What made you come to China to teach English?
For me making the decision to come to China and teach was somewhat of an unexpected one. My degree is in Criminology and I had never really considered teaching before. I have always wanted to travel but had never really had the means or finances to be able to do so. When I heard about Teach English in China, the benefits of working in China seemed obvious. It’s a great way to try something new and it will look great when you apply for any further jobs. Not only is the accommodation paid for but the flights are refunded. To me, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to see a bit of the world on a budget and do something I’ve never done before.

What’s the level of the students?
At the school where I work the students ages vary from 3-14. Levels of English are very mixed among students, some come to the school being able to speak no English at all and others in the higher classes are fully conversational.

How do your students behave towards you?
Students’ behaviour towards me has been very mixed. Do not be fooled into falling into the trap of believing that all students will be well behaved owing to their strict education focused upbringing in China – this is a myth! All things considered, they are just children like any others. I have had some wonderful students who have been both very shy and others who have been very outgoing. At first teaching some of the youngest students (age 3) was challenging as many were frightened and apprehensive about being left in a new environment with a foreigner. I have had a few look at me and burst into tears whilst clinging to their Mums! The important thing to remember is that this is all new and scary for them, and after a few lessons they adapt and become more comfortable. I have also had to deal with badly behaved students. In one of my first lessons I went for break and the students locked me out of the classroom! Kids just want to have fun and mess around sometimes, but it is important you clearly establish boundaries with them.

What’s the language barrier like and how did you deal with it?
I was very surprised by just how easy it was to deal with the language barrier. It is very daunting coming to a country where the average person speaks next to no English but I found as long as you are polite and willing to learn it is easy to live with. In my first few days where I knew no Chinese I managed to get by by pointing at things I wanted and smiling. Most people are excited to see foreigners in China so they are not too perturbed when you cannot speak Chinese. It is surprising how quickly you pick up small phrases here. I now know very basic Chinese which means I can order certain dishes and say thank you. Pronunciation of Chinese can be very daunting but people will be happy to see you give it a go even if it isn’t perfect.

What’s surprised you about China? 
The thing that surprised me most about living in Wuhan was how easy and quickly it was to adapt to a completely different way of living. The most daunting thing for me has been the sheer size of the place; coming from a small rural village it is a million miles from home for me on many levels! In my school there are lots of foreign teachers meaning you have a good support network of people that are willing to help you with everything. I had help setting up my bank account and getting a Chinese phone number. It is very easy to fall into routine here and once you settle in the time flies. I found living with the language barrier and moving alone to a country where you know no one is surprisingly easy given how helpful and tolerant people are.

How safe is China?
Before moving to Wuhan I was apprehensive about how I would feel about living somewhere this big. Obviously crime rates in big cities tend to be quite high and I was anxious that this would be reflected in Wuhan. Luckily, I had no need to worry. Owing to the lack of foreigners here I had fears of feeling like an imposter and whilst people stare at you for being different, it isn’t in a threatening way but merely out of curiosity. Since moving to China I have not felt vulnerable or at risk to any type of crime which surprised me owing to the size of Wuhan. You meet other foreigners very quickly when you move here as they all tend to socialise in the same places. This gives it a nice feeling of community where you all look out for each other.

What do you do most evenings outside of work?
I work at a private language institution so that means that week days we start work in the afternoon and finish in the evenings and at weekends we start early morning and often finish late afternoon/evening. Most evenings I eat out somewhere (food is really cheap here) and then usually read. I would definitely recommend an E-reader as it seems to be difficult to find English books here! At the weekends I tend to go to a bar with the other foreign teachers. There are a few good ones here and most drinks are cheap so it’s good fun.

What’s most fun about teaching in China?
For me the best thing about teaching in China has been the introduction of a new culture. Whilst things are very different here to in England that is all part of the experience and it is fun to explore the country and try new things. Food tasting has been particularly interesting – don’t be afraid to pick random things off menus to sample. Even if you don’t like what you’ve ended up with its all part of the fun and there is nothing to stop you getting something else instead!

How has teaching in China changed you?
Teaching in China has given me an amazing opportunity to build my skills and try something different. Before coming here I had never flown anywhere alone or lived in a different country. Through this experience my confidence in my abilities has increased I feel like a more well rounded person as a result. I am looking forward to travelling to other parts of China and increasing my knowledge of the culture.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to move to China to teach English?
Firstly, I would say approach everything with an open mind! There are a lot of cultural differences here and there are some things that take getting used to (mainly the spitting!) but it is important to remember you are a guest in their country and be respectful of their customs. In regards to teaching, it is important to be organised in regards to lesson planning and thinking about the children specifically, be patient! It’s not easy to learn another language so be creative in your teaching techniques. Never be afraid to ask for help if you need it. The school want you to develop as a teacher so are always willing to help if you ask. Finally, have fun!

By Sheree Hooker