Teaching in Shanghai

Teaching English in Shanghai is awesome. I didn't think I would enjoy a mega-city like this, but every day is so fascinating - the culture, the food, the language, the sights of old and new China, always something new to explore. The teaching organization has around 45 schools all over the city, and they frequently organize city-wide gatherings in the forms of christmas parties, awards assemblies, and recently an all-expense paid trip to Nanjing. It's very easy to make friends through these gatherings, both Chinese and foreigners. The head office is incredibly organized and helpful, great with the visa help, and you will always feel that you have them to turn to with any questions. My job is nights and weekends, only 20hrs a week, which leaves a lot of free time to explore, or take up Chinese lessons (which I've recently signed up for - although you can get around just fine without knowing any). Fridays are depressing because you get home at 10pm and have to be back at work the next day at 830am. But it's just like that once per week, which isn't the worst. Mondays and Tuesdays are off, which is good for sightseeing because it avoids the crowds.

Before heading up to Shanghai, I completed the 144hr teaching course in Cambodia. The entire month was a highlight. The course is very well run; it is certainly intensive with long days of classes, homework, presentations, lesson planning, and a teaching practicum - but it almost over-prepares you, so when you get to the job it is a breeze. The Cambodia staff are all very helpful with the course - as well as entertaining. Several nights a week they host gatherings (karaoke, booze cruises, etc), and they take you on incredible weekend excursions that alone make it worth the course cost. It is certainly an added bonus to doing the teaching, getting to explore SE Asia, and I have to recommend it as very high-value. The only downside is that you make such great friends during the course, and then everyone goes off to their assignments and it's bittersweet.