Jenny Dewhirst joined our project at Nanchang Longre in summer 2017. Please read on to view her feedback:

Could you please tell us about some of your most enjoyable moments of the trip?

I really enjoyed teaching my students and learning more about their lives, they were truly engaging and taught me so many valuable new things. Similarly, I loved being able to experience a culture so different to my own and this has motivated me to apply for teaching jobs in China after I graduate.

Which were the highlights of the lessons, cultural excursions and outdoor activities?

I was not provided with many outdoor activities or cultural excursions with my programme, however, students and co-workers took me for meals and activities around the city which were fun. Lessons were extremely long (3 hours) and each day was very long and demanding. That being said, the teachers and students I worked with were extremely friendly and fun to interact with, which made the trip worthwhile.

How would you say the overall experience has benefited you?

The overall experience has helped me gain a wider understanding of the world, allowing me to experience daily life in a country with an extremely different culture to my own. It has made me more open-minded and confident about talking to people from different backgrounds and given me a thirst for travelling and working abroad.

What was the best thing about your experience in China?

The best thing about my experience in China was the difference in culture, it allowed me to learn so many exciting new things and meet so many fantastic new people.

Would you recommend participating to a friend and if so why?

I would recommend participating to a friend, but I would advise them to choose a programme that wasn’t intended for advanced learners of IELTS because lessons and teaching in general was demanding.