TESOL Course in CHINA, Shanghai
Why TESOL in Shanghai, China?
One of the most ancient civilizations in the world, China has been the
exotic orient for the western world. Formerly known as the ‘forbidden’
country it has opened its door to a culture that is ancient but also
keeping pace with the modern where 1.2 billion people call home, with
bustling markets, huge cities and surprising open spaces.
“China isn't a country - it's a different world. Unless you have a
couple of years and unlimited patience, it's best to follow a loose
itinerary here, such as following the Silk Road, sailing down the Yangzi
River, or exploring the Dr Seuss landscape of Guangxi Province.From
shop-till-you-drop metropolises to the desert landscapes of Xinjiang,
China is a land of cultural and geographic schisms. It's not that it has
completely done away with its Maoist past - it's more that the yin of
revolutionary zeal is being balanced by the yang of economic
pragmatism”. – The Lonely Planet.
Shanghai is the largest city in China ranked by population and one of
the largest urban areas in the world, with over 20 million people.
What is the attraction?
With a history of more than 700 years, Shanghai was once the financial
center of the Far East. Up until the 7th century AD Shanghai, then known
as Shen or Hu Tu after the local bamboo fishing traps, was a barely
developed marshland.
An ideal port, Shanghai is the gateway to the mighty Yangzi River.
Shanghai which means 'on the sea' derives its name from here. After the
first Opium War, it was little town supported by fishing and weaving.
After the French arrived in 1847 it was established as an International
Settlement. However change was rapid here.
“Today the city continues to grow apace, with new underground stations,
highways crisscrossing the city, the most modern stock exchange in the
world, a swish new airport, two giant bridges and a whole new city in
Pudong. Perhaps no city in the world is as futuristic, and Shanghai has
become the very symbol of China's rise to economic powerhouse status.
It's thought that Shanghai will overtake Hong Kong as an industrial and
financial capital within one or two decades. However, despite the growth
and international investment, poverty is still prevalent.” – Lonely
Planet
What is in Shanghai for you?
In many ways, modern Shanghai is an invention of the west. The Bund, its
riverside area, and Frenchtown are the best places to see the remnants
of its decadent colonial past. Move on to temples, gardens, bazaars and
the striking architecture of the new Shanghai. Shanghai is well known
among the Chinese as the place to shop in China. Ever since the 1930s
the city has been home to the best of China's department stores and
today Shanghai is fast rivaling Hong Kong as a shopper's heaven. The
outdoor bazaar at Yuyuan Garden sells various souvenirs and art & crafts
while the markets the "Cultural Street Market" on Fuzhou Road, the
"Antique Street Market" on Dongtai Road and " Clothes street market on
Shimen Road are traditional Chinese open-air markets. Have a unique
shopping experience as well as see old traditional side of Shanghai,
opposite to its glorious appearance.
Shanghai offers a dazzling array of food and provides an exciting
opportunity for cuisine exploration. Eating out in Shanghai is about
more than just food. It is a social lubricant, a time when families get
together and a major pastime of the people. Shanghai boasts one of
China's best and most distinctive cuisines. Influenced by its position
just south of the Yangtze and at the mouth of the Huangpu, the region
abounds in a selection of freshwater fish and shellfish. Dishes from
this area are lightly and delicately seasoned.
On the tourist map
The Bund is one of the most recognizable architectural symbols of
Shanghai. "Bund" derives from an Anglo-Indian word for an embankment
along a muddy waterfront and that is what it was in the beginning when
the first British company opened an office there in 1846.
On the art map is 50 Moganshan Road Art Centre in Jìng'ān. Chinese
contemporary art has been the hottest thing in the art world for the
last few years and there's no sign of the boom ending, with collectors
paying record prices for the work of top artists.
Put aside a day to poke around the many galleries here. There's some
challenging, innovative art, as well as work that won't last, and there
are places to sip a coffee alongside the gallery owners and the artists
themselves. Galleries showing interesting, quality work include
ShanghArt, Art Scene, Eastlink Gallery and Two Cities which specializes
in 3D art.
Baiyun Temple is on 239 Dajing Rd, Old Town. Relocated from southwest of
the Old Town, the port-red Taoist Baiyun (White Cloud) Temple stands
separated from Dajing Pavilion by Dajing Lane and fronted by a twin-eaved
entrance. The Temple is known for its colossal effigy of the Jade
Emperor (Yùhuáng Dàdì) up the steps in the Xiaobao Hall seated between
two walls studded with smaller deities.
Century Park is Shanghai's largest park at the end of Century Ave in the
east is strong on hard edges and synthetic lines, but there's a great
central lake with boat hire, and bicycle hire for getting around all the
paths. The park is great for flying kites and rollerblading.
Evening and nightlife
Shanghai's entertainment scene, the nation's most exciting, reveals a
hedonism that most people never dreamed existed in communist China. Over
the last couple of years there's been an explosion of nightlife options,
offering everything from the incredibly sleazy to the marginally chic.
The Shanghai International Convention Center is located in the southwest
of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Pudong. There are 259 guest rooms,
including presidential suites, executive suites, standard rooms, Chinese
and Western restaurants, a coffee room, a nightclub, a show room, a gym,
a swimming pool, a bowling room, a billiard room, a sauna bath and a
shopping arcade. Visit the Laocheng (Old Town) Huang Miao shopping
district after 6.30 pm when the lights are on for an experience. Eat
upstairs at one of the restaurants overlooking the square on Yu Yuan Lu
and see the reflections of the night lights.
Weekend excursions
There are several different companies offering sightseeing buses with
various routes and packages covering the main sights such as the
Shanghai Zoo, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, and Baoyang Road Harbor. Most of
the sightseeing buses leave from the Shanghai stadium's east bus.
One can take a walk along Fuxing Road to see classical old buildings and
enjoy the neatness of the road. Or take an elevator to the top of the
Oriental Pearl TV Tower the tallest TV tower in Asia with the height of
468 meters, and on a good day, the sprawling views are spectacular!
Enter Shanghai Xintiandi, Lane 181, Taicang Road. A small pedestrianised
area of the city featuring rebuilt traditional shikumen [stone gate]
houses. Housing a cinema complex, mall, numerous bars, cafés and art
galleries marketed towards foreign visitors and the more affluent
locals. See the giant panda and many more exotic animals at the Shanghai
Zoo. Open daily from 6:30 to 17:00 (16:30 in winter), tickets are ¥30,
or ¥40 including an elephant show.
For a feel of the China of yesteryear, check out Yuyuan Gardens, which
is loaded with classical Chinese architecture. A lot of history resides
in this little garden and temple. Pathways wind through rock gardens and
bamboo stands, and stone bridges cross pools filled with bright carp.
The word "yu" translates to "peace and health"—and the park was
certainly designed with tranquility in mind.
For a taste of 1920s Shanghai, head for the stately old buildings of the
Bund. Or pay a visit to The French Concession, in Xuhui District. The
area is fast becoming famous for boutique shopping along Xin Le Lu,
Chang Le Lu and An Fu Lu, all of which also have interesting
restaurants.
To get away from the frentic pace of Shagnhai, you should visit the
Longhua Temple. It takes a while to get there but it's not as busy as
the Jade Buddha Temple and the experience is fulfilling. You can also
have a nice vegetarian Buddhist meal in both Temples.
Weekend trips to Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, Xi'an, Beijing and many
other cities in China are easily accessible from Shanghai.
About our TEFL Location
The TEFL International TESOL centre is hosted by East China University
of Science and Technology. Therefore the environment is like a
university campus making it a great place to learn and stay and intercat
with local students.
Address: East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong
Road,
Shanghai, 200237 China
Chinese Address: 中国上海梅陇路 130 号 华东理工大学 国际教育学院.
Weather
Shanghai winters can be very cold and temperatures often drop well below
zero. In contrast, the summers tend to be hot and humid. The best time
to visit Shanghai is autumn (fall) or spring.
Connectivity:
Shanghai is one of China's main travel hubs and getting in from pretty
much anywhere is easy. Shanghai has two main airports, Pudong the main
international gateway and Hongqiao serving most domestic flights.
Shanghai has several train stations. Shanghai Railway Station is
Shanghai's largest and oldest, located in Zhabei district, on the
intersection of Metro Lines 1, 3 and 4. Shanghai South Railway Station
is the new and expanded terminal takes over all services towards the
south. The Shanghai Jiaotong Card can come in handy. You can load the
card with money and use it in buses, the metro and even taxis. You can
get these cards at any metro/subway station, as well as some convenience
stores like Alldays and KeDi Marts.
Apart from these Shanghai has fantastic bus and taxi services.
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It is a very compact experience. Extensive learning but
fun.
A gear experience with TEFL International and very
helpful to find placement
