Teach English in China blog
Welcome to the Teach English in China blog!
Here you’ll find real stories, practical advice and opinion pieces about teaching English in China – all written by past or present teachers.
Want to to contribute to the blog? Just contact us and we'll be in touch.
So, make yourself a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy reading. You may even decide to teach in China!
10 mistakes you don’t want to make as a TEFL teacher in China
Advice
May 05, 2017 by Mike Cairnduff
Teaching in China is an incredible experience and you're bound to have the time of your life. However, even seasoned travelers can make simple mistakes when preparing to teach in China or once they’ve arrived. As a past TEFL teacher i...
Becoming an expat in Fuzhou (Part 2)
Personal stories
April 13, 2017 by Sarah Bucknall
One pastime in China that is unfamiliar to me is the dancing. (Missed Part 1 of Sarah's story? - Read it here first) There are a variety of parks all around Fuzhou, my teach-abroad destination, where the older generation gather to listen to...
Becoming an expat in Fuzhou (Part 1)
Personal stories
April 10, 2017 by Sarah Bucknall
The long wait for another vacation was never going to satisfy these itchy feet of mine that find it impossible to stay rooted to the ground. The direction I found led me to obtaining a TEFL certificate to teach overseas, and the path I followed b...
Is Sichuan province the most beautiful place to teach English in China?
Places
April 07, 2017 by Kim Ooi
My first and third years in China were spent teaching at Sichuan University of Arts & Science in Dazhou, Sichuan province, central China. Of all the places that I have taught in China, I have done the most sightseeing in Sichuan. It’s ar...
How teaching English in China changed my life
Personal stories
March 21, 2017 by Kim Ooi
We all know that teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) is the chance to get paid to work and travel. But can it be a life-changing experience too? Here are 12 ways in which teaching in China has changed my life. 1. It has saved me from...
Why are Chinese high school students such high performers?
Students
March 20, 2017 by Mike Cairnduff
China excels in international education rankings, with its teenagers topping the tables in reading, mathematics and science. The influential Pisa rankings, run by the OECD, are based on tests taken by over half a million 15-year-old students in ov...
Safety precautions for newcomers in China
Advice
March 05, 2017 by Kim Ooi
Shortly before I left for China to take up my first overseas teaching post, my family gave me some advice on how to stay safe in China. I thought it would be a good idea to share some of this advice. So, whether you're going to China t...
How to get your ESL class off to a great start this semester
Classroom activities
February 25, 2017 by Nicholas McKay
Now that Semester 2 has started in China, ESL teachers would have been introduced to their classes, getting into the swing of teaching and trying to build connections with their students. Sometimes this can be done with a letter to the teacher, as...
What to expect in your first week teaching in China
Planning
February 18, 2017 by Kim Ooi
Moving to China to teach English is a life-changing experience. You'll witness an incredible culture, meet new people, and have the opportunity to travel across Asia. Although adjusting to your new surroundings can take time, if you k...
Discrimination against non-native English speakers in the TEFL industry
Opinion
January 16, 2017 by Kim Ooi
Discrimination against non-native English speakers in the TEFL world is currently an emotive and hotly debated topic in online forums. Does this discrimination really exist though? Look at any TEFL job advertisement and you are likely to see ph...
