Blog

Guest Blog: How to Prepare for Your Big Move to China

Our guest blog this week is by Deb Cheng, Deb Cheng is a full-time teacher in Toronto.  When she is not teaching, she travels and writes about travel.  She has traveled to 48 countries and enjoys travelling through Asia.  Read more about her travel adventures at www.adventureaffinity.com. You have a new job in a new […]

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Cultural Differences Edition 4

In this post Dan covers public transport, and driving! Crossy Road Whether you are a pedestrian, a passenger, or sat behind the wheel, the road is a challenging place! Observing the road, you will get the impression that if there are any rules, they’re certainly not being enforced. Unpredictable, even suicidal behaviour behind the wheel […]

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Cultural Differences Edition 3

Dan’s recently returned to the UK after living in Southern China for the past 5 years. Here our Teaching Manager talks about the glamourous topics of unexpected photography, and toilets… Say “Qiézi” Probably the most common aspect of culture shock in China that expats bring up is complete strangers wanting to take a picture with […]

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Cultural Differences Edition 2

The second instalment of Dan’s Cultural Differences Guide considers the important topics of meal time etiquette, and queuing!! Dinners in China are immense fun and a key form of social interaction, with delicious cuisine and rice wine aplenty, so accept as many invites as you can! But there are a few cultural nuances to be […]

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Cultural differences edition 1

Our Teaching Manager, Dan, recently returned from a 5-year stint teaching in a variety of schools in Guangzhou/ Foshan. The following series of blog posts will explore just a few of the cultural differences he encountered – just being aware of these can lessen the impact of culture shock, and help teachers to quickly settle […]

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The Chinese Grand Prix

Race day is almost upon us. This Sunday, April 17th, China will host its 13th Chinese Grand Prix. Held at the Shanghai International Circuit, the Chinese round of the Formula One World Championship was first run in 2004.  At a cost of $240 million the 5.4km Shanghai circuit was the most expensive in the world [...]

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Tomb-Sweeping Day (Qingming Festival)

The traditional Qingming festival, known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English, is a uniquely Chinese event. This year it falls on the 4th of April as determined by the Chinese lunisolar calendar. It is one of China's seven official public holidays and as such is primarily valued as a much needed day off by us ESL [...]

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Growing Mandarin GCSE in British schools. What are the challenges?

After the recent trade deals and discussions between the British and Chinese governments in 2015, including the noted visit of Xi Jinping to the UK, the government announced a greater push of the Mandarin GCSE offering in British schools. There are some interesting trends happening with this course at the moment, including a greater uptake from more business-like academies [...]

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How to improve your teaching in China

You have already read about Opportunity China’s unrivalled ambassador network that provides support and professional development to foreign teachers in China, but how is it really beneficial to you as a teacher? Designed by experienced practitioners in the UK, taking ideas from PGCE and SCITT training in primary and secondary school settings. The ambassador network [...]

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A wedding in China (part 2)

Previously in Part 1 I wrote about the events leading up to the wedding day and the various ceremonies that take place to get traditional blessings on the wedding – now the focus switches to the main event, and the amazing banquet that takes place… At about 6pm at a local restaurant the bride and [...]

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