TFT - Teach Abroad

Program Reviews

Default avatar
Ivan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Get's the Job Done! Everything as promised.

Overall, I would say I am highly satisfied with the experience here in Shenzhen. But to write a proper review, I feel I need to break down the experience into it's 3 main parts - The Fewer Things (pre-departure and logistics prior to coming to China), CIPTC (Company on the ground, logistics in China), and the School you get assigned to.

The Fewer Things: Overall, quite satisfied with Jaemi and the team. Very genuine and friendly dude, very knowledgeable and attentive to any questions you may have. Programs a little pricey but I have no complaints in other aspects of the experience. Get's you to China as promised.

CIPTC: Basically the company on the ground (in Shenzhen) that serves as a bridge between you and the school that you will work at. Personally, I think they do a pretty good job of taking care of you and fulfilling their end of the contract, and have no major complaints. I think they could improve on their communication and reduce the hours of mandatory training some, and give a bit more time for people to settle in before throwing them into their schools. But my group and I did arrive a little later than anticipated (early October for me), so that may be the reasoning for the rush. But definitely expected to hit the ground running, which can be pretty overwhelming/stressful if it's your first time in China. I would advise a healthy level of skepticism when dealing with them, but personally I haven't experienced anything to warrant distrust or paranoia.

School: Basically unique to each person, as most teachers will only have 1 or no fellow CIPTC teachers at their school. So everyone experience differs. Personally, my experience with my school has been pretty good. It's a great location, great work environment, and the students are loads of fun to work with, especially the younglings if you get the chance.

In my experience, this is where most problems can arise. You're basically thrown into the deep end and expected to figure everything out, which can be pretty overwhelming and stressful at first. I would say I've definitely have had problems with lack of communication and oversight/mentorship, and you might feel pretty under supported at this stage.
I was pretty anxious and hesitant to reach out for a while, and it can feel like they don't really care about you and your classes, but I do think a lot of this is the result of language barrier and just cultural differences. And it does take 2 to tango. So I would advise being proactive and reaching out to your contact teacher from the get go and befriending other teachers as well. Once I finally did, it was clear they do care and want to help. So try not to take things personally and make the effort to communicate if you're struggling!

In general, I have really enjoyed my time living here in China. The work is fulfilling and enjoyable. I've made great friends, tried so so much great food, and have seen plenty of awesome sights in the city. Excited to explore the country more broadly this Winter!

In summary, if you're laid back, adaptable, and willing to roll with the punches, then you can definitely thrive in this program. I do think it requires a good amount of open-mindedness, understanding, and perspective, but you'll be sure to grow from the experiences here if you so choose to embark! Hope this helps! :)

Pros
  • Great pay/low cost of living
  • Awesome coworkers :)
  • Easy access to goods and services
Cons
  • Long mandatory trainings
  • Lack of communication
  • Not much time to adapt before beginning work
Default avatar
Joseph
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The fewer things Thailand Program

The fewer things are a really supportive and useful community to be a part of, from the moment I had my interview with my program coordinator, Jaemi, he has been abundantly accessible and kind, and supportive in all the questions I have had from the benign to the important. They have also been there for the adjustment period of moving to another country, so if you are leaving home for the first time, these are the guys I would choose as my Shepards; they cater to exactly what you desire, which for me was to be in a remote location in Thailand. Even though it seems daunting, the idea of teaching for the first time with classes of 25+ TFT provide all the means necessary for you to hit the ground running. I am loving my experience in Thailand and think I am going to stay for another semester. If you choose this program be prepared to grow as a person, test you limits, and meet a world of new people. Trust me 4 months will fly by before you know it!

Pros
  • Escapes the humdrum of city life
  • Builds strength in Character
  • New experience
Cons
  • Can be overwhelming getting used to knew culture
  • the agency that tft are paired with in Thailand can leave you high and dry
Default avatar
Callum
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

TFT Shenzhen Program

My time in Shenzhen and my experience with The Fewer Things has been fantastic so far. I moved to Shenzhen in October to teach for a year, but I'm already considering staying longer.

I came to China during a difficult time to travel, and as a result, the US visa process was very complicated. It is important to do a lot of research on your own during this process, so that you are aware of exactly what you need to do! That being said, Jaemi from TFT has been incredibly helpful with everything from day 1 until now. He has the experience helping send many people to China in the past few years, so his insight and expertise were invaluable. He has continued to be a pillar of support and communication since my arrival in China.

Additionally, all of us from TFT quickly became friends once we were all in China together, which was so nice to have a group of friends right from the get-go. I'm so glad that I met them, and I feel like we are going to be lifelong friends! I'm excited for the rest of the year to come :)

Pros
  • Great group of English speaking friends from the start.
  • Life in Shenzhen has been a ton of fun!
  • Teaching can be extremely rewarding.
Cons
  • Navigating the process to get the visa and all of the other documents in the US was difficult.
  • Constantly changing covid policies in China.
  • Sometimes students can be difficult to handle in the classroom.
Default avatar
Katie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Unrivaled Support and Opportunities

Hello! I'm so, so happy I applied to go to China with TFT!! When they promise nearly 24/7 support, they really mean it! Due to COVID-19 restrictions, my documents and legalization process took forever, but Jaemi was there for me at every step of the process and consistently assured me that it was okay. I never once felt abandoned or lost at any point during the long journey to China (both metaphorically and physically). I flew through South Korea to get here, and Jaemi consistently checked in on how I was feeling and even connected me to a member of my China cohort that was in Korea at the same time as me.

Over the summer before I left for China, TFT hooked me up with an incredible 120 hour TEFL course that I could break down and take at my own pace. As a result, I felt so prepared when I stepped into the classroom for the first time. As far as teaching materials, Jaemi sent out a ton of tips, videos, and Powerpoint game templates that have saved my life in the classroom.

Additionally, TFT has amazing connections to education placement/training companies in China! I am working in Shenzhen with an amazing company that placed me with the best school in Shenzhen (I'm totally not biased or anything...). My daily life as a teacher with this school is amazing! The kids are eager to learn and my Chinese coworkers love to chat with me during breaks and lunch. I feel supported and encouraged every time I go to work. Accessing teaching materials can be tough if you don't have a reliable internet connection. But everyone I've met through TFT has been more than happy to share their resources with me, which takes the stress out of building your stockpile of teacher materials.

Through TFT I've met so many amazing people and lifelong friends (including my current roommate!!) and I'm so glad TFT brought us all together. It makes moving across the world seem a lot less scary when you have a group of people waiting for you on the other side.

So, in summation, if you want adventure but feel a little nervous (and even if you don't!), then I could not recommend a program better than TFT China! I'm enjoying the adventure of a lifetime and it's all thanks to them!!

Pros
  • Support before and after your move
  • Networking opportunities
  • Adventure everyday
Cons
  • It is a long process. It's not TFT's fault, but be aware!
Default avatar
Becky
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

TFT Thailand Experience

Teaching in Thailand has been an amazing experience so far. I have experienced a new culture in a completely authentic way. I joined the programme slightly later and received amazing support from TFT and Jaemi who were flexible with calls and adapted to my time difference. TFT were able to place me with my friends and have been incredibly supportive throughout the whole process.

Some placement locations are quite rural and far from Bangkok making travel on weekends quite difficult/expensive/time consuming. However this does provide an authentic experience and certainly makes you appreciate your time off of teaching. Schools in Thailand are very different from the UK which has been challenging however teaching in a primary school has been extremely fun. I would definitely recommend teaching in Thailand and TFT as a company☺️

Pros
  • Experience a new culture in an authentic way
  • Able to travel before the programme and on weekends
  • Great social experience and way to meet like-minded people
Cons
  • Difficulty finding vegetarian food in more rural areas of Thailand
  • Accommodation can be quite basic
  • Poor communication and support from Mediakids once settled in Thailand
Sophie
Sophie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

From Thailand to Vietnam

My first programme with The Fewer Things was with Thailand, had a great experience teaching and working there for a year!

After completing the Thailand programme I am now in final stages of the legalisation process to make a move again, this time to Hanoi in Vietnam! So far again endless amount of support and reassurance from the team by Jaemi and now the lovely new members Will and Molly and they’ve been more reassuring than ever, for this positive change to a new country I’ve never been to before with confidence and excitement!
I’m really excited to continue my dreams starting with new one in Vietnam, more adventures in Asia and further afield and teaching abroad in the new year.

Pros
  • Endless amounts of support
  • Reassurance
  • Good tips to save time and money
Cons
  • None
  • None
  • None
Sophie
Sophie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

From Thailand to Vietnam

My first programme with The Fewer Things was with Thailand, had a great experience teaching and working there for a year!

After completing the Thailand programme I am now in final stages of the legalisation process to make a move again, this time to Hanoi in Vietnam! So far again endless amount of support and reassurance from the team by Jaemi and now the lovely new members Will and Molly and they’ve been more reassuring than ever, for this positive change to a new country I’ve never been to before with confidence and excitement!
I’m really excited to continue my dreams starting with new one in Vietnam, more adventures in Asia and further afield and teaching abroad in the new year.

Pros
  • Endless amount of support
  • Good tips for saving time and money
  • Reassurance
Cons
  • None
  • None
  • None
Default avatar
Peter
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Second time with TFT

Having been to China with The Fewer Things a couple of years ago, I got back in touch with the guys there to see what my options were to keep travelling. We settled on Thailand and it was great to see the comparisons between the programmes and placements, I worked in a public school in China and now in Thailand too! Everything was more or less the same in terms of support and guidance and I could not have done either trip with out them, it is really top class support! I was a bit worried about the transition from a big city placement to a smaller town like the ones in Thailand, but it has been a breath of fresh air from every aspect and I love my life here!

I would recommend this programme 100%

Pros
  • Laid back lifestyle
  • Travel time
  • The support from TFT
Cons
  • The heat can take some getting used to!
Default avatar
Cam
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The Fewer Things: Shenzhen

I can definitely recommend the The Fewer Things for anyone interested in coming to China. The program director Jaemi is extremely knowledgeable and there to help with everything; from serious things like visa and flight assistance to smaller things such as where to buy a jacket . You never have to worry about support with TFT.

There’s also a group chat with the other teachers so you can share advice and make friends before you even leave your home country. Having around 20 friends on arrival made things much easier.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Getting stuck in an extended quarantine on arrival to China. But they school and everyone did everything they could to make it easier , delivered a ton of snacks and things when they could.

Bring some books, games and extra snacks if the quarantine is still a thing
Pros
  • Step by step support
  • Group chat
  • Transparency
Cons
  • Quarantine during covid-zero
Default avatar
Piper
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Truly Amazing Experience!

Words cannot describe how amazing this experience has been for me. At first, adapting to a completely different lifestyle and culture was a struggle. However, it quickly became rewarding. If you are seeking to grow personally, develop new skills, and integrate yourself into a new culture this program is for you. I am very happy I found Fewer Things, they made the transition into Thailand a lot less stressful. One of the most valuable parts of Fewer Things is the community of new teachers they connect you with. You will be able to keep in touch with teachers all over the country and visit each other over the weekends. If you are interested and would like to chat message me on insta @piper.a :)

Pros
  • Community of teachers
  • TFT makes transition a lot less stressful
  • Short term contract (for Thailand program)
Cons
  • Expect cultural differences (School's in Thailand are ran much differently!!)
  • Placements are sometimes rural, so renting scooter is necessary.