The Fewer Things

From day one of being accepted onto the graduate programme, I had an enormous amount of support from the team at TFT, both in the U.K. and once in China, I never felt I was alone and was never left without any questions unanswered.

I started out in Shanghai in 2018, where I worked for Pacican Academy, working on the outskirts of downtown Shanghai, the commute to my school was only 15 minutes on the metro or I could walk there on a nice day. I taught 26 periods per week, including English, art and drama class! I was worried in the beginning about teaching something other than English, but along as you have fun with it, you will be fine.

Winter break is amazing!! I got to travel to so many different countries in Asia including: Thailand, Vietnam and Lao. Travelling for me, was more important than the teaching as I had never really been out of the U.K. before going to China.

I would recommend this programme 100 times over!

I started my journey in Guangzhou, China and it has been a great move for me personally and professionally. I have had many ups and down on the run up to China and once here, my coordinator at The fewer things has been a great help and always answered any questions or helped me overcome any issues I had.

The teaching is fairly relaxed and my school doesn't require me to be here when I am not teaching, its great to get out and explore the city and find new things to do almost every day. I've made friends for life here and the thing I really liked about The Fewer Things is that we were all put in a group chat around 6 months before departing, we all helped each other out with the TEFL and once at the summer camp in Beijing (which is very intense). I have recommended and will continue to recommend this programme to everyone I speak to about teaching abroad.

Applying through The Fewer Things was perhaps the best decision I made when commencing my journey as a TEFL teacher. The level of initial support, information provided and post placement support was seamless and highly appreciated. As someone who applied for the February placement, I did not feel in anyway disadvantaged due to not attending the summer camp as I was placed in a great school where I was made to feel at home regardless of the fact that I was the first and only only foreign teacher for the second term. Jaemi went the extra mile in providing information regarding the social scene where I met some amazing people. I would recommend TFT to anyone considering teaching abroad as they make what might normally be a daunting and strenuous process, memorable and enjoyable.

From the start The Fewer Things were very friendly and welcoming. I felt supported throughout the application process, with help from the organisation readily available as required. The steps necessary for a successful application were clearly laid out in steps manageable for a final year university student.
A representative from the organisation was there to meet us all at the TEFL training, answered questions and made us more prepared as we got to China. The in-school summer camp was strenuous as someone without previous teaching experience, but made teaching in Shanghai feel a lot less stressful.
Once my teaching contract was underway, The Fewer Things were always available on short notice to help clear up misunderstandings and act as a point of contact between the teachers, schools and higher education boards. Always very organised and effective.

I was placed in an amazing school in Foshan, China. There is around 15 other foreign teachers at my school and it is like one big family. The support I received from Jaemi at TFT was great and he was always on hand with any of my questions or problems before and after I arrived in China.

The highlight for me was the Beijing summer camp which you attend before starting the placement. It is quite intense but it left me feeling confident for my first day at schools, so I can see why it is set up that way. On the evenings we'd get to go out in Beijing and it was a great way to meet new friends, two of which are placed at the same school as me!