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About Me
Ni Hao, I am a second year teacher at EF. My first year I was working in Jakarta and now I am in tropical China if you can call it such a thing, I am living in a city called Dongguan which is about 1.5hrs overland to Hong Kong. I originally come from Derbyshire in England but have lived in other places such as London and Prague. I have travelled a little around Spain, mostly in the south but would love to do more travelling around the world. I am engaged to a beautiful Indonesian girl who is also a teacher. I met her in my first school. We plan to teach together in China and travel and see the big wide world.
Favourite quote: Do you know the difference between education and experience? Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't. Pete Seeger.
Remember to keep up to date with my blog that is regularly updated once a week.
Check out my interview with i-to-i at http://www.onlinetefl.com/tefl-freedom/teaching-in-indonesia.html
My Friends (38)
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- i-to-i
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Your source of all TEFL-related information... If you're thinking...
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- shanshan
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Im 22 years old and from London. I love travelling...
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- ClaireLucy
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I work for i-to-i TEFL Australia (i'm the one with...
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robertclarke said:
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robertclarke said:
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robertclarke said:
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robertclarke said:
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robertclarke said:
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gtfelix said:
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Spiwak432 said:
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Melinda154 said:
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Melinda154 said:
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Rin said:
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Rin said:
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SamLennie said:
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msmitusa said:
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stphcon said:
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roberts121 said:
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Rin said:
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Rin said:
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AlixM09 said:
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honor said:
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Rin said:
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JaneLloyd said:
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Rin said:
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sandychow17 said:
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honor said:
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SamLennie said:
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emmafoers said:
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emmafoers said:
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Rin said:
“I just checked on the map. Dongguan is fairly close...”
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Rin said:
“Ooh, near Hong Kong! Sounds nice. :) I'm looking at...”
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Rin said:
“Great post! :) Yes, i think i would have done...”
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Rin said:
“Aaaah! Monkeys are great! I love them. He's soooo cute!...”
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ibnusulhan said:
“Thank you for the tips. Greatly appreciated!”
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ibnusulhan said:
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Rin said:
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ibnusulhan said:
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kallenfranchise said:
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kallenfranchise said:
“In regards to the forgetful kid, you could have deducted...”
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honor said:
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dean said:
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katieloudreaming said:
“Congratulations Robert......what a beautiful story to tell your future children....”
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kallenfranchise said:
“Good activity, man! It seemed that the students enjoyed it ...”
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plumsropey said:
“Way to go Robert!!! Congrats!”
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Rin said:
“Hi Robert, My name's Denise and me and my boyfriend...”
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sandychow17 said:
“Congratulations to the both of you.”
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lindee said:
“Congratulations to you both!”
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SKENT said:
“Congratulations to you both! I really wish you abundant happiness and...”
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kallenfranchise said:
“Congratulations. Best wishes to you and Astrid.”
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nojohnso said:
“Congratulations, Robert!”
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JaneLloyd said:
“Congratulations Robert & Astrid, wishing you many many blissful years...”
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i-to-i said:
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SamLennie said:
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kallenfranchise said:
“I hope you feel better man. I know you love...”
about Taman Safari and the hospital (Post)
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nojohnso said:
“Sorry to hear about your leg, man. I hope it's...”
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SKENT said:
“Glad to hear you're getting treatment, thank goodness you took prompt...”
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i-to-i said:
“Hope you feel better soon Robert!”
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cbc77 said:
“Heres some advice if anyone is planning on going to...”
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snowfallrain said:
“feel better soon!”
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honor said:
“aw, hope you feel better soon Robert! Great blog...”
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GML5 said:
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sandychow17 said:
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honor said:
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emmafoers said:
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ianred said:
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ianred said:
“Hey Rob Cheers mate, yeah I'm nervous and looking forward...”
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sandychow17 said:
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ianred said:
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honor said:
“That guy on the bus sounds super-weird... Great post though...”
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cat777 said:
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emmafoers said:
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emmafoers said:
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SamLennie said:
“I fall for the Copy and Paste trick everytime! Good...”
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emmafoers said:
“Haha! Yeah and if you say "Ohhh I haven't ever...”
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emmafoers said:
“Aw I miss teaching conversation classes - a great chance...”
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i-to-i said:
“Haha - I can imagine the temptation of copying and...”
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rorsm said:
“Hi, I would not recommend teaching for IEC in Medan,...”
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SamLennie said:
“It sounds really beautiful there! im very jealous. Do you...”
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Cherogoth said:
“Hehehehehe brilliant ^_^”
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SamLennie said:
“Enjoy Bali! I've heard it is relly beautiful so make...”
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honor said:
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Wdespins said:
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shanshan said:
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TeeNickle said:
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SamLennie said:
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CandiceMyb said:
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shanshan said:
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Wdespins said:
“Bali Ojeck driver-"Ojek Ojeck, Mr. you want Ojek. Dimana Mr."...”
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Wdespins said:
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CandiceMyb said:
“Hi Robert I start teaching in Indonesia in March so...”
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Cherogoth said:
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Cherogoth said:
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Cherogoth said:
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honor said:
“Love it! Very many wise words indeed!”
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honor said:
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AndrewJack said:
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AndrewJack said:
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Whereverimayroam said:
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SamLennie said:
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nojohnso said:
“I love your videos! Keep'm comin'! :D”
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SamLennie said:
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honor said:
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kelmorrison39 said:
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Lena_Smith said:
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nessgell said:
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nessgell said:
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nessgell said:
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clemrobin said:
“Looking forward to reading all of your updates Robert!”
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antonia said:
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shawnthenelson said:
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shawnthenelson said:
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shanshan said:
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ecsnell said:
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shanshan said:
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i-to-i said:
“Awesome! Looking forward to hearing all about it!”
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Recent Blog Posts
Busy boy
- robertclarke
- Apr 08, 2010
- Views (254)
- Comments (0)
Well it’s been a busy week, I haven’t been teaching too much but I have been getting to know Dongguan! The city has so much to offer, from local 4 kuai ($0.35) food to expensive western restaurants. From Places to go shopping, to places to go and relax and all for a reasonable price. I have spent more money than I imagined in the week I have been here but I have made some...
Welcome to China
- robertclarke
- Mar 30, 2010
- Views (115)
- Comments (1)
I arrived in China at around 9:30pm, this was when my visa was stamped and I set foot on Chinese soil. The timing of my arrival was perfect; I got through Hong Kong immigration and looked at the screen for where my baggage was. Walking to it I was looking with the hope my baggage would be coming although I doubted it then what do I see? That’s right it was my bag, I...
read more
View my blog
Recent Discussion in robertclarke’s Groups
| Group | Topic | Activity | Posts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | ECC Melbourne interviews - Who else is going? | hours ago | 1 |
| Indonesia | Indonesia OCT 2010 | 8:29AM | 4 |
| Japan | NEED HELP!!! | 2:35AM | 1 |
| Teach in China Internship | So, who's going? | 10:19PM | 123 |
| Teach in China Internship | floods and jabs | 9:54PM | 1 |
View my Groups
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Profile Comments
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Log in to leave a comment or Create an accounthi rob my name is gary or gtfelix, honor pointed me in your direction (love the pic by the way) i am doing the 60 hour online course at the moment but only have very basic gcse's from school, honor tell me that you never went to uni (but not what you got from school or collage) i want to ask you of any difficulties you might of had finding a job in china hope to hear from you soon
Impressive list of locations! I'm jealous. And congratulations on the engagement (if you aren't married already). Just stopping by to say though! So... hi!
hi Rob thank you for the heads up on things. i'm all new to this. if you have any other tips or views on the best places to go let me know. :-)
Have a great day.
Hi Rob,
Hope you dont mine me contacting you i was advise that you have worked in Indonesia. I'm looking to work there but dont know where to start looking. Can you give me any tips?
Kind regards
Melinda
Hi Robert :)
How are things going in Dongguan? I will be flying into Beijing on 31st May, so am very excited!! Haven't seen you post for a while. Hope all is well with you!
Hey Robert hows things?
Is life in China suiting you well?
Looking forward to hearing about your new classes!
Sam
Hi Robert, I am considering applying for a job in indonesia, can you fill me in on what happens etc. I have never been away from home for more than 5 months and am finding it nerve wrecking thinking about it. I just need to know the basics like visa application and what its like living there ya know the usual. I also know 2 lads who I have done the course with and they are heading to China to teach. They have asked me to go there with them but Im unsure of what to do. Can you help me out with your experience pls. Thanks. Stephanie.
Hello Robert Clarke. I see you spent a year teaching in Indonesia - I am seriously considering this option after China. What is Jakarta like? Because after being in the hustle and bustle of a city for 5 months I'm looking to live somewhere quite pretty and perhaps a little calmer/laid back. Did you apply for your placement through i-to-i/another organsiation/yourself? I'm thinking Bali might be a good option but I'm not sure if there will be much work there? Ahhhh I'm so stuck with what to do next! Please help!
Sophie
Thanks for the link, looks interesting! I have been to the site but i can't really work out what it is? As long as i can get the diploma thats all that matters! :)
I've been thinking about going on Peublo Ingles as well. It looks fun! I've been told to try and get as many certificates as possible as China is very big on documents. Basically, the more i have the better.
Regarding the Z Visa, don't the school need to apply for the Foreign Expert Permit for you, so they can do the invitations? Its all very confusing! I thought that once the school have given you the invites, you then go to the embassy to get the Z Visa. But in order to be able to supply you with an invitation i thought you had to be a foreign Expert??
Why is it so complicated!
So what EF were you at in Indonesia, and what EF are you going to in China? Thanks for letting me use you for a name drop if i need to. Much appreciated! :)
Well, maybe i'll see you this spring in China! :)
Hi Robert,
How are you? Hope your doing okay :)
Just had a question or two really..
When you got your visa for China, did they ask for a degree certificate or was your TEFL and experience enough for the Foreign Experts Permit? I have been reading a lot lately that some provinces won't even think about giving out an FEP without a minimum of a 4 year BA. This is kinda scary!! Have you heard anyything like this?
Also i have just had an interview at EF in Weihai, Shandong province. what a great company, and school! The contract looks spot on! Would you mind if i mentioned that i knew someone that works for EF (you)? I've been told name dropping always helps with the Chinese schools!
Depending on where i end up in China, maybe we could all meet up! Would be cool!
Take care :)
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