成也萧何，败也萧何 is the Chinese equivalent of, 'If you live by the sword...' and it has taken some time but because one of my students is an out-and-out cheat I decided to really teach her a lesson.

Last year she sent a ringer in to sit her exam in her stead. This year, because I gave them no notice as to the exact date, and, I hoped because she realised I'm not a fool, she sat her own exam only to try and cheat me again!

She failed, and her 'brother' (a former computer science student of mine) called me on her behalf. No, he pestered me! Three days later she arrived at my door bearing gifts. Did I mistake this bribe as a gift? or visa-versa? It made no difference to me because she still failed.

This fact she has just discovered. Once again the 'phone is ringing off the hook and it's 'brother' calling me. I warned him last time that he should find more trustworthy friends and so=called sisters. Assocciating with known cheats is not good for his own credibility.

I decided to cheat a cheater in order to teach them a REAL lesson.

I have it on the very best authority that she cheats (tries to!) every single exam she 'takes'.

Don't be fooled by your students. They already think you're worthless* so make a stand for yourself.




* Chinese students believe that foreign teachers of English are here in China because they can't succeed in their own country. They have no respect for them or the classes they give and that is the main reason shy so many of them are still piss-poor at English despite 8+ years of 'learning'.