Job Discussion Forums

RomainVuattoux · Joined: 02 Feb 2010 Posts: 1 Location: Hangzhou, China

Hi,

The following "teacher testimonial" was NOT written by Romain Vuattoux:

http://en.chinatefl.com/SchoolinChina/teacherlist.aspx?id=19

A recruiting company in Hangzhou called "China TEFL network", has been using my name to sign a FAKE "testimonial". They took a picture from another website, published false information and signed in my name without asking me for permission or even sending me a notice. Before using this recruiting company, I would think twice about it. A company which spreads lies and usurp your identity cannot be reliable.

I DO NOT KNOW the company, but they claim that they placed me in China. This is the first lie.

This company NEVER asked me to write a testimonial. Another teacher (Brian Dermody) never wrote anything for this company either but is also used.

I did spend a year and half in Jiangshan Middle School, and it was not as described in this false "testimonial". I DID NOT have a good relation with the principal of the school (in fact quite the opposite). Most of the teachers there were only professionally friendly.

I DO NOT "highly recommend" Jiangshan Middle School. The principal has changed and I have heard that he is terrible. The students are great and the work too but this school wants to control every part of the teachers' lives. If you don't mind having a curfew and not being allowed to host whoever you wish, as well as having to ask permission for every movement you make, go for it. Jiangshan city has its benefits, while living in a small town you can learn much about real and more traditional Chinese culture (not westernized, franchised, city culture). I had a good experience there, but not because of the school.

Finally, the English used in the testimonial is barely correct, and is clearly written by a Chinese person who is not fluent.

Romain Vuattoux (The real one)

tomstone · Joined: 09 Dec 2009 Posts: 293

No worries, Romain, NOBODY is going to believe any of the bogus "testimonials" on that site.

The Ever-changing Cleric · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 1523

a lot of websites allow potential english teachers to post their resumes, photos, and personal info online. if you want to avoid situations like the one described above, be careful what info you put on the internet, or make available to anyone you don't know. you might find fake testimonials with your name and photo attached.

regarding chinatefl.com, i've never used them as a recruiter, so i wont comment on that.

but they are a very good source for esl teaching jobs, in that they allow teachers to contact the schools directly via email or telephone (no obstacles in the form of recruiters). I've found four jobs on their site over the past six and a half years and all turned out to be good ones. other posters on eslcafe have posted similar results in other threads on here in the past.

Halapo · Joined: 05 Sep 2009 Posts: 140 Location: Jiangsu, China

I was about blurt out my horror story with this company, but it turns out its not my first employer after all. So either they also ripped off the name, or my old boss ripped of theirs.

Either way, its the same thing.

Is did they respond to your complaint? Not that I expect they would, but I am guessing if they did reply, it would be priceless.

kukiv · Joined: 13 Dec 2009 Posts: 328

I think the OP should put their post up in the scam sticky - so this recruiting agency can be shown for what it is, over all the forums!!!!!

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

Jayray · Joined: 28 Feb 2009 Posts: 373 Location: Back East

First post on Dave's ESL Cafe? Hmmmm... Who is using whom?

kukiv · Joined: 13 Dec 2009 Posts: 328

kukiv · Joined: 13 Dec 2009 Posts: 328

Take a look at this China TEFL Network testimonial Laughing

http://en.chinatefl.com/SchoolinChina/teacherlist.aspx?id=22
Work place stated as - Guiyang University

the testimonial -