Blog Roundup October 17
Start writing a blog about your teaching experiences in China! There is a blogging competition being held among foreign teachers in China. They’re offering $400 in prize money!
here Read more
Foreign ESL Teachers’ Salaries On The Rise
This is good news for all of us. Compared to this time a few years ago the average hourly pay for a foreign ESL teacher in Beijing has raised nearly 20%. My only guess is that this increase will, or already has, been felt in other provinces of China as well. Read more
Warm-up exercises to use in your ESL classroom
A good warm-up exercise can really change the entire feel and flow of your classroom. Here are a few good warm-up exercises that may help make a difference. Read more
Blog Roundup 8th October
Highlight: Watch a movie from this class’s ESL project and get some ideas of your own. here Read more
F visas are back!
This past week I received a number of emails from Hong Kong visa agencies saying in so many words, “We can do F visas again!”
Over the Olympics the Chinese government made it basically impossible to get your hands on any kind of business “F” visa. Before the Olympics, an F visa was the visa of choice for expats living in China who where either working on their own or otherwise freelancing. So it seems that all the rumors of being able to get an F visa again after the Olympics end are true. Read more
Are you Compatible? (Classroom activity, 20-30 minutes)
This activity is best if you start by asking the students questions about girlfriends and boyfriends. This will grab middle school and university students’ attention right away. You can ask questions like…
When do most Chinese people have their first girl/boyfriend?
What do Chinese parents think about having a girl/boyfriend?
What famous couples do you know from Hollywood? Read more
Foreign ESL Teacher’s Reputation (let’s not let what happened in S. Korea happen in China)
My first experience in China may have been very similar to many of yours’. I was a celebrity in a small city and it seemed as though I could do no wrong. I was a king. I had NO teaching experience whatsoever yet I was a “Foreign Expert.” This fact has created a bit of a problem among the foreign teacher community in Asia. Read more
Giving Chinese Students English Names
At some point in your ESL teaching career a student will ask you to give him or her an English name. My advice to you is to take care and time in doing this. Read more