What was the level of the students?
My students varied. Teaching at a University meant I taught day classes for those doing an English degree (who had a good grasp of taught English), evening classes for those who were learning English for fun (who’s English was more conversational) and evening classes for those doing physical subjects and needed English in their line of work (these students would know little to no English).

How did your students behave towards you?
Students were always very respectful and would want to spend time with me. At first they are shy and will nominate a speaker to talk to me, but after time they warmed up. Some students haven’t spoken to a foreigner before and would stare at me whilst I was talking or perhaps try to stroke my hair! Students were so helpful as I was a University they would often take me for tea after evening classes or would take me to the student canteen for a nice cheap lunch. Even though I had taught some of them for 10 months I would still catch them trying to take photos of me when I wasn’t looking! They gave me a nice send off with presents and card at the end of the year. They were great.

Describe a normal day at your school. 
I would wake up at around 8am as classes would start at 9. University’s have longer lessons, most totalling an hour and a half. Luckily there is a break in between and I would often give my students a 10 Minute break as they appreciated this time to chat with me. My first lesson would be from 9 – 10:30 and my second from 2 – 3:30. I know that doesn’t seem much, but as they were University lessons that lasted over an hour I would often have to prepare quite a lot. In this break between classes I would often have lunch with my students or get my food shopping as the market was on campus. I also had the option to pop home and chill out over lunch time. Most students and other teachers would use this time to nap, on a few occasions I would play badminton with my students also. I would often have evening classes that were two and half hours from 7 – 9:30. These definitely needed planning and a break around 8pm.

What was the language barrier like and how did you deal with it? 
I luckily lived with people who had a much better understanding of Mandarin than I did and this really helped my first few weeks and subsequent times when I needed something important done (bank, post office or train tickets). They taught me basic phrases, like my address for taxi’s and getting around the market. I learnt a lot from being with people and watching them speak. I made use of my students and they would sometimes try to teach me phrases and would write me things down if I need them (an example would be ‘Take me to the airport’ when I was going home). I struggled the most in restaurants, it is very frustrating knowing that the nicest food will be in the smaller restaurants that can’t afford a menu with pictures on and it just a printed sheet of paper. I actually took one menu from a local, really good restaurant and had the Chinese teachers at my school translate some of my favourite dishes for me so I point to them next time! I tried to be independent, but sometimes I needed help and luckily I had people around me that were willing. I did try Chinese lessons, but progress was slow as the teacher changed every week and I felt I learnt more in a trip to the market than in the classroom!

What did you do most evenings outside of work?
Most evenings I would go out for dinner with other teachers who slowly and surely because good friends. One couple had a dog that we would often walk through the hills of my campus to high points and look over the city. I would often go for drinks in the bars close to my University. Some evenings I would spend a lot of time playing badminton with students and then go to tea afterwards. Later in my time in China I joined a local gym and would do yoga 3 times a week and often the random spin class (which are so much fun in China as they involved dance too!). As we all taught during the week, weekday evenings were very quiet and this time would often be used to chat to home, chill out and watch films too. Weekends we would always go out, at least once, often twice! At first we were going all over the place but as time went on we found our favourites and would spend a lot of time in Helens, Vox, Prison and at Sugars.

How safe is China?
I found China a very safe place to be in. The Chinese are very welcoming to foreigners and want to make sure you’re safe. As I lived on a campus there was guards 24/7 (who during one cold day in January became victims to out snowballing antics) and I lived with many other teachers around me. We all had safe apartments with double doors and boxed in balconies. I would often walk home at night time as the bars were only a 10 minute walk from my home and never felt threatened. It is nice being somewhere where the taxis are so cheap and frequent that you can always get one if you start to feel unsafe. Even when traveling I felt fine. I frequently got overnight sleeper trains alone and never encountered problems (apart from the Chinese snoring).

What surprised you about China? 
I was surprised at how modern the city was. I chose Wuhan thinking that it would still be a very traditional city- obviously being smaller than Beijing and Shanghai. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The city is booming and full of brightly lit malls, fancy cars, posh hotels and sky scrapers.

What was most fun about teaching in China?
I really enjoyed the time I spent with my students. They were all so kind and helpful and forced me to get really good at badminton! I really enjoyed the hours I spent with them and the places they took me too. Many of them wanted me to visit their hometowns and had I had more time I would have gladly obliged. I am certain that my students learnt more from spending time with me and having every day conversations than they did in my lessons!

How has teaching in China changed you?
I am a lot more confident than I was before I went. That may sound a bit cliché but it’s true. Teaching abroad forced me to talk to people I didn’t know and threw me in front of 30 faces who all wanted to learn something. I had to start believing that I had something to offer them or I could tell it wasn’t going to go anywhere. I remember my first awkward taxi journey with one other teacher that was spent mostly in silence, hoping the taxi driver would slow down at some point and often think how much of a missed opportunity it was to start that friendship right away- as now I am sure she would struggle shutting me up.

Did you travel? What places do you recommend and why?
Travel was one of my main aims when I was planning my year abroad. I wanted to see Asia and wanted to satisfy my curiously for China. I spent a lot of time in Beijing (over 2 weeks) and having had several people say that I should have left and seen another town during that fortnight I don’t regret a second of it! I saw Hong Kong and made some good friends, traveled to Macau, Shanghai, Guilin, Yangshuo and Xi’an. Yes, there are plenty of places left on my extensive Chinese travel list – but I gave up quite a few when I spent the Chinese New Year in India. I would recommend Guilin and getting a raft down the river Li at sunrise to Yangshuo. It is calming, peaceful, relaxing – all of those soothing words that describe floating down a silent river with nothing but mountains surrounding you.

What are your plans after teaching in China?
Since being home from China I have worked as an assistant in a secondary school working with student who have special educational needs, and am now teaching in an all boys school. Teaching in China gave me an excellent talking point for my interviews and both made it their first question. I still travel a lot although it isn’t as extensive. Europe has been my playground since coming home although as I am still in contact with many people in Wuhan I am sure I will make it back one day.


By Emma Toll