Personal stories
What it’s like teaching postgraduate students in China
Personal stories
October 29, 2020 by Kim Ooi
It’s quite common for foreigners teaching in China to take up jobs based at universities and colleges. In my experience, foreign teachers at universities are typically assigned to teach oral English to undergraduates. I've been a univ...
10 ways I’ve personally grown and developed my career in China
Personal stories
May 26, 2020 by Stacy Dahl
I didn’t know what to expect before moving to China. Knowing what I do now, I don’t think there is anything that could have really prepared me. Teaching in China for the past three years has taught me many things about being a teach...
What it’s like teaching online in China during the coronavirus crisis
Personal stories
March 30, 2020 by Kim Ooi
As you’re no doubt aware, the world is currently in the middle of a coronavirus pandemic. In an effort to stop the spread of the virus, China has instituted a lockdown which has delayed the start of the school semester. It was due to have...
My experience teaching in an international school program in China
Personal stories
December 30, 2019 by Nicholas McKay
In my one and a half years of being in China, teaching in an international school program has proven to be the most fruitful professional experience I’ve had so far. That said, it isn’t always a cakewalk, and I’ll touch on that b...
Cultural misunderstandings I’ve experienced in China
Personal stories
March 22, 2019 by Nicholas McKay
A lot of people talk about culture shock when coming to China. Though yes, the focus is often on us foreigners experiencing the ‘shocks’, that does not mean it doesn’t go both ways. You might be wondering, ‘what does Ni...
The benefits of teaching in China that no one tells you about
Personal stories
December 10, 2018 by Kim Ooi
You might already know about some of the main benefits of teaching in China, like airfare reimbursement and free accommodation at some schools. But let me fill you in on some of the benefits of teaching in China that I really wasn’t expecti...
Chinese dating dilemmas
Personal stories
August 31, 2018 by Nicholas McKay
So, you're interested in Chinese dating? You’re single, and ready to mingle, as some might say. Maybe you’re a ‘rice chaser’? Or, to put it another way, perhaps you have ‘yellow fever’? You may have he...
What happens if you get sick in China?
Personal stories
August 07, 2018 by Kim Ooi
I’m normally a very healthy person and hardly ever need to see a doctor. I didn’t think that I’d ever be able to write this article. However, I’ve recently had a couple of interesting encounters with medical professionals i...
Lessons I learned in my first year of teaching in China
Personal stories
July 15, 2018 by Sarah Bucknall
I can remember when I first made the decision to move into the challenging world of teaching. I didn’t know what to expect but could foresee the promise of travel and absorption into another culture. I was sold! I gained so much from my...
How TEFL in China can open up career doors
Personal stories
June 30, 2017 by Mike Cairnduff
In this blog, I talk to Jonathan Arthur, ex English teacher and marketer for English First (EF), about how TEFL in China can open up career doors. Jonathan, can you tell us about your career journey so far? I graduated from university in the UK...
