Why did you decide to teach English in China?
While in university I constantly found myself thinking “What is going to be my next adventure?” I knew I wanted to do something spontaneous and different; I was just waiting for the opportunity to present itself. Then one day I received an email giving students the opportunity to teach English in China. This was exactly what I had been waiting for. Not only would I be able to teach English but also address two of my life goals; making a positive difference in the lives of others and travel around the world. Giving the students an opportunity to learn English would make a tremendous difference in their lives. They would be able to explore the endless possibilities in the world outside of China and attend university in an English speaking country. Also, this was my chance to travel to Asia and experience the culture. Travelling had become a recent interest of mines so this opportunity was perfect. At times, I did feel afraid and wondered if I wouldn’t enjoy the experience but I convinced myself that it’s better to see something once than hear about it a thousand times. Lastly, I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and challenge myself. I would be able to confront my weakness of public speaking which was very uncomfortable. However after the first day, I looked forward to standing in front of my classes and teaching a lesson.


What’s the schedule like?
The schedule was very intense. The programme consisted of teaching for two consecutive weeks including weekends. A typical day would consist of 8:00 am start until 5:30 pm. Within that time I taught my assigned classes for 40 minutes each and planned lessons throughout the day. I spent a lot of time planning lessons because after the first day of teaching you get an idea of the students’ level of English. Therefore, I planned different lessons for every class. I paired up with another teacher as we were teaching the same classes but at different times. We worked together to plan lessons to benefit the students and to ensure they were not being taught the same lessons. Some days were longer than others because the school had many events after school for the students and foreign teachers to participate in. Although the teaching and planning was very intense the lunch breaks were 2 hours which gives the teachers time to converse with each other about their classes.


What’s your advice to teachers on this programme?
To succeed and have an unforgettable experience it is necessary to keep an open mind. This is important because China’s culture is very different compared to the western world and it is very easy to feel uncomfortable. When you embrace the culture you’ll feel at ease. I would encourage all the teachers to identify one of their weaknesses and concur it. You’ll feel a sense of achievement and feel comfortable tackling other insecurities you may have whether it’s networking, leading a team or public speaking. This programme offers endless opportunities to gain personal growth and acquire new skills. At times you’ll feel home sick and want to give up. My advice is to always remember why you started in the first place. Most importantly make sure to have fun. This may be a once in a lifetime experience so enjoy every moment.


How did you prepare for lessons?
To prepare my lessons I met with my TA (Teaching Assistant) daily to discuss different approaches to ensure the students were engaged in the lessons. I used the teaching booklet that was provided by the school as a guide. For example, one of my lessons was about different types of fruits. My TA put together a worksheet with 6 different fruits for the students to colour in during the lesson. The objective of the lesson was for the students to listen to my voice to know what colour to colour the fruits. The students were able to learn new fruits and the colours associated with them. While teaching I found that dictation was the best way for the students to learn new words and the pronunciation of words. At times lesson planning was challenging because I wanted to ensure that the lessons were effective and all the students would be able to benefit. Although the classes were split into academic levels not all the students were be at the same level. In this case my TA would assist the student. Repetition is key.


Did you travel in China?
While in China I travelled to Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong. I arrived a few days prior to teaching so I could adapt to the culture. After teaching in Haining for two weeks a group of teachers decided to travel together and our first stop was Shanghai; which we later used as our home in-between travelling. I really enjoyed Shanghai because of its diversity. Where we lived was very traditional. At times we wanted to escape tradition so we headed to the city where it was much more Western. The architecture of the buildings and the view of Shanghai’s skyline from the World Financial Center were simply amazing. Next was Beijing where we stayed for about a week. Beijing was my least favourite; I thought I had adapted to the Chinese culture until we arrived in Beijing. Were we lived was a lot of poverty and I couldn’t understand why hotels were in this area. However, this was their way of life. I later learned to appreciate Beijing and its unique style. Beijing was surrounded by culture and historical attractions. Going to the Great Wall of China was mind blowing. I was happy I got to experience Juyongguan part of the Great Wall which hasn’t been modified. After Beijing the group split up and I travelled to Hong Kong with a friend. Hong Kong was my favourite because it was very Western and modern but still had a twist of Asia. The majority of people in Hong Kong spoke English so it was very easy to get around and communicate. My favourite part about Hong Kong were the markets. I enjoyed bargaining with the locals for their merchandise. Unfortunately, I didn’t have more time to travel but if I did I would have explored Southeast Asia. While flying back to the United Kingdom I reflected on my time in China and there isn’t a thing I would change.

By Shuntelle Paynter