Teach English in Nanjing!
Nanjing rests a short distance from Shanghai and is the capital of Jiangsu province. For a good part of China’s history, Nanjing served as a capital city during several dynasties. The city is located on the Yangzi River basin and is often referred to as one of the Four Ancient Capitals of China. This doesn’t mean that everything in Nanjing is ancient! Because of its distinction as an important city, the Chinese government has spent a good chunk of change updating and modernizing the city. Most recently, the city has been chosen to host the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics which, of course, requires an updating of older facilities, the building of new facilities, and expansion of public transportation. The population within the city is only 7 million, fairly small by Chinese standards, but the commercial economy is the second largest in China.
Requirements to Teach English in Nanjing
- You must have a Bachelor’s degree
- You must have a 120+ hour TEFL certificate
- You must have one year of formal post-graduate teaching experience
- You must be enthusiastic about teaching in one of China’s great cities!
A Brief History of Nanjing
Much of what is known about Nanjing’s early history is the stuff legends are made of, quite literally! Many of the famous people, places, battles appear only in China’s most ancient literature and there really aren’t many archaeological finds to back up the claims, but this isn’t surprising given that Nanjing has been destroyed and rebuilt more than any other city. Nanjing was always one of the first cities attacked and rebuilt when new dynasties came to claim the throne.
During the early 15th century, the emperor of the Ming dynasty decided to relocate the capital from Nanjing to what is now called Beijing, which is why the tombs of the Ming emperors can still be found in the latter, even though the capital continually moved back and forth even throughout much of the 17th to 20th centuries.
When the Revolutionaries took over the south and later all of China, Nanjing remained headquarters until it was invaded by the Japanese during WWII, site of the infamous Nanjing massacres. By the time the communist party took over, the capital was moved to Beijing, where it has been ever since. This is also when Nanjing was made the capital of Jiangsu province, the status it has up to today.
Nanjing Today
The city today, like much of China, mixes old and new. The city is still famous for its textile, high tech, chemical, investment, export, and engineering industries. Virtually every possible type of industry is present in Nanjing. Most people rely on public transportation to get around. Buses are by far the most common and convenient, covering every corner of the city. A subway system has been under development since 2005 and expands every year, with plans to reach 400 miles of service within the next 20 years. Because of its rich history, there is plenty to see in Nanjing, including some of the oldest museums in China. The tomb of Zheng He, the famous Chinese explorer from the 15th century, is a very popular spot for locals and tourist.
For shopping, eating, and bars, the Qinhuai river neighborhood is a popular place to hang out. After a nice meal out along the river, boat tours up and down the river offer a unique experience. Many people decide to cap the night with drinks at one of the many bars in the area.
For those who are looking for a more vibrant night life, Nanjing 1912 is a must visit. This is where all of the clubs, discos, teahouses, and karaoke bars are located. The area becomes most active after 10pm, but if you are looking for an earlier type of night, this is also where Starbucks and other local coffee and tea houses can be found. If you are looking for international cuisine, such as Japanese, Korean, and Western restaurants, you will also find plenty of options in this neighborhood.
If you are looking for a more local evening, Hunan Lu can’t be missed. Along the elaborately decorated streets, pedestrians can find every type of shopping and food stall imaginable. One need not pick one place to get full, as this type of night market is best explored by sampling a little bit of everything, making it a cheap night out with plenty of variety. For those who are more particular, department stores and regular restaurants are also plentiful. Hunan Lu is the type of place you can go back to time and time again while having a unique experience each time.
Deciding where to teach English in Beijing can be a difficult and stressful decision. There are a myriad of English teaching jobs available in Beijing and they don’t always appear to be of the most reputable variety! That’s where Reach To Teach comes in. We carefully screen every school we work with. We mean it when we tell you, “We will only place you at a school we ourselves would work at (and often have worked at previously)”! Reach To Teach cares about each and every one of the teachers we send to teach English in Beijing.
Our careful interview and screening process means that not everyone that applies for a job with Reach To Teach will be accepted. If you are accepted, you can be sure we apply the same strict standards to the schools that we work with in China.
