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!
Do your research before you go, says Texan teacher
Interview
June 29, 2015 by Mike Cairnduff
In the second of this two-part series, we continue our interview with Texan John Mandina. John is an English teacher in China and currently lives in the city of Wuxi, Jiangsu province. What’s been the best part of your teaching exper...
Globetrotting teacher feels at home in Jiangsu
Interview
June 27, 2015 by Mike Cairnduff
In the first of this two-part series, I interview 39-year-old Texan, John Mandina, who is teaching English in China. John currently lives in the city of Wuxi, Jiangsu province, eastern China. Why did you decide to teach English in China?...
The 8 best questions to ask before going to China
Planning
June 07, 2015 by Mike Cairnduff
Are you ready to leave the mundane behind and teach English in China? Wait! Before you do anything else, start with some planning. This involves asking eight important questions. Ask yourself… You need to ask yourself the first few qu...
Teaching English in China: one recruiter tells all (Part 2)
Interview
May 30, 2015 by Mike Cairnduff
You often hear about the experiences of people who are teaching English in China. But what about the recruiters who do the hard work getting the teachers over there? To get an insight into the recruiter’s world, I interviewed Jane Qin, an ex...
Teaching English in China: one recruiter tells all
Interview
May 03, 2015 by Mike Cairnduff
You often hear about the experiences of people who are teaching English in China. But what about the people who do the hard work getting the teachers over there? To get an insight into the recruiter’s world, I interviewed Jane Qin, an experi...
The top 6 things you should bring to China
Advice
April 13, 2015 by Mike Cairnduff
Not sure what to bring to China and what to leave behind? The country is modernizing so quickly that most of the creature comforts you rely on are easy to pick up at the nearest shopping mall. And, of course, online shopping is always ava...
What is Tomb Sweeping Day?
Festivals
April 02, 2015 by Mike Cairnduff
Tomb Sweeping Day, also known as the Qingming Festival, is a time to pay respect to relatives and ancestors who have passed away. The day is a public holiday in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. What do Chinese people do on Tomb Sweeping Da...
Teaching English in Xinjiang, China’s last frontier
Interview
March 29, 2015 by Mike Cairnduff
Ever been to Xinjiang? Ever heard of Xinjiang? If you answered ‘no’ to either of these questions, you’re not alone. Located in the northwest of China, Xinjiang (pronounced “sin gee-young”) is one of the country’...
The secret to overcoming culture shock
Daily life
March 19, 2015 by Mike Cairnduff
The first few weeks in a foreign country can be a little overwhelming, especially for first-time travelers. China, in particular, is a real eye-opener. With its stark cultural differences, difficult-to-master language and sheer amount of people, m...
Teaching English (and finding love) in Shenzhen - Part 2
Interview
February 28, 2015 by Mike Cairnduff
The southern Chinese city of Shenzhen has changed the life of 39-year-old British teacher Tim Robinson. This is part 2 of the interview with Tim. Read part 1 of the interview first. How would you describe Shenzhen? It’s an ultra-m...
