Blog

Making friends while teaching in China

If you’re reading this, you’re probably considering moving abroad to teach in China. You’ve likely thought of the many benefits of taking such a big step; immersing yourself in a new culture, making memories to last a lifetime, and making your CV very attractive to future employers. But you’ve also probably had some niggling doubts. [...]

Read more ›

5 Great Games to use as an English Teacher in China

One of the hardest things about teaching kids isn’t the teaching itself, but trying to teach in a way that’s engaging and sure to keep students’ attention from wandering. Which is why, regardless of which age group you teach, games can be an incredibly useful learning tool. Having such young students meant I personally experienced […]

Read more ›

Finding a place to live in China

On arrival When I accepted my teaching role in China, it didn’t escape my notice that I was moving to a new country on the other side of the world with absolutely no idea where I was going to live! I had never found an apartment at home in the UK, how was I supposed […]

Read more ›

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 [...]

Read more ›

Teacher Guest Post: Life After China – How Teaching in Hangzhou Formed my Future

Zeena Starbuck graduated from Exeter University in 2017 before departing on her China journey in the city of Hangzhou. Here she reflects on her time teaching in China, and how it has informed her interests and career path. Departing Hangzhou   As I sat in Hangzhou’s airport in July 2018, leaving after teaching in a [...]

Read more ›

Teacher Guest Post: Huashan, Beautiful, Chaotic Nature

A Trip to Huashan Mountain   Our hands graze against “Love locks,” which have been permanently fastened to railings that flank the immediate route ahead as we ascend the sloping concrete steps of Huashan Mountain. (A sign at the foot of the mountain describes it as “the world’s no 1 precipitous mountain.”) Entwined with streams […]

Read more ›

Teacher Guest Blog Post: How China has changed me

China is a country defined by change and development. With fishing villages of 30,000 evolving into megacities with populations in excess of 19 million in the same generation, a country defined by communist ideals and dogma in the 1960's and 1970's becoming one of the world's financial and business powerhouses in the modern day. This [...]

Read more ›

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 [...]

Read more ›

Looking for the right teaching job? Look at more than the salary!

This week our guest blog comes from Nick Dahlhoff, who has been teaching primary school English in Beijing for the past 2.5 years - and who has no plans of leaving China anytime soon! Here, Nick shares his top tips on what to look out for when finding the perfect teaching role in China, and why [...]

Read more ›

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. […]

Read more ›