Experience Teaching in China with TravelGrad

I was in my final year of University, I had 6 months left of student life before graduation and a lot of my friends had already found graduate jobs and knew what they would be doing come July, or they at least had some sort of plan. To put it bluntly, I was terrified. I didn’t want to have nothing, I felt like I needed some sort of idea or plan. I’d always wanted to do a Masters, but finding funding for a Masters in theatre in near impossible, and years ago I’d seen an advert for teaching abroad in Asia, so I decided to have a look (it was also a form of procrastination to avoid dissertation work), a girl can dream right? I googled around and via my University careers website, stumbled upon an advertisement from TravelGrad, China Teaching Experience. After scoping out other offers, I realised that TravelGrad was offering the best deal cost-wise and that you got the same deal as other companies, but could pay a whole lot less! I applied online and one day later had an email offering a skype interview. A week later I was sat nervously on Skype waiting to have a short interview with the company director; Andrew. I guess my theatre degree did something for helping me act confident and convincing him, as a few days after the call, I had a confirmation email offering me a place! A couple of drinks at the pub to celebrate and tell friends were in order!

Fast forward to mid-August, all of the paperwork was completed, I had received my Visa and on the same day it arrived, sat and booked flights for two days later, and put up a quick Facebook post to tell people I was leaving in two days! Three days later I met Andrew at Beijing airport, then spent two weeks meeting all the other people with the company, some who would be in the same city as me, and doing a two week intense teaching week with some summer school students to complete the practical side of my TEFL qualification. As crazy and stressful as it was, being thrown into the deep end was the best thing because it meant I had to get involved straight away and just go for it, no time for being scared!

All too soon, those two weeks were up and it was time to get on a bullet train (400mph!) for 9hours to travel all the way to Guangzhou! Myself and the three other teachers were collected by our school, taken for a meal, and shown to our new apartments (in the Teachers Dormitory at the school) to settle in and get some sleep, ready to be up and out by 10am the next day to be shown around Foshan!
We settled in pretty fast, manage to figure out what buses went where, where the good places to eat were, how to work the metro, we’ve even become so localised that we now own travel cards that we use on the buses and metro and just top up when needed. Luckily Foshan and Guangzhou are so close to Hong Kong and Macau you can go for a day or weekend trip and just enjoy yourself! I’ve also become so used to the stares and sly photos being taken that I’m pretty much immune to it now. So many Chinese people must have photos of me or selfies with me on their phones it’s so strange to think about!

A month after being in Foshan, there was a public holiday for one week, and I managed to get the guts to go traveling a little bit! I headed to Guilin with some fellow teachers. I managed to successfully work the Chinese train online booking system, and we spent an amazing 3 days in Guilin and YangShuo. We travelled, saw pagodas, rice fields, traditional Chinese villages (a drastic change from the city life we had become used to!) and explored the Karst mountains via a tiny boat made up of 6 long plastic tubes tied together, a motor, and some wooden seats. That was an experience to say the least!

Since then I’ve gotten pretty confident, the students and teaching on a whole is less scary, and I’ve been having Chinese lessons to slowly pick it up! I’m nowhere near fluent yet, but it’s a big improvement. Conversations so far are a big the easiest, and reading menu’s in Chinese and is tricky so I usually order what I already know how to say, or point to the pictures. But hey, Chinese is the hardest language in the world, and it’s only been short amount of time so I’m doing pretty ok!
It’s safe to say I’ve fallen in love with China. People ask what it’s like, and quite frankly, it’s almost impossible to describe. It’s just a different world out here! I miss my family and friends, but after a while you start to forget and just settle in to life out here. There are times when you’ll get huge feelings of homesickness. Christmas out here is pretty hard, being so far away from family was horrible, but I take it as a chance to travel and distract myself with seeing friends in other cities or exploring new places.

Its currently mid-March, and I can’t believe how fast time has gone! In two weeks I’ll even be on Chinese TV judging at an Oral English competition!
In a way, I don’t want to leave, I could stay forever! But I know that if I stay for too many years then I will never leave, and I’ve other experiences to chase!
Teaching in China was an experience that I never expected to affect me in so many ways, nor this much. I’ve made friends that will be friends for life, and memories that I will never forget. It’s been months of adventures, and I’m certain there’s plenty more to come!

If I had to explain my China Teaching Experience, I wouldn't need to think long about it. This experience was the best of my life, professionally and personally. When I contacted Travelgrad for the first time, I doubted if my questIons would be answered. Surprisingly, the company owner was very helpful and informative during the process; from the interview until I got the visa, he helped me in every step. Even after I went to China, Andrew regularly contacted me if everything was going well with my job and needed any support, making this company unique to me. Their support and professionalism made me feel at home in a big, foreign country like China. I gained so much professionally; working in another country was very valuable for me, once in a lifetime experience. I also had the chance to visit other Asian countries, making the whole adventure more special. So, if you think which is the best company you should choose for your teaching experience in China or other countries in Asia, undoubtedly I would suggest Travelgrad, they are the best in the market.

Cheers,
Blerim.

If I ask myself what does it mean for me China Teaching Experience, I wouldn't think to long about the answer. I can easily consider it the best experience of my life, professionally and personally. When I first contacted the company, (Travelgrad) I was doubting if I'll get answered all my questions I had about the whole experience. To be honest, the company owner, Andrew, was very helpful and informative during the whole process. He was very helpful, explaining me every step in detail so I would be fully confident about going to China. From the moment of the interview until I got the visa, this company supported me in every moment I needed help, and the difference that makes them the best is the support they give you! Not only that, even during my year in China, Andrew contacted me regularly if everything is going great and if I needed anything. This made me feel secure and protected in a big, foreign county like China. All in all, if you are doubting which company you should choose for your teaching experience in China, or in other Asian countries, I assure you that the best one is Travelgrad!

Cheers,
Blerim.

I complete one year in China with TravelGrad through the China Teaching Experience. From start to finish the support provided by Andrew was fantastic, all questions answered and no doubts left to percolate. Andrew put applicant's in touch with one another whilst the TEFL was completed and shared our cities and schools with us so we could get to know our new colleagues before flying out. There was numerous applicants from CTE in my city and various schools. Andrew came out to meet us early on to check how we were settling in and assuage any home sickness or feelings of trepidation we may have had. I ended up staying in China for s further two years, seeking new employment and accommodation independently.

I applied for Travel Grad's China programme back in 2019 after graduating from my Tesol degree. Andrew and his staff offered a wealth of resources and support both during the application and placement process. Teaching English in China may sound like a nerve-racking decision but I highly recommend the China programme as it kickstarted my teaching career for the better. I could not have developed the teaching skills I have today without the experience. You will definitely enjoy your time working and living in China.

I used TravelGrad’s China programme back in 2019 with 4 friends from Scotland and had the time of my life. Andrew and his staff could not have been more helpful throughout the journey and even provided incredible support whilst we were in China. I cannot recommend the programme enough and encourage anyone considering it to dive in and let TravelGrad help you have a life changing experience. The incredible range of location options within China means that there really is an option for everyone regardless of experience.

My year teaching in China was an amazing adventure filled with great people and incredible travel. It is also the year that made me love China, resulting in my staying there for three years, getting a job in Hong Kong, studying at a Chinese University, and going on to create my own business working with Chinese clients as a digital nomad. It quite literally changed my life. TravelGrad gave me the support and push I needed, but it is not for those who want their hand held all the way, it is for the intrepid!

I took the opportunity to go with TravelGrad for the China Teaching Experience a few years ago on a complete whim. Because it was last minute, the visa process had to be done as quickly as possible and from the start, TravelGrad were massively supportive in the process so I knew I was in good hands.

I moved to China knowing absolutely nothing about what I was getting into but the staff were extremely welcoming. On arriving at my placement in GuiZhou province I was well looked after and though certain things took some getting used to, I went in with an open mind and learned to enjoy the cultural differences. The food was amazing there, though really spicy, the language was fascinating, though very difficult, and the work was satisfying, though sometimes challenging (who doesn't want to be challenged).

I had the best social life I have ever had before, saw incredible sights and just overall came to love the country. I had an awesome 2 years which literally 180d my career path and on moving back home, decided to become a fully qualified teacher. From the experience I was given I wanted to see more of the world and have since moved abroad again. I don't know what the future holds for me but the temptation to move back to China and see what else it has to offer is extremely strong.

Thanks so much TravelGrad, I'll genuinely, always be grateful.