LanguageCorps - Teach English in China' TEFL Certification

Cambodia was wonderful. I don't think I had really high expectations for the experience (I was more looking forward to China), so I found the whole thing to be surprisingly lovely. As a whole, Cambodia is great: people are friendly, it's easy to get by with English, there is a decent expat community, the LC staff is helpful, the excursions are nice, and the fellow participants always ensure you're in good company. The course was more work than I or the other participants were expecting, but nothing impossible. We were definitely still able to enjoy our time.

China has been more challenging than expected, particularly in relation to the language barrier. I'm based in Xi'an, which has a very low English-speaking population. But the program followed through in securing me a job: I had a contract and a visa before I left the U.S. I only work three days a week, my apartment is paid for, and I get paid enough to live comfortably and be able to travel.

I highly recommend LanguageCorps Asia to anyone who is interested in entering the TEFL field in Southeast Asia or China and here's why:

1. Training Location: The training is in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and PP is a lively, fun, and cheap city. The expat community is huge there, and the city is also very western. This makes it the perfect introductory city for people who are either visiting Southeast Asia for the first time, or have never been outside of their native country. In PP, most people speak a little bit of English, there are always experienced expats available for advice, and you don't have to live without your western luxuries like Nutella, deodorant, and Mountain Dew. It's an extremely convenient city, and made my transition to China very easy.
Cons: The city is very dirty, polluted, and smelly. But it's SEA. What can you expect?

2. Instructors: Phnom Penh has amazing instructors for TEFL. Tucker, Nick, and Rick were some of the most fun instructors I've ever had all while being extremely knowledgable and helpful. It's nice too because each one of the instructors is at a different stage in their life, which is useful depending on what problem you need solved. They were absolutely invaluable resources on virtually everything to do with teaching and living in SEA.
Cons: My program specifically is in China. Unfortunately the program didn't have an instructor who specialised in China. While this would have been nice, it wasn't detrimental to my arrival in China.

3. Course: The course was very comprehensive. Since being thrown into the ring, my training has shown over and over again to be extremely valuable and fairly complete. The teaching methods we learn in the course definitely work, which is really important if you head to China where you'll end up facing 300 primary students on your first or second day. Cons: It's extremely intensive which makes it hard to fully enjoy PP while going to class for several hours a day. It's basically several min-mesters shoved into one month. It's worth it, but be prepared to actually work your butt off. Don't let this deter you though-- people still had a blast while working really hard. As long as you have good time management skills, you'll be able to have your beer and drink it too.

I was extremely disappointed with the staff and the program in Cambodia. From other friends who went on to thailand they said it was completely different than Cambodia because it was well organized and the staff was much more helpful.

The biggest disappointment was the fact that the staff of Languagecorps all promoted the use of drugs and where to find them and prostutution. I understand that some people decide to take part in these activities and they have the freedom to do so, but when it is being discussed during class time or when you are preparing people that are about to be around young children with that information that is where I draw the line.

Highly disappointed with the staff and program of Languagecorps Asia.

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.

The staff at Language Corps was extremely helpful in answering all my questions before departure. They gave me honest advice about the unique benefits and challenges of working in my chosen region.

The TESOL certification program helped me feel much more prepared to tackle teaching English in a foreign country. If you have little to no teaching experience, I would hightly recommend it.

Teaching in Hanzhong was an amazing experience. I had the time of my life and would recommend languagecorp, (and I have) to anyone. Jan was extremely helpful and really took the time to walk us through the whole process.

The fact that I only worked fri-sun allowed me to travel all over China. You definetely need to if you are in Hanzhong cause there is not much going on there. I mostly knew that going in but the time off and ability to travel made it totally worth it. Your salary is plenty to live on confortably in China.

As anyone can imagine Living in China has a lot of challenges and can be difficult at times. But to say that I did it and that I overcame is such an empowering feeling. I would absolutely do it again if I had the chance.

Oh yah, the month in Cambodia before hand was so much fun. Meeting all of the other teachers, going to bars together, and traveling all over Cambodia was a blast. Was definetely sad when everyone took off to their assignments.