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!
My comparison of CELTA vs TEFL
Opinion
July 21, 2020 by Kim Ooi
Are you tossing up between a CELTA or TEFL course? For those wishing to teach English in China, choosing the right teacher training course can be challenging. At one end of the spectrum, we have the ‘gold standard’ of teacher traini...
What is the best online TEFL course?
Reviews
July 15, 2020 by Mike Cairnduff
I'm asked this question a lot. So, what is the best online TEFL course? Well, like many things in life, there’s no simple answer. Course quality, features and cost all come into the equation. What I can tell you, however, is there are...
Want to teach English in Beijing? 5 tips for first timers
Advice
June 18, 2020 by Mike Cairnduff
Beijing is a great place to teach English. It’s the cultural capital of China, so you’re guaranteed to have an authentic experience. You’ll get to see the majestic Great Wall, discover the Forbidden City and try delicious Peki...
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...
8 things I did to survive my first year working in China
Advice
April 28, 2020 by Stacy Dahl
Reminiscing about my time in China, I find it difficult to believe that it’s been almost three years since I first arrived. Sometimes, it feels like I’ve been here forever. Other times, it feels like I arrived just yesterday. There...
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...
How coronavirus has affected my life as a teacher in China
Daily life
March 14, 2020 by Kim Ooi
From wearing face masks to battling boredom in locked-down cities, the coronavirus has changed the way we live in China. While I’m one of the lucky ones who hasn’t been infected by this contagious disease, it’s still had an...
How university contracts in China are changing for TEFL teachers
Opinion
January 04, 2020 by Kim Ooi
I’ve been teaching in China for several years. Although I’ve taught at many different schools in China, the bulk of my time has been spent teaching at universities and colleges. The wording of the university contract has always seem...
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...
7 fun speaking activities for the Chinese university classroom
Classroom activities
November 26, 2019 by Stacy Dahl
Nothing is more intimidating to a university student than speaking in front of the class, especially at a Chinese University. Although Chinese students tend to be on the shy and quieter side, this doesn’t mean they don’t have a lot to...
