u/DJMindtality

I am writing this review to share my personal experience as a foreign teacher dealing with the recruitment and work permit process at Kang Chiao International School East China Campus (KCISEC).

From my side, this process took around two and a half months. During this time, I was under the impression that the school was seriously moving forward with my position and work permit application. Because of that, I waited, made plans around this opportunity, and turned down another real school opportunity.

This was not just a casual conversation about a possible job. I had already prepared important visa-related documents, including release and recommendation documents from previous schools. I was trying to plan my future based on the understanding that this school was moving forward with my work permit. For a foreign teacher in China, this is extremely serious because work permits, residence permits, legal employment, housing, relocation, and children’s schooling all depend on clear and timely communication from the school.

For me, the problem was not only that the process took a long time. The bigger issue was that the communication did not give me enough certainty to protect myself. I was left waiting while believing the school was committed. At the same time, I had real visa timing pressure and family responsibilities. I was trying to decide where to live, how to plan for my children, whether to keep looking for other schools, and whether I could safely rely on this opportunity.

The main issue is that I made real decisions based on this process. I waited instead of moving forward with other schools. I lost time that could have been used to secure another position. I had to deal with uncertainty around my visa situation, and I also had to think about my children’s schooling and my family’s stability. That lost time cannot be recovered.

From my understanding, I needed clarity on whether my application was actually moving forward, whether my documents had been submitted, whether my work permit process was active, and whether anything connected to my name needed to be canceled or withdrawn before another school could safely move forward. I do not think a foreign teacher should be left unsure about something this serious.

I understand recruitment and work permit applications can be complex. I understand schools may face internal approval, document issues, or government delays. However, if a school is not fully ready, I believe the teacher should be told clearly and early. Teachers should not be left waiting for months under the impression that everything is moving forward.

Foreign teachers should not be left guessing about something as serious as a work permit. Schools should clearly explain what stage the application is at, whether the position is fully approved internally, whether documents have actually been submitted, and whether there are any delays or risks. General reassurance is not enough when someone’s visa, career, and family situation are involved.

My advice to other teachers is very simple: do not turn down other offers until you have clear written confirmation from this school. Ask for specific updates. Ask what has actually been submitted. Ask whether the position is fully confirmed. Ask who is responsible for the work permit process. Ask for a realistic timeline. If you are already in China and your visa or residence permit has a deadline, be especially careful.

I am not writing this to attack anyone. I am writing this because the lack of clear communication had a real impact on my professional and family decisions. A teacher’s time, visa status, and family stability should be treated seriously. If a school cannot fully commit or if there are delays, the teacher deserves to know early enough to protect themselves.

I worked at HD Qingdao School during this year and want to share my full experience.

I was hired online by both the principal and foreign principal. However, once I arrived, it was evident they had overhired foreign teachers and didn’t have enough classes. As a result, teachers were doubled up in classes. After the first semester, I was let go, with the explanation that they overhired and had financial issues. Interestingly, both principals who hired me were also fired.

The biggest concern was leadership instability. The school is now heavily influenced by parents, who were even pushing to change the curriculum and student levels based on personal requests. Communication with foreign staff was lacking. Meetings were often held in Chinese with little translation, leaving foreign teachers out of the loop.

Workload was heavy, with extra duties and shifting responsibilities. HR and admin often monitored but didn’t offer real support. After the principal was gone, no foreign principal replaced them, and local leadership didn’t bridge the communication gap.

The foreign teacher environment wasn’t supportive. There was a tight-knit group of long-time teachers, and if you weren’t part of it, it could feel isolating. Morale was low, with a lot of negativity.

On the positive side, HD Qingdao did pay my salary on time and honored my final pay.

Overall, this school faces serious leadership, communication, and workload issues. Anyone considering it should ask about stability, parent influence, and how foreign teachers are supported. It may look good from the outside, but inside, things need a lot of improvement.