Sasha Peakall, from Australia, 2010 (i-to-i intern: Shaoxing Experimental Primary School)

There’s nothing quite like getting a true Chinese food baptism of fire from the school cafeteria serving up some delicious foods, some downright strange foods and some foods I would not bother going back for seconds let alone eating ever again. 

There’s nothing like walking down the school corridors to a chorus of excited Chinese kids screaming ‘Hello’ at you as if you were some kind of Rock star! There’s nothing like miming your way through conversations and realising that it’s not important so much what is said but that you’re both still smiling or better yet laughing at the language barrier predicament you’re both in.

Teaching English in China is not only a great way to fund your travels but also a great way to live and immerse yourself in the Chinese lifestyle.

Simply there’s nothing quite like the experience you will get living and teaching in China. China is the place to be!

Niles Erikson, from U.S.A., 2009 (i-to-i intern: Huomao Foreign Language School)

Travelling in China has proven to be an exciting and adventurous journey, and I was glad to have the TTC program there at the beginning to give me an introduction to the Chinese culture.

Not only is China a great place to travel, but it is also a great starting point for anybody who wishes to experience teaching English abroad. In my experience, the school I joined was helpful in providing sufficient housing and the international office was always easy to reach for assistance.

I also liked that I had the freedom to practice different teaching methods in the classroom. The best advice for any new teacher in China is to get involved with your school, keep an open mind, and try to keep a positive attitude with every situation you have to face.

I've met many life-long friends through the program, and it's also been beneficial to have the TTC crew there to answer all of my questions throughout my stay. TTC truly is a great way to teach and travel China!

Merte Bosch, from Germany, 2009 (Tangshan Weisidun Training School)

At the start of 2009, I found a program for young people called Teach and Travel China. I am not a teacher and I am not a native speaker, I am an old lady. At the end of the year I will be 69 and I used English a lot during my professional life. What an adventure I thought, to live for half a year in China as an English teacher. I have never been a teacher, the same as most of the other people on the program, and we did not speak Chinese so we needed some very special preparation for teaching English to Chinese students.

TTC gave us a four weeks training in Beijing. Our task was to help the Chinese students with their pronunciation, understanding and speaking of the English language. After this training, TTC sent us to a school. We could tell them our preferences from North, North East, Central or South and we were sent on our travels to our new home.

I was placed with a 27 year old Scotsman I was sent to Tangshan, around 220km east of Beijing. Initially I thought that I could go alone to any place in China. However, time told me that I needed the company of this intelligent, friendly and funny young man.

I became more patient, more modest and I learned a lot about China. If you want to know more about China, come and join the TTC program!

Patrick Bernard, from UK, 2009 (Miyun Experimental Middle School)

I came to China to get a real image of a country I knew nothing about. I really wanted to avoid the tourist trips in a hurried two week stop off on an oriental tour. TTC offered the best way of doing this. It’s really not the China I was expecting, not the Kung Fu Panda scene of idyllic villages and ox drawn karts but mental busses, deep fried Sea Horse and friendly taxi drivers who take the Highway Code as a bit more of a guide. That’s not to say the idyllic villages don’t exist, you just have to find them. There’s so much to explore it’s impossible to settle into a routine.

There’s this impulse to get out for the weekends and take the train down to Sichuan or Hong Kong. Every province, almost every town has a really distinct feel to it, the good bits and the bad. The people you meet really make the trip too. There’s already a plan to go on a train journey around china for a couple of months with some of the people from the course. It’s not just the other teachers either. The students at our placement are always friendly and we constantly get cheery shouts of “hello” or invitations to their houses, out for meals or to join games of Basketball.

It’s a totally different culture, and it’s all incredible. Of course you have to be open-minded, but if you can manage that, the whole experience will be one of the best you will ever have.

Seòna McKechnie, from UK, 2008 (Nanhai Nan Guang Billingual School)

The TTC staff, as well as being a truly fantastic bunch of people, put themselves out to help you when you have a problem. They are very accommodating and I’m glad I had that support behind me. My school was incredible and if I could take it home with me, I would! The teachers were extremely friendly and the students are affectionate and inquisitive. Everybody wants to be your friend and learn English from you.

Two students have even told me that I should live in China permanently instead of going home. Living in China certainly tests you sometimes; plans change last minute, often without an explanation; it can be especially frustrating when others shrug everything off saying “That’s China” but it’s just a case of accepting the Chinese way of life and rolling with it. It’s a fun ride.

The whole experience has been made of both good and bad parts but when things go wrong, it only adds character and priceless memories. Overall, it has been absolutely amazing. Teaching in China was not what I had intended doing with my gap year, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Austen Toone, from UK, 2008 (Prince Island Kindergarten)

Teach and Travel China (TTC) has been the most exceptional experience of my life so far. I went from being a typical 18 year old in Essex, to a kindergarten teacher that the kids love. I have never been happier working and I wake up every morning ready to handle the children (with or without lesson plans). This experience has set me up for university because I was tackling the challenges of living away from home head on. Although I felt scared and really homesick at the beginning, now I am in love with China and I cannot think of leaving. It's the trip of endless possibilities, just go for it, come here with an open mind and you'll have the experience of a lifetime.

Will Huddleston, from UK, 2007 (Guangqumen Middle School)

The Teach and Travel China experience has been one of the most fulfilling and exciting things I have done in my life. The program offered me a chance to see and live in China for an extended period of time and discover the richness of Chinese culture. The program trained me how to teach English and I am now qualified to teach English as a foreign language.

The staff of TTC were fantastic, helping with all aspects of settling into a new lifestyle and culture. This program allows participants to meet many interesting people and make friends from all over the world. Sending Partner were very helpful before my departure, offering advice and suggestions to make my trip as easy as possible.

For anyone considering this trip, my advice would be to just go for it, I've had some amazing experiences and made some life long friends, it's been thoroughly enjoyable.

Piotr Katny, from Poland, 2007 (Huairou Number 1 Middle School)

I was back at home feeling bored and decided I wanted to do something interesting and exciting. China had a lot of appeal to me and the program sounded perfect for my situation. When I got here I didn’t know what to expect but that anxiety was quickly extinguished.

The staff was incredibly helpful, I met some great friends from both China and overseas and thoroughly enjoyed my placement where I got to teach a bunch of enthusiastic kids.
To properly see another part of the world, experience the culture and its people and considering the skills and memories I got to take away, the program truly was worth every penny I spent.

Robbert Cornelissen, from Holland, 2006

China is amazing, but even better if for some time you can really be part of it. I decided to go to China although I wasn’t really sure, looking back it is one of the best decisions I ever made. Comparing different cultures is great, I learned a lot about the eastern cultures and about my own.

I was placed at a Kindergarten, and although it wasn’t my first choice it was fun every day and I’m still amazed by my students’ level of English. The students in the kindergarten pick up new English words very quickly and they love having English classes with a foreign teacher. For my classes I used a lot of songs and flash cards to teach them new English.
The organisation even helped me with a part-time job so I could teach adults in the evening.

I still talk/email every week with people all over the world who I met during my Teach and Travel program, and made friends for life.
I’m not sure I’m going to use my TEFL ever again, but at least it’s in the pocket

Greg Cheney, from UK, 2006

The teaching itself is really fun and satisfying. I can feel happy when I walk away from the class knowing that these kids will benefit from something I have taught them. The volunteer accommodation is good considering, a little basic but when you're here for a year it can very easily be made into home!

China is fantastic - the odd tropical storm never hurt anyone! The local people stare in fascination and the people you meet are so happy to meet you and to be able to say they know a westerner... it's unbelievable!

In all, an amazing and life changing experience that I'd recommend to anyone!!