katieloudreaming

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Well exams are done, marking completed, results submitted and ready for a holiday. That was until i was informed that the students who failed will have to sit another exam which I will have to prepare!!!! Who is being punished here I ask?!? Not only that, i have also been informed if they dont pass the second exam they get a third chance....guess who will all be passing the second one....not ricket science to work...

Business as usual......

Hope everyone has had a good Christmas Day.....all quiet here in China - very much business as usual. It still seems strange to see students sitting in class on Xmas day!!! Spent Xmas eve as a guest foreign teacher at a very small private primary school and was made very welocme by all the students. Thety do not have a regular Engllish teacher so were more than happy to try out their english speaking skills...

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Recent Discussion in katieloudreaming’s Groups

Group	Topic	Activity	Posts
Teach in China Internship	August 2012 china	February 02	82
Mature-aged TEFLers	How old is too old?	February 01	10
China	Hong Kong or Guangdong	January 31	1
China	EF Tangshan, Hebei Province	January 17	14
Teach in China Internship	January 2012 China Internship	January 12	140

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Hi Katie!

I recently saw a post of yours saying that you didn't go through the China internship on here. As I didn't apply in time for the internship that starts this month, I was just wondering what company/group you went through? I'm still a current student in Uni but I'm taking some time off to think things through and thought this would be a great oppurtunity for me to learn and experience something different. Plus, teaching English abroad was always my goal after Uni.

Hope to hear from you! :)

~Ellarina

Hi Bethany

Good on you for being proactive. I also did this alone but find that you soon make new friends wherever you go. If you have any specific questions feel free to contact me at any time. I am more than happy to help out. I can honestly say this has been the BEST thing I've done and it has renewed my spirit and zest for life.

Tibet was truly a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget so I'm glad you enjoyed reading my tale.

Cheers, Katie. x

Hi Katie,

Thank you for accepting my friend request... I stumbled across your blog and found it fascinating and really informative as China is one of the places I want to go. You are inspiring, you've giving me some confidence to do something rather then talk about it. So thank you...I'm just doing lots of research at the minute, saving up some money and hoping to be there before September. So if you could help with this I would be truly grateful. It's my first time travelling and doing it alone has always put me off but the nomal mundane, monotonous humdrum of everyday life is slowly killing my spirit and I need to break free before it breaks me.

Really enjoyed your blog about Tibet, it's a place that's always intrigued me, I've read the Tibetan book of the dead, the culture seems enchanting. Definitely a place of I want to visit.

Thank you

Bethany.x

Hi Louise, sorry about the delay in replying but somehow I missed your post :(

Glad that you are enjoying my blog and I hope that I have inspired you to follow your dreams. In response to your question - I don't find it lonely at all. The Chinese students are very friendly and are always wanting to help you do things (sometimes a bit too often!) and I do meet other foreigners/expats. I think if you are friendly and outgoing you will find that you will be inundated with offers and never have time to be lonely. I have just started to learn Chinese and ALL my students want to help me!!

Cheers, Katie.

Hi Katie!

I just wanted to say that I came across your blog and I'm really enjoying it! I'm very interested in teaching in China when I finish at university and you are giving me a real insight into what can be expected. I just have one question-do you find it lonely at all being the only foreign person in your area?

Louise :D

Thanks for your reply Katie! I am sure I am going to enjoy the experience. Will be in touch if I have any other questions for you.

Cheers Aileen

Hi Aileen, great that you are enjoying my blog. It is always good to hear that people are actually interested enough to read about this wonderful life! I am sure you will have no regrets about taking on this new role and will have so many opportunities to experience as you explore this fantastic country.

As to what you can't get easily here......good skin care products without whitening agents in them. nearly everything here has whitening in it as the Chinese ladies want nice, white skin! Heavens only knows what is used so I suggest you bring your own. also if you want tanning products bring those - you wont find them in China. Another item is tampons if you use them - its very much the big pad brigade here!! Perfume is another item that tends to be more expensive here than Aus - i usually stock up with specials or duty free before I head back. Not sure what else......

It often depends where you are living. Some smaller cities have very little choice and few, if any western products. Larger cities tend to be OK. If you thunk of specific items you like let me know and I can advise you of their availability here.

Any other questions that arise as you prepare for your journey, please feel free to contact me. I am more than happy to help a fellow Aussie!!!

Cheers, Katie.

Hi Katie, I have recently received my acceptance letter for the China Internship 2012 and I have just spent some time today looking around Chalkboard and am probably only half way through reading your blog (which I am really finding interesting). I am from Australia (Adelaide) and wonder exactly what you refer to when you mention "the many necessities you can't get in China"

Like you, I nursed for a number of years, and am now leaving my role as a Project Manager with Department of Health to teach English and basically spend the next few years travelling the world. Any information you can provide re items I should bring with me would be appreciated.

Cheers Aileen

I am considering completing an intensive four week CELTA course in Ireland as opposed to an online course. I have a Master's Degree and have progressed to the level of Fellowship. Therefore, I am hoping that I will be able to obtain Foreign Expert status.

I have been carrying out a lot of research and note that there are a lot of different corporate bodies, agencies, etc. out there, which recruit and/or assist with placement teaching positions. From my search it seems that a lot of these are misleading as to hours of work, rate of pay, accomodation, etc. - there seems to be a lot of horror stories out there. I would be very grateful to hear from you in this regard. Did you use an agency? Any agencies, etc., which you would recommend? I note that this is your second year teaching Chinese and I would be very grateful to hear how you secured your first and especially your new job, if you applied to the University yourself?

In relation to obtaining your Z visa, did the process take long? I am presuming you had to secure your teaching position first? I have been working and living in Bermuda for the past three years and therefore am familiar with the bureaucracy of obtaining permits (and also living away from "home"). I would ideally like to complete the CELTA course in November and secure a teaching position in China for the New Year. Therefore any advice would be most welcomed!

I must admit you are an inspiration to me, taking the bull by the horns - career change and advancement, living in a foreign country with such a positive attitude and sense of light heartedness.

I look forward to hearing from you and I thank you in advance for any advice, words of wisdom, which you may have.

All the best,

Kim

Hi Katie, first of all thank you for posting your blogs - very informative and positive! I am considering a career change away from the corporate/legal practice area after thirteen years. My goal is to teach English in China and learn conversational Mandarin. I am Irish and look Chinese, as my Mother is Irish and my father Chinese. I wonder if you have come across any teachers who look Chinese but are in fact like myself, and if so, if their experience has differed greatly from yours i.e. if their fellow teachers, students, etc. have treated them differently.

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