How to Teach English in China

It was a humid afternoon, only a few days after my little sister’s high school graduation, and my parents hosted a barbecue in their backyard to celebrate the achievement. They ordered a large yellow tent to shade the plastic tables and chairs from the sun, and my dad stood dutifully in front of the grill, glazing chicken breasts and flipping burgers for the many family members and friends who moseyed around on the fresh-cut lawn.

It was well-known by everyone in attendance that my sister and I, four years apart, were both recent graduates, her from high school and me from the University of New Hampshire. Because everyone knew where my sister would be attending college in the fall, the acquaintances of my parents turned their curious eyes to me. “What are you going to do now?” they inquired.

I recall a conversation with my mom’s best friend, and when she asked about my plans after graduate school, I blurted out, unsuspectingly, “I think I might look for jobs in Asia.”

With wide eyes, she replied, “That sounds exciting! What makes you want to do that?” Honestly, in that moment I had no idea what had possessed me to suggest I wanted to live overseas, so I could truthfully and awkwardly answer, “I don’t know.” Still, the idea of living and teaching in Asia had hatched in my brain, almost accidentally, and after saying it aloud, I was forced to take it seriously.

The First Steps

For two years, while I finished graduate school and found my first teaching job in a public middle school, I thought of Asia; it was like a constant itch in the back of my mind. Though I was content teaching Language Arts to my 6th grade students in New Hampshire, I felt unsettled and eager for adventure. At night I dreamed of disembarking a plane, emerging from an airport in a foreign land where I couldn’t read the signs or speak the language. But instead of waking from the dream in fear, I was inspired by it, and I knew I wanted China. Many sleepless nights drove me to research more and more about different teaching opportunities and programs, and I finally submitted my application to Reach to Teach, a recruiting agency that matches prospective teachers with carefully-screened schools overseas.

At night I dreamed of disembarking a plane, emerging from an airport in a foreign land where I couldn’t read the signs or speak the language.

Working together with the Reach to Teach recruiters, I began to narrow down my search for a job in Asia. I was drawn to China’s ancient history, its modern cities and growing world influence. I have always wanted to live in a city, and Shanghai’s convenient, upbeat lifestyle beckoned to me. After a series of phone conversations and interviews, Reach to Teach matched me with an English Language Learning company that was right for me, and when I got the phone call telling me I was scheduled to fly out of the States that afternoon, I felt ready.

Entering the Middle Kingdom

Watching the plane descend over the Yellow Sea was like watching a dream unfold – I was in awe that I had nursed an idea for two years, and then made it happen. Though I touched down in China nearly six months ago, I am no less amazed by this country than when I first arrived. The Shanghai itself is thrilling, with endless things to do, foods to taste, and people to meet, and I’m constantly busy with teaching and planning lessons.

In the States, I was certified to teach English and literature to high school students, so teaching the English language to young Chinese children is drastically different from anything I’ve done before. I work five days a week as a foreign trainer for a private ELL company where I teach 10 classes of young learners, aged anywhere between 2 – 11-years-old. The children are placed in a class level that is appropriate to their proficiency of the English language, and the classes I teach are meant to be supplemental to the English learning they receive in their public schools or kindergarten.

Discover a new life in China

Life as a Teacher

Through my company, I am provided with digital content as well as props, toys, and other teaching supplies. I have a Chinese “assistant” with impeccable English and teaching skills, and not only do we work together, but she is the closest thing I have to a sister here in Shanghai. Together we review the ELL content, plan lessons and games for our classes, check the students’ homework, and talk to the parents about their children’s progress in class. My students themselves are amazing – I am forever in awe of their ability to learn the English language so quickly. Whether I’m playing with the little ones who are practicing the names of colors, or having a genuine conversation with my older learners, it is a rewarding experience.

What surprises me the most about teaching English in China is the grueling vigor and competition associated with education. Parents and grandparents vie to have their child recognized as the “best” in the class, and it is common for parents to complain that the content is “too easy” for their child. My students are under a lot of pressure to succeed, which makes them very driven young learners, and I am constantly creating new ways to challenge them.

Here I Am

I’ve only lived in China for six months, and yet I call it home. When I think back to last winter, it seems like that part of my life is very far away, and I’m still taken aback by the change. Sometimes I stand on the balcony of my apartment and look out at the city, watching the traffic rush by and the flickering lights of the nearby buildings change from pink to blue to green, and I still say to myself, “I can’t believe I’m in China.”

I suppose if I had advice for those contemplating living or teaching abroad, it would be this: listen to that tiny voice in the back of your mind, because more often than not it’s pointing you toward what you really want. And it’s okay to be afraid – do it anyway, and do it afraid. The sense of pride you’ll feel afterward is worth a little fear.