Opportunity China

Published on:
November 11, 2020

by: Guest

Guest Post: Do you need to know Chinese to teach English in China?

TLDR: It is possible to teach English in China’s first-tier cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen) without learning Mandarin, provided you’re willing to forgo most cultural immersion experiences. It’s possible to live in an expat bubble, speaking English day to day. Living in China as an English teacher in other cities can offer a more immersive [...]

Published on:
December 12, 2019

by: Guest

Guest Post: My Top 4 Weekend Trips from Shenzhen

This week’s teacher guest post comes from Chloe Walker, University of Edinburgh graduate and Shenzhen public school teacher. Here, Chloe recounts her favourite weekend travels in China.. Xiamen Xiamen is a second-tier city in the province of Fujian, in the south-east of China. Despite not being a popular tourist destination with […]

Published on:
March 12, 2019

by: Will Perrins

My Top 5 Tips for Planning as an ESL Teacher in China

Lauren Wilcox has a degree in English from the University of Portsmouth, and is teaching at a language centre as part of the 2017 Teach China Graduate Program. Lauren’s been in China for over a year, and over the coming weeks she’ll be sharing some of her China experiences to date, both at school and [...]

Published on:
October 1, 2018

by: Guest

Teacher Guest Blog: Standout differences between Sydney and Beijing

We're delighted to introduce our new resident blogger in Beijing, Jonas Groom, part of Opportunity China's Teach China Graduate Program 2018 cohort. After graduating from the University of Sydney with an Arts degree, Jonas worked for the Australian National Maritime Museum before embarking on his journey to Beijing. He loves exploring his passion for history, languages, [...]

Published on:
August 16, 2018

by: Guest

Teacher Guest Post: 3 Things You’ll Learn by Living & Teaching in China

Living in China is roller-coaster experience. You'll see new sights, eat new food, make new friends and importantly, learn lots of lessons! But what (in a nutshell), are the most important things to learn from your China experience? Our resident blogger in Shenyang, Melissa, shares the 3 most important things she has learned through teaching in China... You [...]

Published on:
August 8, 2018

by: Guest

Teacher Guest Post: Living and Teaching in Shenyang

We're delighted to introduce our new resident blogger in Shenyang, Melissa Weston. Melissa graduated from the University of Sheffield in the summer of 2017, before embarking on the Teach China Graduate Program. Melissa has been working as a teacher for EF Shenyang since September 2017, and over the course of the last year, has acquired many [...]

Published on:
February 23, 2018

by: Tom

Guest Post: Winter Course Teaching, a Hotpot Date, and the Staff Party!

Here’s the latest instalment from Francesca in Fuzhou, who this week reflects upon her winter course, staff party, and some delicious hotpot! Winter Course teaching, and some seriously hard work… In ESL schools around China, there is a common practise of running extra courses for a short period of time, several times throughout the year. […]

Published on:
July 7, 2017

by: Will Perrins

Health and Safety when Teaching in China- Part 2

Medical Check Information

This week’s blog considers what teachers can do, and precautions to take, to stay safe and healthy once you have arrived in China. For information on Medical Checks before and after going to China, check out our guide here. First up, familiarise yourself with local services On arrival, take the time to check out [...]

Published on:
April 1, 2016

by: Guest

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 [...]

Published on:
February 13, 2016

by: Tom

Chinese New Year: key traditions you should know about

Decorating Houses: Houses are decorated with red lanterns, red couplets, New Year paintings, and red lanterns. 2016 is a year of the Monkey, so monkey images will appear on decorations. People may decorate their houses using some or all of the following things... Mmmm, the New Year’s Eve Feast! The New Year's Eve Feast is a [...]