Edu-Pal China

Edu-Pal China

Why choose Edu-Pal China?

Edu-Pal China, abbr. as EPC (Address at Rm. 1110 & 1112, Hongfa Central Building, Chuangye Road, Bao’an Center, Shenzhen, P.R. China, with registration No. 91440300MA5FQHQT0Y), is authorized by State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People's Republic of China, SAIC, for international cultural exchange.

Reviews

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Andrea
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Summer Well Spent

My experience with Edu-pal was unique since it was still in the middle of the pandemic so I was the only participant throughout the duration of the program. I was able to do so, since I already live in China as a student and therefore had a summer-worth's of availability. I am super thankful I found this program as all of the staff were super helpful and understanding to my situation. They paired me with a beautiful family, who welcomed me and made me feel at home. It was crazy how fast I adapted to my new life and how much I was able to enjoy my new family and city. Like I previously mentioned, I was the only participant and therefore, all of the cultural and language courses were tailored to me. This made my experienced very personalized and unforgettable. However, I believe that when the program has the chance to start issuing visas, this will further enrich each participant's experience.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I really enjoyed my overall experience as I got the opportunity to explore Chinese culture and language, the city, the family as well as myself. However, if I could change one thing it would be to let go of my fear of getting out of my comfort zone. Because the program did such a good job at helping me adapt to my new way of life, I fell into a state of comfort very easily which I think stopped me sometimes to actually step out and explore the unknown. With this in mind, if I had a do-over I would really push myself to enjoy this experience to the best of my ability.
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Katy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A life changing experience

My experience with Edupal was pretty unique since I came to China in January of 2020; just about a week before the coronavirus pandemic caused many things to shut down.

Despite things being uncertain and scary in the world, I felt very safe and taken care of by my host family and Edupal. I had some health problems and my host family was quick to take me to the doctor and pay for my bills. I had some flight cancellations and EduPal gladly did the work of extending my visa for me.

During our time social distancing, the folks at EduPal were very adaptable and able to quickly find ways to change their program to be online. This kept us safe and also made sure we were still getting the benefits of the program. China as a country is very efficient in public health and safety, so we were all able to be back out safely exploring in no time.

I was able to go on two trips with Edupal as well as two trips with my host family.

Hiking in beautiful mountains, visiting the beach, taking classes in chinese painting, cooking, and kungfu, and singing at KTV are just a few of the great memories I’ve made here.

I am leaving China with many new friends, good connections and job offers if I ever want to come back and work full time, and a decent comprehension of Chinese language.

China really felt like home for 6 months and I will be waiting for the day I can come back to visit everyone!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
When traveling across the world, things might not go as expected. Be ready to be kind and flexible, it will be given back to you x10

Don’t be afraid to ask your host family or Edupal if you need anything, they are there to help!
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Donna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Short but valuable experience

As one of my best friends is a Chinese descendent, I'm always very curious and passionate about Chinese culture. When I get the chance to participate in this program, I'm very excited!

I arrived in Beijing two weeks before the Chinese New Year. I love the city and my host family. My host siblings are three and six-year-old, very active and smart girls. We warm up very quickly. 10 January, one week before the Chinese New Year, I joined the the whole family and travelled to host father's hometown in Sichuan, a city famous for pandas and hot-pot! I feel so lucky to have such a rich experience until the outbreak of COVID-19.

We didn't feel unsafe as we are very far away from the center of the outbreak. But all the new year events have to be cancelled. I'm always very postive. We take this indoor time to connect and know more about each other. I had very valuable time with my host children, introducing British culture and my culture in Cardiff. It's very interesting for me to learn Chinese culture from the kids. One of the books they shared to me is very interesting to me, a Journey to the West. I managed to find the English version of the book when I came back.

In middle February, I left my lovely Chinese family and came back to UK due to the national wide quarantine in China. Although I didn't finish the four-month as planned, it's still very valuable experience to me. And many thanks to EduPal China team. They have always been very supportive and understanding. Hopefully, I will join you again in the near future.

What was your funniest moment?
The least spicy hot-pot in Sichuan is the most spicy food I've ever had and could ever imagine. LOL
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Julia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I'm Very Grateful for Everything

Things are very unusual recently. The pandemic has made our plan a lot more complicated than we expected.
I was matched up with a lovely family in January. The 6-year old is so active and smart. I feel very connected with the family and my host child. My arrival date should be in March. But unfortunately, it has to be postponed due to the outbreak of the virus.

I'm still very promising to come to China when the pandemic is over. Edu-Pal China has been offering me amazing online courses and events. As quarantine starts now in my city, the online events have been my best moment every week.

I enjoyed every experience I have with Edu-Pal China. Many thanks to Parry, who is always very considerate and patient for any questions I have. She keeps my updated about coming online events and checks how I like them. Many thanks to Sarah, who is very professional in her job and matched me up with a lovely family. And many thanks to other members with Edu-Pal China. I'm very looking forward to meeting you all in China when the pandemic is over!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would make quick decisions without hesitation.
When I received the visa documents, I should have taken actions immediately and applied for visa. There are many chances that we could almost make it to China but my delay has made it more compliated for the company. I sincerely appreciate everything they've done for me.
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KC
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Decision I Ever Made

I started out as an au pair with the intention of living in places such as Italy, Australia, etc. in order to broaden my horizons. When Sarah from Edu-Pal China reached out to me to join the program, I decided why not? I hadn't been to China before, knew nothing of its culture or the language that is spoken there, it would be an adventure! When I told my friends and family I was going to China, they were all extremely hesitant, telling me to be careful, that I wouldn't like the everyday life there, but it was just more reasons I wanted to go, to immerse myself in a place I wasn't comfortable in. This turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life.

From the moment I agreed to join Edu-Pals until even today (long after I left the program), I have had endless support from those working at the company, making sure that I settled into my host family well, that I was adjusting to the culture shock (yes, there are a lot of things that the Chinese do differently than western cultures, but I was never forced to do anything I didn't want to do, which made it more enjoyable to see the differences). As someone who has worked as an au pair in other countries, one of my favorite things about this program is its emphasis on the exchanging of cultures. Not only are there events that you and your family participate in learning about other countries as you teach English to your host kids, you also have access to Mandarin classes and events that help you become immersed in China's rich culture. In the nine months I was with the program (I was originally supposed to be there for just six months, but I extended my stay and would have stayed longer if not for a previous commitment), the other Edu-Pals and I participated in a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, learned how to dance in Hanfu, made various dishes and traveled to Chaozhou and Guilin, to name a few! You also have time to go do some exploring on your own, I was able to do some day trips to Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong with some of my friends!

The best part about this program though is the people I met. I will forever be grateful to my host family for taking me in and showing me their home country, to my host sisters who we've created a special bond, the members of Edu-Pal who still keep in contact with me (answering all my Mandarin questions I have, checking in on me), and the other Edu-Pals who I have only met a few months ago, but feel like I have known them for a lifetime. Edu-Pal China has given me lifelong friendships with crazy stories from China to reminisce about when we visit each other in each of our own little corner of the world, and I know they will give you the same opportunity as well. I highly recommend Edu-Pal China, I myself can't wait to go back and visit!

What was your funniest moment?
There are too many funny moments to count, from the crazy things my host kids did to saying the wrong words in Mandarin, but one of the most memorable events that had everyone in tears was my birthday party. For my birthday we all brought food that was native to each of our home countries, so we had things like black licorice, Jell-O, duck neck and Vegemite. From the Jell-O exploding everywhere to gagging over the black licorice to swallowing a whole spoonful of straight Vegemite, all while trying to sing Happy Birthday in four different languages, we had an absolute blast!

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Aleinik Kseniia

Kseniia (22 y.o.) is from Russia. In 2019 she participated in a сulture exchange program (China, Shenzhen) with Edu-Pal China for 3 months.
Lena Vivi with Edu-Pal China airport welcome

Why did you choose this program?

In the fall of 2018, I caught myself thinking about how much I wanted to visit China one day. But back then, I was in my third year of the university, so I had to come up with an idea of how to get there on a budget but still see China in its full glory and have a great time. My friends told me about the program called Au Pair China. After learning more about it, I realized this was what I needed. My love for children plus my curiosity about Chinese culture are equal Here was I in the middle of Shenzhen airport waiting (impatiently and excited) for my host family and agent to pick me up.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Wow, come to think of it, Edu-Pal China did an incredibly great job back then. First of all, the program agent quickly found me a lovely host family (btw, I still keep in touch with them, which is incredible to me) and set an interview with them. After that, the agent sent me the required documents for the visa. Ofc, I applied for the visa myself. I also bought the one-way plane ticket myself, but the return ticket was provided by the agency. After arriving in China, together with the host family, my lovely agent picked me up at the airport. The agency also helped me to get my metro and SIM cards. About the educational process: there was a mentor who gave us tips on how to teach English to Chinese-speaking kids and how to make the entire process more entertaining and fruitful. We did demo classes with her and discussed it all together. But ofc, when we came back to our host families we were to plan our days with the kids ourselves in a way so they could learn as much as possible from us. The agency also organized Mandarin classes and short and long-distance trips for us. If we had any miscommunications with our host families, Edu-Pal China came to help anytime. If we had any problems with adaptation to a new country (health or homesick problems), Edu-Pal China came to help anytime. I am eternally grateful for all of the above. I now understand that thanks to Edu-Pal China, I had no worries or troubles.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

First of all, if you are going to become au pair, make sure you really love children and are ready to discover a whole new world with them. This is really important, cause I know some guys who went to this program without having any idea about how to work with kids and it was very difficult for them to get along with them. Also, it may be helpful to bring along any medications that you use on a regular or non-regular basis. Since I personally had a little problem with it. Fortunately, it wasn't serious. And maybe the most important piece of advice... at first, life in a different country, with different people, might seem very difficult and sometimes unbearable. It's kind of a culture shock. I can relate to it totally, as I have been through it myself. Therefore, it is worth being mentally prepared for this. This may last a couple of weeks. But here comes good news~! After a couple of weeks, there is a 180-degree turn in your wonderful trip and you are gonna enjoy every single minute of it from then on.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

It depended on the schedule of a particular family and the season of the year. But in general, my week looked like this. One day of the week was my day off (I don't remember what day was, but I could do or go wherever I wanted). During the workweek, while kids were at school (till around 4 pm), we had Mandarin classes, cultural activities or trips with the agency, or just a bit of spare time. But after the kids got home (i whether picked them up or not), we spent all our time together till they went to bed. We could have an English, a science, or an art class or just go out with our family and so on. The whole weekend I usually spent with the host family, but sometimes during the evenings, I had spare time. As I've said, it all depends on the particular family's schedule, but in general, we had a fixed amount of time (so-called quality hours) we were to spend with our kids per week.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Since I am not a native English speaker, I was afraid that many people would not understand me and that there would be a language barrier. At first, my brain really refused to think in English, but it took quite a bit of time and I got used to it. My mates from America, England, Denmark, Italy, and Scotland participated in the program with me as well, and we communicated easily. The problem solved itself. And I even improved my spoken English. I was also worried that the family would not accept me or the children would not love me. But again, the problem solved itself as soon as I crossed the threshold of their house. We had a very warm relationship with my family. And the children called me 姐姐 ~~

Write and answer your own question.

I've already shared many things with you. But in case, you still doubt whether to participate in this program or not, let me say a few more words. Let's start in reverse order. Just so you understand, I have already graduated from university majoring in Translation and Interpretation and now i am working with children (shocking news!) again but here in Russia for now. I can't imagine my life without two things: English and kids. Oh, wait! Three things. English, kids, and China! Everyone around associates me with Asia, no matter what I say. That's how much of an impact this trip had on me. During this trip, I found new friends from different parts of the world, really fell in love with China, its culture, people, food, gained a HUGE experience, lit up with new ideas and plans for life, and met my family, with whom I keep in touch even after a year and a half. I cannot describe how much I am grateful for this trip and how much I cherish all those pleasant and not really moments in my memory (not me shedding tears over and over again while writing this review haha). Of course, I'm going to come back to China as soon as I get the chance. So I hope to meet you guys over there! ~~ Hopefully, my story is useful and you've made the right decision for yourself.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

KC Stone

Job Title
Intern
KC is a graduate from the University of Missouri in the United States and has spent the past year in various countries such as Italy, Australia and now China as an Edu-Pal. KC fell in love with Edu-Pal China’s program and became part of the recruitment and marketing team, trying to spread the word of how awesome this program is!
Young woman posing with statue in China

What is your favorite travel memory?

How to pick just one memory?! One of my favorite memories was on a study abroad trip in Greece, and as a Greek-classics major, this was a trip of a lifetime for me. It was the Fourth of July, Independence Day for us Americans, and being in a different country we didn’t really celebrate it in the traditional way - we couldn't pass up a perfectly legitimate opportunity to celebrate.

We were in Kapetaniana on the island of Crete, and after a big Greek breakfast, we set out on a five-mile hike down to the beach. Now, this hike was not for the faint of heart. Even though it was all downhill, it comprised of switchbacks on the side of a mountain, so not only was it pretty steep, it was also super windy! Dust and dirt were kicked up into the air, sticking to our sweaty skin and matting our hair while we pressed against the wind! At one point, a bee got tangled up in my dirty, windblown hair, and even though my friends desperately tried to get it out, the poor thing ended up stinging my head in fright.
While it was a difficult hike, our spirits were kept high by singing ridiculously out of tune, being chased by goats and taking in the gorgeous views over the Libyan Sea! When we finally reached the beach at the bottom, we were rewarded with refreshing, crystal clear blue waters with rocks to explore and jump off of.

After we were done, we thankfully had cars come and drive us back up to the top (which was just as equally terrifying, if not more so, on the switchbacks!) where we had a massive Greek buffet laid out for us! So even though there were no fireworks or barbeque to celebrate with, it was the best Independence Day I have ever had!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

When I started out on my “tour around the world,” the main intention I had was the cliché “discover who I really am” goal, but in all actuality Edu-Pal China has pushed me to become the best version of myself, through learning a new language, becoming a better teacher, and even expanding my marketing skills.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Did you study abroad in school? If not, what inspired you to work in international education?

I have studied abroad and I think Edu-Pal China program is a great opportunity for those who are interested in Chinese culture and/or teaching! Not only are you bringing your own culture here to China as you are helping teach and practice English: you are fully immersed into the Chinese culture, with Mandarin classes and many cool cultural activities!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I am actually currently an Edu-Pal myself, and I will recommend this program over and over again!

It is extremely invested on the exchanging of cultures, so not only are you bringing your own culture here to China as you are helping teach and practice English, you are fully immersed into the Chinese culture, with Mandarin classes and many cool cultural activities! It’s a win-win for everyone!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

As someone who has been an au pair before, this program has been by far the best that I have been a part of! The amount of care that is demonstrated by the staff here has been something that I haven’t seen in the au pair world, and the dedication to education on everyone’s part (whether it is the kids who are learning English or you learning about Chinese culture) is so fantastic!

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I believe the biggest factor in being a successful company is being in tune with everyone who is involved. When good communication and support are practiced, everyone, whether it is clients (or in our case, Edu-Pals and families) or workers, is happier, besides, people in EPC care for each other, so success will surely follow!

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