ELTIC Global, my experience!
After recently applying for an TEFL job in China with ELTIC Global and then accepting it and starting my adventure; I thought it would be a good idea for me to write about my experience so that other people can get a picture of what it is like. I love travelling and experiencing new cultures so when this opportunity came along I jumped at the chance and have loved most of it so far.
I first came across the ELTIC advert through my university job pages, I was so excited when I read through it and applied. I did a little bit of research after sending my application but it was mostly about China and TEFL teaching in general. When I first heard from them they explained some of the basic details about the job and how they work and then informed me of the application process. The first thing I had to do was an assessment, this was done over the phone with someone in their recruitment department. She was Chinese and a little hard to understand at times but overall she was very pleasant and asked me lots of questions.
After the assessment I was even more excited as I thought it had gone really well. I started looking into Guangdong province and the cities that ELTIC worked in and finding places to visit and information about the places I might be living and working. I had another call from their recruitment team later on that week and they told me I had been accepted! WOOHOO!! I was over the moon. They told me all about themselves and what they did and about the work, the areas they worked in. I had 2 pages of questions to ask as well haha, but he was excellent and answered all of my questions and we chatted for about an hour.
When I had finished that phone call and calmed down a bit I called one of my friends and told her everything, she was excited for me but concerned as well. She asked if I had researched the company and things like that, it had completely slipped my mind! All I had done was research the job and China! I then did a search to find out about ELTIC Global, there wasnât a whole load of information but there was their website etc. The thing that worried me was a couple of blogs about how people hadnât had a good experience and to be careful and things like this. The first thing I did was call them back and ask them about them. They explained all about them and what had happened and how they were working on having them removed and trying to get more good comments on there, so I hope this helps. Basically it was down to a couple of disgruntled ex teachers who had taken it upon themselves to try and ruin their reputation and hurt them financially.
Anyway the long and short of it was I went through with the process after speaking to my parents and friends (my parents also spoke to the company to double check everything). I arrived at the end of July in Hong Kong with 5 other teachers and was met by their MD Michael Cavill. He was very friendly with us and excellent at getting us organized and telling us what would be happening that day and what we had to do. The first thing we did was open bank accounts so we could be paid into those. Then we got a private hire car from the airport to the border crossing into mainland China. I guess it was a bit of a drag after coming off such a long plane journey but it had to be done.
Once we got to the mainland Michael drove us to the hotel in Shenzhen where we would be doing the training. It was an experience being on the roads in China, its like organised chaos but we got there safely enough. At the hotel we got checked in and were told we could go an relax and chill out for the rest of the afternoon and we would meet later for dinner. When we went out Michael treated us to a nice meal and we all got chatting and getting to know each other a bit better. We then started the training the next day where we also met some of the other staff, Ollie who I had been speaking to in the recruitment department, Sandy who was the girl I did the assessment with and also Coco and Lucas who arranged the placements and schools for us.
The training was ok, we did a lot of practice and learnt some games to play with the kids and so on. It was a bit all over the place and could have been better but we were asked how everything could have been improved at the end of the third training day so that they could improve each time. We then did the placement stage. I met with about 6 schools I think, some of them came to see us and I went to some of them to see them in Shenzhen. I got 4 offers and got to choose the one I liked the most. In the end I went with a Kindergarten in Shenzhen which I really liked when I met them, the boss had excellent English and the school was really nice. All the teachers I work with are very friendly and we go out drinking and for dinner a lot.
My apartment is only a 10 minute walk away from the school and it is reasonably nice. I have everything I need like a sofa and bed, the kitchen isnât great but I think all Chinese apartments are the same from what I have seen of the other teachers place and my friends places. Im close to the metro so I can get all over Shenzhen, Ive not got friends from all over the world haha.
The teaching has been amazing, the kids can be a handful at times and a pain in the arse but most of the time they are so much fun. We play lots of games and sing songs, they have so much energy. It has been really rewarding watching all of them grow a little each week with their English skills.
Ultimately this has been one of the best things I have done with my life and I cant see myself leaving China for a few years. I have had no problems with ELTIC Global and they have helped me whenever I have needed it. The school, the apartment and kids are fantastic and I would urge anybody thinking of doing this to do it! You wont regret it!
Living it up in China,
Lewis