I had an interview yesterday with a company that proclaims to be the largest ESL Corp in all of China! I had emailed them all of my documents, and asked if I needed to bring anything else. Noooo, was the reply.
So, I show up a little early, and thinking I have higher education and am a native speaker, the job is in the bag!
First, they knock my education.(I have a Certification that does not say BACHELORS)(mostly because you have to be a Master to get the Certification, but does not say Masters either)
Then they demand a short demo class.
I say ok, if I was a teacher here, you would provide teaching materials, give them to me, I will go over them a few min and we will have class! (they had said I did not need to bring anything)
Nooooo, you must supply your own materials for the demo, if and when you are hired we will provide materials.
So I ask to give the demo the next day, and they agreed. At this point they have pointed out, that my salary would be 5000rmb, 1500 living expence, and 1500 PROBABLE bonus=8000 rmb. And the first month, is no bonus. Myself, I do not care how it is added up, just as long as it adds up. With something being a bonus is a red flag for me!
Also, no bonus the first month, means my check is going to be a dissapointment.

So last night I write out a short demo class, writting down words that people need to know in everday life, like, Please help me, left, right, how are you, I am fine. Also the Chinese version of same words, so if they do not understand, I can tell them!
I give my demo, I am encouraging to the pretend students, and when one of the pretend students makes a mistake, I help them learn to pronounce it correctly (she did not like that)!
I was told I was teaching good (I said I am teaching well) she said ok, but you need to be more entertaining. So I made up a little song, wrote it on the board encouraging my pretend students to sing it along with me! (it was an entertaining enough song, she wanted me to leave it on the board when I left! (I wiped it off)
I was still not entertaining enough for small children!

While I understand this is a ruse to justify taking 2000rmb from my first months pay, I would like the newbies in the market to know about this, and to steer clear of the bandits.
If you send me a private message, I will tell you who this one is!

If someone knows of a good company that could use a knowelegable English speaker, and not see me as a sheep to fleece, let me know!

Good luck to you, Todd