ESL Teacher - Shanghai - Affordable District - Apt Available

I became especially interested in China when I was teaching universal history in a private junior high school in Mexico.
Our class studied many countries, so we did not have enough time to fully explore Chinese history. I arrived to work with Wonderful International English in 2016. It is a great company that is very reliable and supportive.
China provides a wealth of interesting places and events to discover. In addition, I have been very enthusiastic about seeing the modern development in China for myself. I have not been disappointed as I have seen how the Chinese have lifted hundreds of millions of people out of extreme poverty. Modern Chinese development is truly amazing. I have visited many cities, Beijing, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Changsha, Guiyang, and others. Shanghai is the best for me, but all of those cities show incredible progress. The living standards for the overwhelming majority of the people here are skyrocketing. It is very rewarding to be a small part of that development as a teacher.

I had never travelled overseas for any extended time. So you can imagine the nerves that I experienced when I decided to take this dive.
To an inexperienced American traveler China is a mystery. Wonderful English took the time to communicate with me regularly and help me when I was unsure what to do. Sophie was our main contact and was quick to answer any questions when we had the in a timely manner.
Upon arrival we were picked up from the airport and taken to a hotel, and then taken apartment hunting the next day. We were housed quickly and had someone to help us with every step. We were introduced to the school and teachers, followed with a two week introduction and orientation. This includes watching teachers in class and reviewing the materials.
When we began teaching in public schools we had a representative from the school with us to help guide us through the confusion.
Housing in Songjiang is very affordable and their are several metro stations to help get around. The pay is more than sufficient for a comfortable lifestyle. The staff is friendly and the neighborhood is very safe.

I have just about completed my year here at Wonderful International English, Songjiang, Shanghai, and so far I have highly enjoyed my experience both living in Shanghai and working for this company.

Having worked for a year after graduating University in the UK, I was ready for a challenge & after some research had my sights set on Shanghai.

I felt that communication with this School was quick and responsive. From finishing my application, I was swiftly offered a Skype interview with another Foreign teacher. At all points of contact with the staff I spoke to, I was put at ease that this was a professional company. Any problems or issues with the move were dealt with promptly and effectively - this also stopped any worries or concerns my family had about such a big move (that they felt I perhaps had overlooked).

I was greeted at the airport by a staff member and taken for lunch and then to my hotel. The following days, while I settled in to life in my new country, I was taken to complete various tasks (purchasing a sim-card, registering at the Police Station, looking at different apartments & to the supermarket to purchase some essentials). All the while, slowly being eased into working life here. This support was much appreciated while dealing with jet-lag. It must be said, that this support continues once you have settled in too, with staff here being happy to help you with any problems or issues you might face (including Doctors trips).

Now, living in Shanghai, I have decided to extend my contract by another year due to my happiness working for this company and living in this fantastic & cosmopolitan city.

In terms of work, I have taught various age groups (from around age 10 - adult) and various levels of understanding (beginner 1 - expert) - in a language centre setting. Also, I have taught at Public Schools (middle school - High School). I really enjoy this diverse working schedule, it means that you're not tirelessly repeating yourself day after day. Also, with regards to any personal teaching preferences you may have, Wonderful listens to these before assigning you to your classes. I currently teach a mix of adult classes and public school classes.

In terms of living in Shanghai. Most teachers live in Songjiang District, a suburban district of the city of Shanghai. This is a historic district, with lovely parks and a beautiful Botanical Garden. It is conveniently situated on 'Line 9' of the metro system, meaning that in about 45-50 minutes you can be transported to the buzzing CBD of Shanghai. I personally find that living in Songjiang is the happy medium between green space and big city life.

Overall, I would highly recommend Wonderful to anybody who is interested in moving to China to teach English!

2 years ago I decided to start looking for a teaching job in Shanghai. I came upon Wonderful English through a friend. There are so many language schools in China and it was hard to know which companies were trustworthy, so I decided to go with the one that was reccomended to me.

I have to admit that I had doubts about accepting the position, but the managing staff set up several Skype calls and let me talk to the other foreign teachers. From that point forward, everybody was understanding, helpful and supportive--both about settling in in a completely new culture and my professional responsibilities.

Over the past year and a half, I've taught middle school, high school and adults of differing levels of language proficiency. I like that I'm free to choose my own materials to supplement the standard curriculum. I also have the freedom to develop my own teaching style. As for the work schedule, the company has been quite accomodating and also tries to support me in any personal issues. This can be a big help when you don't speak the local language.

I would recommend this company because I feel secure here. I can rely on management and count on their help when I need them.

My wife and I decided that we wanted to have an adventure and take a teaching position in China. We knew there were many opportunities, but we had also heard some horror stories about people being tricked and cheated in China. After a positive recommendation from a fellow American online, we decided to interview with Sophie at Wonderful International English.

After our interview with Sophie, we decided this was the school we wanted to work for. She was honest, straightforward and professional. She helped us with all the paperwork and we felt confident that she knew what she was doing. Once we arrived the school picked us up at the airport, took us to our hotel room and began researching apartments for us. Later we got our work visas, bank accounts and phones. The school helped us settle in to our life here in China without any problems.

The work is enjoyable and actually quite easy. We work at the training centers here in Songjiang. Most of our students are adults so they are polite and serious about learning English. The children are also well-behaved and even more fun.

I would say that if you want to come teach in China, you cannot do much better than this! We have had no problems and are completely happy at this school. Talk to Sophie, she is the best!