My first 2 months at Aihua

What an incredible experience so far! Leaving my family and friends behind and coming to a city of over 20 million people, a completely different culture, and to start down a new career path has been one of the biggest decisions I have ever made. But I can now safely say I have absolutely zero regrets. I have loved my time in Beijing and at Aihua so far. From day one the support has been top class. From the day I took my online interview I was in constant contact with Fred and the Foreign Affairs team who quickly sorted any issue I had. The day I left Ireland was overwhelming to say the least. I had so many worries running through my head. But now I look back and laugh. I settled in quickly and made new friends immediately. The Foreign Affairs team are amazing. They pretty much babysit you for the first week. They help you set up your Chinese sim, set up a bank account, register with the police, set up Wifi in your apartment. Basically anything that you think you need they are there to help. I can't imagine what I would have done without them. In fact, I do, I would have got a taxi back to the airport and went back to Ireland! It wouldn't have been possible without their help. And to this day, they are still there to help with any issue that arises.

As regards the teaching, there is a 2 week introductory training period to begin with which was a huge benefit to me. I had zero teaching experience so I was obviously nervous at the prospect of stepping into a classroom. The training team were great. Training is fun while also giving you huge tips and resources to take into the classroom. The teaching material is laid out in a structured way and is very easy to follow. While still a bit nervous, the training made day 1 in the classroom very comfortable.
I have enjoyed teaching so much. It is so rewarding and the kids have been great. Class sizes are small so it allows you time to build relationships with the students. Teaching hours are no more than 25 hrs per week and is mainly from the afternoon to evening which gives you plenty of time to socialise and go sightseeing in the morning or after work and late into the night if you wish.

If you are thinking about coming to Beijing, then I strongly suggest coming to Aihua. They provide a great platform to move to China and also begin a new career in teaching. I have no regrets and neither will you. Do it!