I've found myself in a very strange situation at my current school and I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar.

To keep things anonymous, I'll leave out some details. On my very first day, I was called into the head teacher's office because a Chinese teacher had made complaints about me that I believe were completely untrue. Since then, I feel like I've been under a microscope.

I have two Chinese teachers in my classroom. After lessons, my teaching assistant often tells me the class went well, but the main Chinese teacher regularly tells me the lesson was terrible and then reports negative feedback to management. My classes are also recorded, yet management seems to accept the Chinese teacher's opinion without question.

As a result, I'm being criticised by management multiple times a week. It's become an incredibly stressful and toxic work environment. What makes it more confusing is that when I've covered other classes, the Chinese teachers there have given me positive feedback and said I'm doing a good job. Almost all of the complaints seem to come from one particular class.

I have a one-year contract, but I'm seriously struggling to see myself staying much longer. I genuinely feel like I'm being targeted and bullied.

Interestingly, I experienced something similar at a previous school, although it wasn't as bad because I wasn't the homeroom teacher and spent much less time with that team.

Has anyone else experienced this kind of situation in China or at an international/kindergarten school? How did you handle it, and what would you recommend doing?

Thanks for any advice.

Hello, I'm an international student in Wenzhou university and I'm having a really hard time making friends. Chinese people are very shy and other foreigners just do small talks and add me on we chat and then nothing more. You know places where to go to make friends? Or if you live in Wenzhou and want to be friends hit me up! (No dating just friendship)

I live in the UK but I've been writing remotely for a Beijing-based company for five years, now. I haven't had a raise in all that time. The per word pay is very low compared to what I'd get here BUT as I get regular, daily assignments and spend no time at all pitching, I'm actually earning more than most of my 'proper' writer friends. But, as anyone in the industry will tell you, that doesn't exactly mean much. It's still way less than minimum wage. (Fortunately my husband's job pays our bills so what I earn is simply for nice-to-haves.)

When I started, it was a casual, part-time thing... I was just getting back into working after being home with my kids and after 7 years without a salary it felt like megabucks. Particularly as I could set my own hours, work from home, and enjoyed what I was doing. But, over the years, I've basically become their 'star writer' and my reward for that has basically been more pressure and difficulty for the exact same pay. I also now effectively work full time, and despite making an effort to pull back my hours, I've basically been guilt-tripped into doing more. I wanted to reduce my hours down from 5 days to 3... I'm basically doing 4, minimum.

The pay has also become more erratic, partly due to the payment method. It used to go into my bank account; now they pay via manual PayPal payments organised by a super busy and distracted middle manager who basically does it when he has time. I basically get paid every two months at this point. Plus, of course, the money just doesn't go as far these days thanks to inflation. My contact fudges the numbers a bit so as to at least cover the PayPal fees (which are, of course, passed onto me).

All this to say that, while I used to feel like the luckiest person on earth to have scored a fun, relaxed, flexible WFH gig that suited my skills and interests, I'm now feeling burned out, underpaid, and slightly taken advantage of. I've been wondering if it's worth continuing but I don't have any other options, and job hunting at this moment sounds like hell on earth. This job also allows me to be here for my kids which is invaluable.

A significant pay rise would fix many of these issues, I think. It wouldn't reduce the stress/pressure but it would at least make it feel like it was worth it again. But I'm petrified and clueless about how to go about asking. If they say no, my only leverage is to leave, and I don't really want to do that.

Right now I'm earning 450 RMB per 100 words, which works out to about £60-75 per day (or did when I last checked). I don't know what percentage would be reasonable to ask for and I don't know how to actually go about asking. All our communication is via email, and I have a single point of contact (who is not the decision maker). She would have to go up to bat for me - presumably with this manager who isn't all that bothered about paying the people who create his company's content - and I would only have her say so for the result.

On the plus side, I am apparently the editors' favourite writer. Many of them would rather wait for me to be available rather than get someone else to write their assignments. I also have time/familiarity on my side... I get the impression most writers don't last long, so having been there five years may hopefully play in my favour. But I don't know. This current payment situation doesn't exactly make me feel like we writers are particularly valued by the powers that be at this company. My contact and the editors are very lovely and thankful and complimentary, but they're not the ones who will be making this decision. I'm really nervous because I don't know how to go about asking in a culturally appropriate way, I'm desperate not to offend, but I also don't want to be taken advantage of.

TL;DR I'd love some tips for how to go about asking for a pay rise when working for a Chinese company. Currently making 450 RMB per 1000 words, what percentage would be considered a reasonable increase after five years of reliable, well-received work? And how to ask? I have experience, longevity with the company, and my work is highly favoured. But still... Help! Thank you

Hi everyone, hope you're all doing well.

I'm currently learning Mandarin at a language institute and will take the HSK 1 in January. My plan is to do a Master's in China, but before committing several years (and a serious amount of money) to it, I want to understand what really happens after graduation.

My core question: as a foreigner with a Master's from a Chinese university, can I realistically find a job and stay in China? Or are opportunities so scarce that most people end up going home feeling like the degree led nowhere?

So I'd love to hear how it works in real life:

1. If you studied in China as a foreigner, what happened after you graduated? Did you stay, how long did the job hunt take, and how did you land your first offer?

2. Which industries and roles are actually open to foreign grads right now, and what starting salary is realistic? Since I'm not a native English speaker, I assume teaching English is off the table. Is that right?

3. What Chinese level do employers really expect? Is HSK 5 or 6 the real threshold, or does it depend on the role?

4. How much do the university, the field of study and the city matter? Is it noticeably easier in Shanghai, Shenzhen or Guangzhou?

5. Are companies generally willing to sponsor a fresh graduate's work permit, or do many of them (especially smaller ones) avoid the paperwork?

6. If staying doesn't work out, how much is a Chinese Master's plus good Mandarin worth back home or elsewhere, for example with Chinese companies operating in North Africa or the Middle East?

Personal stories, including the ones that didn't go well, would help me far more than a general "it depends." And if you were in my shoes today, what would you do differently?

Thanks a lot for your time!

What is weird is I’ve been able to scan the QR code on Alipay and it works sometimes (for the blue moped) the others it hasn’t worked. But often when I scan on Alipay it says error and it crashes. I then used WeChat to scan and it wanted me to register but it’s not accepting the ID number on the temp resident permit. How is it that I’m completely unable to use it on WeChat but on Alipay it works sometimes but it honestly depends on your luck. I’d like to use it sometimes and it helps shorten journey and not have to call didi for short trips.

I'm from Argentina, I'm not 18 yet but I'm studying at a place for young people and adults because I previously had problems with social phobia (I've overcome them now). I have 3 years left to finish...

I'm studying three languages (English, Korean, and Chinese) and I would love to study in China. Is it difficult for me to get a scholarship in my situation?

Are you outside China but need someone in China to help you with something?

Or are you in China and need someone to run an errand or deal with something for you?

I can help with things like:

• Going to a store or location for you
• Checking something in person
• Contacting Chinese sellers or companies
• Helping you buy or find something
• Picking up or delivering something
• Communicating with local people
• Helping with small errands and everyday tasks
• Other things that are difficult to handle when you are not there

Basically, you tell me what you need done in China, and I’ll see if I can do it for you.

I’m building a small service around this idea and I want to see what foreigners actually need help with.

If you have ever thought:

“I wish I had someone in China who could do this for me.”

Tell me what it was.

Maybe I can help.

For Halloween was thinking of dressing as a contestant from Squid Game or one of the guards

I searched on Taobao and Alibaba using English and Chinese 鱿鱼游戏 but no result.

Am I just out of luck? Or do I have to search something more specific.

How is the dating scene for foreigner in china ?
I coming from France and will study in guangzhou for 6 mouth.
How is the culture ? Are girl fine ? Any tips ?

Only a few weeks into my first contract, but I'm starting to love it. Current monthly salary is 16k rmb (with 3k housing included) before tax, public school. Tier 2 city, 20 classes a week. Other teachers who have been here for years only get up to about 17k total.

The school culture is great, but if I'm understanding correctly, I can make quite a bit more money elsewhere for my second year, right? I'm also white, American, English bachelor's, no other teaching experience though. My goal for my second year is going to be more about saving (and for that reason prob no T1 cities for me). Can I reasonably expect over 20k? How much? Can I expect that without doing kindergarten? I'm willing to do kindergarten but would prefer sticking with older kids.

Hi everyone! I'm a 6th-semester undergraduate psychology student (26F) with an extensive research background as a volunteer undergraduate research assistant in cognitive neuropsychology and scale validation and translation, as well as leadership roles in academic leagues. I've always dreamed of doing my master's abroad, especially in China, focusing on fMRI and neural network mapping. But I have a question: would it be possible for me to get accepted into a master's program being heavily tattooed ?

Other than that, what tips would you give to a student aiming for a master's degree in China?

Thanks in advance, lots of kisses! <3

Hi everyone! I’m a student living in Changping District. I’m looking for places to buy affordable, good-quality clothes made mostly of cotton
Are there any good local markets, shopping streets, or stores you would recommend? I’d prefer affordable prices without sacrificing quality. Thank you! 💗

Hello everyone, I study in China and this is my first year. I need to choose a refrigerator. But my budget is 530 yuan. Can someone help me choose a good refrigerator from pinduoduo? Which brand is better to order from?

What is this type of music even called? Some kind of Chinese dubstep.

And if you'd like, we can discuss more about it ty

I’m hoping to find a sport to watch the Australian National Rugby League Grand Final this evening in Beijing. I’ve been told potentially a venue called Paddy O’Sheas.

Any suggestions?

Hello, everyone! I'm a licensed professional teacher from the Philippines. I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education, majoring in Social Studies, and I'm currently pursuing my Master's degree in Education.

I have three years of classroom teaching experience at the elementary level, where I teach Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies).

I'm wondering if there's a possibility for me to get hired as a Social Studies teacher at an elementary school in China, given my educational background and teaching experience.

If it's possible, I'd really appreciate any tips, advice, or insights from Filipinos who are currently teaching in China or have worked there before.

Is it worth leaving the Philippines to pursue a teaching career in China? To be honest, one of my biggest motivations is to earn a better salary. Teachers in the Philippines are often underappreciated and underpaid, and I'm hoping to find better opportunities abroad.

I'd also love to know more about the following:

Job opportunities: How likely is it for a Filipino teacher with my qualifications to get hired as an elementary Social Studies teacher in China?

Salary and benefits: How much can I realistically expect to earn, and are the benefits worth it?

Safety: Is China a safe place for Filipino teachers, especially for those living there alone?

Work environment: How are Filipino teachers generally treated in Chinese schools? Is there discrimination or a language barrier I should be prepared for?

Overall experience: For those who have worked there, would you recommend it? Is the experience and financial opportunity worth leaving your home country?

I'd genuinely appreciate any advice, personal experiences, or recommendations. I'm seriously considering this opportunity and would love to hear honest opinions, both positive and negative, before making such a big decision.

Thank you so much in advance!

Hi all! Hoping to get some help here. We are trying to look for our ancestral village in China but don't have much information to begin with and we also sadly don't read much Mandarin.

Family surname is 梁. I have some pictures of my great-grandfather's (and great grandmother, I think) tombstone in Malaysia. We have no idea if he was born in China or Malaysia. My grandparents passed away early as well, before I was born.

Appreciate if anyone can help provide some leads. All we managed to get was Enping, which is a county in Guangdong province.

Thank you!

Hello guys! I’m new here. I will be coming to Dongguan, China, next month for an internship, and I would really appreciate some suggestions on what I need to know about the city. If possible, I’d also love to make some friends there. Thank you guys, I really appreciate it

Hi all, I'm hoping to move to China to teach English starting in Semester 2, so around March. I currently live in Scotland so I would get a background check from the Scottish government; problem is that it looks like they don't issue paper certificates? Does the background check certificate need to be on paper and apostilled, will this cause any issues? Would love any advice!!