Teach Abroad Blog
Teaching abroad
Teaching English Language
Let’s face it: China is expanding on a global front and fast. China is a big-time player in the world’s economy and the amount of millionaires surfacing here is shooting through the roof. Even though the Chinese are dominating the scene, the likelihood that the rest of the world will jump up and learn Chinese is not that high, however, the Chinese already started years ago sending their children to boarding schools in the US and UK to master the world’s lingua franca.
My life in Shanghai
Hello my name is Emanuel Ruiz and I currently live and work in Shanghai in China. As most teachers in America know, budget cuts and test results can take the passion out of the teaching profession. I felt overworked and unappreciated. The lack of job security loomed over me and I was expected to work over 40 hours a week with no compensation. Finding new employment was a struggle because the US job market was and has been in decline.
Choosing Your EFL Teaching Job – The WebMD Effect
So you are contemplating an EFL teaching job or even better, have been offered one! For many of us 21st century people, the next step is to research your school and where better to look than online forums. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of negativity out there! So, here’s where I want to caution you on what I call the Web MD effect: diagnosing an illness based on apparent symptoms. What could I possibly know about any of this? Well, I have been a teacher for many years including U.S. public school, and so my … gibberish … detector is pretty strong. So read on, to see the true, the false, and the meaning of it all.
Living Abroad
Medical Facilities
Medical care in China is very varied in such a vast country. In major municipalities like Shanghai, there is a wealth of medical care available. Expats should feel secure regarding medical facilities, where there are usually three types of providers: Western-style hospitals and clinics, regular clinics in local hospitals, and VIP clinics in local hospitals.
Technology in China
While teaching abroad in China there are several technologies that can be utilized to smooth the transition and in turn make life easier. Most likely in the country you lived in before China you would have access to social media sites such as Facebook, or video hosting sites such as YouTube. However, these are unfortunately blocked in China. Fret not because you can easily sign up for VPN services which cost around 10 USD per month, some choices are Astrill, HMA, Liberty or if you are looking for something that is free I would recommend Freegate.
Adaptability in China
What does it take in order to be successful while teaching in China? I’ve often considered this question while interviewing potential candidates for various teaching positions. Why do some teachers make the transition to teaching abroad in China so easily, while others find the transition to life here more challenging? In my experience, successful teachers (and other types of expats) typically share one trait—adaptability.
