I neglected to mention that at IEN students are often given lollies try and "motivate" them. To uni students! This "institute" is totally unprofessional and run by idiots who nothing about education. Avoid the useless IEN and Minjiang University, a joke!

Thank you for your utterly uninformative comment.

Please, how about giving prospective employees some reasons as to why you think it's an "absolute rubbish place" (love your English, by the way)?

No one should ever believe posts that are merely hate-filled and uneducated-sounding.

I do not know if they have changed their way of finding students but years ago what they used to do was get the list of students who failed or got a low mark on their gaokao. IEN would then call those students and tell them that if they paid the tuition (almost triple regular university tuition).

The DOS at one point was an Australian man who had given his son a job teaching even though the kid was 19 and had no idea how to teach. His son once told me about going for a massage with with his father that concluded with a happy ending. Now I am by no means a prude but what I did find pretty creepy was that it was one of those incredibly cheap back alley places, the kind with curtains acting as walls. While they were being serviced they were talking and i suppose revealing to each other their vinegar strokes (I shudder at the thought of sharing that with my son.

That DOS was eventually replaced by a Philipino woman who along with her husband had basically conspired to have him released. They were the sneakiest couple of humans I have ever met. They would smile to your face while they stabbed you in the back. when she was the senior teacher she had plenty of complaints and refused to do certain things but as soon as she became the DOS those same situations no longer seemed to be a problem. What made me laugh was before the took over the position they were cheapskates who would barely spend a cent but after moving up they were purchasing items like E-bikes, Iphones and other luxury goods all the while telling the FT's to do things they would have refused in the past.

The issue is one of insulation and lack of central heating. While the weather is colder and dryer in North China, there is at least indoor central heating. I found myself more thirsty there in winter due to the dry conditions, and the heating inside, it was only freezing when outside. The south has a more horrible damp cold and the resultant mold in spring, which is also not pleasant.

There are Starbucks in both Wanda Malls, in Congshan and Taijiang. There is a Starbucks in Wangfujing mall on Wusi Lu. There is a Starbucks on Wuyi Lu around the corner from Wuyi Square.

Unbearable and comfortable weather are expressions of personal judgement. I suspect all northern Europeans, Brits, Canadians and U.S. citizens north of the Mason Dixon line would be comfortable during Fuzhou winters.

There are many Starbucks? Other than the one in the seven alleys where are the rest?

The winter is not cold? Considering that they have no insulation in their houses it can be unbearably cold especially as there is no place to go to where you can be comfortably warm.

At list I am man enough to show my email address. ha ha. This sad pathetic failure of a man was your former boss. ha ha

haha, it is Musa talking to Musa, as the e-mail address listed is Musa's personal e-mail. Talking to yourself, you must be mentally unstable. You are a fool and an idiot who has no qualifications to teach. You are a sell out to your home country and an arselicker to boot. The students at IEN hated you and called you "nang nang".

You should tell everyone how you used to say "my wife in rich but she is ugly" to new teachers. Also how you offered to arrange prostitutes for new teachers. I know you did and so do other teachers so don't deny it.

You are a sad and pathetic failure of a man who should not be let near any classroom. IEN could be a good place if it was run by normal and mentally stable individuals but sadly it was run by a grub like you and those other immoral and unethical management goons.

Musa was never canned , he is the best manager this institute has ever seen. Don't listen to D. he is just jealous. D was trained by Musa for over 4 years.

Musa is an amazing talented guy that trained, educated employees and has implemented international standard for teachers and employees. But some employees, just want to complain because they don't want follow the rules and regulation. Some of way these foreigners behave, should be sacked on the spot, however, Musa always gives the opportunity to change the behavior and act more professionally. I think Musa is a great boos and a great leader

If you don't like mother China go back to your own country. Good luck finding a job.

Fortunately they canned him today. The place is great now

I've spent several months in Fuzhou.

The city is certainly not Shanghai or Beijing, or even Xiamen, in its foreign-friendly amenities and its volume of 'laowai'.

Interestingly, perhaps because Fuzhou inhabitants have for generations been traveling and working overseas, there is not as much fascination with a foreign face when you walk the midtown streets. In this respect, it is like Shanghai or Beijing.

The city, like many other second/third tier cities, is constructing a subway so traffic is often a nightmare.

But other than that, I appreciate that Fuzhou is not too big and not too small. The air quality is, by Chinese standards, acceptable. It is an 'ancient' city, so there are many locations that are of interest to foreigners. The cost of living is lower than the major cities. The weather is seldom oppressively cold. There are many Starbucks and Walmarts.

Fujian women are lovely. Travel to other cities in China and Southeast Asia is convenient. There is a seashore. Mountains and rivers surround the city. The University Town is not very far from the central city.

Did I mention that Fujian women are lovely?

Hey I've been thinking about applying for jobs for teaching English in Fuzhou in an English school. I have also been asked for an interview, however I am not sure about the place. How is it living there for a foreigner? I don't want to stay in a place where you will be stared at walking down the streets or you will be treated differently all the time. I have tried to research on the place but there is not much I can find out, I will be grateful if I could get feedback of someone who has had direct experience. Thanks

I worked at this place for several months. It was a big mistake. At this "institute" the "manager" of the foreign teachers is an annoying little man called "Muzza" from Australia.

At first he will be nice to you on the phone, just to give you false assurance that he is a nice guy to entice you to sign the contract. Then after you arrive at the school he will start stabbing you in the back. The curriculum/syllabus at the school is appalling, however the teachers must prepare detailed lesson plans in accordance with it.

Many of the students at IEN, 18-23 y/o are poorly behaved and have no discipline, however you are not allowed to discipline them yourself, you must tell Muzza about it. This guy is a sniveling weasel of a man who always blames the foreign teacher for any problems that occur.He always says TIC ( This is China ) and seems to have forgotten that he is Australian, not Chinese, the quintessential race-traitor in my opinion. Teachers with years of experience at other universities are not respected at IEN. They are told "We will show you how to be a good teacher".Teachers are hardly given any notice in regard to a change in syllabus. There is no internet access in the classrooms at IEN and teachers must prepare elaborate PPT's each week, it seems all they know how to do is prepare PPT's in that place. Teachers are threatened with fines for being late, and I know some Chinese teachers who were fined and lost a chunk of their salary. One Chinese teacher had her payment of salary delayed by six weeks. Teachers must also provide a doctors certificate if they are sick, but what if you wake up one morning with vomiting and diaohrrea after some bad food one night? It is just ridiculous and stupid.

Some of the students there are very nice, especially the girls ( and some of the guys ) and they try their best. Many of the foreign teachers there are also nice people and do their best in spite of being micro-managed and having to follow ridiculous and rigid guidelines on a daily basis. David, a guy from the USA the Academic Director is a good guy, he is not a bully, but has to take shit from Muzza, or Musa as he is also named, plus he must report to the silly Chinese micro-managers there. Why Dave does not quit and find another job is beyond me, his IT skills are very good. This is a very stressful place to work, and also very time consuming. You will have no social life if you work there.

Also, Fuzhou people are very arrogant, racist, and indifferent to foreigners. Fuzhou is not a nice city despite the propaganda you will be told when you apply the job. Be warned that IEN is one of the worst types of corporate education you will come across. If you want to work at a Chinese university just sign a normal SAFEA contract at a normal university. Avoid IEN, it's hell! I could add a lot more, but I think that will do, just stay away!