As an American who grew up in Seoul, South Korea, I was originally drawn to China out of the desire to return to Asia after graduating from college. I considered returning to Korea, but I wanted something new. Around the time I graduated from college (2012), I read in many places online that English-language learning and international education were booming in China. I had spent many years in Korea, living close to China, but had never actually visited it, although I had been exposed to a decent amount of Chinese history, culture, media, and so on. I decided to make the move: I started in an English training center, then moved on to a British-curriculum international school, then back to a training center in a managerial capacity, and finally arrived at BASIS International School Nanjing, where I have been since 2021.
Discovering the Rewards of Teaching in China
This assortment of teaching experiences in China has shown me that this is one of the best places in the world to be a teacher. The societal and familial cultures place a huge emphasis on education. Because of this, students in China tend to be some of the best-behaved and hardest-working students in the world. The high levels of student motivation, student ability, and family support, along with excellent school facilities and highly professional staff, make teaching at BASIS International & Bilingual Schools • China (BIBS • C) campuses highly rewarding. I also love that many of our students are English language learners (ELLs) and we get the dual satisfaction of teaching language and content. The learning is even more visible than usual, and as a teacher, there is nothing more gratifying than seeing your impact and the results it has on your students.
Life Outside the Classroom in China
China is also an excellent place to be outside of school. The country is extremely diverse in history, culture, food, geography, and climate; there are hundreds of places worth visiting. You are also close to many of fascinating countries in East and Southeast Asia. For those who love to travel in their free time, China is a wonderfully convenient country.
The Convenience of Living Abroad in China
Speaking of convenience, the ease of being a foreigner in China has increased significantly over the years. Teachers who have never taught in China have nothing to fear! English has become more widely spoken in many cities; translation apps are abundant and highly accurate; delivery apps and shopping apps make life easy; shipping from anywhere in the country is cheap and takes only 2-3 days; your BIBS • C school has dozens of bilingual staff who can help with anything from banking to travel to passport and visa-related questions. On top of all of this, the cost of living is still low compared to the U.S. and other English-speaking countries, despite the fact that infrastructure, facilities, and product and service quality are top-notch and continuing to improve.
Building a Life and Career That Lasts
I came to China out of fascination and the promise of quality teaching opportunities. I have stayed for 13 years because of the excellent quality of work and life offered here. I will continue to stay here because I now have a wife, two kids, four cats, and a dog, and our lives here are extremely enjoyable and comfortable.
Tristan Heckerl
Grade 8, AP, and Capstone Economics
Chair of Upper School Social Studies
BASIS International School Nanjing
For more information about teaching abroad with BASIS International & Bilingual Schools, visit our careers website.
