Gold Star TEFL Recruitment has been assisting teachers secure the very best teaching jobs in China since 2009 and has close connections with China’s leading schools. For details on teaching jobs with English First and other major language schools have a look through our website and submit an application today.
Read more interviews with teachers in China here.
An Interview with Jolene Perkins at English First Tianjin, China
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GS: So, can you tell us a bit about how you first got into English teaching?
JP: It was a decision I made a long time ago, I always wanted to teach in different countries and impart knowledge to others and I just had to find the means which happened to be “teaching English”.
GS: Could you give some details about your dealings with Gold Star TEFL Recruitment?
JP: Gold Star was/has been great, I filled an application online, they responded immediately. Up until now, I still correspond with one of the agents. Very satisfying knowing there is someone who you can correspond with. I received 5 possible opportunities, and loved the fact that I could choose where I wanted to go. They sent a lot of information to help with the process.
GS: What advice do you have for people about the recruitment and interview process when looking for jobs teaching in China?
JP: Research, Research, Research. Then, just do it. Don’t think twice – I sold almost everything back home to spend a year here in China, I am loving the unique cultural experience so far and have/am not looking back.
GS: You are teaching at EF Tianjin at the moment, can you tell us about your impressions of the city? What do you like most about living there?
JP: Within my first week of arriving, I was already on the speed train to Beijing. Travel…I love to travel, so on my off days and in-between work, I hop around Tianjin. I was overwhelmed by all the lights and the bigness of the city when I first arrived, but now I am embracing the parts within the city, visiting Ancient Cultural Street, I have already found my rhythm to participate in learning art.
Confucius Temple was first on my list, I enjoyed studying about him in philosophy, so I made much effort to go see the temple.
The Hai River is beautiful, full of unique experiences just walking alongside it.
The city lights up in the evenings and becomes a playground for me wanting to explore.
I have been to a nightclub, ‘Sitong’. It was a very fun experience, so many different people and I loved the band which performed that night.
Realise your dreams of living and teaching English worldwide with INTESOL.
GS: What do you like most about teaching English?
JP: At this stage, it has to be the children, they make it so interesting and fun for me to teach them, I love the fact that they want to learn and embrace what I want to teach them.
GS: Can you tell us about your favourite class at the moment?
JP: I have so many, but I must say it is a class aged between 9-11 years old, they are so active and playful and creative. They enjoy fun, and I love making class fun.
GS: Talk us through a typical day teaching English in China.
JP: Welcoming and enjoying seeing the kids again, walking through how they are and how they are feeling, doing some review work to see how much they remember, getting students to talk about what they did at school, their subjects and themselves.
Meeting parents, demo classes for prospective students.
Planning fun lessons, meeting with foreign teachers to share knowledge and insight.
GS: What are the teaching resources like there?
JP: Where I work, resources are readily available, along with teachers who have been in the industry for years; the support has also been amazing and helpful. I have not sat clueless with a lesson plan.
GS: How many teachers are there in your school?
JP: There are several, approximately 10 foreign (if not more) and about the same local teachers.
GS: China is full of surprises and unexpected adventures, tell us about one you have had recently.
JP: I have not yet, I don’t think! However, I am trying to understand the fireworks going off every 5-10 minutes.
This school is holding interviews now, apply today!
Read more interviews with teachers in China here.
Gold Star TEFL Recruitment has been assisting teachers secure the very best teaching jobs in China since 2009 and has close connections with China’s leading schools. For details on teaching jobs with English First and other major language schools have a look through our website and submit an application today.
Apply now
Realise your dreams of living and teaching English worldwide with INTESOL.
