Job Discussion Forums

sfarkas103 · Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 47

They go by 2 different names, either "New Times International" or "Teach In China". You will respond to a Mr. Dou, or a Chinese man named Michael. Their email is [email protected]. I have spent over 2 years in China teaching and this was the worst recruiter I have ever seen. They sent me off to a distant town after I responded to an advertisement for a job in a desireable location. It was a cess pool and they actually/literally stole 100RMB that I had left with them to put on my phone card. Please ask questions before you deal with this group and don't believe the responses. The other foreigners I encountered briefly were as dazed as I, and had been mislead as well.

Scott, Qingdao, China

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

Hi scott,

I happen to know everyone in that office and I am good friends with Mr. Dou and Michael, so are a few other folks on these forums. I have visited them countless times (as a matter of fact, I going to see them in Shijiazhuang tonight) and I have never witnessed such a thing happen.

just for reference:

-they don't go by two names: their website is http://www.techinchina.cn and the name of the organistion is New Times.
- Mr. Dou is the owner of the company and Michael is the person in charge of answering queries from the teachers.
- They never send you anywhere before telling you the location and giving you a choice of coming back if you don't like things there.
- their adds, as far as I know, NEVER specify a location... they just refer to over 300 nationwide openings.

I have seen Dou stick his neck out for many folks that did not deserve it and even pay some of the teachers that were cheated off their money by the schools from his own pocket.

'nuf said....

sfarkas103 · Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 47

Teach in China: 300 Teaching Postions (views: 2620)
New Times International -- Friday, 22 October 2004, at 9:38 a.m.

I have seen advertisements from both the above, and "Teach in China" that were from the same organization. I am certain that at times they provide a decent service, but I can assure you that in my case it was awful. I have been in China since August 2002, and am not the type who randomly fires out opinions unless deserved and I am far from disgruntled. I was sent to Lai Wu, and lied to about living conditions, school type, and the number of other foreigners already at the school. There was no way out after the driver left, I was stuck in the middle of the night in a dump. I did leave 100RMB with William, Chinese family name Shu, to put on my phone card....it was not (as you know everyone there ask him where my 100RMB is). I agree this is a dangerous thread that can be used by teachers who simply didn't like a small detail or two, I can only reiterate that if given the choice betwen companies to use I would look elsewhere. And not from spite, or any other word you'd like to attach, these are documented facts. I have pictures of where I went and email transcripts between myself and the company. Now I don't mind being called short and fat, as I am, but disgruntled? Never.

wayne8z · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 11

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

I'll second all of what Wayne has said about this issue. I PMed scott over a week ago and gave him a shot to rectract his accusations but he has not done so.

P.S: the 100 RMB was to send your passport via EMS but your girlfriend picked it up instead so that 100 is still sitting there. There was never a mention of a cell phone.

sfarkas103 · Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 47

In response to your queries:

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

Sorry mate, but you're just dingging your way deeper into the whole.

The room you mention, the 301 suite as it's been nicknamed, might not be a 5 stars hotel but it's clean, the beds are confortable with thick mattresses, hot water, western toilet and even has a living room area. heck, the beds there beat most of the beds I've slept on in China other than my own. It might not have been up to your standards but that's a whole story altogether.

The facts that you forgot to mention leave a lot of the story untold: You contacted Mr. Dou because signed up with a school in Dalian that you was deemed not adequate and you scrambled to find a replacement. Then you visited 2 schools in Shijiazhuang that were deemed not adequate. After that, you went down south and you deemed that it was not adequate. Why did you leave your school in the first place?

I am trying not to get personnal or attack your character but you gotta admit that the whole story is fishy on your side.By your own accounts, New Times has gone far and beyond what most people (especially recruiters) would do for you. I was in SJZ two weeks back and I looked over your communication with the office and you clearly wrote to Mr. Dou that you wanted to thank him for his services and that you really appreciated his help. You also mentioned that the school was great but the lodging was not up to par and that was why you left.

Oh, you might want to inform Mr. Dou that he has an employee down south because I don't think he's aware of it. He must have hired him for the day to lie to you and get you down there knowing that you will not like it. He spent all that cash for a driver and car and toll fees to send you somewhere you wouldn't stay so he can lose money. Rolling Eyes

You're making the whole thing sound like it is a conspiracy against you when that company has done nothing but help you. Gimme a break, here.

I think enough has been said about this whole issue and the facts are there for everyone to make up their own opinion. It ain't always what it looks like.

ChadinChina · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 13

Hey Scott,

My name is Chad. I've been browsing the forums and noticed your post and decided to speak my 2 cents worth.

First off you said:

limits601 · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 10:58 am Post subject:

I think mikey knows how influential these message boards are and is gonna fight to the death to keep the reputation.

Weichow · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 2

ChadinChina · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 13

Weichow, you know that line had me thinking to...but I think there's one explanation I can come up with for it:

When foreigners first arrive here a lot tends to happen in spurts with long interludes of 'not much to do'. Not all foreigners get this, as it's certainly not as common around the start of a semester when all the schools are scrambling like mad for teachers, but I think that for some people the first couple of days here can be a little confusing.

Given that we each look at the same event(s) in differnet ways, and it seems from my point of view that Scott is taking a negative view of things at Hebei New Times, my guess is perhaps this aspect has acquired some undertones that are to do his perception of events. And hey, that's understandable. I think I have an idea of who you are in real life Weichow, but if you didn't use your name here I won't use it either for privacy reasons - but let me give you an example:

I think a few weeks ago I was talking with another teacher and part of an event this summer came out. I had a computer misplaced or stolen. Now when you get down to it technically it's my property/my responsibility. I let the computer ride in a 2nd taxi with a member of Dou's staff and during a very busy moment near the train station it just vanished. At the time I was furious, and didn't want to accept the responsibility, especially after a few other ensuing events. But eventually I just came to the conclusion that ultimately even if I did put total trust in another person, it's my job to gauge them, and their ability to gauge other people when it comes to handling responsibilities. There were myriad things I could do well. Since I don't think you caught the whole conversation I was having, we were discussing the point of how perspectives on some events like that can change, especially since we were talking about the local computer complex and some less than honest practices.

I believe this to be a similar case, and perhaps Scott simply met you or some other people and because of his perception at the time something(s) said or done could be construed in a light that was not intended or factually present in the initial action(s) or lack thereof.

But who knows...every time I learn something new I just realise how much more I have to learn.

If you are the person I think you are, one of these days I'll explain the Chinese are Lego Robots joke to you, I think perhaps you took offense to an inside joke.

wayne8z · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 11

sfarkas103 wrote:

BigD · Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Posts: 7 Location: USA

It seems that the same old "TOOLS" from Mr. Dou's office always respond to the bad PR the New Times organization recieves. To anyone who doesn't know this disfunctional criminal organization(New Times LTD) they have been cheating and lying to foreigners for many years now. As you will notice the same cretins respond to the complaints directed against the New Times organization. Wayne, Chad, Nole and Mort are paid to respond to these complaints by Mr. Dou. They want to suppress the bad PR and to hide the dishonest business practices of this organization. So, to all prospective teachers going to China. Don't believe the hype, New Times LTD is a dishonest criminal organization and they should be avoided at all possible costs.

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

I don't take well to being called "a cretin" by someone who spends his/her time throwing baseless accusations and namecalling. I have always made it clear that I'm good friends with the folks over at New Times and that I used their services to secure a position for my wife and I on more than one occasion. Same goes for Chad, Wayne and Voldemort.

New Times deals with an average of 20 teachers a month and I can understand if every so often, they make a mistake; But for you to label them "criminals" and the people that defend them "cretins" is completely out of line.
If you have facts, we're all listening. If you're just gonna keep making baseless claims, then you'd better shut up and get a life.

All of the people you call "cretins" have offered you to help and try to sort out the situation that you say your friend is in. Our offers were met with name calling and silence then more baseless accusations. Who's the "cretin" in the story then?