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!
The worst teach in China scams and how to avoid them
Planning
November 16, 2019 by Gayle Aggiss
You’re all packed. You’ve Googled where you want to go. You’ve spoken to the people at your school and learned what to expect. Then you get to China and experience that sinking feeling. Nothing is like you expected it to be....
How to prepare for your first week of classes at a Chinese university
Planning
October 10, 2019 by Stacy Dahl
Nothing is more daunting than your first week of teaching at a university, especially in a country whose language isn’t your native tongue. From my personal experience, I had to do a lot of navigating and discovering on my own. My hope is...
How do you immerse yourself in Chinese culture?
Daily life
September 21, 2019 by Mike Cairnduff
Teaching in China is not just about teaching. It’s about all the experiences you’ll have outside the classroom too. One of these experiences is soaking up the Chinese culture. As one of the world’s oldest cultures, it’s...
7 reasons why Chinese university students cheat in exams (and how they do it)
Students
June 22, 2019 by Kim Ooi
While working in China as an English teacher, I’ve learned that some university students cheat in exams. It’s an interesting phenomenon given many Chinese universities have a no-fail policy for paid-up students. So, why would a stud...
How to motivate your students in China
Teaching strategies
May 27, 2019 by Nicholas McKay
Fact: unless we’re inspired to do something, it probably won’t get done. As a TEFL teacher in China, we’re often required to not only bring an enthusiasm for teaching, but to bring enough motivation for all of our students too....
Behavior management in Chinese universities – should you use the carrot or the stick?
Students
April 27, 2019 by Kim Ooi
Picture this scene: you’re standing in front of your university English class in China trying to explain something. Meanwhile, Adam has his head on his desk, sleeping, Sugar is playing with her mobile phone and Fiona is doing homework from a...
Eating out in Zhenjiang
Food
April 12, 2019 by Kim Ooi
I’ve taught English in many cities in China. None have had such a wide range of eating out options that I’m currently enjoying in Zhenjiang. My campus at Jiangsu University is surrounded by an impressive range of restaurants and hawker...
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...
92 tips for teaching English in China (a full list for the smart TEFL teacher)
Advice
February 14, 2019 by Mike Cairnduff
You’ve probably heard a few tips when it comes to teaching English in China. “Prepare for a different culture” and “pack the right clothes”, the so-called experts tell us. These tips are neither helpful nor insight...
Why are so many English teachers in China single?
Opinion
February 05, 2019 by Kim Ooi
I’ve been teaching in China for nearly six years and in that time I’ve met a great many fellow expat teachers from all over the world. Some are old, some are young and they come from different countries too. But one thing that most...
