Teach Abroad Blog
Teaching abroad
A normal weekday of a Chinese high school student (Jessica)
Many of you who are teaching in China might wonder what an average day in the life of one of the students you’re teaching looks like. Well, here is your answer:
6:00 Get up & Have breakfast
Jessica sets her alarm at 5:50 so that she can hit the snooze button to sleep another 10 minutes. Jessica’s mom has prepared Baozi and milk for breakfast.
Applying through a Recruiter or Finding a School yourself
We sometimes encounter resistance from prospective teachers once they discover the position they applied to was posted by a recruiting agency. Why is that? Why do some teachers choose to find a job through a recruiter, while others shun agencies and avoid them to the fullest extent? And perhaps most importantly, what is the right choice; apply directly to a school or through an agency?
Honestly, there is no right answer. People who hate recruiters usually have had a negative experience with one in the past and believe all recruiters are a bunch of callous, opportunistic jerks who don’t care about the teacher’s well-being. Every recruiter is different, and you should treat them like you treat any potential employer: interview a couple of different ones until you find the right fit. Every recruiter has a different work ethic, so it is in your best interest to find one you completely trust. Personally, I believe all teachers should also interview the recruiters when they are being interviewed by them. Even though their services are free to you, recruiters do get paid when they find you a job. It is up to you to decide who really deserves the “finder’s fee.” Use common sense and personal judgment and you’ll be able to winnow the recruiters who are honest and committed.
Qualifications for Teaching English Language
TEFL – Teaching English as a Foreign Language / TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages A basic first job will usually require a degree and a TEFL or TESOL certificate. There is quite a range in the types of TEFL/TESOL certificates that are available. Teaching Nomad has a partnership with a reputable […]
Living Abroad
Five Mind Blowing Facts About China
1. Fortune Cookies are not Chinese Imagine my surprise when I discovered that restaurants in China don’t serve fortune cookies with every meal. Worse, they’re nowhere to be found, and I have yet to meet a waiter who understands exactly what it is that I am looking forr. That’s because fortune cookies originated in California, […]
The Ultimate Taobao Guide for Foreigners
Click here for part 2 – Searching and Checking out on Taobao!
When I first moved to Shanghai, China to teach ESL, one of the main problems I faced was being able to find the things I needed. Being in a new country and not speaking any Chinese made it difficult to find what I was looking for. Not to mention, some of the things that I was accustomed to buying in America are not available in many stores here. This is even more true of some of the smaller, less international cities in China.
How to get out of the foreigner bubble
Written by our friends at The Dragon Trip
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. China may be a far cry from the hometown of wine and pizza, but the saying still applies – if you want to make the most out of being in an exciting new environment, make sure you immerse yourself fully in the local way of life. If you’re already in China, it’s likely that you’ve met two very different types of foreigners; there are the ones who move around the city with ease, can act as your translator whenever you are together, and generally seem to be getting more out of their time in China; and then there are those who very rarely leave their expat-friendly complex, unless they are heading to Element Fresh or Wagas. Without a doubt, any person who can muster up the courage to begin a brand new life in China deserves two gigantic thumbs up, but if you’re finding it a little difficult to fully immerse yourself in this very foreign culture, we may just have a few tips to help you along.
