If I were bold enough to accuse someone of child molestation or violence toward students or any of the other several unfounded accusations, I’d want to back up those accusations with my own REAL name, dates and times of alleged violations, names of school leaders, even names of parents that must have come to me with these complaints (after all, a teacher can’t be in all places at all times, right? Surely they are getting these stories from concerned parents!).

Suzhou Foreign Language School is a top-notch school to work for. Some of those that have left angrily are, in all likelihood, in cahoots in order to mount a smear campaign. If you do a google search for this school, you’ll find several sites with nasty little threads about this school under people’s “names” that claim they’ve worked for this school. The names are as hollow as the claims they are making. Now that they’ve left this school far behind them, I wonder which school they will target NEXT (you know, the moment they get angry again due to perceived slights)?

http://www.eslteachersboard.co.....m — at least 70 posting! Raoul’s China Saloon – at least 15-20 more postings! Various blogs and an entire site devoted to the ills of this school.

This is a definite avoid at all costs.

“I love the place…”, “I hate the place…”, etc. etc. Good grief. I guess it’s time for the “other” American admin/teacher guy to speak his piece. I am 51, and yes, pretty close to 400 pounds, whatever that means in any educational context. I am the Academic Director for the University of Cambridge International Examinations program at SFLS. You know, that little college in England? Been around about a thousand years? Yeah that one. SFLS is an approved and certified A-levels exam centre. This is NOT Bob’s English Academy for the Rich and Indolent.

Let me make it simple. China is NOT a place for inflexibility. It is NOT a place for those with no sense of humor. It is NOT a place for everyone. This July will end my sixth year in China, the last two in SFLS. I should also say I have had only 3 jobs in six years, 3 1/2 years at the Missouri State branch program at Liaoning Normal University in Dalian, and a brief stay at a private English school in Changchun. I hope that establishes my “China cred.”

Is SFLS perfect, never a problem, always wonderful? Ummm, is anyplace else?? What SFLS is, is a good solid school, student-centered and decisively run by a man and admin group I have always found it easy to approach and work with. Notice I said DECISIVELY run. That is very rare in China, where most administrators seem to need to have multiple meetings and discussions to finally decide on the brand of toilet paper they will use. That is not true here, and issues are resolved quickly, and in my case at least, fairly. I have never made a request of SFLS administration that has not been granted, in a timely fashion.

And while we are about it, can we mention the kids? They are HAPPY here, and it shows. Morale is high. Enthusiasm for school activities and education in general is the best I have seen, including in American schools. Don’t get me wrong, not every student is an angel, but that would just be boring wouldn’t it?? My students are, in the main, a true joy to teach, just really fun!

I have taught in some fairly difficult environments most teachers would desperately avoid, such as a four year stint in a maximum security prison, where I received certification as an FBI-trained hostage and crisis negotiation specialist. So maybe I am not quite so “tender” as some of the malcontents that have posted here. But I was sent to this thread by a colleague at the school who was shocked at what he read, and after reading some of the semi-literate comments by some of these disgruntled “English teachers,” I have begun to wonder if they were even at the same school that I am.

It seems to me there are some expats who really should not have come to China. I have known people who have had truly horrifying experiences here in China, rapes and assaults among them. I have also been at schools who have had truly horrifying foreigners inflicted on them, this school among them. After the crop we had last year, I was afraid our principal would fire ALL the foreigners and never hire any more. Some of the people who have posted here have not given the complete picture of their tenure at SFLS, to say the least. Take it for what it’s worth, but I am a big fan of SFLS so far, and I have renewed my contract for another year.

TBShaw

I have taught in bad schools, that paid late or charged extra fees. This is not one of them! There have been times when I was charged for something I did not agree with or was unsure about. These discrepancies were always rectified in a timely matter. As long as you are patient and sane the school is very good about listening to your concerns and fixing any problems you may have.

The teachers are kind, the children are wonderful, the curriculum is great and the school itself is in a good safe location. I really enjoy teaching in the international department and if it were not for the health of my parents and other personal reasons; I would certainly stay another year or two. If I ever come back to China to teach again I would love the opportunity to return to this school. I would be lying if I said that I never had issues at the school but all of the problems that I had were few and far between. Furthermore all were with individuals not with the school itself. One such problem was even with a foreign teacher who thankfully left the school last week.

I would strongly suggest ,to anyone interested in teaching not only at SFLS but at any school in China, that all post be taken with a grain of salt… even this one. I think the best thing to do when looking at a school is to appraise the overall reputation of the institution and ask to speak to a foreign teacher at the school. That is what I did when I was deciding on a school and I feel that by talking to a foreign teacher I got an honest depiction of SFLS.

-Amanda
Suzhou Foreign Language School

This “Marie-Stephanie de la Garde” is actually (I’m 99% certain, who can ever know for sure on the anonymous internet?) a large, late 50s, bald fat man who just left our school when his many, MANY temper tantrums didn’t go his way. The “Stefani” he is trying to pretend to be actually doesn’t have as good mastery of English as this one does (well . . . you know). She’s the one who posted on Dec 1st, 2008. Compare the syntax of both posts and you’ll see what I mean. Personally, I am not anti-female. I have 4 other foreign, female co-teachers in my department that I think are just swell, thanks. Also, many hard-working, kind, and quite patient female Chinese teachers as well who all seemingly get along fine with me and I with them.

Hearing that the remaining five teachers in our department are running away is simply untrue. One has not renewed her contract for her own reasons; the other three (including myself) have already re-signed happily. And, if this “Marie-Stephanie” “heard” that teachers were fleeing the school, how did she hear of this all the way down in Singapore? A conundrum to be sure.

I will repeat myself: Suzhou Foreign Language School is a fine school to work with. They treat their responsible, mature, professional teachers with a great deal of respect and good benefits. They are not a perfect school; show me one that is. But I know they are always trying very hard.

About my pay: I get paid regularly, on-time, every time. I am never shorted or over-taxed or what-not. I renegotiate my contract each year and they are always more than generous. Why? Because I actually WORK for these people. I come in on time every day and don’t treat my superiors and colleagues as if they are ignorant. I give them the respect that they give to me.

Because of “Marie-Stephanie’s” inability to teach his 1st grade charges effectively (and thus quitting 5 weeks before the end of the term in a huff), I and other teachers have taken over his class. These kids are sweet, adorable, funny, and creative. Sadly, due to ineffectual teaching, they are a bit behind on the curve when it comes to academic development. His final proclamation before he left was “All my kids are at a 3rd grade reading level thanks to me and my extra efforts.” He’s a legend in his own mind at least. They are coming along at a somewhat normal 1st grade pace and we’ll get them to some sort of ending by late June, but their 2nd grade teachers will have to overcome some teaching deficiencies at the beginning of next term to bring them up to speed. It’s do-able, just a bit more challenging.

This site seems to have become a dumping ground for any teacher that has come to our school and simply can’t handle the workload. As long as they come to complain dishonestly, I’ll be here to defend my school, myself, and my fellow professionals. Thank you for taking the time to read my rebuttal.

The poster Kev7161 above is one of the foreign managers at the school. His very own department bleeds teachers. Very few have been there more than two years and many run away after three-four months. It is considered an extremely abusive situation to work in. Even after I left, or was pushed out by Kev7161, I hear that the remaining teachers are all running away.

Everything that the previous posters have written is quite true. If you take employment at this school you will need to pay great attention to your paycheck (always “irregularities”, the extra “free” work that they will pile upon top of you, etc., etc.).

There are three or four departments within the school, each managed by American teachers. Each American head teacher is a male, in his late 50’s, and believe it or not, each one weighs at least 350-400 pounds. I never saw so many fat white males under one roof in a foreign country.

Considering that they host 20 foreign teachers a year, it is strange that nearly 16-17 of these teachers run away, don’t come back, don’t renew their contracts, etc., etc.

In my own case, in early December, this Kev7161 harassed me to death until I could take it no more. He is anti-female, anti-anything-but-American, etc., etc

I beg any teacher that seeks employment in this hellhole — run, run, run, run, run as fast as you can. Otherwise, it’s a bit like the “Hotel California” if you know the song.

Marie-Stephanie de la Garde
Singapore

If any teacher reads this blog, I BEG you never to apply for a position in this school, except if you want to be insulted, treated like trash, lied to , stolen, and so on…!!!!,
I applied to this school as ESL teacher, a job I have done for 9 years, I am a senior teacher, and they gave me a class on my own, it was the first time for me to have my own class as I specified very clearly when I had the interview that I was an ESL teacher and NOT primary school teacher! they say they are the first school in Suzhou, BUT…. they don’t have enough teachers!!!!!So they lied to me telling me I will be an ESL teacher to tell me 3 days before my classes what I would have to do.
I did my best and worked days and nights to do a very good job, but everyday, a member of the staff, ( a real bitch) would come to insult me and say me classes were not good, not once in a while but every day,( she is 22, se can barely speak English and se is not a teacher! but she can say if a class is good or not! let me laugh! Another bastard aslo found funny to insult me, harrass me, every day for 3 months. I must be very crazy to have stayed there for so long. Another teacher already left because of the same reasons, and 4 others are going to leave before next semester.
I really think this school should wonder why they don’t have enough teachers, no senior teachers, and especially why so many teachers leave!
They made my life miserable, they trashed me for 3 months, and I really advise you never to apply to this school.
They lied to me about my salary and stole money from my salary every months to so called taxes when I realized ( thanks to a friend who works in the Labor Department)that they didn’t give any money to the governement!
For my last salary, it was easy, either i left, accompanied by the guards of the school and they would give me 1/4th of my salary or they would call the police to say I was not a member of the school!!!! They stole again money from me.
This school is the worst I have ever seen, what is that ? a big joke?
Well for the people concerned, rot in hell, that’s your place.