without degrees using them to deceive and cheat their ...

Re: Bizarre Cheats' Triangle (Degree Mill) -- Monitor -- 6 March 2010

Honest foreigners seeking teaching jobs in China should be aware that some Chinese recruiting agents and training centres who state in their ads that you can teach in China without a university ...

Re: Bizarre Cheats' Triangle (Degree Mill) -- Turino -- 7 March 2010

Budding FT's without Western degrees who failed to find teaching appointments in China from afar, so-called backpackers, come to China on L visas solely to land teaching jobs through Chinese ...

Re: Bizarre Cheats' Triangle (Degree Mill) -- Turnoi -- 7 March 2010

There is a bit more to that than just shame deserved by all those involved in this fake degree triangle. One thing we have to face is that this sort of disgusting practice seems very common in China. ...

New Degree Mill opened - an offer which is a real good deal! -- Turnoi -- 7 March 2010

I want to inform everybody on this board that I have opened up my own degree mill issuing fake degrees to crocodiles, rattle snakes, Canadian karibus, grizzlies, and wolves. I will also accept orders ...

How to improve on questioning skills -- Benson T Phesodi -- 6 March 2010

my name is Benson Phesodi, iam doing post graduate diploma in technical and vocational education A Fransistown in Botswana. iam undertaking an action research on how to improve on questioning skills ...

Re: How to improve on questioning skills -- some feedback -- 6 March 2010

Practice this on your home first, speaking clearly and confidently and good body language to show you are not nervous. Start with positive and easy questions and don't let any negative feedback ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- razor -- 3 March 2010

No Benefit.. You can be thrown away back to where u come from one day by the govt for minor immigration offence.. I lived in china for 5 yrs, and hv friends who married chinese, they hv been in china ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- Jock Millar -- 4 March 2010

Try taking your Chinese wife back to your homeland with you for a vacation. More likely than not, you and she will undergo a grilling by the visa clerk at the visa office in Beijing. If you don't ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- englishgibson -- 4 March 2010

Jock, if our kids born in China got our countries' citizenships here, i'd have a hard time believing that our countries would not accept the mothers of our kids just like that as you are ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- Jock Millar -- 5 March 2010

Kids of foreigners in China means visa privileges back home? Who said that foreigners who marry Chinese need kids? Not me! I dislike kids - I'm too old -crying babies, no thanks! I'm doing ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- englishgibson -- 5 March 2010

Jock, sorry, not privileges but "humanitarian grounds" which Chinese officials are somewhat unfamiliar with. Cheers and beers to "propagating" your planet favors as well as forums views :)

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- Jock Millar -- 6 March 2010

Yes, the visa offices of most Western countries will grant foreign spouses of their own citizens tourist visas if there is a child involved. But if there is no child, a foreigner cannot automatically ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- cunning linguist -- 5 March 2010

I guess you are writing here from personal experience. As the topic is something that will affect me sooner or later I am interested in your analysis. But it appears contradictory as you state, "At ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- Jock Millar -- 5 March 2010

British visa offices in China charge fees that are non-refundable for visa applications from Chinese visa-seekers. But Chinese visa offices in the UK don't do likewise for British. Do you ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- cunning linguist -- 6 March 2010

Thank you for making it clear. You may notice in my post that I was polite and apologised in advance for any misunderstanding. I was not being critical, merely seeking clarification. The law which ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- Jock Millar -- 6 March 2010

I'm sorry about coming over a bit terse in my post, but I was annoyed. I have no problem with what you say, but I do have a problem with the British visa and immigration laws. If you'd ask ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- Silverboy -- 6 March 2010

I can understand your feelings. I experienced similar problems many years ago when my ( now ex) Thai wife came to Australia. Western immigration officials can be more than annoying, they are more ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- cunning linguist -- 6 March 2010

No problem Jock, I can understand your irritation. The civil service has its fair share of "jobsworths" and those who could make life easier but choose not to. The Home Office, as an arm of ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- Migrant Worker -- 7 March 2010

Thank god I married my now Chinese wife for love. I won't leave China without her and that is just shameful of our so-called "developed" countries to produce such racist results. I can't ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- cunning linguist -- 9 March 2010

I would say that you're right in marrying for love. It's the only way. The problem with the behaviour of certain officials, however we label that behaviour, is that they have been duped in ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- I B -- 9 March 2010

I also have some friends who legitimately married Filipino women in the Philippines and were in love, but were given an awful time when their documents were being processed for a visit to the ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- cunning linguist -- 10 March 2010

You give some good examples of cases where the authorities appear to have been less than consistent. And you also imply that those with money will always succeed. You may be right. I'm not making ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- I B -- 10 March 2010

In all my posts I try to take a balanced view. Why, because we don't know all the circumstances, only what people choose to divulge. And I'll counter what you have said on the basis that we ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- cunning linguist -- 11 March 2010

Excuse me! Where have I stated I have faith in the British government? I am not making excuses for anyone and was merely attempting to get a handle on why certain things happen. That does not mean I ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- I B -- 11 March 2010

There are obviously many advantages that foreigners with Chinese wives can enjoy in the confines of the family home. Most Chinese wives are great homemakers and see to their husbands' every need. ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- I B -- 11 March 2010

English has some delightful expressions, such as 'bar steward' and the imported German word, 'arschloch', doesn't it? It may surprise you to know that my wife and I were permitted ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- cunning linguist -- 12 March 2010

Brass farthings - good on you! Did you know that the £20 note will cease to be legal ender in June this year? You're right about the UK state pension. I will not get mine for several years and I ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- englishgibson -- 7 March 2010

Migrant Worker, on the topic of racizm, they are mostly in Asia, specifically in China aren't they? Local authorities as well as employers are as guilty as they can be and any legal action on the ...

Re: What are the benefits of marrying a Chinese woman? -- Birdman -- 4 March 2010

No Benefit.. You can be thrown away back to where u come from one day by the govt for minor immigration offence.. In my experience, you can be 'requested to exit the country'. Exit to the ...

Exceptional circumstances?? -- Turnoi -- 6 March 2010

Do all these visa rules regarding a Chinese partner also apply when being married to a Chinese crocodile in the Yangzi river (eyu)? If not, we have to suggest some new immigration rules to be set up ...

Question about L visa -- Light side -- 4 March 2010

Hey all, I've got a question about a tourist visa. I know you can get a tourist visa renewed twice before you have to get a new one, but can you do this 2 times? Meaning, if you have one L visa, ...

Re: Question about L visa -- miss_t -- 5 March 2010

Hi! Yes you can do this on a "new" L visa - they don't care how many old visas are in your passport, just so long as the paper work you're submitting right there and then in is ...

Re: Question about L visa -- Light side -- 5 March 2010

Miss_t, I'm just curious, did you show them a hotel slip, or did you actually register with the local police, and if so, doesn't it make them suspicious if you do so on a tourist visa? Also, ...

Re: Question about L visa -- Light side -- 6 March 2010

I am just curious, as there seem to be changes, and it has been some time since I got a tourist visa renewed. Do they still ask for bank slips for proof of a certain amount of money in the bank? ...

Re: Question about L visa -- miss_t -- 7 March 2010

Yes you need to provide a copy of your registration form if you want to get the "extension" in China. There are no problems registering on a tourist visa at the local PSB, they tell you to do it on ...

Re: Question about L visa -- Light side -- 7 March 2010

I had not hear this. The last time I got an L visa extension, last year, it was 180 yuan. That was for zero entries though. The single entry was 980, big difference.

Re: Question about L visa -- Turino -- 7 March 2010

Seemingly,the 'good' relationship between the UK government and the Chinese government has turned sour recently,not that I care about that in the least! It could be that the cost of a Chinese ...

Chinese Visas Price Hike across the board? -- The Ferret -- 4 March 2010

On another board, some posters have said that Chinese tourist visas have recently gone up drastically in price. The example given was that of an L visa for Brits, which is supposedly now a liitle ...

Nanning, is all China like this? -- Heatseeker -- 2 March 2010

Hi, I am new to China and I have just started work a few weeks ago at a place called Nanning in Guangxi province. I did a lot of research before I moved here and I thought that this was one of the ...

Re: Nanning, is all China like this? -- MadGee -- 7 March 2010

Hi, I have lived in Nanning on a college campus for over 1 year. It takes time to adjust to life here so don't give up! Of course the students are shy at first and it's up to you to make ...

Re: Nanning, is all China like this? -- Turnoi -- 3 March 2010

Guangxi is one of the most beautiful areas of China but it is also less developed. There are also some national minorities living there who may be not used to foreigners. What you experience ...

Re: Nanning, is all China like this? -- englishgibson -- 3 March 2010

Guangxi is beautiful as for its nature, although for foreigners quite tough to adjust due to exactly what has been said by our OP. This autonomous region of China has some really poor education and ...

Re: Nanning, is all China like this? -- Justin -- 3 March 2010

I've never been there, but I believe you are just in culture shock. It happened to all of us, even those of us who thought we were prepared. Your students are also very shy, especially if they ...

beware of sici zhang and huacen international education co.ltd. -- espero -- 1 March 2010

this woman is a war and money monger.there are no accurate words to describe her,she is a cheat of the first order with out human face.i was introduce to her by another company in beijing,i had an ...

Re: beware of sici zhang and huacen international education co.ltd. -- Silverboy -- 1 March 2010

She sounds like a real piece of scum, to bad she is not in the same city as myself, I would happily start a war with that bitch and her any of her friends.

Re: beware of sici zhang and huacen international education co.ltd. -- Turnoi -- 1 March 2010

I can fully understand your anger, and I hope that your anger will lead you to develop some creativity on how to strike back. If she hands you over to the police she will be in trouble herself for ...

First Day Of School -- Yukon -- 1 March 2010

I am teaching my first class soon near bejing What are some good first day class ideas for middle aged kids who are probably going to be incredibly shy?

Re: First Day Of School - shy students -- friz -- 4 March 2010

A game for the whole class to break the ice..to make them feel more comfortable. Something were they will have to interact with eachother and hopefully develop friendships from it. I feel like some ...

Re: First Day Of School - shy students -- Turino -- 5 March 2010

Shy students will be less shy with Chinese teachers of English than with foreign ones when it comes to speaking English,agreed? Maybe you should ask yourself why you are here(in China): To aid and ...

Re: First Day Of School -- val -- 3 March 2010

Make it as fun as possible, get them to participate as much as possible. But some kids just don't pay attention no matter what. Give small favors and candies to keep their attention. Find out ...

Re: First Day Of School -- englishgibson -- 4 March 2010

in my view, giving candies on your first day sets a rather sweet tone and you'll have to get more of those every time or face the consequences. don't bribe your kids on your first day is my ...

Re: First Day Of School -- tr -- 3 March 2010

Make sure your not late.

Re: First Day Of School -- I'm a teacher! -- 3 March 2010

It depends on the age of the children you would be teaching but what you would usually say is: My name is Mr/Miss/Mrs and I'm going to be your teacher in (Class Name). Then state a few general ...

Visas Regarding Marriages! -- Migrant Worker -- 1 March 2010

I have recently married a Chinese national and I know I am entitled to a marriage visa which does limit my residence in China. I am not allowed to work in China but live in China. Yes, I am sure ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- englishgibson -- 2 March 2010

I am the only provider for my Chinese family and if I cannot stay/work on mainland my little son, wife and in laws will be greatly affected. I only hope the Chinese government realizes that, but if ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- Turino -- 3 March 2010

Interestingly after working for 5 years the foreign experts are to leave China which is according to the regulations. But then we are offered 5 year Residency Permits based on having worked here for ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- Monitor -- 3 March 2010

We relatively poor foreign teachers who marry Chinese nationals, and sell USD, GBP, etc to bolster our spending power in the country, even buying a Chinese apartment, are not treated that well! There ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- Smitty -- 3 March 2010

The apartment game is another disaster as well. I recently bought one with my wife and paid a hefty sum for the place. We don't live in that city since there are no jobs there. At least no jobs ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- Silverboy -- 4 March 2010

In my opinion it is not a good idea to buy property in China. However, I am planning to live in China for a long time if I can find a decent and well educated woman who has a reasonably good income, ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- englishgibson -- 6 March 2010

Silverboy, a "well educated Chinese woman" may as well equal to a poorly educated Canadian b*tch and that especially if she's got some cash saved or inherited. My observation is that a decent ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- Turino -- 6 March 2010

My observation is that a decent Foshan (Guangdong）Chinese farmer's girl may be as good as a well educated Thunder Bay (Ontario, Canada) pumpkin. My former FT colleague was from Thunder ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- Silverboy -- 6 March 2010

I agree with some of what you wrote, the rest I don't agree with. Yes, ofcourse, a Chinese farmer's or any other rural Chinese woman can be as beautiful as any Shanghai or Beijing girl. China ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- cunning linguist -- 7 March 2010

Remembering your checklist for your ideal woman it seems that you have struck lucky - at last. Congratulations. I hope things work out for you. CL

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- englishgibson -- 4 March 2010

Smitty, you're right on with that home ownership in China. My wife and I own a home in one and live in another city and that for just about the same reasons as you've mentioned. On your 5 ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- Smitty -- 4 March 2010

No. My 5-year is purely based on the family status and has no tie to any employer. I am planning to renounce my citizenship soon and will change hats since I am a dual national. I would not pursue ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- Martin -- 4 March 2010

"On your 5 years RP, is it tied to your current employer in any way or have you needed your employer to sponsor it?" I had a 2 year RP once upon a time. It wasn't tied to any employer! Trouble ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- Robert -- 2 March 2010

Foreigners with Chinese spouses trying to renew long L visas at PSB's other than those of their spouses' hometowns will run into trouble, in my experience. I tried to do so once. But at first ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- Smitty -- 1 March 2010

After 5-years you can apply for a perm-residence status if you are married to a Chinese national. I have one. It allows you to work and live life, etc. Normally you are required to live in the city ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- Albie -- 1 March 2010

Too many ifs, and/or too many restrictions, Smitty! I'll just go on with L visas. That doesn't mean you can't get a job, but it does mean you can pull a runner, and you can forego ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- Smitty -- 2 March 2010

Yeah, its a lot of BS that is for sure. However...as for getting my spouse a citizenship status elsewhere it depends on which country one is from as well. Each country has their own game and set of ...

Re: Visas Regarding Marriages! -- Albie -- 1 March 2010

I have recently married a Chinese national and I know I am entitled to a marriage visa which does limit my residence in China. There's no such thing as a marriage visa, or to be more precise, a ...

Is this normal? -- Rose -- 28 February 2010

Hi, This is my first teaching job after a change in career and I am very unhappy with it. I took a job in China advertised as Kindergarten Teacher but have only one hour a week of kindergarten ...

Re: Is this normal? -- Justin -- 1 March 2010

That seems ridiculous. Do you have a Z visa? Contracts between foreign teacher and school tend to have a different meaning in Asia. In the west a contract is a binding agreement that is subject to ...

Re: Is this normal? -- englishgibson -- 28 February 2010

Rose, you haven't been "conned". If it's normal or not is hard to say as standards around the country vary greatly, but I believe it's safe to say that this country's freakish on ...

Re: Is this normal? -- Rose -- 1 March 2010

Thanks for your replies. The main problem is that the job is so far away from what was described, no school as such existed, the owners needed a draw card in the form of an exotic looking ...

Re: Is this normal? -- englishgibson -- 1 March 2010

Rose, I'd follow Turnoi's advice. However, if there are some hostilities in between you and the employer now, i'd be careful approaching him/her/them. If you aren't on a Z visa, leave ...

Re: Is this normal? -- Turnoi -- 1 March 2010

Whether this is "normal" depends on your contract and the job description they have given you, including any information about the place and the job you may hve received by email before you took the ...

Car Industry in China -- englishgibson -- 28 February 2010

Some recent developments in GM, Toyota and some other car makers have prompted me to open up a discussion on the topic as, to me, it would be interesting to gather the views of others. Further more, ...

Re: Car Industry in China -- cunning linguist -- 3 March 2010

This is an interesting subject as I did consider buying a car here a couple of years ago. For me the topic is a yardstick to measure the 'success' of the Chinese economic miracle. This ...

Re: Car Industry in China -- englishgibson -- 3 March 2010

cunning linguist, in fact, the chinese car industry is in its infancy. during the short period of time of these 20 years or so, they've been able to copy other models, purchase rights to other ...

Re: Car Industry in China -- cunning linguist -- 4 March 2010

The industry "is [indeed] in its infancy" as I indicated by my use of the word 'fledgling'. You're right about the wholesale copying of other marques. There are a number of lawsuits in ...

Re: Car Industry in China -- Turnoi -- 28 February 2010

What's happening to the car industry? Perhaps one of things that is happening that the car industry is going down in China - due to the many flying carpets in the air.....LOL

Re: Car Industry in China -- englishgibson -- 1 March 2010

maybe it's going down but maybe not. chinese cars are getting into western markets and there're more brand names around too. on the hammer, why not in china??? my explanation is that the ...

Re: Car Industry in China -- Silverboy -- 2 March 2010

I wonder if Chinese cars are as crappy as their education system..........lol!

Re: Car Industry in China -- T Romford -- 3 March 2010

I wonder if Chinese cars are as crappy as their education system..........lol! Silverboy, if that is indeed is the case, I fear a lot of drivers and their passengers will be injured, or even killed! ...

Re: Car Industry in China -- Silverboy -- 4 March 2010

Hehe, that's funny or maybe not! Yes, it would be interesting to see what happens to these cars, even if they crash into a power pole at only 50 or 60km/h.

Re: Car Industry in China -- englishgibson -- 4 March 2010

cars crash anywhere in a world. in developed countries we've got investigations to fatal car crashes and they probably have those in china too, don't they? there're more than 200 000 ...

Re: Car Industry in China -- Turnoi -- 2 March 2010

i have a feeling chinese have a kinda jeep coming out soon. I am wondering whether this "jeep" will actually be a kind of flying device I have mentioned before...grin

Re: Car Industry in China -- M. Friedman -- 2 March 2010

Back in '06 Malcolm Bricklin (remember the Fiat and Yugo?) was trying to get the Jilli on track for marketing in the U.S., but he couldn't get the Chinese mfr to meet U.S. specs. That's ...

Re: Car Industry in China -- Turnoi -- 3 March 2010

It'll be interesting to see what comes up next. Forgive me if I keep making my jokes..... One of the next things to come up as I would expect is that the Chinese might try to export a brand new ...

Re: Car Industry in China -- englishgibson -- 2 March 2010

Friendman, this Chinese company is apparently based in Sichuan and it has had the money, the place and agreements signed, except its Beijing application for the license to get this deal nailed is ...

Tohns of free ESL resources for class -- Turnoi -- 27 February 2010

You should take a look at http://www.englishbanana.com, if you haven't done so yet. They have tons of free ESL materials free to distribute, copy, and even to sell. Here is a download link to ...

Jingyin Polytechnic College -- kurtg44 -- 27 February 2010

Has anyone taught of have any info on this college? Thanx.

Re: Jingyin Polytechnic College -- Mark Egerton -- 27 February 2010

Kurt44 has posted: Has anyone taught of have any info on this college? Thanx. Don't you mean Jiangyin Polytechnic College? Would you be so good as to specify which province "Jingyin Polytechnic ...

Re: Jingyin Polytechnic College -- Turnoi -- 28 February 2010

Would you be so good as to specify which province "Jingyin Polytechnic College" is situated in? A good question to ask: Some years ago, I read the question of a newbie to China on another forum ...

Re: Jingyin Polytechnic College -- kurtg44 -- 28 February 2010

Thanks for pointing this out. It is Jiangyin Polytechnic College, their website has it spelled both ways, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu province.

Re: Jingyin Polytechnic College -- Turnoi -- 1 March 2010

I don't know whether you have been to China before. Jiangsu province is a rather backward compared to more metropolitan areas like Beijing or Shnaghai and perhaps even Wuhan. If I were you, I ...

Re: Jingyin Polytechnic College -- Turnoi -- 28 February 2010

Have not heard about the school but about the city - it is plagued by eyu and laoshu! Beware!

qualify as CELTA trainer? -- frere anak tom -- 27 February 2010

Please - does anyone have info regarding affordable qualification as teacher-trainer. I have been doing it off and on since the stone age but have no paper to support a serious job application. ...

Re: qualify as CELTA trainer? -- Turnoi -- 27 February 2010

I am not quite sure, but I think there are no formal course programs with certification to qualify as an ESL teacher trainer. Among other things, I am also an ESL teacher "trainer", and I have even ...

STAY AWAY FROM DR. LANG -- XXX -- 26 February 2010

Oh my god...thank you all for writing about this crazy "doctor". He called me and I thought it was an interview for teaching english and i did the "exercises" and thought it had to do with the ...

Getting work without an official TEFL certificate -- Tom -- 26 February 2010

Hi everybody, Let me first say that although I hold no official TEFL certificate, I have taken the TEFL Worldwide study course about a year ago and I still have the knowledge it takes to be an ESL ...

Re: Getting work without an official TEFL certificate -- Turnoi -- 27 February 2010

Yes, it is still possible to find a job even of you did not pass the exams of your TESL Teacher training course. But that would probably the worst kinds of jobs you could get - in Europe and ...

Warning - Frank Zhang's email address 1121005473@qq.com -- The Owl -- 26 February 2010

He is posting job offers again. Maybe from Jiangxi. The latest one is for the Jiangsu Foreign Languages Academy.

Re: Warning - Frank Zhang's email address 1121005473@qq.com -- Turnoi -- 27 February 2010

Yes, it looks like that Franky Boy Zhang wangbadan will never give up, he will continue deceiving and cheating foreign teachers. At least, he must be hiding now because his clear name (Frank Zhang) ...

CHEAT something about salary -- Outahereasap -- 26 February 2010

Below is the "justification" in Chinese eyes for paying me a mere 5200 Yuan instead of 10400 Yuan January and February salary combined, as per contract! From: XXXXX Subject: explain something about ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- Terry Johnson -- 1 March 2010

According to the contract,please read carefully in the part,written like this: II. The salary treatment 1.Direct payment __5200___ RMB / Lesson. The whole salary will be paid monthly (the first three ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- Turnoi -- 1 March 2010

I am sure if I send one of my crocs as a teacher to that crap place the contract would stipulate 20,000 RMB/lesson! Nobody likes to be eaten up by a croc, and so the school leader will do what my ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- Outahereasap -- 1 March 2010

Joking apart,sir: AFTER CONSIDERABLE ACRIMONY,AND MY THREATENING TO STRIKE,including V switching off his cellphone when I tried to call him, childish, to say the least, there have been some major ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- Turnoi -- 26 February 2010

The "justification" given by the school is tricky, dishonest and disgusting! They are obviously trying to withhold the salary and your bonuses and other things due to you for no good reason. Is there ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- Outahereasap -- 26 February 2010

They are obviously trying to withhold the salary and your bonuses and other things due to you for no good reason. Is there any clause in your contract according to which you will not be paid during ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- K B -- 26 February 2010

I've been in a similar situation to you in China not so long ago. If you don't mind, I'll give you some advice concerning how to proceed in the near future. Get out as soon as you can. In ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- Silverboy -- 27 February 2010

There are way to many schools ( and also universities ) cheating teachers out of their entitlements, what is rightfully theirs. Refusing to pay salaries, not paying for visa expenses, not paying for ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- Monitor -- 27 February 2010

The cheating you mention in relation to the original poster's example of barefaced refusal of a school to apply all the terms and conditions of the mutually signed employment contract is ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- Turnoi -- 27 February 2010

Are there perhaps some crocodiles in this place to give the cheating school boss a big bite?

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- Monitor -- 27 February 2010

Though I've managed to identify that thieving school, I've never taught there. I turned down a job offer from there a couple of semesters ago. I do not know if, as you ask, there are any ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- Turnoi -- 28 February 2010

But you must be patient till the OP posts the full details of the exact location of the school in this thread so that you know precisely where to send your reptiles to......lol! Oh, I promise to be ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- Outahereasap -- 26 February 2010

Thanks for your input. I must say what you say is in line with my observations as an FT with more than a few years of teaching experience here in China. As it happens, I don't have a work visa, ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- Outahereasap -- 28 February 2010

I have just received the e-mail below: Hi - you can add my name to the list of people, who have a problem with M _ _ _. V _ _ _ _ _ has given me an explanation in the twisted Chinese logic necessary ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- englishgibson -- 26 February 2010

any ft on mainland china can easily be tricked by local employers and that even if he/she has the appropriate work permit or not. many local english language contracts are tricky and they often ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- Turnoi -- 27 February 2010

...and since we've brought some locals' english over that elementary level and we are not needed as much anymore, there often isn't any room for negotiating. they've got their own to ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- englishgibson -- 28 February 2010

Turnoi, I'd like to address your follow up on my previous post here below in quotes My posting: ...and since we've brought some locals' english over that elementary level and we are not ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- Turnoi -- 28 February 2010

Leaving their unfinished work that often stands on some shaky foundation is quite common around. So, they expect us to leave as, to them, "the work is done". If they have the perception that "the ...

Re: CHEAT something, Majie High School -- A Victim of Victor Zhao -- 28 February 2010

Sorry, Turnoi for not replying to any of the points you brought up in your last post. I hope you'll excuse me on the grounds that it's high time to 'name and shame' the thieving ...

Re: CHEAT something, Majie High School -- Turnoi -- 1 March 2010

It's very clear - a school, whether public or private, that withholds pay for no good reason does deserve to be blacklisted and publicly shamed. This also applies to Majie High School in Hejiang, ...

Re: CHEAT something about salary -- Turino -- 27 February 2010

from my most recent experiences, i see a rather dangerous trend in china where the dishonest local employers and authorities cooperate much more than, say, 10 years ago. then, i see plenty of ...

Tripoli, Lybia -- D.J.R. Sweeney -- 26 February 2010

Elsewhere on this web-site I saw an ad for English teachers in Lybia. Just wondering if anybody has any experience in that country. Or even just any thoughts on the subject.

Re: Tripoli, Lybia -- Turnoi -- 2 March 2010

If I were you I would not even think about travelling to Lybia currently. Muammar Ghaddafi currently holds some Swiss hostages in his country who are not allowed to leave because he has a diplomatic ...

Paying for your own visa? -- Scam Revealer -- 24 February 2010

What the heck? I have been applying to a fair number of schools lately, and I have noticed a trend nearly as alarming as the whole F visa nonsense. Most schools, even Uni's, are refusing to pay ...

Re: Paying for your own visa? -- Turnoi -- 25 February 2010

I agree that all schools and private training centres should fully pay for the visa and other travel costs for a foreign teacher coming to work for them in China. Government and state-run schools ...

Re: Paying for your own visa? -- englishgibson -- 26 February 2010

to the local authorities and quite a few employers, many of us are "overstays" in china. the more we know about this country, it seems that the more dangerous we are to them. just have a look at the ...

schools in shanghai & visas -- Andrea Dunnett -- 24 February 2010

Hello, Anyone out there working for DD Dragon schools or Pearson Longman? I'm considering both and would like feedback from those experienced with either school. I've heard and read some ...

The Public School Prison System Vs. Democratic/Alternative Schools -- Chicken Hawk -- 22 February 2010

Democratic Schooling http://dotsub.com/view/cfb1d99c-0110-4644-9629-5b533142244b http://dotsub.com/view/347db47e-34b3-4514-86c9-46b8c332fd60 Prison Schooling ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- lucy -- 21 February 2010

Hello. I have to bump this post up as I have been waiting to write this. My boyfriend was so paranoid, distraught and afraid that this man, a supposed Fred (aka Xiao Lin), was crazy and has a history ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- Turnoi -- 22 February 2010

Seems these folks running Dongbei Primary are not only entirely unprofessional and unethical; if they are harassing anyone, there must be something wrong with them mentally and they might be in need ...

EF is hell. -- bryant -- 21 February 2010

EF Tangshan. Ef does appear to have a bad rep. everywhere. As someone who taught there for almost a full year, and spent most of it trying to no avail to figure out a way to get out, let me say that ...

Re: EF is hell. -- Turnoi -- 21 February 2010

No offence intended, but I would never employ someone who had worked for EF at my school. EF, Shane, Aston are the bottom of the barrel in the crappy world of ESL; your report confirms that as well. ...

Why blame the teachers who worked there -- helmut wingnut -- 23 February 2010

Yo Turnoi, I hear your criticism of Aston and it's brethren, but I wouldn't go so far as to say, as you have, that one shouldn't hire a teacher who's had the misfortune of working in ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- Logicus -- 24 February 2010

Yup, one should neither blame nor discriminate against former foreign teachers of training centers. Most of 'em had initially made the mistake of taking a position there on account of the ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- Turnoi -- 24 February 2010

Teachers and DOSes at crap places like EF generally are from among the less qualified groups of teachers in the crappy world of ESL. Mostly it is them who take the jobs that no-one else really wants. ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- helmut wingnut -- 25 February 2010

Again Turnoi, your post here about why you wouldn't hire teachers who'd taught at private schools doesn't make sense to me. What academic standards do public schools have that are so ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- Turnoi -- 26 February 2010

Refer to my remarks on the incompatibility of the two systems I have mentioned, and I am not alone in that - in most Western countries this is standard.

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- Silverboy -- 26 February 2010

The problem with private schools ( EF or any other) is that they are only profit motivated, and I had to really laugh about what you said in regard to "curriculum" at training centres. What is taught ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- helmut wingnut -- 26 February 2010

Turnoi and Silverboy, you must realize you are expressing a lot of prejudices, and while I have a lot of problems with how private schools are run in China, I find your descriptions simply are so ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- Turnoi -- 26 February 2010

I see the point you are trying to make. Privately run training centres are not "better" per se as they produce results as you say. I am quite sure that if there were the essential improvements in the ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- Turino -- 27 February 2010

Private training centres follow quite a different system; it is incompatible with the system of the public sector for a number of principal reasons. One of them is that they hire less qualified ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- helmut wingnut -- 27 February 2010

There's still a problem with the "blame the teacher" attitude showing up on this board. Torino (not Turnoi) wrote: greedy,dishonest employers are deserving of less qualified teachers.Actually, ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- Turino -- 27 February 2010

Well,we see training centers advertise too frequently for energetic teachers who are committed professionals expected to motivate youngsters by making English learning fun. Of course,that implies a ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- Turnoi -- 27 February 2010

You say: There's still a problem with the "blame the teacher" attitude showing up on this board. No, I would not say that I do blame a "teacher" if I say I won't employ someone having worked ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- helmut wingnut -- 28 February 2010

Hello Turnoi: Let's continue this debate. You said: I would not say that I do blame a "teacher" if I say I won't employ someone having worked for EF or similar place at my school. If you ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- Scam Revealer -- 28 February 2010

Turnoi is mistaken, it's that simple. I've read a lot of this persons post, they seem to have a bit of an elitist attitude, and arrogant streak running through most of what they write. ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- Turnoi -- 28 February 2010

Hi, I am replying to you again although your post is quite long and I do not have the time to reply to all points in depth as that may be needed and worth the effort. Here is my input on some points ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- englishgibson -- 28 February 2010

I blame myself for having worked at EF and desperate to land a job and stay in the same location and with a pro contract I actually contemplated returning back again. So, what do I blame myself for? ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- helmut wingnut -- 28 February 2010

Hi Turnoi: Well, by this point we are starting to mostly agree. I certainly agree that private schools, or at least the one I've worked at, were corrupt, mismanaged, didn't really know much ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- Turnoi -- 26 February 2010

You have truly expressed some of my personal sentiments in the matter. I would even make the claim that EF, Shane and Aston are not "schools" at all; instead, they are what I would call "crappy ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- Turnoi -- 24 February 2010

Teachers and DOSes at crap places like EF generally are from among the less qualified groups of teachers in the crappy world of ESL. Mostly it is them who take the jobs that no-one else really wants. ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- Turnoi -- 23 February 2010

Mostly those FTs who had the misfortune to end up in a crappy place like EF are those who most likely could not land a job somewhere else. I won't hire anyone coming directly from an EF or ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- helmut wingnut -- 23 February 2010

I politely disagree Turnoi. Aston, EF, Shane and other similar schools have the best online marketing presence, and most rigorous recruitment campaigns, thus will attract a lot of qualified teachers ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- Turnoi -- 24 February 2010

It's your good right to disagree, no problem with that. Regarding the subject matter itself, I am afraid that I continue to disagree. With the extremely bad working conditions that "schools" like ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- helmut wingnut -- 24 February 2010

You made some good points there, Turnoi, which on the face of it I agree with. However, having actually worked for 2 different private school chains, I have at least some insider knowledge of ...

Re: Why blame the teachers who worked there -- Turnoi -- 25 February 2010

Thank you for your well-reasoned input. I currently do not have the time to reply to all the points you have made in depth, although your input and the points you make would really be worth the ...

Another source for interesting e-books -- Turnoi -- 19 February 2010

This site features language e-books from English (EFL/ESL) to Zulu; it also includes some works in Linguistics: http://uz-translations.net/ You need to register to be able to access the download ...

How to succeed and move up in private language schools -- General Urco -- 19 February 2010

How to succeed and move up in private language schools Folks, I’m not going to mix my words or sugar coat things. This is the straight scoop. If you play your cards right you can be a success ...

Re: How to succeed and move up in private language schools -- Turino -- 24 February 2010

A great post,General Urco. I can see a lot of myself in action in and outside the classroom,in what you write. Going through the motions,or being seen to be doing rather than to do - couldn't ...

Re: How to succeed and move up in private language schools -- Turnoi -- 19 February 2010

Well, you wrote quite an interesting piece, and I do not know for the moment whether you really do mean what you say or whether there is a lot of irony and sarcasm in it. Anyway, it is a well-written ...

Re: How to succeed and move up in private language schools -- englishgibson -- 19 February 2010

Turnoi, this isn't about the honesty of our OP or his sarcasm, bigotry etc but this is about the guide to succeed in some Asian countries like China and he HAS GOT IT RIGHT ON! And, please, do ...

Re: How to succeed and move up in private language schools -- Turnoi -- 20 February 2010

No, I do not agree that this description of crappy private training centres only refers to "schools" in Asia. In fact, you will find this kind crappy training centres everywhere, inside and outside ...

What's the deal with "F" visas? -- Scam Revealer -- 18 February 2010

I've been in China a lot of years now, and I am starting to see a new trend that I find very disturbing. Schools "wanting" to hire people on F visas. I am seeing this even in schools that are ...

Re: What's the deal with "F" visas? -- englishgibson -- 18 February 2010

the F visa is in fact an alarming trend. it really looks like it's about the responsibilities on the part of some chinese employers. offering the job and then taking it away from you based on ...

Re: What's the deal with "F" visas? -- Silverboy -- 18 February 2010

I agree with you Scam Revealer, this F visa business is an alarming trend for sure. The way to go is to obtain the Z-visa before arival in China. Otherwise, have the L visa converted to a Z after ...

Re: What's the deal with "F" visas? -- englishgibson -- 20 February 2010

Ironically, accepting an F visa from a crappy establishment is, in my view, better than committing yourself into a legal work permit that could legally go against you should you object to your ...

Re: What's the deal with "F" visas? -- Scam Revealerq -- 20 February 2010

Gotta disagree with you Gibson. Your words make no sense as far as favoring an F over a Z. Unless you are someone unreliable who hops from school to school, or wants no real protection. If you have ...

Re: What's the deal with "F" visas? -- Turnoi -- 20 February 2010

Well, perhaps it is also a matter of mentality or culture to look at such things: I would make the claim that an average central European is very much concerned about his legal status when going ...

Re: What's the deal with "F" visas? -- englishgibson -- 20 February 2010

our esl discussion forums are to agree and/or disagree, aren't they? there's a lot to write on boards, but little to do when we get in trouble at times. i guess the next few years will tell ...

Re: What's the deal with "F" visas? -- Silverboy -- 20 February 2010

There is a opinion shared by quite a few FT's that if you are employed at a school/uni in China on a Z visa that the school "owns" you. Recently (late october 09) I left a crappy job at a ...

Re: What's the deal with "F" visas? -- P.U. -- 22 February 2010

SB. Truly, I am amazed how you continually advise people to be lawless. Especially, in light of the fact that you consider yourself to be an authority on the EFL industry in China and give advice ...

Re: What's the deal with "F" visas? -- Silverboy -- 23 February 2010

Really, I could not care less about what you said, but I will respond to your post anyway. I have never done anything illegal in China, there is no reason for anybody to deport me. I have never been ...

Re: What's the deal with "F" visas? -- Turino -- 22 February 2010

SB. Truly, I am amazed how you continually advise people to be lawless. Especially, in light of the fact that you consider yourself to be an authority on the EFL industry in China and give advice ...

Re: What's the deal with "F" visas? -- Turnoi -- 22 February 2010

Is that poster you are responding to China's gain?

Re: What's the deal with "F" visas? -- Turino -- 22 February 2010

Seems like said poster ain't China's gain.That said,I reckon he's much more likely to be one of SB's detractors,of which there are thankfully only a few.I base my evaluation of P.U. ...

Re: What's the deal with "F" visas? -- Turnoi -- 22 February 2010

I am wondering whether you speak from your own experience - that is, having done the same that you accuse the SB poster of. Grovelling weasels at work again... some of them must have survived the ...

Re: What's the deal with "F" visas? -- Turnoi -- 20 February 2010

accepting an F visa from a crappy establishment is, in my view, better than committing yourself into a legal work permit that could legally go against you should you object to your employer's ...

Our Teaching Certificates Use -- englishgibson -- 17 February 2010

TEFL, TESOL, CELTA etc are (or were) to qualify us for our teaching positions around the world, although from what I am seeing on mainland China is just not the case. The local teaching techniques ...

Re: Our Teaching Certificates Use -- Turnoi -- 17 February 2010

In this, I would take a more holistic approach than you obviously do: I would strictly differentiate between a) TESL qualifications of a sound academic nature that you may find in traditional teacher ...

Re: Our Teaching Certificates Use -- Juan Cervantes -- 19 February 2010

Hi Turnoi, I agree with what you say about having standards in order to teach English, or any language. In my one year in China on the job training has taught me alot, especially that I need more ...

Re: Our Teaching Certificates Use -- Turnoi -- 19 February 2010

Yes, I would be pleased to make some concrete recommendations. Could you just tell me - in which area do you want to "upgrade" - English Grammar, Linguistics.....? I could also offer you a couple of ...

Re: Our Teaching Certificates Use -- Juan Cervantes -- 21 February 2010

Thank you for your help. I would like to upgrade my skills in my knowledge of grammar and linguistics. Further knowledge on making lesson plans would benefit. Techniques on teaching primary school ...

Re: Our Teaching Certificates Use -- Turnoi -- 24 February 2010

Would you check your email, please - I have sent you a couple of ebooks and some of our course files. Hope they came through in good order.

Re: Our Teaching Certificates Use -- Turnoi -- 22 February 2010

I will send some PDF files to your email address which I have got from your post. Hope to send the materials soon, I need prepare them for you a bit.

Re: Our Teaching Certificates Use -- Juanisaac -- 23 February 2010

Thank you so much. I am overwhelmed by your generosity. I hope to put all this wonderful information to good use!

Re: Our Teaching Certificates Use -- Turnoi -- 24 February 2010

You are welcome, please do not mention it! I am glad you received the attachments in good order.

Re: Our Teaching Certificates Use -- englishgibson -- 20 February 2010

so, turnoi, these modules for fts are focused on some asian countries like china, aren't they? cheers and beers to the 60 years of traditions that a foreign teacher has got to follow in china :)

Re: Our Teaching Certificates Use -- Turnoi -- 20 February 2010

No, they aren't. Otherwise, they won't have the academic and professional quality that you may reasonably expect. For example, English Grammar is always the same as a subset of the linguistic ...

Re: Our Teaching Certificates Use -- englishgibson -- 17 February 2010

turnoi, what i've really tried to express is the local approach to teaching english which directly and indirectly confronts what our western teaching certification leads us to. from my ...

Re: Our Teaching Certificates Use -- Turnoi -- 18 February 2010

our jobs at times are on the line if we don't follow the local approach and then local supervisors/managers evaluate our work performances based on their own standards which sometimes, In my uni ...

Re: Our Teaching Certificates Use -- englishgibson -- 18 February 2010

Turnoi, I understand the attempts to build bridges in between and so possibly create more opportunities for us (fts), however, we've been building them for years, at least in China. These ...

Re: Our Teaching Certificates Use -- Silverboy -- 20 February 2010

"The Chinese work environment is based on employees loyalty, not on their talents, skills, experiences or educational background". In general, I agree, that is true, it is why Chinese education is a ...

Re: ESL standards - why Canadian English is superior!---LOL -- englishgibson -- 17 February 2010

turnoi, i really don't mean to be confrontational here, but one point here hasn't been cleared. that is that is you visit or live or work in two different countries you may as well be able to ...

Re: ESL standards - why Canadian English is superior!---LOL -- Turnoi -- 17 February 2010

I am not a nationalist, and so I would never say that one country is better than another. But I like to make my jokes, and I do not see what's wrong with it. I can even make jokes about myself. I ...

Re: ESL standards - why Canadian English is superior!---LOL -- englishgibson -- 17 February 2010

now, the question is why this topic has broken up and only two editions, one of turnoi and one of mine appear separately from the OP's post on canadian english :confused cheers and beers

Re: ESL standards - why Canadian English is superior!---LOL -- Turnoi -- 18 February 2010

now, the question is why this topic has broken up and only two editions, one of turnoi and one of mine appear separately from the OP's post on canadian english EG It's probably one of the ...

Especially for you.... -- Turnoi -- 17 February 2010

I feel this is of the best pieces I have ever written; I hope it is funny and will transmit the message that I basically wanted to get across: ...

Re: Especially for you.... -- englishgibson -- 18 February 2010

yes, in fact, it's true that there're so many of this kind and they set the wrong tone to esl around. but should we blame this kind of employers or someone esle? let's face it! the local ...

Re: Especially for you.... -- Turnoi -- 18 February 2010

Who to look at? I would have thought there was a clear answer: It is the system behind the crappy world of ESL, i.e., the highly unregulated market, the laissez-faire style with which main actors in ...

Re: WARNING!!!!Throat Expert Doctor Strikes Again - New name/id: Dr Simon Lang, Lang0888@gmail.com -- Creeped OUT -- 16 February 2010

This guy is quite the professional. I cannot believe this has been going on since '06 and no one has been able to do something about it. I asked tons of questions- name of the school, location, ...

Re: WARNING!!!!Throat Expert Doctor Strikes Again - New name/id: Dr Simon Lang, Lang0888@gmail.com -- Turnoi -- 16 February 2010

The story with that throat pervert is an endless story, and so far nobody has been able to either locate or even get hold of him. His victims are ladies at a certain age with a certain profile that ...

Mazoon College ( Oman) Contract Revealed -- Jyothirmayi Fahad Smith -- 14 February 2010

If you are Oman-bound and are offered a job at Mazoon College, please be warned- the college breached their contract with me, did not pay me my overtime as per contract terms- close to USD 1800 - ...

Re: Mazoon College ( Oman) Contract Revealed -- Albert Jones -- 17 February 2010

Please be warned. The writer of this post on Mazoon College is not telling the truth. I am the hiring coordinator for the college. J F Smith was sent a copy of this "terrible contract" before he left ...

Re: Mazoon College ( Oman) Contract Revealed -- Jyothirmayi Fahad Smith -- 19 February 2010

I was only sent a copy of the Letter of Offer, not the contract. Maybe the people who'd recruited me simply confused those. Contracts do not leave the building there. And yes, I had to sign it ...

Re: Mazoon College ( Oman) Contract Revealed -- Turnoi -- 17 February 2010

We cannot make a judgement about the the OP and the school you represent. We also do not know whether what you tell is the truth. Your remarks about JF Smith tell a lot about your "school", and I ...

Contaminated Milk Powder Again!!! -- kjk -- 14 February 2010

Is this true that there was another tainted powder milk scam again there in China? The name of the company is not the same as the one that was first caught but it may be owned by it. I see no one has ...

Re: Contaminated Milk Powder Again!!! -- englishgibson -- 15 February 2010

i don't doubt this is true and i've posted similar topic just couple weeks ago on this site. in fact, i got my story from HK news where they mentioned guangzhou as THE CITY with the ...

UK visas -- ian lawrence -- 13 February 2010

A big thanks to the UK Home Secretary from the Oz Cultural Attache and everyone Down Under G'day. Just heard my little possums that ahead of Labour's March Visa rules, one group of Turkish ...

Re: UK visas -- englishgibson -- 15 February 2010

there are schools and then there are schools. there are foreign students and then there are foreign students. in my view, any country should do its best to protect its educational system and/or the ...

Re: UK visas -- Turnoi -- 16 February 2010

Cheers and beers to the fall of all the farce american unis that kiss arssseess of filthy rich internationals. I am known for being critical as far as the US are concerned. But I would refute your ...

Re: UK visas -- englishgibson -- 16 February 2010

let's stick to the topic! yes, there are unis around the world that would award degrees to even a croc, although we should really focus on the english speaking countries for the sake of this ...

Do you know a school with vacancies?? -- nathan -- 12 February 2010

Hello, I recently got offered a job in China but after searching the internet im not sure whether or not to take the job as there is some bad press wrote online. I was wondering if anyone knew of any ...

Re: Do you know a school with vacancies?? -- Turnoi -- 12 February 2010

Have you already got some job offers, and if so, could you tell us the name of the schools and also some contract details? We might be able to give some more detailed advice then.

Re: Do you know a school with vacancies?? -- Nathan -- 13 February 2010

Here is a copy of the contract with the school, what do you think?? Have you got any suggestions?? I dont have a degree, so should i b grateful? I. Party A wishes to engage the service of Party B as ...

Re: Do you know a school with vacancies?? -- lovely lemming -- 13 February 2010

I think the contract is crap, your no degree situation is irrelevant, you should be treated well at a school or university regardless of whether you have a degree or not. Here a a few things about ...

Re: Do you know a school with vacancies?? -- Turnoi -- 13 February 2010

I have been looking for the "holes" or "bad things" in the contract and found these things: - They will only reimburse your airfare if you sign a contract for one year with 4000 Yuan RMB. Not enough, ...

Re: Do you know a school with vacancies?? -- nathan -- 15 February 2010

Hello, thanks for all your feedback, im really wanting to take up a position near enough straight away. I have already got an L visa, i dont mind if i have to change this later on, does anyone know ...

Re: Do you know a school with vacancies?? -- the realist -- 16 February 2010

Well Nathan, if you don't have a degree you know what you can do! It may cost you a couple of hundred dollars for good quality, but what the heck, if you have a degree you can apply for uni jobs. ...

Re: Do you know a school with vacancies?? -- Turnoi -- 16 February 2010

I agree with what you said, realist. I also think that the OP (Nathan) has already decided to take job he was offered and against which others and I had advised when asked for it. It is now up to the ...

Dongducheon American Community School -- overandout -- 11 February 2010

I spent 3.5 years in Korea from 2003 to 2006 and then again from 2008 to 2009. I met several shady characters in that time and would like to share with you the worst one I encountered, so you can ...

Re: Dongducheon American Community School -- Woody -- 17 February 2010

Phrawgh's Tavern in Dongducheon - Proudly serving the soldiers and civilians in Area I 2nd Infantry Division in the Camp Casey enclave (which includes Camp Casey, Camp Hovey, Camp Castle and Camp ...

Re: Dongducheon American Community School -- Silverboy -- 12 February 2010

Please let me know where this Rockie Park scumbag intends to open his crappy school in China. As readers here would know, I do not back down from a fight. I would love to cause a few problems for ...

Re: Dongducheon American Community School -- Turnoi -- 12 February 2010

Yes, tell us please.... Perhaps, we can cause this guy some problems by warning others!

Helpful Texts - a reminder -- Turnoi -- 10 February 2010

For the newbies to the field of teaching ESL/EFL and for those having plans to go abroad for teaching English, there are a number of helpful texts here: ...

Teaching in China as a Non Native ?? -- Arnold -- 9 February 2010

Hey there, Obviously the TESOL/TEFL Programms tell me otherwise, but how realistic is it for a Non Native (Dutch) to teach English in China ? Reluctant agencies, picky parents (which I understand) ...

Re: Teaching in China as a Non Native ?? -- Turnoi -- 9 February 2010

To put it a bit sarcastically, as long as you are a "white" person, do not look Asian, and as long as you can speak English and pronounce the word "cheese" correctly, I think you have a quite a good ...

survey -- Zineb -- 8 February 2010

Hello , I hope that everybody is fine.I am a teacher of English .I have designed a survey and I need your help to get the answers.Could you please read it and provide with the answers as soon as ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- bosslove72 -- 8 February 2010

This school is a sad pathetic place. I was NOT terminated, I asked for the contract to be canceled. I keep hearing I was terminated or left before I was fired, these people must certainly know the ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- Turnoi -- 8 February 2010

Bosslove, as you can see, the defaming posts made by one of Dongbei Primary's lackeys, "Mr and Mrs Hans Fisher", have been removed from this board. I suspect they are working as recruiters for ...

A Dyslexia Teacher. -- David Ash -- 8 February 2010

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that manifests itself as a difficulty with reading, spelling and in some cases mathematics. There is no cure for dyslexia, but dyslexic individuals can learn to read ...

Re: A Dyslexia Teacher. -- Turnoi -- 8 February 2010

I cannot really make a reply to your question directly but I want to add the following remark below: In scholarly literature regarding the role of the brain in reading and writing skills acquisition, ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! - On crappy housing! -- Turnoi -- 7 February 2010

The photos that were to accompany the contract never arrived. Why do you think they never arrived? - My guess is: Here is my answer: What they have to offer is a run-down building with public ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- Turnoi -- 7 February 2010

Who are "Mr and Mrs Hans Fischer" anyway? They come here in defence of a school that is known to have a high turnover rate of teachers and to provide crappy housing. I also would strongly question ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- Ybrunson -- 6 February 2010

Concerning your post and email that you sent me. Dr, if you and your wife taught English at the school, I find that hard to believe as your English grammar is not up to par to teach any child or ...

Re: Anyone give information about IGiT group in Saudi Arabia -- wiliam -- 6 February 2010

I recently left Saudi Arabia due to my terrible experience at IGIT. IGIT are an incredibly dishonest company who will promise you anything to trick you into accepting their offer. However, when you ...

Re: Anyone give information about IGiT group in Saudi Arabia -- Turnoi -- 6 February 2010

This absolutely disgusting company run by a bunch of rotten liars and crooks needs to be out of business soon. To hell with them, what are they good for, these useless liars?!

Canadian University offends Chinese government -- englishgibson -- 5 February 2010

Throughout my experience on mainland, I have always thought that local authorities, employers, and managers were irrational when challenged. Further more, I have seen some really vindictive ...

Re: Canadian University offends Chinese government -- Turnoi -- 5 February 2010

Whow.... that's politics and does not have anything to do with the value of a degree conferred. Recently, I have conferred a Honorary Doctor degree on one of my crocodiles for eating up another ...

Re: Canadian University offends Chinese government -- englishgibson -- 5 February 2010

Politics may and do affect varieties of business fields which happens to be education in this case. There are hundreds of Chinese students in that particular uni and some might have come out of our ...

ESL standards -- Rob -- 4 February 2010

Hello. I find that it's difficult for students to adjust to the English langauge when they have many teachers from many different backgrounds teaching their own versions of "English". I propose ...

Re: ESL standards -- nick -- 13 February 2010

good comment I agree with you

Re: ESL standards - Canadian Halloween???? -- Turnoi -- 5 February 2010

I feel by making Canada and it's citizens the teachers of English we would see much better standards in students, and more respect for the industry. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah! Canada as the saviour of ...

Re: ESL standards -- englishgibson -- 4 February 2010

Rob, have you posted the topic under some kind of an influence? Are you from Quebec? You realize you're taking a shot at quite a lot of teachers and even educational institutions around the ...

Re: ESL standards -- ANET -- 5 February 2010

What do you mean by "Are You From Quebec?" I would think very few people in Quebec would care much about the type of English taught anywhere in the world.

Re: ESL standards -- Turnoi -- 6 February 2010

Quebec belongs to the French-speaking part of Canada, and perhaps the poster wants to separate from the English-speaking part of Canada as some movements obviously in this province want. Yes, people ...

Re: ESL standards - why Canadian English is superior!---LOL -- Turnoi -- 5 February 2010

I do not know Great Canada as I had never been there. So, I depend on written sources, and one of the interesting things about the is Canadian English accent I have found is in a not so-well know ...

Re: ESL standards - why Canadian English is superior!---LOL -- englishgibson -- 6 February 2010

turnoi, do you see a necessity to attack a nation of many teachers working around the world? we both know, and i believe many others too, that the OP is a joke. cheers and beers to our OP wherever ...

Re: ESL standards - why Canadian English is superior!---LOL -- Turnoi -- 6 February 2010

No, I do not see a need to attack a great nation. But I do see a need to make a joke, and I am sure my input will be taken as such. Cheers and beers to Canadian grizzlies, wolves, karibus and all ...

Re: ESL standards - why Canadian English is superior!---LOL -- Migrant Worker -- 6 February 2010

Well, obviously this is a joke or he was high on something. As a Canadian myself, this is obviously a foolish jest as all the world doesn't speak one variation of English, so why should students ...

Re: ESL standards - why Canadian English is superior!---LOL -- Turnoi -- 7 February 2010

Well, obviously this is a joke or he was high on something. High on what? -Perhaps "high on the mountains covered by a certain kind of grass"?...lol By the way, you really should check out Canada... ...

Need tips on teaching 15 year old Arab boys -- Richard Hauck -- 4 February 2010

I have to teach a group of 15 boys, who are approxiamtely 15 years of age. They are Gulf Arab boys, Emiratis. I don't know the group yet, but Emirati boys are a bit restless, and occasionally, ...

Re: Need tips on teaching 15 year old Arab boys -- Turnoi -- 5 February 2010

I am a bit puzzled: have you worked in the Emirates before so that you can make an assessment of discipline regarding these students at this age group? Or are you actually teaching them already? ...

Re: Need tips on teaching 15 year old Arab boys -- englishgibson -- 7 February 2010

Turnoi is puzzled, although his fingers strike faster than his croc thinks. OP's got it all well written and this in fact is the problem in many nations around the world as many 15 year olds are ...

Re: Need tips on teaching 15 year old Arab boys -- Turnoi -- 8 February 2010

EG, you may agree or disagree - either opinion in this matter will be only proven by practice whether it is right or not. In principle, I do agree with the following point you make: "My tip is to use ...

Melamine Scare in Guangzhou -- englishgibson -- 3 February 2010

Yesterday, I have followed Hong Kong news where they've mentioned that too much melamine has yet again been found in foods made in Guangzhou. Even the beef apparently may be contaminated as ...

Re: Recruiter Henry Zhou screwed me, please read -- Lucy -- 4 February 2010

You are not alone. I hope every thing works out. I was also screwed out of some money, but I guess you live, learn and post to warn others. Cheers.

how to answer negative questions -- ayanne -- 4 February 2010

how will i answer this question : "don't you eat?" and "is nobody here intelligent?" please help. thanks much!

Re: how to answer negative questions -- Turnoi -- 4 February 2010

"don't you eat?" and "is nobody here intelligent?" Both questions are "No"/"Yes" questions, according to whether a negative or affirmative answer may apply. 1. Dont' you eat? A: No, I ...

Horizon Recruitment, China -- Tom -- 3 February 2010

Hey, Fairly new company I know, and this may well have been dealt with before - but are they a trustworthy group? Certainly their adverts and come-ons look far too good to be true, with endless jobs, ...

Re: Horizon Recruitment, China -- Edward Teach -- 3 February 2010

I got my job through Horizon and have had no problems with them whatsoever. I think you are more likely to have trouble with the company you are employed by than the agency itself. Horizon supplied ...

Re: Horizon Recruitment, China -- Rocket -- 26 February 2010

That's fantastic because I only had problems with them, over quite a period of time. I suspect it was due to my age; 55. But I get good offers through anesl.com. I just got one where they wanted ...

Re: Horizon Recruitment, China -- Turnoi -- 27 February 2010

There is an official age limit of I think 60 years in China as far as SAFEA.based contracts are concerned. But that is mostly on paper as I know quite a couple of older people than you who are ...

Teach in Thailand, no degree? -- Asia lover! -- 3 February 2010

Hi, can anyone tell me how I can teach English in Bangkok without having a degree? I have worked in China for years and it is easier to get work here without a degree , but I have heard Thailand is a ...

Re: Teach in Thailand, no degree? -- BW -- 3 February 2010

Sorry, can't answer your question, but you mention that you have been finding it easy to teach without a degree in China? Can you elaborate on that? I haven't seen it at all. Thanks and good ...

Re: Teach in Thailand, no degree? -- Edward Teach -- 3 February 2010

Its a lot harder for anybody to find work in Bangkok right now, the job market has taken a real kicking just lately. hopefully it will pick up soon. Not having a degree will put you at some ...

china: convert L to Z visa -- kurtg44 -- 3 February 2010

Am heading to Chengdu, China on a one-way ticket, with a tourist visa to find work in a university that will convert to a Z visa. Will I have problems entering the country on a one-way ticket? Do I ...

Re: china: convert L to Z visa -- nathan -- 12 February 2010

You won t have any problem getting into China, as i have done this before myself. I have heard that they do occasionally ask you about a one way ticket, however you can just say you are moving on ...

Re: china: convert L to Z visa -- Chengdu CT -- 19 February 2010

I have been in CD for some time. Getting into the country shouldn't be a problem. Everyone I have talked with recently has had to go to HK to change their visa to a Z visa. Don't worry about ...

Do you know this school-Colorful Sunshine Kaifeng???? -- Nathan Dale -- 2 February 2010

Ive recently been offered a job in Kaifeng in China, which to me seems ok but i cant find anything about it online. The school is called colorful sunshine english education centre. However i have ...

Re: Do you know this school-Colorful Sunshine Kaifeng???? -- Migrant Worker -- 6 February 2010

Colorful... hmmm? I am sure you will have a colorful experience... most likely in darker shades. =( I would stay away.

Re: Do you know this school-Colorful Sunshine Kaifeng???? -- CSUWS -- 3 February 2010

The first thing you need to do is find out whether an L-visa can be converted to a Z-visa in Henan province. Some provinces can do this, some can't. I know that for instance in Hubei province it ...

Re: Do you know this school-Colorful Sunshine Kaifeng???? -- Turnoi -- 2 February 2010

Be careful and check the province where they are. There are provinces where this still may be possible; there are others where it is not. Another question you should ask whether this is a recognised ...

Gateway English Wuhan, avoid bigtime -- Concerned in Wuhan -- 2 February 2010

Hi all, I wanted to know if anyone here has ever heard of a school called Gateway English in Wuhan? Upon answering an advertisement for this school I talked to some fellow by the name of Guy Dekker, ...

Re: Gateway English Wuhan, avoid bigtime -- Turnoi -- 2 February 2010

I fully understand that you smell a rat...... First, whether a school is run by a native Chinese or a foreigner, the law is always the same: you can only work legally in China with a working visa (z ...

Re: Gateway English Wuhan, avoid bigtime -- Concerned in Wuhan -- 3 February 2010

Turnoi you clearly failed to read what I wrote. I said that, since he was 27, how could this Guy Dekker be claiming 6 years experience teaching here, and then another 8 years in Australia? He's ...

Re: Gateway English Wuhan, avoid bigtime -- lovely lemming -- 5 February 2010

Guy Dekker and his friends are a bunch of losers who have been in Wuhan for a few years. They post regularly on the inane Wuhan Time website. You are right Concerned in Wuhan, keep away from Dekker ...

Re: Gateway English Wuhan, avoid bigtime -- Turnoi -- 6 February 2010

Am I right in suggesting that they are a fake volunteer organisation?

Re: Gateway English Wuhan, avoid bigtime -- Turnoi -- 4 February 2010

Turnoi you clearly failed to read what I wrote. I said that, since he was 27, how could this Guy Dekker be claiming 6 years experience teaching here, and then another 8 years in Australia? I think I ...

Some interesting things about (African) Bantu Languages -- Turnoi -- 1 February 2010

Bantu languages are widely spread over the western, central, eastern, and southern part of Africa. All of these languages show a number of linguistic properties that are similar in grammar and basic ...

Re: Black List IN KOREA YES English Academy, Ulsan, South Korea -- EFL Teacher -- 1 February 2010

In response to the article posted below. Out of interest, i typed in YES English Academy, Ulsan on a search engine. I would also like to add that the school were awful to a couple i knew who worked ...

Chinese Character symbols for decorative purposes -- Turnoi -- 31 January 2010

Chinese characters, for no doubt, are fascinating from a mere visual point of view and have their own esthetic merits. Even for someone who has no knowledge of the structural principles of the ...

Re: Chinese Character symbols for decorative purposes -- englishgibson -- 31 January 2010

thanks. i am not only gonna use this for my new home decorating but also for my little son's learning purpose. chinese character symbols are amazing, aren't they? i think they show how ...

Re: Chinese Character symbols for decorative purposes -- Turnoi -- 31 January 2010

Yes indeed, EG, Chinese characters are fascinating and convey a lot of culture-bound imagination, world views, and associated meanings. The oldest monolingual Chinese "etymological" dictionary on ...

Re: Chinese Character symbols for decorative purposes 2 -- Turnoi -- 1 February 2010

Here are some more Chinese characters. In addition to notes on pronunciation, meaning, style of writing, I have also added practical demonstrations on how to write these Chinese characters in terms ...

Re: Chinese Character symbols for decorative purposes 2 -- englishgibson -- 3 February 2010

the characters are really amazing. i'll sure use that for my little son's learning. one thing that i's wonderin about is the differences between the characters of the modern mainland and ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- Turnoi -- 29 January 2010

Well, the foreign teachers were bad and unacceptable and the school was always fine and right? Is it that what you want to tell us? Well, I would guess that the accomodation your school was offering ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- Silverboy -- 27 January 2010

An absolute crap school by the sound of it. You shot yourself in the foot with that post. Here is the proof: "Finally, there were numerous student complaints about his teaching". So the students ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- ybrunson -- 27 January 2010

I have to concur with all of the post about this school. If you are looking to teach abroad, and you speak with Xiao, please be aware. The entire process is rushed, and made to seem as though if some ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- Turnoi -- 7 February 2010

To the short porky Xiao (which he told me he was), good luck with your white female teacher, I hope that works out for the school! Short porky Xiao (as you describe him) seems to be racist like the ...

New to all of this -- Syzygus -- 26 January 2010

Hello everyone, I am not currently a teacher. I am an IT analyst with a medium size company in The States with a mortgage and a 401K, living the American dream. However, I am feeling the need to do ...

Re: New to all of this -- tatsuospirit -- 29 January 2010

The first thing you need to do is complete some teaching experience. Learn what works best for you and your style of teaching. Granted, this does not exist for you at this time. Perhaps you will have ...

Re: New to all of this -- Turnoi -- 27 January 2010

However, my question is, is it worth it? Is teaching overseas, for less money, less security, less Western comforts, etc, etc... really worth it? The answer is. Yes, it is worth the effort despite ...

Re: New to all of this -- englishgibson -- 27 January 2010

If it is worth it depends on what you're looking for in a sense of, both private and professional life. In my view, either way, you'd be better in some EU nations and some former Soviet Block ...

"The first thing..." -> Weird Grammar Structure -- Mike K. -- 25 January 2010

Hi, everyone! I have recently been banging my head on the following sentence: The first thing I must do when I get home is study English. Now, this is one of those cases when I *know* that it is ...

Re: "The first thing..." -> Weird Grammar Structure -- SEP -- 26 January 2010

The first thing I must do when I get home is study English. What is needed in this sentence is the particle "to" before the verb "study". That will give us the infinitive "to study". We learned in ...

Re: "The first thing..." -> Weird Grammar Structure -- Turnoi -- 27 January 2010

Your reply is another way to look at this sentence structure and is quite adequate by concluding more or less the same. Your approach, however, is more in terms of traditional grammar which as such ...

Re: "The first thing..." -> Weird Grammar Structure -- SEP -- 28 January 2010

Grammar is a set of norms, things which actually exist. Yes, one may question norms in colorful discoursese until one's bellybutton collapses. During the past fifty years, theorists from Foucault ...

Re: "The first thing..." -> Weird Grammar Structure -- Turnoi -- 29 January 2010

You are welcome. My crocs at least could master the hollow academic jargon....or not?......LOL

Re: "The first thing..." -> NO Weird Grammar Structure -- Turnoi -- 25 January 2010

A nice question for a linguist, yeah! OK, let me try to give an answer: S = (a-The first thing b-I must do c-when I get home) ( is) ( study English). My analysis: 1. This sentence consists of three ...

Re:Additional Info: "The first thing..." -> NO Weird Grammar Structure -- Turnoi -- 27 January 2010

I am adding a so-called "tree structure" of the sentence I have analysed for you. A "tree structure" is a visual presentation of the sentence structure analysed and quite common in Descriptive ...

Re: "The first thing..." -> NO Weird Grammar Structure -- Mike K. -- 26 January 2010

Man. Well done. You get a gold medal. ;) I hate the fact that you have to have a Ph.D. in Linguistics to be able to explain some "not weird" constructions in English. ;) Then again, I majored in lit, ...

Re: "The first thing..." -> NO Weird Grammar Structure -- Turnoi -- 27 January 2010

Thanks for the gold medal awarded...lol. No, I do not think, you have to have a PhD in Linguistics to analyse a sentence like that. It was in one of the first semester courses when I learned this way ...

Re: Black List IN KOREA YES English Academy, Ulsan, South Korea -- ... -- 25 January 2010

Also another thing this school does is make you pay the full amount of medical insurance and tell you its only half - which is what the contract says you should pay!!!

Re: Black List IN KOREA YES English Academy, Ulsan, South Korea -- ANET -- 26 January 2010

Thank you for coming forward. I lived and taught in Ulsan for three years. It was hell. I keep telling myself it was not representative of all of South Korea. There are serious workplace problems in ...

Re: GAC-ACT -- Sun Carol -- 25 January 2010

I found it difficult to understand the logics in Mr. Gibson's accusations or assumptions: what does the number of job postings tell about an organization? Most people who do know about China ...

Re: GAC-ACT -- englishgibson -- 26 January 2010

Dear Ms Sun Carol, this is the teachers board and these aren't any "accusations" or "assumptions" but experiences of real teachers with the bogus centers of a company or companies running the ...

Re: GAC-ACT -- Turnoi -- 25 January 2010

Basically, you are right - the number of job ads an organisation is posting does not automatically mean that they have a high rate of teachers changing all the time. Frequent job postings may be due ...

Re: GAC-ACT -- Silverboy -- 25 January 2010

I totally disagree with you. Any school or organization that is constantly looking for new staff is usually crap. There is plenty of evidence to support this statement. It does mean that such schools ...

China; Why not Come to Work -- englishgibson -- 23 January 2010

To anyone who thinks of coming to work in this country, besides some beautiful sightseeings, the great food, low living costs or attractive opposite sex, there are the employers, local regulations ...

Re: China; Why not Come to Work -- Silverboy -- 24 January 2010

I agree with what you wrote, although I can't understand why you wanted to work as a DOS in the first place. I would NEVER work as a DOS in China, no matter how much money I was offered. To your ...

Re: China; Why not Come to Work -- cunning linguist -- 23 January 2010

You mention "a new regulation from a couple years ago which states that foreign "experts" aren't to manage neither the Chinese nor foreign employees ... ." As I've not heard of this, could ...

Re: China; Why not Come to Work -- englishgibson -- 25 January 2010

In response, I am going to expand on the foreign experts role, the DoSs, the great Chinese nation, and the poor Chinese parenting that I have encountered with my son recently. You mention "a new ...

Re: China; Why not Come to Work -- cunning linguist -- 25 January 2010

Thanks for the long reply. I'm sure you are aware that the majority of quotations in your post are actually from Silverboy. As for getting into the "business of education" I wouldn't even ...

Re: China; Why not Come to Work -- Silverboy -- 24 January 2010

Hi CL, I have also had a similar experience to yourself, I was working at a university in Wuhan in 2008 where there was a "head foreign teacher", or "senior teacher", he had been there for four ...

Re: China; Why not Come to Work -- cunning linguist -- 24 January 2010

Yes, I also have had a similar experience with an 'assumed' Head Teacher asking why my previous students did not do as well in his writing class. There are a couple of answers to that ...

Re: China; Why not Come to Work -- Silverboy -- 25 January 2010

That is an interesting post, these PPP arrangements seem to be more and more common at Chinese universities. It seems that you will have a few things to think about in regard to your work. I agree ...

Re: China; Why not Come to Work -- cunning linguist -- 25 January 2010

Thanks for the compliments, but it's possible that with my age creeping up I just might have to retire for a second time in a few years. Ha Ha. Yeh, quality of life is a big issue with me. In the ...

Re: China; Why not Come to Work -- Silverboy -- 26 January 2010

Solar powered underwear, that's funny CL, you have always had a good sense of humour! As for the Devil Wears Pravda film, it is a bit of an exaggeration, but some fashion editors and model ...

Re: China; Why not Come to Work -- englishgibson -- 28 January 2010

Come on guys! Solar powered underwear? What have you been smoking? Cheers and beers to the happy FTs with their fine underwear as well as that farmer's pipe in front :)

Re: China; Why not Come to Work -- Turnoi -- 31 January 2010

Solar-powered underwear is a privilege of famous infamous persons like Frank Zhang wangbadan...LOL!

Re: China; Why not Come to Work -- englishgibson -- 3 February 2010

ok, from solar powered underwear, through frank zhang back to reasoning why not come to work on mainland. unqualified and abusive employers, their one-sided contracts, poor institutions and little ...

Re: China; Why not Come to Work -- Turnoi -- 25 January 2010

No more 50 to 60 hour 6 day weeks for me! Silverboy Yes, indeed, you are right. I personally won't need such a hassle either. And yes, I have had my 60th birthday on January 22 last week, and ...

Re: China; Why not Come to Work -- cunning linguist -- 25 January 2010

Thanks for the good wishes. The key endeavour I am still involved with is trying to get the charity concert organised for May/June. The leaders here have told me it will not be possible to use the ...

Re: China; Why not Come to Work -- Turnoi -- 25 January 2010

Have a nice and safe trip!

teaching with TITCACA travel -- madison -- 23 January 2010

Hello all, I am from Canada and was planning on going teaching English in China this summer (May-August). I am not looking for a long term job but more something like 2-3 months. As I was looking on ...

China: Why not buy a home? -- englishgibson -- 20 January 2010

Three years ago, after I married a local woman that I had dated for about 5 years, I decided to buy a home that did not stand up yet. Not even the foundation was laid to it yet, but we saw the blue ...

Re: China: Why not buy a home? -- englishgibson -- 21 January 2010

The reasoning behind another 13,000 of me after having paid the set price is that the original blue print is 10 square meters short. Now, why would the developer be allowed to build on such a poor ...

China: Why not buy a home? -- kjk -- 26 January 2010

Here is a news clip from China Daily reporting on the "new law" in Nanning and the selling of homes/buildings that have not yet been completed. Too bad we did not have the same law here in Canada as ...

Re: China: Why not buy a home? -- Silverboy -- 26 January 2010

The new law in Nanning will certainly be a good step in the right direction if it is actually implemented. In some countries such as Australia the pre-sale of high-rise units is know as "off the ...

Re: China: Why not buy a home? -- englishgibson -- 27 January 2010

Silverboy, I completely agree with you that homes sold after built is the way to go. Also, buying a home should have some kind of a developer warranty as for these cracks/leaks in walls, uneven ...

Explode the Code vs. Hooked on Phonics -- Sarah Parker -- 19 January 2010

I am looking at programs for teaching an ESL student (one on one). I used Explode the Code for a couple weeks and was unhappy with the results. I switched to Hooked on Phonics and have had great ...

Re: Explode the Code vs. Hooked on Phonics -- cunning linguist -- 19 January 2010

Hello Sarah. In some ways you have answered your own question by saying you have had great results with one scheme. The debate about the best ways to teach reading is nothing new and the two schools ...

Help with preschool -- Rachel -- 19 January 2010

Hello, I've been teaching preschool age children English in Spain for about 4 months now, and I am having a difficult time with a few classes. I'm used more as a supplement to their usual ...

Re: Help with preschool -- Turnoi -- 19 January 2010

Three year old kids are nor ready for school yet like six year old kids - even if some parents do not want them to be pre-school kids and want to have them some kind of classes before ordinary ...

Re: Help with preschool -- Rachel -- 20 January 2010

Thank you for your quick reply Turnoi. I do agree that the kids are very young to be in school, but it is compulsory to start at 3 years old here. Actually, I have a colleague who is even working ...

Re: Help with preschool -- Turnoi -- 20 January 2010

A walk might work, but I could only walk them through the halls of the school. I might try that next week and see if there are any improvements in behaviour. If you cannot take them out, you have to ...

Cummins' Quadrant -- Marilyn -- 19 January 2010

Can anyone provide me some ideas about activities which would fit into each of Cummins' 4 quadrants. I'm new to the area of ESL and would appreciate any help anyone can provide. Thanks!!

Re: Cummins' Quadrant -- cunning linguist -- 19 January 2010

Forgive me but your request reads a little like an assignment question on linguistics. You don’t state the situation. I will assume that you are working, or planning to work, in a multi-lingual ...

validity of a Residence Permit -- Confused -- 18 January 2010

Last year I was working at a school in Hubei province, I left the school on bad terms ( I accused them of breaching the contract, they accused me of breaching it, I did not do a runner however ) I ...

Re: validity of a Residence Permit -- cunning linguist -- 22 January 2010

I guess you may now be just as confused as before you asked your original question, as the responses are somewhat at variance. The problem with all advice or guidance in this area, no matter how ...

Re: validity of a Residence Permit -- Turnoi -- 19 January 2010

Yes, indeed, you are right - going there with your old Z visa, still valid, and with a new L visa to be converted into a Z visa later must look suspicious if it is in the same passport. You should ...

Re: validity of a Residence Permit -- cunning linguist -- 18 January 2010

Trying to put myself in your position is the only way I can deal with your question. I'm also confused about whether you have a release letter from the Guangdong uni and how the school figures in ...

Re: validity of a Residence Permit -- englishgibson -- 19 January 2010

L visa is routinely changed to RP in guanxi, and many, me inclusive, have done so previously there. in fact, a valid RP from another province may work against you in guanxi province and so i would ...

Assumptions some Chinese people make! -- Silverboy -- 18 January 2010

I would like to bring up a topic here that I think has not been mentioned here before. Why do many Chinese people think that Western people who live and work in China want to learn all the fine ...

Re: Assumptions some Chinese people make! -- Turnoi -- 19 January 2010

....but learning about what happened in China hundreds or thousands of years ago is not one of them! Perhaps I can answer your question this way: Many Chinese people think that foreigners coming to ...

Re: AVOID CUFLI AT ALL COSTS -- dude -- 17 January 2010

Call every day 6:30..天天 630 inChongqing..that'll stir some sh$t up for sure!

Haiti -- Turnoi -- 16 January 2010

We have college branch as a part of our ministry in Haiti, and since the devastating earthquake some days ago, we have not heard from anything from our partners overt there. We do not know whether ...

Re: Haiti - Latest update -- Turnoi -- 22 January 2010

I think I have reported already that some days ago that our Director in Haiti had called and informed us that he and his family are safe. We have tried to call back to have more details but have not ...

First email from our Haitian partners after the earthquake -- Turnoi -- 22 January 2010

I just received the email below from Dr. +Felxon St.-Urbain in Haiti. It is a wonder in the current situation that emailing works at all. For internet security reasons, I have deleted the telephone ...

Re: Haiti -- Carol Cavanaugh -- 18 January 2010

I am a Ell Teacher and Literacy coordinator who would like to help in any way

Re: Haiti -- Turnoi -- 18 January 2010

That sounds great, Carol, and thank you for your willingness to help! You know, there are many children and youngsters in that chaos of the city so badly hurt by the earthquake. We would be in need ...

Re: Haiti - A First Update -- Turnoi -- 18 January 2010

Current attempts at contacting members of our organisation in Haiti have shown that telephoning there still does not work, and that we cannot get connected. That's more than only too natural ...

Re: Haiti - A First Update -- Miss Vicky Moore -- 18 January 2010

Dear Turnoi, Thank you for your update on Haiti and the school that you are in contact with out there! I will be praying for them and for you as you send them some kind of aid. I hope that you have a ...

Re: Haiti - Reply to Ms Vicky Moore & another update -- Turnoi -- 18 January 2010

Thank you so much for your prayers and kind words, Vicky. God is indeed so good, and He works wonders. Today, my closest fellow-worker in Kenya, Dr. Macharia, informed me that our Director from Haiti ...

Re: Haiti -- Silverboy -- 16 January 2010

Turnoi, I hope you will hear some good news about your friends and colleagues in Haiti soon. It may take some time however, considering the amount of damage to infrastructure in that region. There ...

Re: Haiti -- Turnoi -- 16 January 2010

Thanks for your words of encouragement, SB. The current grief is beyond measure, and we have been active in Haiti for five years or so now. We have had our students, our faculty, our school building ...

Re: Haiti -- englishgibson -- 16 January 2010

this really is as sas as it can get. i can imagine that consulates most likely will not help here. if i were to go there, i'd arm myself to teeth..although would it pass the local authorities ...

Re: Pronunciation problems of native Chinese speakers in English -- englishgibson -- 16 January 2010

sadly enough, many chinese that have learnt or are studying english do not seem to be interested in their pronunciation improvements anymore. from my experience, they do not study pronunciation in ...

Pronunciation problems of native Chinese speakers in English -- kjk_esl -- 16 January 2010

Whatta! Whatta is all this! I could not agree more with you EG! In my three years of teaching in China and with meeting so many Chinese who have immigrated to Canada here where I am once living ...

Re: Pronunciation problems of native Chinese speakers in English -- cunning linguist -- 16 January 2010

Turnoi, EG and yourself have raised some interesting points. Our experiences will be different and we may disagree on some things but that does not invalidate the experience or observation. I've ...

Re: Pronunciation problems of native Chinese speakers in English -- englishgibson -- 17 January 2010

cunning, i am a bit surprised that turnoi's got some rather different experiences from me, although i agree with you. china's a huge country and with a humongous population. how could it all ...

Re: Pronunciation problems of native Chinese speakers in English -- cunning linguist -- 17 January 2010

The point is we all have different experiences due to our background, education,work-experience, motivation and where we have worked, or are working, in China. It's common for generalisations to ...

Re: Pronunciation problems of native Chinese speakers in English -- Turnoi -- 16 January 2010

In China, I have taught at universities all the time, and in a single case (which was an exceptional situation), I had also taught at a middle school part-time in addition to my uni job. I have also ...

Re: Pronunciation problems of native Chinese speakers in English -- englishgibson -- 16 January 2010

darn,i just remembered i've posted a topic on my kindergarten alphabet singing experience recently. the pre-school wanted me to sing it faster than i did. no wonder kids'll have pronunciation ...

Re: A Note on Organs in Traditional Chinese Medicine -- englishgibson -- 16 January 2010

well, i hope no local will look on my son as a fresh and healthy walking kidney to replace some SAN LU destroyed one. in canada, we get asked if we want to donate organs, when we're applying for ...

China Daily and comic irony -- cunning linguist -- 16 January 2010

Well it's happened again, as my comments on two articles have been published then quickly removed. The first time was when, some months ago I wrote a response to the appointment of a new ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- bosslove72 -- 16 January 2010

I worked at this school. If you ever see Huludao and primary school together, just keep moving. This place is a joke and they are not trustworthy at all. They try to cheat you in all sorts of ways. ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- Turnoi -- 7 February 2010

You seem to have worked there recently. Do you know of any (Mr) "Hans Fisher" at this school, or are have you heard about him? He claims to have worked there for 3 years. Could you tell us?

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- Turnoi -- 16 January 2010

Yes, indeed, your report sounds like a story from Absurdistan..... Now, I am wondering of the details regarding their "training" that they insisted you should attend. Normally, Chinese foreign ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- Turnoi -- 16 January 2010

Ha, it should read "wondering about".. and not "wondering of".... There must have been tomatoes on my eyes when I wrote this post...lol.

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- Joe -- 22 January 2010

Dear KFesl I was browsing through this site when this thread caught my eye. Do you realize that in writing a post like this about a school you have never been to and know almost nothing about, you ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- Turnoi -- 22 January 2010

Joe, I do not know that school you are writing about. But I do highly disagree with your criticism regarding the KFESL poster. The normal foreign teacher working for a "school" like this in a place ...

Re: Dongbei Primary beware! -- Joe -- 22 January 2010

Point taken, thanks for the grammar help Turnoi