The Best Thing I’ve Ever Done – Joe’s TEFL Story

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The Best Thing I’ve Ever Done – Joe’s TEFL Story

Joe quit the 9-to-5 grind and left to TEFL in China, which was the best decision he ever made!

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The Best Thing I’ve Ever Done – Joe’s TEFL Story

Joe quit the 9-to-5 grind and left to TEFL in China, which was the best decision he ever made!

Our customers say Excellent

4.6 out of 5 based on 9,764 reviews

Why did you come to China? This is the question I get asked more than any other, and it's a heavy one. Every time I'm asked this, I smile, take a pause, and try to think of an answer. The thing is, there is no one answer to this question. But as I write this blog, I hope to convey that coming to China is the best thing I've ever done.

Now, this is not a pro-China propaganda blog that will get you out here working. There are a lot of negatives about working and living in China, too, but I will cover those in another blog post. Since this is all about how teaching ESL in China has changed my life for the better, it makes sense for it to be positive.

Teaching in China is not for everyone, and many people I've met along the way did not like it very much. But the same can be said for anywhere, right? Every place on earth has good and bad points, and it comes down to your individual personality and character.

Why I chose TEFL

It was a very typical day - too typical. The same routine and grind. It was a dark morning, and it was raining. I was driving an hour to work and got stuck in the usual traffic. Sound familiar? Well, this was me. Only this day, something changed. After checking my emails, I read about teaching in China. I sent off for an information pack and then carried on like normal.

A few days later, after reading the information about the opportunities and lifestyle of teaching in China, a switch flicked in my head. I decided the 9-5 grind was no longer for me and needed a change. So, I guess the answer to “Why did you come to China?” is... why not?

How I became a TEFL teacher

Of course, it's not that easy. I needed a TEFL qualification. The TEFL Org helped me. I found the one suitable for me and dove in. I learned a lot, put my fears at ease, and became more confident I could handle it. The biggest hurdle was the myriad of information available online. Some was positive, some negative—a lot of it was contradictory. I was perplexed.

There were SO many jobs online, too. I had no idea which ones were too good to be true and which were downright awful. Finally, I selected my city (Shenzhen) and found an agency (not the one that initially emailed me), and it was time to tell family and friends and start planning ahead! I can tell you now that no matter how much research you do, who you talk to, what you read - whatever it is - you will not be prepared enough. I know I wasn't. My advice is don't worry; it's normal to be under-prepared and overwhelmed.

´ ˘ ~ ¨

Coming to China and what happened next

Compared to my small hometown in Wales, Shenzhen was an absolute madhouse. The first thing that hit me was the stifling humidity in the summer (this was September and still very hot). The next thing was the noise level. I thought my eardrums were going to explode. And then, finally, just how busy it was - "people mountain people sea" is an expression here and it's pretty apt. Truthfully, I was very overwhelmed and out of my depth and couldn't really absorb it all. The first few days were a whirlwind of paperwork and information, meetings and advice. None of which I really absorbed due to the fact I was still bewildered by the alien city around me. But as the days turned to weeks, I gradually adapted.

Now there's no doubt about it, public schools in China are far different from the UK. 50+ kids in a class, desks so crammed together you can hardly walk around them, and kids going crazy when you enter the room. It can be very daunting, but thankfully my TEFL course was a big help and I was able to think back to some of the things I learned.

My Chinese colleagues were also a big help. Patient and knowledgeable, they helped me find a happy medium between my personality style and the routine the children knew. A big piece of advice is to seek help from your school. Don't be afraid to ask - they know the classes and the education system. Their advice is invaluable.

Too many foreign teachers try to ignore this and do their own thing. Remember, this isn't the West. Things work differently here. Slowly but surely, I improved and became more confident.

Teaching in China

Since I arrived here over 3 years ago, I've taught many different types of ESL. My standard work is in public schools. I started in a primary school teaching grades 1-3, then onto grades 4-6, and now I teach grades 7/8. Each has pros and cons, and it will vary wildly depending on class, school, and even city. So, anything I say will be general and not applicable to everyone. I've found that English improves as students get older, but they become less eager to learn. So, grade 1 students will always want to talk and engage but have basic English skills. While grade 8 students can converse well and give insightful opinions, they will be reluctant to volunteer and answer. I prefer teenagers; I can engage them better and have long discussions about relevant topics. I don't have a suitable personality for younger kids. There’s too much singing, dancing, and game-playing. Exhausting!

During my time in China, I've done all sorts of teaching. The weirdest and most memorable would be the shopping mall open classes. There is nothing quite like entertaining a bunch of kids with their grandparents while other random people pass by and whip out their phones to film you. Quite surreal. I couldn't have dealt with it in my 1st year, but it's just water off a duck's back now. And it makes for a funny story! The teaching opportunities are abundant, from 1-on-1 conversation to adult IELTS, homework help and phonics. If you're willing to be professional and hardworking, you can grow and improve in ESL.

´ ˘ ~ ¨

How has teaching in China changed me?

This one is easy to answer. I'm now completely happy in my life. I live a far healthier lifestyle, which involves lots of walking and outdoor activities—not to mention the much healthier the food is. Shenzhen is a green city with so many parks, mountains, and natural spaces that you will want to be outside as much as you can. I'm far more confident than I used to be now that I can deliver effective and fun classes.

I can adapt to situations and know what I need to do in each situation, and I feel confident about the future and happy in my life. I'm definitely more relaxed than I used to be. I've been exposed to so many different and alien situations that now I can just 'roll with the punches' and deal with it. I've realised that the world is big and life is short, my petty little problems don't matter in the grand scheme of things and that life should be lived and enjoyed. All experiences, both good and bad, can add to our character. And boy, oh boy, is China a character builder.

Reflections on China and travel

One of, if not the biggest, benefit of teaching in China is the holidays. There is so much time for travel that it's almost unbelievable. With a long winter vacation (4/5 weeks fully paid!), the opportunity for travel is ample. I usually go somewhere hot and sunny during this time, and I've not experienced winter for over three years! And, as China is a great geographical location, you can fly to many Asian countries without a problem.

South Korea, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia are just some of the countries I've travelled to during my time in China. The summer vacation is even longer (8 weeks or so), perfect for longer distance travel or if you want to go back to your home countries. I've hiked the Great Wall, seen the sunrise at Angkor Wat, been to the majestic national parks of Malaysia, and sampled the street food in Myeongdong in South Korea. The options are vast, and it all depends on your preference.

Domestic travel is also very easy. China is a vast and diverse country, and each province is different from the others. The high-speed train network is pretty much flawless, and zipping along at 300+ kph in a comfortable seat is quite some experience. I've visited places in China that would, in the past, have been quite a chore to get to, but now it's as easy as 1-2-3!

To read more about Joe's adventures in China, take a look at his blog www.wanderlustwelshman.com
Interested in starting your own TEFL journey, but unsure about that first step? Take our TEFL Course Quiz and plot your path today!

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