ESL Teacher Forum - Teach in China

11/19/2009 3:41:16 PM Guest Posts: 176	chineseculturecenter.org - Summer Program SCAM! For those seeking to teach abroad in China this summer, be advised that this nefarious organization helmed by Lea Walker is a total scam. Last year thirty students had paid thousands to this organization to go to China and teach during the summer. The program was cancelled, we were told that it was because of the flu - yet every other program we contacted said they were operating. Our passports were kept from us, essentially preventing us from joining another program. You have been warned. --
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11/22/2009 11:39:54 PM NoWAY Posts: 45	yeah.. the summer time is the Fraud Time.. as many Foreigners travel or go home (many contracts start/finish during summer) Anyone.. that's right.. ANYONE who speaks any English or mimciks English will and have been hired for 10 days or 5 weeks of summer. I've met employed "Foreign Teachers" who were students studying in China and working on their Student Visa (this is VERY common) and more than 1/2 (about 10 guys/gals) would not pass a Spoken English test, if required.. but it's NOT... and had only ideas of Western English children's songs.. but.. that's plenty to be hired! Further.. most of these illegal/immoral and unethical persons claimed to be native English Speakers either from USA or UK but later.. even one guy said... "oh, you mean what country am I REALLY from.. ?" Well.. I just feel very sad and sorry for all those who've been cheated.. and more sad for a Government who don't give a damn! So.. come on ahead.. thinking a GREAT dumping ground for all those criminals now in Jails that are sucking up all the resources of taxpayers and common, decent folks. Truly..local authorities DON'T care! So.. for those Foreigners coming to China.. GOOD Luck as this is the best you can expect. There are few and far between of the Good people that will do what is expected, required, and professionally as we have come to take for granted back home. So sad for the innocent kids and their families.. but.. it's a culture...."who cares you?" (chinglish to state ... we are but a little potatoe)
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1/11/2010 4:40:54 PM Guest Posts: 176	Look what this guy has to say over in the "Was I Scammed?" area of the teaching in China forum. For some time now I have been wanting to post a comment or two about Lea Walker and the CCC (Chinese Cultural Center) found in S.C. ,and I guess after reading all the comments I would like to just add an objective view if I could. I am currently with the CCC. If I could do it all over again I would definitely not be with this program. Those that are content with this program have no idea what really goes on "behind the scenes" I too was allured by the fact that I would be able to go to China. After searching the web I happened upon Lea's website. At the time the website seemed legit-- it's changed quite a bit due to recent accusations from the University I believe. It stated that it had affiliation with a University as well as a long-term relationship with various Universities in China. It seemed o.k., but I was still weary. At first all I did was fill in the online application thinking to myself that I would wait a see what would happen. Then one day I received an email stating that there was a job position available in Bejing. Alright! Dream come True! Right?! I hastily called Lea directly and asked her if the email was authentic in which she replied that there was only limited vacancies and if I want to get in I must send the 1000 dollar check, my passport, and other personal information. I then on the telephone made her promise me that if I didn't get the Beijing position that I wanted my money and passport back. Of course she replied in the affirmative. Thus began my one year wait to be placed by Lea. Tips for the newbie!!! Get everything stated in an email! She'll say anything to get your thousand dollars over the phone. My uncle who is a lawyer just laughed at how naive I was for believing her over the phone. Welcome to the real world my Son! Emails will hold up in court. Never give your Passport to anyone! Would you give your social security card to someone? I actually had my passport held by Lea for about a year. Only if I was willing to sign an affidavit stating that I would forfeit my deposit would I receive it back. How did she keep it for so long? She had me sign a paper saying that I authorized her to do my visa paperwork. This gal is professional! Never pay a deposit! Deposits in the "eyes of the law" state that you have entered a legally binding deal. Pretty much she can keep it, unless she fails on her part of providing you with work. Also read her fine line print. Many people have lost their deposits due to not turning in necessary documents before her stated deadlines. Back to the story. So the Beijing thing was a "bait and hook" tactic. I was hooked along with another girl. We signed on in Dec. and it was now Feb. Still no job positions. She tried getting me to sign on with numerous "scam operations" as well as go over on an F-visa; Both I firmly rejected. The girl eventually dropped out losing her deposit due to not meeting the deadlines and then there was only me. Come fall there was about ten of us that used Lea. All went to China except me on F visas. Currently only one or two is still working for the same company, because the schools they work for are all scams. Lea also got a finders fee of 6000-8000 for them and may also be taking a cut of our monthly salary. (This is purely a guess, all of us teachers were making less then our colleagues that didn't go with Lea's group) Pretty much Lea's part of the deal ends after you get on the plane or want to renew your contract--who would of guessed? So in the end is Lea a scammer? Legally she's got her organization pretty tight. She is definitely trying to make money off you. I still laugh that I paid her 1000 dollars to find me a job I could have found myself. Most of the jobs she offers are just ones that are posted on the internet. She has absolutely no affiliation with any of the schools that you will be placed in. When I stated her name to head officials they look at my quizzically and say, "Who that?". Honestly, if you are white with an American passport you can use the 1000 dollars to pay for a ticket and live in China for a month or two while you find a job. Jobs are so easy to find here. Or just look for a University job online (the safest). In conclusion: Lea is just trying to make money off of naive Americans that don't know any better. Now you know --
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1/26/2010 2:22:28 AM gregg Posts: 35	Perhaps someone should contact this reporter to inform him off recent events? Open PDF Article on Chinese Culture Center, Lea Walker --
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8/17/2010 10:20:57 PM ajessekennedy Posts: 2	I want to share my opinion about Lea Walker's Fall/Spring program. I was a middle school English teacher in America finding myself looking out the window everyday after school wondering what the world is like in other places in April 2009. I was teaching a book, The Joy Luck Club, and thought about the idea of going to China to teach English. I sat down and Googled "Teach English in China," and Lea's website popped up one of the first on a list. I called her at the end of April, applied for May, and sent her my passport at the end of May. At the beginning of July, I received my passport back with my Z-visa placed inside with my invitation letter from SAFEA and China's Ministry of Education. In the middle of July, I was contacted by Lea's travel agent. I paid for my flight and by August 24th, I was on a plane to China. Before I left for China, I thought I wanted to go to Beijing. I am SO happy I wasn't placed there. Lea placed me in central China at Xiangfan University in Hubei province. I was placed there with 11 other great teachers, one of whom has become my best friend. I spent a year there, and I wouldn't do anything over, nor do I have any regrets. So, as far as my experience goes, it has been a great one! Thanks, Chinese Culture Center! -Jesse, Xiangfan University 2009 group --
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8/18/2010 9:56:02 AM Edgar Posts: 1	I was one of the members that was originally scheduled to go to China during the summer of 2009. While it was unfortunate that the trip was cancelled, our eligibility in the program was not revoked. The website did specify that the Chinese Culture Center could not be held responsible for things like "natural disasters" which were beyond their control when placing us in China. I maintained contact with Lea Walker and understood that the summer 2009 program was altered due to the Swine Flu and I decided to wait until the following summer to teach abroad. I just returned home from China a few days ago. I was placed in Zhengzhou which is in the Henan Province and taught Reading, Listening and Note Taking, and Adult face-to-face and conversation classes. I was also driven to another school twice a week to teach a Study Skills course to more advanced English speaking Chinese students. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. The students worked very hard to improve their English and were very respectful. Many students showed their gratitude by bringing me traditional Chinese gifts on my last day of summer employment. The students were also very eager to provide me with information about China and offered many great suggestions for tours. Some of my students even helped my haggling skills so that I could make smarter purchases at the markets! The students were between the ages of 16 to 20 and I had a wide range of ages in the adult classes that I taught. Everyone was so personable and friendly. I found that the Chinese population in general, was extremely kind and eager to assist me. Additionally, my coworkers were extremely helpful in assisting me to acclimate to the new culture and customs. Many coworkers were willing to discuss lesson plans with me and answer any of my questions. My supervisor willingly wrote me a beautiful reference letter at the conclusion of my teaching experience. During the time that I taught in China, I was able to utilize my weekends for traveling. I arranged a flight to Beijing and was able to tour the major attractions. My favorite experience was climbing the Great Wall. I was able to reach the great wall via shuttle (which was very similar to a ski lift). After climbing the Great Wall, I rode down the mountain on a small cart down a track which was similar to a bobsled course. It was one of the most thrilling experiences of my life and I was able to document the entire experience with pictures. Additionally, I visited Kai Feng, Xi'an (to see the Terra Cotta Warriors), and Luoyang (to see the Longmen Grottoes). I was able to arrange all of these tours without ever having to withdrawal money from my bank account! The salary through the ESL program allows teachers to comfortably experience China. Since we were provided with free housing, the only things that I had to spend money on were food and personal expenses. The cost of living in China is extremely affordable. I was able to take a taxi for the length of about 15-20 min. for only a little more than $2.00 USD! Massages and manicures and pedicures are also cheap! In some places I was able to get a thirty minute massage for less than $10.00 USD. Restaurants are also very affordable. I ate at least 2 meals a day in restaurants for the entire 6 weeks of my placement and never once ran out of money. The food is also incredible (once you figure out what you like and what to order!); the only tip that I have is to try to find restaurants that have picture menus or some English on the menus as well! These are just some of the wonderful experiences that I had while teaching in China. I have only been home for a few days and I already miss life in Zhengzhou! I have decided that I want to go back to China and even e-mailed Lea Walker to figure out my options for year-long teaching opportunities. I absolutely wish to continue teaching abroad and I can credit that passion to the Chinese Culture Center. If this program had not gone so smoothly, I cannot say how willing I would be to continue teaching in other countries. However, this experience was incredible and I would highly recommend teaching abroad to anyone who is interested. This experience has made me a more cultured and worldly person with an even greater desire to travel and teach. --
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8/18/2010 3:55:06 PM Sandi Posts: 1	I want to give yet another positive opinion about CCC Fall/Spring program! All I can say is that from the first call, application, and to my return flight Lea Walker was nothing but helpful and professional! I taught at Xiangfan University with Jesse (posted above). Ditto on his comments! CCC is legitimate nonprofit organization that works with many schools throughout China. This was a great first international TESOL experience! So glad I went! I am happy to say that Lea Walker not only placed me at a great school, took care of ALL the details but she made her self-available throughout the year! I am so glad I not only know her professionally but as a friend! Thank you, Lea Walker & Chinese Culture Center! Sandi, another one from the Xiangfan University 2009 group! --
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8/18/2010 11:27:26 PM Jessie Zimmerman Posts: 1	I traveled to China during Summer 2010 through the Chinese Culture Center and had a great experience. The Chinese Culture Center took care of getting my visa, booking a round trip flight at a group rate, and setting up a work contract with an English school in Zhengzhou, China. The students were all very appreciative of me and my efforts as a teacher and all of my coworkers were more than accommodating, as well. I really liked that I was able to travel in my free time to see all different attractions. If I were to do this trip over, I would choose the Chinese Culture Center. --
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8/19/2010 12:18:23 AM gregg Posts: 35	http://www.bbb.org/columbia/business-reviews/training-programs/chinese-culture-center-in-columbia-sc-13001411 Customer Complaint HistoryWhen considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints. BBB processed a total of 9 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total of 9 complaints closed in 36 months, 6 were closed in the last year. Contract Issues Resolved 1 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to BBB. Service Issues Administratively Closed 1 - BBB determined the company provided proper verification that indicated there was no obligation to resolve the issues of the complaint. Refund or Exchange Issues Resolved 5 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to BBB. Administratively Closed 1 - BBB determined the company provided proper verification that indicated there was no obligation to resolve the issues of the complaint. 1 - BBB determined that while the company addressed the complaint issues, the complainant was dissatisfied and the matter was outside BBB Rules of Arbitration. I guess this is what passes for an A+ rating for the BBB. edited by gregg on 8/19/2010 --
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8/20/2010 12:07:43 AM Extorted Posts: 3	Unfortunately the glowing reviews recently given are not something the ones who wrote them decided to do. Lea Walker sent an email a few days ago that not only trashed the people who wrote on this forum but also made this demand: "Before we issue you the TESL Certificate, you need to do one more homework to complete your TESL Internship: Please visithttp://China.eslteachercafe.com to find some slanderous/abusive comments about Lea Walker and/or Chinese Culture Center. Please register as a member to some of the forums with your real name as user name, and make your own counter comments from your own experiences with us. You may also upload your photos from the summer camps to the forums. Then please email me your online comments with a couple of your photos taken in China by reply to this email. We might post your photos and comments to our website." I won't give many other personal details because Ms. Walker is reading this and attacking those that don't appreciate her. In the group I went with, half had problems with visas, placement, or reimbursement that were directly related to her incompetence. Be very wary when using her service and remember that she does not play by the book. This is not someone with either an American or a Chinese sense of professionalism. --
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8/20/2010 11:33:49 AM ajessekennedy Posts: 2	Hi, everyone! I would like to express once again that I posted the truth for my experience with Lea Walker and the CCC. She did a great job for me, and I did not post my previous comment because I felt "threatened" by Lea's email. I think she just wanted both sides to be presented on this website. As for the TESL certificate being used as blackmail, I do/did not need the TESL certificate as I am a certified public school English teacher with a state teaching license approved under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. I do not discourage the use of this forum as an open discussion; by all means, please converse about this. Again, I am posting a second comment to clarify the extortion comment on my end. I do not feel extorted in any way and I am completely satisfied with the way Lea handled my visa, job placement, flights, etc. "There are two sides to every coin." -Jesse, Xiangfan University Fall 2009 group --
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