When I arrived in Shanghai to teach ESL in late August I was a starry-eyed 24-year-old who had never lived abroad before. Having backpacked throughout Europe for a couple of months the summer beforehand I thought that I knew how culture shock felt. I soon started to question my entire concept of reality when I entered a bathroom in China that consisted of 10 holes in the ground and no walls or doors. Reality is a very fragile thing that can be set awry at the smallest abnormality.

My experience in Shanghai has been marked by multiple phases. The first stage which lasted for several months was the honeymoon phase: I was picking up Chinese fairly quickly and I was exulted by the opportunity to experience a different culture. The next phase that occurred during the Christmas holidays was slight homesickness and a desire to be around the familiar. Since then I have gradually made less mistakes in my day to day life and I’ve started to feel like this city is my home. My understanding of normality is now malleable and has undergone many shifts to accommodate my eastern domicile.

This blog entry, which happens to be my last, welcomes the beginning of a new phase in my Shanghai experience. I recently hit my eight month mark in China, which welcomed the transition from an ESL teacher into an international teacher recruiter. The past eight months have been filled with laughter, pride and frustrations in the classroom. Although it wasn’t always easy I’m so glad that I decided to come abroad to teach ESL. I’ve met some of the most interesting people I’ve ever encountered through teaching and I’ve discovered some of my own strengths. I no longer have a fear of speaking in front of groups or putting my knowledge on display.

One of the most significant observations that I’ve been offered through teaching abroad is a varied perspective on education. It was very interesting to experience another culture’s view on academia. Education, something that has become increasingly undervalued in America, is such a significant aspect of Chinese culture. I was also able to see the influence of my native tongue on people from around the world. The power of the English language was something that I had never quite understood until I taught abroad. It has become a bridge language that enables people from all over the world to connect with each other. I’ve never been especially good at learning other languages and I’ve never felt any need to push myself to be fluent. The diligence of all of my young Chinese students was awe-inspiring. Their desire to excel in their studies blew my mind daily. Being an esl teacher granted me a view into Chinese culture in a way that I never would have been granted otherwise. I was given a front row seat to the affects of the One Child Policy as well as the influence of western culture in the east.

Teaching ESL in China also allowed me to work with Chinese staff who helped me greatly when ‘ting bu dong’ and looks of utter confusion just weren’t cutting it. I’ve had the opportunity to travel to different cities around Shanghai with my Chinese friends who I met through work. I had a couple of my local coworkers on speed dial at the beginning, but our friendships have since evolved into normal symbiotic relationships. My frantic phone calls asking them to translate something for me has steadily dwindled. They were patient, incredibly helpful and generously shared their culture with me.

Unlike many other jobs that a Westerner can pursue in China, ESL teachers are in constant demand and they can live quite well. Teaching ESL allows one to save money, attain teaching experience and to be exposed to the fascinating culture of this nation. Most importantly, moving abroad has shown me the importance of maintaining a positive attitude. In the midst of challenges that arise, being open to learning from mistakes will allow you to gain wisdom from an experience. With my final ‘Teaching English’ entry I bid adieu to teaching ESL and welcome a new phase that will hopefully open up as many opportunities as my teaching position did for me. I know that coming here to teach ESL will affect my life forever, although I’m still gathering the pieces to figure out exactly how it will shape me.

EF English First is looking for dynamic, student-oriented English teachers who are serious about motivating students and having an impact on their lives. Positions are currently available in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou & Shenzhen to teach either adults or young learners.