Job Discussion Forums

[C Snyder]

As members of the same species, we are morally obligated to warn others of danger and impending doom.

Dalian Institute of Light Industry
(Dalian, Liaoning, PR China):
Deceitful, Manipulative, Unethical.
DANGER: IMPENDING DOOM!

I was not bothered so much by the actions of Dalian Institute of Light Industry (because one learns to expect a certain level of incompetence after 7 years of working in China), but rather by the attitude of the Director and Vice-Director.

In a nutshell, I was forced out of my apartment in November 2005 and into an unsanitary (sewage stench/roach infestation) and unsafe (aggressive neighborhood flasher/multiple keys to my door and unknown people just walking in) apartment because of redecoration of the campus accommodations.

The "temporary" apartment had NONE of the things listed in my contract as "indirect compensation" including: heat, bedding, furniture, hot water heater for showering, cooking facilities, refrigerator, television, washing machine, telephone, the list goes on and on.... The Foreign Affairs Department promised that the basic essentials would be in place within a few days. Three weeks later, the only thing installed was a cheap hot water heater bought by the landlord before I moved in. And it was so cheap that the water temperature was constantly inconstant and kept burning me!!

I made many phone calls, messages, and emails every week. I even stooped to "the Chinese Way (bribery)". When they bothered to answer, the answer was always the same: "We're working on it". After 3 long weeks of stinky uncomfortable torture I handed in my resignation. They replied immediately, and made a heartfelt apology. The Vice Director told me (to my face) that I couldn't possibly expect them to follow the terms of the contract, because it couldn't possibly apply under circumstances like this (ie: they didn't want to spend the money required to follow the terms: a couple hundred yuan). I replied that law was law, and it was created so that vulnerable foreign workers (me) would have their basic rights provided for (heat and a skink-free place to sleep) during a contracted work agreement.

I noted that I had upheld my responsibilities (teaching well prepared lessons and receiving praise from both students and the leaders of the English Department), but the school had not lived up to their end of the bargain.

During this time, the Provincial Education Committee was evaluating the school because the "Institute" wanted to become a "University". Having their ONLY foreign teacher leave would have looked bad, so they coaxed me to finish the term and promised to make adequate reparations in atonement for their mistreatment. Honestly, I wasn't too keen about leaving the students without a mark only two weeks before final exams, so I stayed.

All appeared calm, and I was moved back in to my old apartment (still no washing machine, but I knew nothing would come of it, so I didn't bother). In January I went to the Foreign Affairs Office to collect my winter salary (standard two months salary with a holiday allowance) but much to my surprise I was refused!

I was told that after the deplorable way they treated me, how could they ensure I wouldn't just take the money and run.

I was stupefied!

Of course, on my pitiful salary (lowest in Dalian... but that's another story about the person they sent to "recruit" me and his LIES: in short, I was tricked into signing the �initial contract� to secure my paperwork before the summer holiday and assured that another supplemental contract would provide the rest of my salary� never happened!!!) I didn't have enough money to last the winter. They left me no other choice but to scramble for another job.

If I wanted to be treated so disrespectfully I could stay at home and teach!! I came to China to enjoy a new culture and new experience, not this! I don't really need to be treated this badly (especially for such little money!).

If you are looking for a rewarding teaching experience and enjoyable life in a foreign country DO NOT go to Dalian Institute of Light Industry. Their incompetence and "flexible legal responsibility" will make your life miserable! Benign neglect is one thing, but malignant incompetence is quite another!

You have been warned!!!


Contact me for further details, there's much more to the story!!!

Chantelle Snyder
[email protected]

PS) I'm happy to say that I found a job with another school and am being treated wonderfully! I have welcoming colleagues and a supportive administration (yes, I was surprised to find that they really do exist!!!). We still have the whole gamut of "Chinese" problems (last minute class/schedule/room changes, students level, text book problems, English Corner, miscommunication, power and water outages, etc.), but I feel like I'm actually part of a community, doing a job that is appreciated. I'm not trying to change China (cause that will NEVER happen), I'm just trying to find a safe little niche. I think that I have found it!! I would be more than happy to recommend my current school to any serious educator who wants a good experience!!!

[7969]

good for you. the old "we're working on it" "it'll all be done in a week or so" is nothing but a line. i've had these lines fed to me at my current school but they're only concerning minor things, and this school has little experience with foreigners so i cut them a little bit of slack.

i've often thought how nice it would be to let some of these rat-trap schools know how powerful a tool the internet can be in warning foreigners to stay away from their school when they screw up like this. perhaps they'd change their ways..... or perhaps not and they'd just search for easier prey elsewhere. at any rate, thanks for the warning......

take care ~ 7969

[Sgt Killjoy]

If I were you, I would report this over at the TeflWatch forums. It helps other teachers know what is going on.

[C Snyder]

The old hands know that in China there is no such thing as �contract law� (something the WTO should be looking into, yes?)� so that means that there are very few options for us �Foreign Workers� except to live by the grace and benevolence of our hosts. And what happens when they are less than gracious?

Let�s face it: without fear of punishment (financial or legal) our hosts have no incentive to follow law. A new foreign teacher is easy to find. We�re a-dime-a-dozen. The old �troublesome foreigner� (who expects the contract to be followed and actual payment for services rendered!!!) can be easily replaced by a young recruit who doesn�t know the difference until it is too late.

Exempt from the circle of �guanxi� (relationships), a foreigner has great difficulty building the insulating layer of social protection. We have very little opportunity to shake hands with the �men who get things done�, and are left to our own defenses� which won�t get you very far here!!!

The only thing we have is each other: A global network of colleagues looking out for each other in the best interest of �humanity�� or at the very least: humane treatment.

We must rely on each other to raise red flags on disreputable institutions, and ensure that no further harm comes from incompetent and/or malevolent hosts who have no real desire to do anything other than pillage the �foreign face�.

The internet seems to be our only tool. Is it effective? I don�t know. I certainly hope so! I�ll post my story anywhere folks think it will get noticed� thanks for the suggestion. Knowledge IS power! Us �laowai� gotta stick together!!!

[lpm100]

Also: You should post on www.buxiban.com

They are a good information source for teachers.

[tw]

I received an e-mail this morning from a gentleman who is currently working at DLILI and he enquired about my experience there as it was quite different from the OP. The gentleman mentioned that he "work for a private company and teach part-time for the Institute" and "kind of seconded to the Institute". Now, unless DLILI went through a complete change of FAO personnel in the past 15 months since I left, I somehow doubt the FAO would deteriorate so drastically. Perhaps the OP can clarify whether her employer is the same as the one posted by blckgalinchina at www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=34199

Somehow I have the feeling that the two posters had the same employer.

[UPDATED MAY 20, 2007] DLILI has become Dalian Polytec University.

[tofuman]

"Having their ONLY foreign teacher leave would have looked bad, so they coaxed me to finish the term and promised to make adequate reparations in atonement for their mistreatment. Honestly, I wasn't too keen about leaving the students without a mark only two weeks before final exams, so I stayed."


That was your mistake Chantelle. You must realize that, from a Western perspective, people like the ones you describe are predators. Rather than seeing your willingness to stay as a virtue, they identified it as a weakness which they could exploit to their advantage. This kind of perspective is common in sociopathic types in the West.

It doesn't pay to "be nice" in these situations. It could actually cause you greater problems, which it obviously did. One of the Manson families victims actually got a gun away from the people that eventually killed him. They became very nice and persuaded him to relax. When he decided to "be nice" they again got the weapon from him and killed him.

It may not be life or death in these situations but the dynamics are the same. I've made the same mistake. Behind the smiles, praise and handshakes are people who really only see us as potential victims, not equals, friends, or colleagues. If they can't have their way, the fangs and claws come out.

[latefordinner]

TW, I have no idea what it was like for the other FTs when you were there, but now I'm there and I'm the only happy FT. I've been treated very well on the whole, and it seems the school is very happy with me. Knowing Chantelle's story however (and a few others as well), all I can say is, "Dr Jekyll, meet Mr Hyde".
What I can't understand is why a school would go to such lengths to alienate such a strong teacher. Chantelle was popular with her students, and is one of the most professional teachers I have ever met. It would have taken very little on their part to keep her happy.
Part of the problem may be that the school has a few different programs, most of which are actually run by outside agencies in cooperation with the college. Mine is one such, and perhaps it is the distant but cooperative relationship between my boss and the FAO that has led to my satisfaction. They leave me alone and let me do my job, and I do the best I can for my students. I get paid on time and in full, teach like a professional and everyone seems happy. Call it the benevolent aspect of neglect. (There's an obvious downside to that neglect, BTAS)
Or perhaps it is just their fear of losing one FT too many. I notice that since Chantelle left they've had a hard time finding a replacement.

[China.Pete]

"I'm just trying to find a safe little niche. I think that I have found it! I would be more than happy to recommend my current school to any serious educator who wants a good experience!"

Your posting your experiences with Dalian Institute of Light Industry online may serve to redress the balance more in favor of job seekers.

[Canuck 41]

My recent post--Self-Defence 101--talks about the value of teacher testimonials to schools and recruiters, and as an arrow in our quivers.

[milkweedma]

I'm getting an offer via the recruiters www.anesl.com for this Uni in Dalian and am wondering if anyone out there has any updates on it pertaining to contract adhesion and accomodation etc etc. The offer is 4500-5000 for 18 teaching periods a week. Any and all info is most welcome. Cheers.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

I'd suggest staying away from what I've heard from friends.