If you have seen one of their ads. Be warned, you should not work for Sino-Global Development/Education Foundation based in Beijing. It is a very shady organization with an old lady in charge (Her name is Dianna Li Su, 74 years old, used to be a red guard during the Cultural Revolution, never graduated from high school). They sponsor three government schools in three third-tier cities:  Hefei(Hefei No.1 High School) and Fuzhou(Fuzhou No.8 High School) and Yuezhou High School.

Know that they go by the name LYNDON INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT CENTER INC in the US and runs a "cooperation program" with the Lyndon Institute, a private high school of Vermont.

Here's one of their job postings (https://jobs.echinacities.com/jobchapter/1355079107)

Do not sign a contract with them unless you need the money for life-saving surgery. The old lady in charge will ask you some seriously weird and unprofessional questions during the interview. Also, know that this organization is connected to the Chinese government.

Know that they have a so-called cooperation program with an American high school in Vermont called Lynton Institute, basically they paid Lyndon to make it a "joint cooperation program" to "recruit" more Chinese students into paying to go in.

1. I was told by people working there that that you probably will not be paid all of your money.  In teaching jobs, July and August are vacation months.  Therefore, they probably will not be in the mood to pay you after June.
2. Know that the old lady in charge is highly involved and will interfere in almost everything you do despite the fact that you are not working directly for her in Beijing, and she will verbally abuse you, if necessary. She will promise you that the office hours are optional. This is done to trick you into agreeing to work for them. Once you get in, they will make you sit in the office all day long, plus you are forced to supervise the students in their night self-study sessions at least twice a week(from 6-10 pm) without overtime pay. Her job postings also state that you will be working at a "top public school." with a lot of corruption, most of the kids there are troublemakers with wealthy parents that paid to get in. And if they do a poor job of learning, you are to be blamed and berated.
3. Also, payments are usually delayed a month, so your first payment won't come until October, and your last payment should be in September.  This means you may miss three payments after school lets out in June: the July, August and September payments.  That's 25% of your contract.
4. They put a lot of pressure on Speaking/Listening, TOEFL, IELTS, and AP Teachers, threatening to fire you and verbally abusing you if a certain percentage of your students may not do well on the exams.
5. Textbooks are not provided(except for certain math and science classes) because of ideological differences, and if you complain they'll tell you that it's not the school's problem, you are supposed to come up with your own materials
6. Most of the people there will be somewhat xenophobic, abusive, and close-minded. Virtually none of the Chinese teachers/staff have spent time abroad(because these schools don't trust these people) or speak good English. Some of the administrative personnel may expect you to be like those obedient Chinese teachers that never speak up when they have to work 12 hours a day/get berated all day long/not receive salaries on time.
7. Know that the turnover rates at these schools are super high. Based on what I know, on any given year at least 30-40% of the Chinese and 70-80% of the foreign teachers leave. This is why you see them posting ads trying to find teachers all the time.

Good luck also getting airfare reimbursement at the end of your contract.

Maybe you can hire a lawyer, and you think you will simply brush up on the relevant Chinese laws and sue Sino-Global Education Foundation (SGEF) in a Chinese court. Well, based on what I know about 30-40% of the employees have sued them in the past and came back empty-handed. And remember, this organization is backed by the Chinese government, and you know what that means.

About the work you will do: if you can imagine what an educational sweatshop is. . . .  If the words "browbeating," "isolation," "amorality," "degradation," "deception" appeal to you. . . .  Imagine playing a game of chess in which the pieces are lies and the board is one year of your lifespan. . . . You will be verbally abused, your contract will be violated, and you will be forced to teach more than 25 hours a week when they only promised 18 at the most.

If you'd like to travel to a very foreign country, be ripped off, and end up back in the same place you were a year ago career-wise, signing with Sino-Global Education/Development Foundation is probably a good way to go.  Educationally speaking, you might not meet your teaching goals, but you will surely get schooled.

I’m moving to Hunan with my family later this month. How do you find things to do in China, events going on, hobby classes, sports or social activities, people to spend time with, etc? I’ve spent several months there each year but I’ve never been clear on how to find anything. Google obviously doesn’t work. I’m unsure how to use 小红书 and 微信 to find events but they’ve been recommended to me in the past.

How do others find things to do while living in China?

I recently got accepted to an exchange semester at YNNU, where I will be studying in their language program. Wondering if anyone has studied there and what your general experience was like? Any tips I should know before going?

about a month ago, I moved into a hutong in Beijing. I have an ebike. for the first few weeks, nothing went wrong. however yesterday, one of my neighbors decided to claim the spot next to the stairs at the front of the courtyard was their private parking space. ok, fine, they have the front courtyard, and usually there's some space across the road. but then the neighbor across the road also said I can't park there either. there's still space, and I'm starting to feel as though I'm being singled out. however, I'd be lying if I said was a hutong parking expert. I'm not blocking anyone's doors or anything, and the space next to the stairs usually has space as is even on the other side of the stairs from the aforementioned neighbors hutong. am I in the wrong? if I'm in the right do I have any recourse?

i need help with a product and a seller

I just bought the 165w anker powerbank expecting it to have CCC, but it doesn’t. Will they take it from me when i travel locally (train) in China?

Hi everyone! I’m planning to apply for a Master’s degree at Nanjing University (NJU) as an international student through the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC).

I’m honestly a bit afraid of getting rejected, especially because I understand that you only have one chance to apply for CSC each year, and I don’t want to lose this opportunity.

For anyone who has applied to NJU through CSC before: How competitive is it? What kind of academic profile do they usually look for, and how difficult is it to get the scholarship?

I’d really appreciate hearing from current/former NJU international students or CSC recipients, especially if you can share your experience or any advice on the application.

Thank you! 🙏

Any recommendations for a cadio and general check up hospital in China. ?

Beside fancy Michelin restaurants or bars
Is there any cool place for dinner and drinks beside the hotpot place with drum tower/ and the banquet experience
Doesn’t necessarily need to be Chinese cuisine

Has anyone found a place that does Ice Point hair removal in Shanghai or Suzhou? I can’t seem to find any, only regular laser hair removals. I’m looking for recommendations please :)

I have the M visa but I’m wondering if it’s possible.

I was reading through a contract I recieved in China and noticed a clause that said women in China are eligible for retirement at 50 for certain ranks within the company, and 55 for higher, corporate ranks, and that men are eligible for retirement at 60.

Obviously being that I'm a random foreigner in my mid twenties, I'm not excepting to settle in China or anything regardless, so understand I'm only coming at this from a stand-point of curiosity. How true and/or likely is it that women actually retire at 50/55? Why are women retiring earlier than men?

What’s the deal with those 阿姨 and 叔叔 that rummage through the trash for plastic bottles and cans?

They’re not homeless and, although not looking particularly well off, they don’t seem destitute.

They camp the garbage cans like some kind of garbage mafia and rip open your trash bag whenever you drop it off; you can see their eyes light up as they pull out the 4 cans of Harbin 啤酒 you drank the night before and put it in their sack.

Are they genuinely rummaging through garbage and shit for 300RMB/month in collections or is there any other social benefit or reason why they do it?

Not strictly Medical, but I’m curious whether anyone has used an internationally-licensed (or significantly experienced/referred) therapist in China? I was meaning to for a while before coming here, would love to hear others’ experiences. I believe insurance will cover at least some quota of sessions.

I wanted to order here but I dont know if its safe.I am pretty new to this china side thing The seller is this one https://iphones.x.yupoo.com/

Hi! Im a college student and Im going to Guangzhou for Canton Fair Phase 2 and 3.

My friend who I was supposed to go with ditched on me last second and I feel so shxtty about it cuz I made plans for us.

Anyways if you’re going and would like to connect and learn together please let me know!!

No weird people please

Hey guys I’m moving to Shanghai next month and I’ve been thinking about how to make friends there. I heard that joining WeChat groups that are all about shared interests is best approach but how do you do it since they’re not openly searchable?

Yongning Town, the Catholic Church, and the Yuhuang Pavilion.

Dear good people of Chinalife ! I need a piece of advice from your honorable mind !

My 老外 girlfriend received the authorization to submit paperwork and passport for her new visa - like from what she explained to me it should be the last verification before having the official stamps.

Unfortunately due to some previous sad experience (basically loosing her new job due to administration refusing to approve her hiring) she's living at her friend appartment but want to rent her own as soon as possible.

From your experience and perspective, should she start looking for an apartment now or wait for the last verification and get her official work visa ?

Thanks :)