All posts by Ben Noon

TEFL teacher and proud president of ChinaTEFLer.com.
Yuyuan gardens, Shanghai

5 quick tips to make the most of your year in China

There are fewer things more daunting than packing your belongings and flying over to the other side of the world to start a completely new life in a strange country with a strange language. Although it is undeniable that almost all new teachers gain a lot from China, there are still those that gain more than others. Here’s 5 quick pointers to help make your china trip the best it can be. 1 Learn a little Chinese before you go Chinese is a very different language from English and its vast differentiation in the way it is expressed both orally…

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ong Kong skyline from the Peak

Why spending a year or more in China is a solid investment

China is not only a great adventure but also a sound investment that pays for its self many times over. Here’s how. Learn the language Working in China gives you an unique and excellent opportunity to learn mandarin Chinese. As the most widely spoken language in the world and the official language of one of the largest economies in the world its no surprise that learning mandarin Chinese is excellent for improving your career prospects. Proficiency in mandarin Chinese opens the door to many business internships in large Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Beijing and once you return home…

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The forbidden city

Top 4 mistakes NOT to make in China

We recommend doing many things in China. Here’s four that we most certainly don’t! 4 Not learning the language You have the opportunity in China unlike any other. To learn the worlds most spoken language in its home nation. Surrounding yourself in an environment that speaks Chinese creates optimal conditions for learning, speaking and practising your mandarin. As China becomes an increasingly prominent player in global affairs, proficiency in the nations tongue is becoming more and more desirable  to international employers and taking the time to learn this fascinating, rich language is something that will pay dividends for years to…

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Shanghai finance building

The best things about China that you don’t even know about

Its common knowledge that China has an abundance of cheap, delicious food and friendly locals, here’s a few cool things that you didn’t know. Many clubs are free, some pay you to drink We’ve heard for quite some time that many clubs offer free drinks to foreigners whom sign up on the guest list. What is even crazier is that now some clubs even pay foreigners to frequent their establishment. The reasoning behind this is the same reason that many clubs provide free drinks to foreigners. The theory is that by filling the club with trendy foreigners the club will…

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