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Everyone knows that once you leave university and your parent’s home, there are plenty of expenses that you need to start paying yourself. Everything from your home, car, water, food, electricity, gas, insurances, entertainment, telephone and cellphone create bills in your mailbox. However, once you move abroad this list can create some serious anxiety.

I won’t deny that I’ve asked myself and I’ve been asked that several times: why live in China? Going abroad, sure, that sounds like an adventure: new cultures, new food, music etc.  A different flavor from the everyday life you know. But China?  It’s not a different flavor but rather a different dish altogether. It’s more like an adventure straight out of National Geographic: harsh conditions,...

To many of us the thought of going to a third tier Chinese city can be pretty daunting. Although, if you’re looking to experience the “real” China there is no other option.  

To be perfectly honest, they mean the exact same thing! The two major differences between these terms are 1. The name and 2. the geographic region where the English learners live. Let me explain.

Let’s face it: China is expanding on a global front and fast. China is a big-time player in the world’s economy and the amount of millionaires surfacing here is shooting through the roof. Even though the Chinese are dominating the scene, the likelihood that the rest of the world will jump up and learn Chinese is not that high, however, the Chinese already started years ago sending their children to boarding schools in the US and UK to master the world’s lingua franca.

Hello my name is Emanuel Ruiz and I currently live and work in Shanghai in China.  As most teachers in America know, budget cuts and test results can take the passion out of the teaching profession. I felt overworked and unappreciated.  The lack of job security loomed over me and I was expected to work over 40 hours a week with no compensation.  Finding new employment was a struggle because the US job market was and has been in decline.

So you are contemplating an EFL teaching job or even better, have been offered one!  For many of us 21st century people, the next step is to research your school and where better to look than online forums.  Unfortunately, there’s a lot of negativity out there!  So, here’s where I want to caution you on what I call the Web MD effect: diagnosing an illness based on apparent symptoms.  What could I possibly know about any of this?  Well, I have been a teacher for many years...

International schools are prestigious; they pay the best, have the best facilities and only hire the best teachers, like we said: the best. Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes? What’s an international school all about? What makes them stand out from the rest?

You may have just received an offer to teach at a great school in Beijing and in your excitement, you accept the offer without hesitation. Sometimes with our excitement, we become blind to the risks and precautions we need to take. What may look great on paper may not be in real life. Teaching in China has long been a popular choice of adventure for those who wish to experience a different culture as well as those who are looking to further their careers., however, it’s important to know what to...

ESL China is rapidly increasing its desire to speak English and the rates by which English schools and English teachers are summoned are staggering. The Chinese are impatient and they’re eager in dominating the world’s lingua franca.

With an approximate population of over 1.3billion people and growing, there is an increasing demand for ESL teachers in China. If you’re looking to teach in China, you may be asking yourself many questions. What qualifications are needed? How much experience must I have? What is it like working in China? And ultimately, how do I become an ESL teacher?

What a broad topic, huh? But of course it’s one that everyone wants to know, so I’m going to try to lay it out as evenly as possible and cover as many aspects as I can. Keep in mind that I’m writing this article as and to the native English speaking population.  Which, there is really no other way to put it except that by being a native English speaker you have quite a built in advantage here in China. Especially in the world of Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). 

The Yu Garden (Garden of Happiness or Garden of Peace) is one of the major attractions in Shanghai! Stroll through the vast grounds and see the pavillions, streams, and natural features. Walk along the long corridors and visit the different chambers and courtyards.  See a first hand experience of the Garden below!

Being in a new surrounding can be nerve racking, but whether you are relocating permanently or for an extended period, as long as you are prepared, there is nothing to be afraid of! One of the biggest fears running through your mind may be the difference in language.

Watch our intern Josie as she rides the Shanghai metro during rush hour!        

You may be wondering when the best time to apply for a teaching position is. This all depends on what type of school you are looking to teach for and what age group you want to teach. Here we have given you the details of the different types of schools to help you understand the best time to apply for your perfect school!

If you've been to China, you'll know that you'll need to look on both sides of the street before you cross the road. And while you're crossing the road. Here is a first person view of what it's like to commute by bike in the hustle and bustle!

Here at Teaching Nomad we are dedicated to helping you get set up with your perfect school! We spend countless hours researching different schools, looking over their contracts, scoping out their locations and finding out what benefits they include to ensure that your trip to China will be as enjoyable as possible. Being located here in Shanghai gives us a definite advantage

The Importance of Obtaining Reference Letters Before Leaving Your Employer To teach in China, you must abide by three basic requirements. The first is a bachelor's degree, the second is being aged 25 to 55, and the third is two years' of post-bachelor's work experience. For this third requirement, the Chinese government accepts a reference letter as proof. This reference...

Here is a quick guide on how to teach abroad put together by the team here at Teaching Nomad:   1. Make a list of goals and priorities: When you are unsure of where to start...start with yourself! What are your goals for teaching abroad? What kind of experience would you like to have?

Ever wondered what grocery shopping is like in China? It's not the same as walking into a Walmart or Tesco's, you'll see things that you wouldn't expect to see. Take a tour around Carrefore, one of Shanghai's biggest grocery stores.

What did earning my TESOL certification do for me? Before I started my ESL teaching career here in China I had no experience in teaching. For me, and any other teacher who is looking to teach English in China, earning your TESOL certification will be a watershed moment. Not only will you have another “feather in your cap” that will qualify you for more (and better paying) ESL jobs, but you will also have a solid foundation to start (or continue) your career as an ESL teacher.

Medical care in China is very varied in such a vast country. In major municipalities like Shanghai, there is a wealth of medical care available. Expats should feel secure regarding medical facilities, where there are usually three types of providers: Western-style hospitals and clinics, regular clinics in local hospitals, and VIP clinics in local hospitals. One thing you need to know is that GPs are practically non-existent in China. Healthcare in China is centered on hospitals, which provide a...

Before you are able to embark on your journey to teach around the world if you want to be able to teach English as a foreign language you will in most situations need a TEFL certification. One can obtain their TEFL certification through a variety of internet courses that offer various levels and modules. TEFL certifications can easily be obtained with a month and won’t cost...

While teaching abroad in China there are several technologies that can be utilized to smooth the transition and in turn make life easier. Most likely in the country you lived in before China you would have access to social media sites such as Facebook, or video hosting sites such as YouTube. However, these are unfortunately blocked in China. Fret not because you can easily sign up for VPN services which cost around 10 USD per month, some choices are Astrill, HMA, Liberty or if you are looking for...

To help these new teachers settle in, Teaching Nomad organised a true Chinese welcome to China. Check it out below!

Western China—Buddhas and Ponies and Pandas; Oh My! Most teaching positions in China are concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the country, as these are the most developed areas as of right now. However, there is a growing demand for teachers in the western provinces as they develop their economies and look to increase their English speaking capabilities. My first teaching job in China was in city of Yulin in Shaanxi province, a few hours north of the metropolitan capital city of Xi’an....

So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and teach abroad in China! One of the things that will be an asset to learn is the art of bargaining. Many of the prices you come across can usually be bargained down whether it's for groceries, electronics, or even gym memberships. You will come to realize that with a little patience and persuasion you can easily save yourself money. Normally most people today utilize the Internet to find the best prices, online retailers usually can sell items cheaper than...

What does it take in order to be successful while teaching in China? I’ve often considered this question while interviewing potential candidates for various teaching positions. Why do some teachers make the transition to teaching abroad in China so easily, while others find the transition to life here more challenging? In my experience, successful teachers (and other types of expats) typically share one trait—adaptability.

One of the first questions that many applicants ask when they start thinking about teaching ESL in China is: where am I going to live? Some teaching jobs in China offer housing as part of the compensation package, but some do not. This means that some teachers (usually with the help of their schools) will need to rent an apartment. As China grows and develops, the variety of housing options is multiplying....

If you’re new to China, one of your main worries is likely that of living costs. Although the average income in China is around $4,200 a year (as of 2012), it is important to note that ESL teachers tend to get paid substantially more than that. However, your salary and living expenses vary depending on location. China is a large country with cities in all shapes and sizes. Your salary will in turn vary with these local conditions.

I thought I’d write this blog on a somewhat educational note. We are after all an educational company! We get many applications in a typical day from people applying for many different jobs teaching in China, for a whole range of positions ranging from newbie teachers looking to cut their teeth on the China teaching experience all the way to old hands on the international teaching market. With all this variety the form of application varies greatly. This is fine! As a recruiter I actually really...

First off, you need to make sure you’re ready.  95% of schools are going to require at least a 1 year commitment. Everyone is relying on you to fulfill this obligation. The school’s reputation with the parents is based on the quality of their teachers. The parents don’t want to see their kids changing teachers every 3 months. It’s not effective for learning.  So, you have to go into it with the right expectations.  If you spent extended time traveling abroad in the past, then you have...

This week Sophia and I are celebrating our six month anniversary of living in Shanghai, China. Although we've out been of the U.S. for over a year, this is the first place that we've settled down and really started to experience these 3 phases. I'm sure this is not an exhaustive list of phases I will go through but I believe that they may be the most important.
Phase 1: Honeymoon
Oohh...ahhhh...this is what I must...

It has been quite a while since I’ve written anything on our blog so I figure that now that Brett is off mountain biking and I don’t have work for a few days, it would be a good chance to get caught up. Everything has been a whirlwind ever since we left Brazil, flew to Texas for a week, then Colorado for another week and then finally ended up in Shanghai, China after almost 24 hours of travel time. We never had jobs while we were traveling Latin America and now that I do it makes it a little...

This was the day we were really looking forward to,our trip to the Great Wall was something we had begun discussing when first formulating the trip! It is of course a must see destination on any trip to China. As you already know from part I of the story, we were in Beijing during the October National Holiday, which means the crowds would be thick. Because of the size (5,500 miles), there are many different parts of the Great Wall to see and explore, we knew that with only one day we could...

It goes without saying that Beijing is a must see for anyone visiting, living or teaching in China. Not just because of the names, but because these places really live up to the hype! This trip was very special for me because it wasn’t just Sophia and I going, but also my father, mother and brother from the U.S. were here! After they arrived we gave them 2 days to get over the jet lag, then we were headed to the new high speed train from Shanghai to Beijing....

Since our last trip to Hangzhou, Sophia and I had been itching to get out of town and see more of China. On the recommendation of a co-worker, we looked into Huangshan Mountain, also known as Yellow Mountain.   It is a little bit confusing without a guide book and we were having trouble finding much information online.  We weren’t even sure if we should take a train or a bus. Turns out the bus is definitely faster, about 5 hours getting there and 6 coming back (in traffic).  We originally planned...

This journey starts out at 6:00am with a 10 minute walk to the metro station on Dong an’ road. I lucked out and my flight to Shenzhen (borders Hong Kong) was leaving from the airport closest to our apartment, it’s called Hongqiao. Of course you can fly directly into Hong Kong, but this route can save you around USD$100 depending on when you book. I made it to the airport and was quite surprised that we boarded the plane on-time. In my experience and from what I’ve read, flights in China are...

I wanted to tell everyone about my trip to the Formula 1 UBS Chinese Grand Prix race last weekend. If you're looking for a great way to spend your weekend while teaching abroad in Shanghai, it’s a pretty amazing way to spend a Sunday.  In true Chinese - Shanghai fashion, they went above and beyond on constructing this track. From what I read, it is most expensive track on the entire circuit. Looking at the pictures, I think you’ll...

China being an ancient culture with 3,000+ years of history brings with it many customs, traditions and ways of doing things. This isn’t meant to be a complete list of all of them, but just some day to day things that I’ve learned and may benefit you on your adventure to teach abroad in China.

It occurred to me that some people may go to teach abroad and assume that just because they are in another country that amazing things are going to happen to them. In some cases this may be true, if you lie low and don’t do much, it will probably still be a great experience.  Of course this is the “easiest” path, stay in your comfort zone and let time pass you by.  But that’s not the kind of person you are, that’s not why you’ve chosen to teach...