TEFL Shanghai | TEFL China

180 kilometres from Shanghai is Hangzhou, the location for our ITTT course in Eastern China. This city is one of the more prosperous and modern cities in China and is also the capital of Zhejiang province. Hangzhou is located at the southern point of the Grand Canal and the lower end of the Qiantang River, south west of Shanghai. The area has four very different seasons and is considered to have a sub-tropical monsoon climate, however, throughout the year the temperature is comfortable, the summer is not too hot and the winter is not too cold.

Hangzhou is one of the seven capitals of Ancient China and is an ancient cultural city. It is also a famous tourist city due to its many attractions including the fabulous scenery of the well known West Lake. Hangzhou has a population of 5.2 million and covers an area of 6,000 square miles, made up of seven suburban counties and six urban districts. National scenic areas include the Thousand Island Lake and the Xin’an and Fuchun rivers. Marco Polo, way back in the 13th century described the city as one of the most beautiful in the world.

Known for its amazing natural scenery, Xi Hu (The West Lake) lives up to the praise it is given. It has a number of cultivated parks and the lake is divided by two walkways, ideal for cycling or walking along. You can also hire boats to sail around the lake or to visit the islands.

During your tefl/tesol course you could also visit the legendary caves of Fei Lai Feng which have many Buddhist stone statues dating back to the 10th and 14th century. Hangzhou Paradise Park, a water park situated about 30 minutes away from Hangzhou centre is another popular attraction in the area.

Hangzhou is one of China’s most desirable weekend shopping destinations for Shanghai’s wealthy residents. The city is well known for its tea and silk products, but it also offers world class retail outlets with department stores selling products by Versace, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and many more. The city also has a popular evening market where you can find holiday presents and trinkets. Be ready to barter and grab yourself a bargain for 20-50% less than the initial asking price. Have fun bartering, you could surprise yourself with the bargains you can get.

If you enjoy a night out, Hangzhou offers a lively nightlife. By visiting the bars and clubs and mixing with the local people you get to really experience the local culture. People of all ages are out all through the night; however, the nightlife is usually dominated by the younger Hangzhou inhabitants. Try starting your night at Hong Feng Jui Ba, Hangzhou’s equivalent to a happy hour. If you want to move around different bars try Nanshan Road where you will find a selection of good local bars to choose from.

If you wish to visit Shanghai either during or after your course, there are many transport options to get you there from Hangzhou. Why not try the high Speed express train from Hangzhou to Shanghai which takes just 80 minutes and costs around US$ 10.

Located amongst green hills and canals, bridges and walkways, our TEFL centre in Hangzhou is ideally situated away from the big-city noise that you often find elsewhere. The surrounding area offers plenty to explore and provides a sharp contrast to the nearby districts of Xiao Shan and Shanghai.

Our TEFL training program takes place in an elite, English immersion school that employs teachers from at least 15 different countries. This wide diversity of backgrounds helps to create a learning environment that is perfect for our students and trainees. You will also find that the school is a great place to start your post-course teaching career as it offers plenty of job opportunities year round.

The TEFL school is situated on the grounds of a TV university. Our classrooms and office are located on the fifth floor of the university’s library building that gives us a pleasant view of the surrounding campus. We also have a large, comfortable area where you can read, study or simply chat to our teachers and students about living, studying and working in China.

Our Hangzhou centre offers the following:

• An exceptional range of indoor and outdoor cultural activities.
• Complimentary Wi-Fi in our training centre.
• A welcome meal and course orientation on arrival.
• An environment that is conducive to interaction with our friendly, adult Chinese students who are eager to learn from you.
• The option of affordable Chinese language classes.
• Some of the best nightlife to be found anywhere in China.

The TEFL course accommodation is located three subway stops from the training centre near People’s Square. Accommodation is very reasonably priced with single, twin and dormitory options available. A shared fridge is provided as are laundry facilities.

More upscale options are also available but these need to be booked two weeks before the start of the course.

• Shared dorm room US$ 300
• Single or shared room starting at US$ 650 (shared bathroom)
• Private room in apartment starting at US$ 750 per person*

*A minimum of three people need to choose this option and there is limited availability

Please note that there is no obligation to use the accommodation provided by the TEFL training centre and we are more than happy to assist you should you choose to stay elsewhere. If you require an airport pick-up, please contact the centre. The pick-up service is free of charge for arrivals between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.