How to Build Relationships at Your Chinese School
Why should you get involved at your Chinese school? Many foreigners who teach English in China view their role as “just a job.” They show up, but go straight home after [...]
8 Things Every ESL Teacher Should Keep at Their Desk
When teaching English in China, you always need to be on your toes. In the nearly three years I have been here, there have been times when I’ve been asked to [...]
Teaching While Sick
A few times a year we all succumb to some sort of illness. Coming down with a cold at your regular job stinks; you sit at your desk with a sweater [...]
Teaching in Shenzhen? 4 Weekend Destinations
If you’re considering living and working as an expat in Shenzhen, I have good news: you will never be bored. Shenzhen itself will keep your weekends busy, from [...]
5 Easy Steps to Find an Awesome Apartment in Southern China!
It’s that time of year again! Public school contracts are almost complete and companies are looking to rehire their teachers for the coming school year. New teachers are preparing for departure from [...]
A Curious Cultural Difference: When “Thank You” Can Be Too Much
One of the first things we learn when we begin to learn a language is how to say “thank you.” This useful phrase can make us appear both charming and refined when [...]
8 Great Activities for Primary School Classrooms
My husband and I teach at a public primary school in Shenzhen, China. While the children are adorable and hilarious, teaching English to little kids can be challenging for several reasons. First, they [...]
Reward Systems: The Key to Motivated Students and Classroom Management
When I came to China as an inexperienced new teacher, I was ready for an adventure. I’d completed all the modules in my TEFL courses and felt like I had learned a lot, but I [...]
6 Things I Can Afford in China I Can’t Afford in the West
People often associate traveling with spending money. However, when you live in China, the cost of living is so low that you can experience new cultures while keeping costs down. Here are a [...]
The Ultimate Primary School Survival Guide in 8 Easy Steps
I thought I was ready. It was the middle of my fourth week teaching primary school in Shenzhen at 5:12pm in the convenience store at the bottom of my apartment building. This was [...]
