Job Discussion Forums

[jacobv2]

I am excited beyond measure. I got my first real job offer to go to China and teach English after 3 months of applications online. New Jordan International Education Group in Wuhan. They claim to have a good deal of schools, and it looks very promising. I am vas nervous as I am excited, and I hope someone on here can give me some great news about this school, if anyone has testimonial about New Jordan (NJIEG) or know anything about them, Please let me know. http://www.newjordan.cn/school/zx_index.asp

Praying for good news!
Thanks

[gregmcd101]

the site is in chinese....

[stillnosheep]

City: Large, central (so different to the east Coast experience), with modern centre and great for transport links but industrialised and polluted. Google for pics and info.

School: No idea

[ralph wiggim]

I worked there for 6 weeks and quit on a one year contract.

They didn't come through on any promises, never got a legal visa and conditions were not what I was told. Promised 18 classes a week. Got there and told because they were short teachers I had to do 24. I argued about what the contract said and they said I MUST work extra classes.

I had to live in a hotel the whole time I was there - and not a decent hotel but a fleabag hotel. No apartment provided as promised me.

Worked illegally on a tourist visa. Many excuses as to why I was never made a legal worker as promised. They paid me 2 weeks late. I left and was never paid for flight as promised and lost much salary. They asked for my passport to get me a visa. Two weeks later I asked for the passport and got a run a round. They kept saying it was being processed. After four weeks and no passport I asked again. More runaround. Then I went with a Chinese friend I made in the city to the police station to ask the status of my visa. My friend told them where I worked and the story I was given and they checked and had several meetings ( no kidding at one pint I think 10 different Chinese policemen were discussing my passport)and told her that they did not have my passport and no record of an application and had even called some other police office that handles visa and they had no record of me or a visa application for me.

So I was concerned of course as to where my passport was. My friend talked to the police some more and they agreed to come to the school and speak to them.

2 policemen and me and my friend went to the school in a police car. We went to the director's office and the policeman started talking to him. The director looked pretty shaken and then the 3 of them went to another office and the director said something to the financial lady and she opened the safe and gave the police my passport. Lots of Chinese talking and the passport is handed back to me by the police. No visa! My passport is the same as when I gave it to them.

I am there for four weeks and working illegally!

After the police left I was told it was a mistake and they forgot to get me the visa. They asked me to continue working on the tourist visa and they would have a working visa for me soon. They also promised to pay me the next day for the month that was due. Never got any money then. Excuse was the financial person was not there and only she gives out money.

I was paid on the 14th instead of the 10th. I was there for 6 weeks then ,and once they paid me I quit telling them I could not trust them.

They threatened to have me deported for - no joke - working illegally on a tourist visa. They yelled at me and cursed me and told me I would be blacklisted and everything else. Lucky for me the girl I was friends with had her own apartment and I had moved my bags into her rooms the night before. So I left.

Hooked up a new job about 1 week before because I knew I could not stay there.

And went to a different city and got a job with a school that got me a working visa within 4 days of hiring me.

New Jordan - forget it. Maybe your experience will be better but mine was a horror story. However it didn't kill me and did make me stronger. And I didn't run from China.

The city is nothing special really. Seemed like a typical Chinese city to me.

[jacobv2]

oh no!

[Hansen]

Jacobv2, I have no reason to doubt Ralph's report. While you will certainly be disappointed, it is definitely worth while waiting for an offer from a legitimate school.

Some of the things that go on here are inconceivable. Ralph had some coping skills that allowed him to get things straightened out. Your experience with them could be, not better, but worse.

The good news is that you are finding this out now, not after you get here and have your passport confiscated, pay withheld, and are housed in a noisy rathole.

"Patience is the leading virtue of all great saints."
John Baptist De la Salle

[brsmith15]

Jacob,

To top everything off, Wuhan is considered one of the "Three Furnaces" of China. You think Louisiana gets uncomfortable in the summer? Just wait until you experience Wuhan; you'd pray for the hottest, most humid day NO has to offer!

[gregmcd101]

I have been to wuhan twice just passing thru stayed one night each time. It is a furnace, unbearable heat in the summer. Also, i believe it has the worst drivers in China, and that is saying something. I saw 4 live RTA's in a total of less than 48 hours there - the city is a madman - i would stay clear, even if I had a great offer from a reputable institution - which you don't!!!

I am generally positive and upbeat about the Chinese experience in my rare postings here, but this one? JUST SAY NO!!!

[eddy-cool]

The employer you named seems to be a so-called 'training centre' that loans you out to other training centres, schools and, perhaps, to companies to train their staff.
Beware!
This is a circuitous way of 'helping' schools that do not have the legal right to employ a laowai of their own. Many FTs allow themselves to be employed this way but your risks are dire as you can run into an ID check just about anywhere (it's not common for the cops to ask you to show your ID but it does happen, and it may happen more frequently in future).
Apart from working illegally (working in the name of one company for another may be tolerated), you will spend endless time on the road, often stuck in heavy traffic.

Wuhan isn't a bad place as such, though. It's got pretty cold winters and steaming summers.

[eddy-cool]

Just visited the website; it has pictures of laowai teachers. I clicked one showing a hunk supposedly from Canada.

He wrote a 'self introduction' which reads quite interestingly. One wonders, though, whether some Chinese person 'edited' it because it contains a number of irritating mistakes that I cannot believe are those a Canaidan English speaker would make.

[njwebb]

I too have been offered a position with New Jordan, I have spoken to an Ex-teacher from New Jordan that has nothing but good words for them. He said that he went through the same woman that is organising my contract. He said that he taught for 4 years in central China and they were by far the best employers. I was a bit dubious about this so I called him up, he's from New Zealand and sounds like a very nice chap.

I think this is a good deal as I am only going for 5 months, am I really being stupid having been just told how awful New Jordan and Wuhan City is?

Ralph, who dealt with your contract? Emily Liuson is dealing with mine. Did you talk to them on the phone before you left? I will not leave to go to China until I have my Z-visa, Emily and I have both discussed that this is fine.

[brsmith15]

Nj, your Kiwi might have been a "plant." I'd really think twice about BOTH the school and the city.

Of course, some folks have a bit of a masoschistic need and if you're one of those, you'll love it!

[njwebb]

Well I figured that it was an old review from Ralph and the guy from New Zealand dealt with the same person as me for the contract. I had no better offers for a short contract and although I have no reason to doubt 'Ralph's' review I just thought it may have been a one off.

I have signed the contract and have told them I am not going out to China without a Z visa. The person dealing with me is the same as the Kiwi had and he said he had no problems. I've been offered to go to Jinhua City of Zhejiang province instead which I preferred to Wuhan City.

Now I have signed the contract (and so must go out) what precautions do you suggest I take? I know a barrage of abuse is probably coming my way for not trusting a fellow FT. I hope I have not been too foolish

[arioch36]

Make sure you get the work permit (and then apply for the z-visa) make sure teaching hours is clearly specified in the contract
Internationally a teaching hour is usually 45 minutes, 40-50 minutes, plus break = one hour, but some of these schools will try to rip you this way.

Have the minimum size of the apartment clearly stated, and what else the school provides (computer and phone and internet line, and electricity and heating AC all musts)

TIC CHina, don't hesitate to rewrite the contract via e-mail, making neccessary changes

Air fare one way paid withing a month of arriving, return ticket, or equivalent amount in cash (in case u spend the summer here) one month before end of contact.

should have 1,100 end of each semester travel pay, law.

I know add both parties shall abide by all rules and laws of China and SAFEA

[arioch36]

PS, add one month to the contract as an unpaid month. This gives you an extra month on your residence permit, comes very useful