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anonymous
Q: reporting a school ?
I am one of many foreign teachers being scammed by a filthy agency in China. Upon arrival in China I was promised to get my z visa papers done after probation period, and recently I got the answer that their license doesn't allow them to hire a foreign teacher. Since I don't know anyone in China, have no place to live , I have to stay and teach without signing the contract, just to have a place to live in and to think what to do next. The school refused to pay me a salary , except few cash to reach their school everyday. I forgot to mention that I paid 2000 RMB for department deposit. What made me accept this offer, the school agreed to send me scanned documents of the following : a copy of their license, a copy of owner Chinese ID and their contract with this dirty agency. I matched the copies with the real ones upon my arrival and they were genuine, but I could have a translation from the assistant Chinese teacher that they can't hire a foreign teacher(it's too late). Now this school is doing another hiring campaign to screw other teachers for more business. I want to stop them and get out of here safely. Nobody deserves to be cheated and humiliated as me. Recently, the owner said some threats to me if I ever slandered their school name or submitted a complain. What should I say to the police if they exploited me by the period I worked for free without a contract, should I show them the scanned documents I have? Should I sign the contract to use it as an evidence ?Are the mentioned documents useful to submit a complain against them? P.S: I'm non-native teacher and I have my reasons and circumstances to accept this offer and leap to this place.
11 years 9 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
As a non-native speaker, you went there with the intention of scamming the school and the students. So if you are now the one getting cheated, you have really brought it on yourself. It is hypocritical to complain.
A non-native speaker cannot teach English to Chinglish speakers. You could possibly teach English to others in your home country, but in China, it is a different English completely. If you were a properly qualified TESOL teacher, you would know that.
A little research on the internet, and you would know the laws about getting the Z visa in your home country, and what was waiting for you if you breached these laws. So pack your bags and go home, find another job that won't cheat you (good luck with that), or suck it up and stop complaining.
GuilinRaf:
In fairness, here in China they are so desperate for English teachers that they are often willing to hire anyone, even if their English is not very good, especially if they are white.
Of the foreign teachers in Guilin with whom I worked, 1 was from Estonia and 1 was from Iraq. Both had very heavy accents.
Traveler:
The individual must surely realise he is not qualified to teach English, so is scamming the school.
The fact that the school is also scamming it's own students should also serve as a warning that they have absolutely no ethics. Why would they not scam an illegal foreigner?
GuilinRaf:
I agree with you 100%. I was just pointing out however that even legit schools, while announcing they want native speakers often "fudge" the line.
But you are definitely right.
Edit: The thumbs down was not me....Traveler:
LOL. If I don't get at least one thumbs down each day, I'm not trying hard enough 
Even as a native speaker, you need to have like a plan B and C. And you get the first school to start the Z visa process asap, or you walk. Because if they won't do it from the beginning, then they probably won't or can't do it anyways. So it is partly your fault for putting yourself in this position, however I do feel for you as I know there are terribly places like this in China.
They clearly broke the law, and it is proof even in their contract. You could threaten to go to a place unless they pay you, or just go to a place. But then, you were also breaking the law by teaching prior to getting the appropiate visa.
I don't know your character or appearance, so I don't know if it will work for you. But don't let yourself be cheated, play hard-ball, get aggressive and make some threats. I have had to do this to 2 places that tried to screw me, I confronted them and layed it down what I required for them to do immediately..or else. And both times they gave me what I needed toot sweet. However, I can come across rather intimidating if need be, and I do have some friends in China that would support me and who have guanxi. So I knew I would win. If you don't want to take the chance or you think it may get you into trouble, then don't do it. (Don't blame me if things go wrong) But for the most part, these schools are all talk and no action, they talk tough because they know that usually works. In the end they don't want any trouble to come to their school (their jobs), or to them personally. Consider things carefully , then act. Don't leave with your tail between your legs.
C'mon guys! You all know the "grey money" comes from the fact that regulations that are in place, are rarely enforced at the onset in an effort to ensure officials get their fair share when the time is right. Go ahead and report your problem. From there, the cash flow starts (as is expected by all parties involved) and ends with you heading out on the next flight. Then they all have a fine chuckle at the naive laowai. The school will go on and the glorious educational circle of live perpetuates itself ad nauseam.
