Teach English in China blog
Welcome to the Teach English in China blog!
Here you will find real stories, practical advice and opinion pieces about teaching English in China - all written by past or present teachers.
If you would like to contribute to the blog, please 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!
5 most unexpected things you will encounter in China
Daily life
October 09, 2017 by David Smith
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit a new place? Maybe even a new country? Oftentimes, it is easy to forget that not every other place looks just like, or works just like, how things do at home. Even something as simple as McDona...
Why teaching English in China is better than working in the UK
Opinion
September 30, 2017 by Kim Ooi
As an expat in China, I suffered from a lot of culture shock initially so I’m really surprised to find myself writing this blog today. But, like many people have said, it all depends on the perspective you take. After doing some reflectio...
4 student homework habits to help kick off your teaching career
Teaching strategies
September 29, 2017 by Alex Moore
This blog consists of tips, experience and wisdom – some of it my own, some of it second-hand – that I wish I had put into action in my first year of teaching. I am a hypocrite though. I didn’t do a single one of these things in...
Eating meatballs with chopsticks: the expat’s guide to Ikea in China
Shopping
September 24, 2017 by Jonathan Arthur
When you make the move to China, one of the first things you’ll want to do is decorate your new apartment. Fortunately, there is Ikea in China! It may seem a little bit odd that I would write about Ikea in China. First of all, isn’t ev...
Travel truths: what you need to know about China
Advice
September 16, 2017 by Mike Cairnduff
I recently came across a great blog that outlined 40 travel truths you should know by age 40. Naturally, my brain turned to ‘China mode’ and as I ran through the list I considered how each of the truths applied to China. So here are...
What are the best VPNs for China in 2019?
Reviews
September 10, 2017 by Mike Cairnduff
In case you haven’t heard, the internet in China is censored. Many of the websites and apps that you rely on every day are inaccessible. It’s known as the Great Firewall of China and it affects more than 1.3 billion people. The g...
China Z visa requirements - what the latest changes mean for foreign teachers
Advice
September 04, 2017 by Kim Ooi
Up until 2017, the procedure for getting a China Z visa to teach English was fairly straightforward. When you applied for a teaching vacancy in China, all you needed to do was submit your resume, photo, references as well as scans of your passport...
Is it better to visit China’s cities or villages?
Places
August 21, 2017 by Sarah Bucknall
Becoming an English teacher in China is most certainly rewarding in itself. But when your feet start to explore this beautiful and diverse country it’s as though you’ve walked into multiple worlds. From towns with ancient ruins to metr...
Why do Chinese people spit (and do other weird things)?
Daily life
August 13, 2017 by Alex Moore
I remember my first hour in China. Through immigration at Beijing Capital Airport, reunited with luggage, on the bus to the city I’d be teaching in and looking forward to sleeping off some jet lag – everything seemed pretty norm...
10 things about China that may surprise you
Daily life
August 06, 2017 by Mike Cairnduff
China is synonymous with giant pandas, ancient temples, the Great Wall and lots of people. However, there are a number of things about this intriguing country that may surprise you, particularly if you’re a first-time visitor. 1. Half of the...
