Welcome to the mandatory feedback section. We do understand that you need a minimum of reassurance before you put yourself on a plane and travel halfway around the world headed for the unknown. We hope that the following ( unedited and untampered-with) comments will ease some of your worries and illustrate our dedication to our teachers. Please feel free to ask us for references from some of the 300+ teachers we have placed over the past two years in public and private schools throughout China.

New: We have just added a new section "why us" that complements the feedback section and shows that we do take care of our teachers in the long run. We will never drop you off at a school and forget about you (unless you want us to ). Also, feel free to check what other folks have said about our services on Dave's ESL Cafe:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=17467
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=19072
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=20056

hi there!!
thank you for your email, it is good to know you guys are there if anything might go wrong. everything is good at the moment we have given are passports with photos to the headmistress of yufang school and i think they are being sorted - so hopefully get them back soon.
i have yet to be paid but then i think that happens at the end of the month. i have met some really nice people both fopregibners and chinese abnd people have been taking good care of me. just to let you know i am here for idnefinately really, in that certainly to the end of the teaching year but i was thining i would like to perhaps do the teaching camps you arrange in inner mongolia in the summer if at all possible. but i suppose we can talk about that nearer the time.
anyway thanks for your help, will let you know what i get up to , unfortunaley i dont have a digital camera, but might be able to borrow one.
speak soon

A. Silburn (England) September2005

Hi Roger
I'm having a great time down here. In terms of information for other teachers who might come it's like this. We arrived in Guangzhou and were met by an English speaking lady called Hazel who is very motherly and the full time driver for Gang An called Jam. We were taken to Shunde by private air conditioned van straight away without any problems. The apartment is a very nice size and is on school campus, I have my own place and Nick has his.
There are cockroaches lurking about but it is not an epidemic, clean the place and you'll be fine. We have air conditioning, a DVD player, laptop, TV with 40 or so channels, big fridge freezer. The only things I had to buy for my apartment was an alarm clock. We teach at three schools but are taxied to each by Jam, which does not cost us anything. There are around 15 other English teachers in Shunde and theres plenty to do and see. It's humid and hot at the moment, but anyone coming should already know that. There aren't any mosquito's that I've seen and I don't take malaria tablets or any other medication. Shunde itself is a very rich town so finding cheap places to eat and shop has been a little tricky, taxi's are also more expensive here but are air conditioned and run on a meter so we don't get ripped off. Thats really all I can think of.
Everyone has been really friendly and it's a pleasure to teach here. The school has the best equipment, and some very clever Kids. Rarely any discipline problems, and considering we don't get assistants in class they are very well behaved. We should be getting our visas in a week or so, I'll let you know if there are any problems. Also if there are any other problems. At the moment the only gripe that I have is teaching 6 days a week, we have been given Monday afternoon and Friday afternoon off, but I'm finding that to be a pointless break as I tend to just sleep because I'm so tired from the classes. I am going to mention this to the director of Gang An if it becomes a problem for me but at the moment it is bearable. Hopefully I'll get back up to Shijiazhuang before I go back to England and we can go for some beers.
 

A. Hambling (England) September2005

Things are going fine so far ! Everyone here is taking great care of me. If there is a problem, they do their best to sort it out as soon as possible. I enjoy teaching, mostly in primary school. I teach in a kindergarden, 2 primary schools and one middle school. My appartement is fine, a bit far from the town center but there is a bus that takes me there in 15 minutes so I can't complain. My contract will be over on January, 4th. Tell Mr. Dou that I will get in contact with him in a few weeks so that he can introduce me to some comnpanies he told me about in Beijing. I will send you some pictures soon.
This company is really reliable and you can send more teachers. They'll be taken care of as well as you took care of us.
Take care !
 

K. Belhadj (France) September2005

My name is Matt Griffiths and I've been teaching in Shijiazhuang now for 4 months. Up to this point I have been overwhelmed by the service from Mr Dou Songlin and his colleages. I had a fair few worries prior to landing in China because I didn't really feel like all my questions were being answered properly. However, I was picked up at Beijing Airport and I've not had a worried thought since. Mr Dou and his company went out of their way in the early days to make sure I was comfortable and happy. They provided me with many options and gave good advice regarding the choices I was making. They have much experience and deal with foreign teachers all the time....it's their job...so they know what they're doing. I have all the appropriate Visas, residency permits etc. because of Mr Dou. There are several teachers at my school who have been here for nearly 10 months and they are still waiting. Mr Dou has the connections and can get things done quickly. Even 4 months into my journey he still telephones me from time to time to make sure everything is okay.

The Chinese are great hosts and are always willing to share their culture. There are also many other foreign teachers here, from all over the world, so you are bound to make friends. I would encourage anyone thinking of coming to China to teach to take the plunge. It's a great experience.

Matt Griffiths(Brisbane, Australia) June2004

Teaching in China was a fantastic experience even for only a short period of time. Initially you are sent via an airport pick up and train to the head-office where you will stay until a school accepts you, usually after one or two interviews at different schools. This is because the schools want to meet you before they give you a job but until that time you are feed and looked after which gives you time to settle into your new surroundings and explore a little. I spent a month here in Shijiahuang which was very enjoyable. It is very sociable as there are many foreign teachers in the area so you are bound to make new friends along your way too. The students are keen to learn and will practice their english at every opportunity as will people in the street, when their not staring at you. Living with a host family was a great way to experience the chinese culture and home cooked food but it does feel a little like living with your parents again. However Mr Dou and his staff will go to great lengths to look after you and help with any problem. All in all a wonderful time!  

Thomas Baker (Bristol, England) tomstour2004[AT]hotmail.com April2004
 

Before I travelled to China I was extremely concerned that I may go there and find myself  dealing with dishonest and mercenary teaching agencies, as so many other people have.  However, it was so good to find this agency was completely different.  It was immediately apparent that your happiness is the most important thing to these people, it really is.  They put no pressure upon you at all, and are completely honest with you.  Mr Dou is extremely friendly and hospitable, and it is reassuring to know that he is always there if you have any problems, and will do everything within his power to help and make sure everything works out alright.  He is also extremely well connected - a very imortant asset in China!  Seriously, if you want to come to China to teach english, you will feel a lot more comfortable with a trustworthy company like this one behind you.

James Hamilton April 2004

Hi! My name is Badr and I teach at Tangshan Teacher's College along with my wife and another foreign teacher. All 3 of us used teachinchina.cn to secure our positions. When my wife and I decided to take the plunge into this mad ESL world, we had many offers from all over China. Mr. Dou and his staff stood out by the quality of their communication as well as their promptness, two qualities that most people lack in China.  The staff at New Times in Shijiazhuang was friendly and welcoming when we arrived.  They were a fun bunch to hang out with.  I was surprised by how caring they were and still are.  I was also surprised by the fact that they kept checking on us weeks after we arrived at our college.  Mr. Dou and the gang try hard to bridge the culture gap between us foreigners and China.  Not only did they handle the recruiting part but they also manage the Visas, work Permits etc... I look forward to going to Shijiazhuang in the future and seeing all of them again.  If anyone is in Tangshan, give me a Holla! :-)

Badr, badr[AT]wonderingmind.com April 14, 2004.

It seems like a long time ago now that I was apprehensively departing the customs hall at Beijing Airport, hoping that there would be someone waiting for me on the other side of the doors.  Indeed it was just over 2 months ago now - time does fly!  Of course there was someone waiting for me, indeed there were three men standing there with a sign with my name on it, and they were happy to see me too! What a relief!   We then got into a very flash car and headed east to the Qinhuangdao Foreign Language Professional College, and my new appointment as arranged through Teach In China.  I must say, thankfully (I was imagining the worst!), that the accommodation far exceeded my expectations, this term I have a three bedroom apartment with a great outlook to myself.  I had arrived well before classes started, so it was lovely to be in such a pleasant apartment. I also managed to arrive in the middle of Spring Festival, so I got a good dose of Chinese culture too.
The college is actually located at Nandaihe, which is a seaside resort south of Qinhuangdao city.  It is only 600m to the beach - roll on Summer!  The environment is lovely, so close to the sea, and there is a great view across fields to hills from all of the Foreign Teachers apartments.  The teaching itself is lots of fun.  The students here are (on the whole!) keen to learn, and are also glad to have the opportunity to speak with foreigners.  Although I had been concerned about what to teach my classes I have found the actual teaching much better than anticipated, which is a great relief!
I had no idea how much of a novelty I would be when walking around the streets here.   Be ready for lots of “Hello”’s from people who don't actually want to stop and talk, and a lot of stares and head turns, especially if you happen to have blonde hair and blue eyes - definitely not the usual here in China.
I have enjoyed my time here, and am sure that I will continue to do so.  I am pleased that this position was found for me by www.TeachinChina.cn.  They were not only of great assistance before I arrived in this country, but were also able to help me in my preparations in Australia.  So I strongly recommend anyone who wants to come to teach in China, the best and trustful agent is Mr Dou Songlin at Teachinchina.cn.

Mary Jordan  From:   Australia January 2004

Before I arrived here there were three things I felt very uncomfortable about.  Firstly, would these people really find me at the airport and put me into a decent college. Secondly, how would my living standards be (I mean, hey, how much do you really know about China??). Finally, would this business with changing my tourist visa into a working visa work out or would get showed directly to the police? Luckily, all three things have worked out just fine: the first thing I saw after having claimed my luggage was a large bit of cardboard with my full name written on it. The apartment I live in has two and a half rooms (including a computer with an Internet connection, a fridge and a microwave and my own small boiler with a shower).  The school (there is a special department in every school whose sole purpose of existence is to take care of their foreign teachers) is handling all the formal paperwork concerning work permit and the alteration of the visa.  My biggest problem was actually adjusting to the food (the trick with the chop sticks wasn't that difficult), partly because the food, naturally, was quite different to the standard Swiss food and partly because the college's own canteen is fairly bad;), but even that was easy to overcome as I often got invited to eat out in a fancy restaurant, so after a few days I had got used to the decent food and when I couldn't take the not-so-tasty food of the canteen I let myself get invited (the Chinese people are very hospitable and friendly....some, off course, only want to improve their English or impress their friends/leaders by showing that they socialize with foreigners, but others are most sincere and I have already found one or two good friends with whom I can also discuss more interesting and personal topics. My schedule holds 16 lessons and I have already received several offers to give private lessons outside of the college which evidently is an awfully easy way to increase your income as the market value of foreign English teachers is fairly high (my wages are about four times as high as the average teachers'). I declined all the offers because I want to concentrate on learning Chinese (the school provides me with private lessons) and also spend time with my students and fellow teachers and friends (there is always somebody who will want to spend time with you, so together with the teaching, preparing, studying and socializing I have pleasantly busy everyday life. It is easy to get by on the salary you receive. For me, the living costs, including going out for a meal occasionally, buying some DVD’s, etc add up to about 1000-1500RMB, which still leaves me with roughly 2000 RMB to blow on sight seeing, shopping, being generous........for me, it doesn't pay off to save the money as it is not worth much back in Switzerland. I am, however, keeping back enough money to make sure I can finance my share of the flight. So far it has been a very enriching and enjoyable experience.                            

David Sprenger (From: Switzerland) 16th November 2003

Hello! My name is Allison, and I am from America. I arrived in China a while back and absolutely love it here. It is great how everything was in order and how the staff at the office is just wonderful! I would highly recommend anyone coming to China getting in touch with Mr. Dou. To be honest I was a bit nervous at first, not knowing anyone here. To come and trust yourself to a company on the other side of the planet is scary. All is well, I have a school to teach at, wonderful friends, and a good family.

Allison  From: USA   9th Feb 2004

I loved my teaching experience in China, it has been such a great learning experience, and loads of fun too. I feel privileged and lucky to have been recruited by Mr Dou to work in China. He and his staff did everything possible to make my stay comfortable. The two jobs he found for me satisfied all of my expectations. Their generous hospitality (lots of dinners!!!) reflects that of all the Chinese people that I have befriended here - they are fantastic. Shijiazhuang is a great place to come if you want to experience

Elizabeth Kelly    27th Jan 2004

Teaching in China has provided me with equal job opportunities and challenges for career growth and development while working in a dynamic, exciting, and fast-growing City of Shijiazhuang. I have been employed as an ESL teacher for one and a half years in this city. In that span of time, I have enjoyed visiting places around China during my free time. Chinese people treated me so well and their hospitality is far beyond compare..

If you are looking for a teaching job in China, I highly recommend Mr. Dou Song Lin and visit his website at www.teachinChina.cn. His office has been providing a thorough assistance to the foreign teachers most especially to those who work here for the first time.

Batingal Chiama       From:Philippines            27th Jan 2004

My name is Crispus Ratnam. I am a foreign teacher of the Shijiazhuang Information Engineering Vocational College.in Hebei. Since I came to China in the year 2002, I had realized the greater need in the teaching of English language. Chinese government is putting much effort in speeding up the use of English as a second language of the nation. China needs higher quality and standards in English teachings and methodologies. There is still great demand for foreign teachers all over China. Chinese government's education Ministry and private schools are offering the best deals to attract more foreign teachers to teach in China. In this juncture, I like to stress that we must know an agent who is genuine, honest, and capable and a person with integrity to assist a foreigner in getting the job in China. There are many agents who are only after the money and fail to care for the welfare of the foreigner and ensure that they get the job satisfaction and good living conditions. I highly recommend MR. Song Lin Dou President of the Hebei Newtimes International Education Services Ltd. to anyone who needs his services in finding a good job in China. As he had worked in USA, he understands the western culture and standards of living. He is well connected with the top officials and is fully endorsed by the government. He has helped many foreigners find a teaching job and get the appropriate working Visa and resident permits without a hitch and delay.

Crispus Ratnam        24th Nov 2003

My experience with Asia Volunteers to take has been very good, much better than imagined. From the time I arrived at the airport, the help and friendliness of the Staff was excellent. I was immediately made feel very welcome and everything has been done to make me feel at home. The staff and children at the school couldn’t be friendlier. It has been a great experience and I look forward to the rest of my time here.

Foley                  16th November 2003