You might think you can cruise through your year in China simply by speaking English and pointing. And you’re right. You can get by this way. But I promise your life will be significantly more difficult if you don’t speak a lick of Mandarin Chinese.

My husband and I put effort into learning the language, and we were confident ordering at restaurants, bargaining at markets, and asking for directions. Not to mention, we had a lot of fun making small talk with neighbors.

On the other end of the spectrum, our friends who didn’t speak any Chinese got social anxiety when they went new places. If anything didn’t go as planned, they knew they’d be in a sticky situation.

So what are you waiting for? Whether you’re preparing to move to China or have been there for months without learning the language, there’s no time like the present. Here are the five best ways to study Mandarin Chinese.

1. Take a group class

The school I worked for, required teachers in my district to take a group Chinese class once per week. Our school didn’t assign us classes on Wednesday afternoons, and every week, our school driver took us to the designated meeting place.

There were usually 15 or 20 foreign teachers in these lessons. The classes not only helped us learn Mandarin, they helped us get to know each other.

If your company doesn’t have organized language lessons, talk to a staff member. Even if they don’t set up weekly meetings, they might be willing to organize an informal class for teachers who are interested.

2. Sign up for tutoring

Depending on your preference, you can take one-on-one classes with a tutor or small group classes with your friends. The latter option will probably be cheaper. My friends and I met a Chinese woman who was a certified Mandarin teacher. She taught four of us. It was a great way to spend time with friends while simultaneously being productive.

Hiring a tutor provides you with opportunities that group classes just don’t. For example, our tutor took us to a traditional Chinese breakfast and explained each dish to us. I would never have known all the meanings behind the different foods and drinks!

3. Download apps

Downloading apps is a convenient way to study Mandarin in your free time. And if you take public transportation, you’ll have plenty of free time! Try apps with games and flashcards, such as Memrise or Duolingo. Or check out an app with videos and audio recordings, such as FluentU.

4. Talk with your co-teachers

It’s no surprise that the best way to learn Chinese is to actually talk with Chinese people. And guess what? You’re surrounded by Chinese people every day at school! Just pick one person at random and strike up a conversation.Even when I took group and private lessons, I still learned the most Mandarin during my lunch break at school. I sat at a table of Chinese teachers and just asked them questions or pointed at objects and asked what they were. They got a kick out of teaching me new words.

5. Go on dates

If you’re single, download the app TanTan, which is the Chinese equivalent of Tinder. Nothing will make you learn the language like eating dinner with a local for two hours. Just don’t cheat and only go on dates with locals who are fluent in English! My Western friends who dated Chinese people always seemed to know the most Mandarin. I don’t think it was a coincidence.

Finding a place to live is always a huge undertaking. Throw in a new country and a foreign language, and things just got interesting.

The good news is that you’re not alone. People will always be willing to help you. In this piece, I’ll list the best strategies for finding an apartment. I’ll also address some crucial questions you should ask yourself to ensure you choose the right place.

Strategies for Finding an Apartment

1. Use a real estate agentMy teaching agency, Seadragon, provided my husband and me with a real estate agent. Seadragon paid for us to stay in a hotel our first three days in the city, and we had that time to secure an apartment.

   Our agent spoke English proficiently, so she could tell us what was in the legal documents we needed to sign. She organized apartment showings, so we didn’t have to worry about finding our own place. It was a huge relief.

2. Your school provides housingSome schools provide housing for teachers. You can choose to not stay in this flat, but there are a lot of benefits.

   You’ll live close to school so you can walk there every morning. You’ll also be in the same building as your coworkers, so it will be easy to make friends. From what my friends in this situation told me, these spaces were usually a little cheaper than other apartments. Score!

3. NetworkI’ve never heard of an expat’s agency not helping them find a place to live. So don’t worry, networking should be your last resort.

   If you don’t like your school lodging or the places your agent shows you, feel free to network. Ask your co-teachers about apartments in their neighborhoods. Chinese people are generally very friendly, so people will want to help you. Especially if they speak English well.

Things to Consider

What’s nearby?

You might find a nice apartment for a decent price, but … it’s in the middle of nowhere.

It’s fun to live in an area with restaurants, bars, and parks within walking distance. Take a quick survey of the neighborhood before you make your decision.

1. How long will it take you to get to school?If you have to walk 20 minutes to the metro station, switch lines twice, then walk ten more minutes to school, that daily commute will get old. Fast.

   That’s one huge plus of accepting school housing. Walk two minutes and—voilà—you’re at your job.

2. What public transportation can you take?This question goes along with the previous one. If there’s no public transportation nearby, your life is going to be difficult.

   But you should also consider what type of transportation you prefer. You might hate taking the metro but feel comfortable on a bus. If there’s a bus stop outside your apartment, you’re golden!

   Personally, I loved that I was only an eight-minute walk from the subway. Regardless of road traffic, I could always get to a destination fairly quickly.

3. How much does it cost?Remember that most agencies give you a stipend for housing, so cost isn’t necessarily a huge deal. However, don’t dismiss the price tag too quickly. In many cases, the stipend is a set amount, regardless of how much your apartment costs.

   Let’s say you receive 3,000 CNY per month as a housing stipend. If your flat costs 2,000 CNY per month, you can pocket that extra money! It’s nice to have a little extra money for fun experiences in your new city.

Starting a new job is exciting! Especially in a new country. New place, new people, new salary.

But moving abroad requires you to spend a little money. How much can you plan to spend and make as an English teacher in China?

Let’s address some of the main questions expats ask regarding money in China.

1. What are the startup costs?

You’ll need to buy your plane ticket to China. This price depends on which city you fly out of. You should also consider whether you want to buy a one-way or round-trip ticket. Unless you have a specific event you need to be home for, I recommend booking a one-way journey to keep your options open. A lot of schools in China will reimburse this cost once you arrive.

When you rent an apartment, you could have to pay up to three months’ rent upfront, which can be a doozy. My husband and I freaked out over this expense, but it really isn’t that different from back home.

When you sign a lease in America, you typically pay the first and last months’ rent, plus a security deposit. The amount ends up being about the same, even if the method is different.

Keep in mind most schools give you a stipend for living, so you will receive the money to cover those three months’ rent retroactively. A lot of schools will even provide you with free accommodation, which makes everything a whole lot easier.

Then there are the small expenses. I spent about 50 USD on a Chinese phone plan. Depending on where you live, you’ll want to buy a bus pass and/or metro pass.

2. How much does an apartment cost?

The amount you pay for an apartment depends on your city and district. Of course, it also depends on the neighborhood and size of the flat.

My husband and I paid around 800 USD per month for a two-bedroom apartment. We could have found a smaller place and paid less. But we shared an office at work, so we knew we’d need a little personal space at home or we’d go crazy.

Most people paid 600 USD or less for a one-bedroom apartment. This was in Shenzhen, which is a Tier-1 city. If you live in Beijing or Shanghai, you’ll probably pay more. But in a Tier-2 city, you’ll pay less.

Even though you likely receive a stipend from your school for housing, you are responsible for paying your own utility bill.

3. How much will I make every month?

Your salary will depend on what kind of school you teach at. For example, private school teachers usually make more than public school teachers.

I taught at a public primary school and started at 10,500 CNY (1,640 USD) per month, along with a 3,000 CNY (469 USD) housing stipend. About halfway through my stay, the law in our district changed, so our school was required to give me a raise. Wahoo!

4. Other than money, what are the benefits to teaching in China?

As with any job, there are perks other than the paycheck.

Cost of living is very low. If you live in a Tier-2 city, things will be cheaper than in Tier-1 cities. However, I lived in Shenzhen and was still shocked by how affordable everything was. For the first time in my life, I could afford regularly-scheduled massages!

Many institutions provide free or cheap meals. My school gave us free breakfast and a cheap lunch. Some of my friends worked at places that also served dinner at 5:30 every day. The convenience and affordability were wonderful.

My favorite perk was the travel opportunities. Between vacation time and weekends, I got to see so much of Asia!

Every job has its pros and cons. Even thrilling ones in faraway countries!

It’s helpful to know the good and bad of teaching in China before you board your international flight. This way, you’ll be more prepared to face the realities. Here’s what you can expect as an English teacher in China.

The Pros of Teaching in China

1. People are friendly
As soon as you step foot on school grounds, your Chinese students and coworkers will be excited to see you.Some of them have never seen a foreigner before! You will be greeted by waves, gifts delivered to your desk, and, if you teach young kids, endless hugs.People want to get to know you, so you’ll never be lonely in China.

2. Cost of living is low
Granted, cost of living varies depending on where you stay. Still, even in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, you’ll be delighted by how cheap a pair of shoes or a taxi ride is. Thanks to these low costs, you’ll have more money to spend on luxuries, put into a savings account, or travel.

3. You can travel Asia
China itself has endless destinations for travelers. Do you want to see pandas? Go to Chengdu. Do you want to go hiking? Visit the Yellow Mountains. And let’s not forget the Great Wall of China in Beijing!Beyond China, flights to nearby Asian countries are affordable. Flying from your home country to Asia can take a toll on your wallet. But once you’re there, you might as well take advantage of all the cheap deals and see as much of the continent as you can!

4. You can learn a new language
Once upon a time, the idea of studying Mandarin Chinese terrified me. A tonal language? With characters? And insane grammar rules? No way I could learn it!Of course, learning Mandarin ended up being one of my favorite parts of living in China. All you need is a kind language exchange partner or fun tutor. Before you know it, you’ll be speaking one of the most useful languages in global business.

The Cons of Teaching in China

1. Communicating is difficult
Unless you’re fluent in Mandarin right off the bat, you’re bound to run into some communication problems.Actually, even if you speak the language, you’ll occasionally struggle interacting with locals. Communication styles are vastly different in China than in Western countries.For example, saving face is crucial in China. So instead of giving you constructive criticism about your teaching style, fellow teachers might never say anything because they don’t want to embarrass you. As a result, you’d never know if you were doing something wrong!

2. It’s hard to discipline your students
The language barrier affects your relationship with students, too. Every once in a while, two students would break out into a fight during my class period. They would each try to tell me what was wrong, but I couldn’t understand enough Mandarin, and their English was limited.The result was that I usually had to punish both children. I always felt guilty, because one of them was probably innocent.

3. Health standards are different
I never got used to not having hand soap in public restrooms. Or to random passersby hocking loogies.Health standards are just different in China than in Western countries, and you have to learn to look past them if you want to stay sane. In restaurants, the waiter hands you a pot of steaming water for you to clean the utensils they provide you, because they know the silverware might not have been cleaned thoroughly beforehand.Just roll with it and use that steaming water.

4. Everyone stares at you
As I mentioned previously, many locals have never seen a foreigner before. Wherever you go, someone will stare.Don’t be offended! Staring is culturally acceptable in China. Just beware that it can get old after a few months.

It’s a tad daunting to pack everything you’ll need for an entire year into a suitcase.

How do you know what to take? How can you maximize the space?

Also, what things do you need that you don’t take in a suitcase? For example, what apps should you download?

Have no fear! I’m here to tell you what’s essential and what isn’t.

What to Pack

1. Clothes that fit you

Let me describe the stereotypical Chinese body type: Small. Yep, generally they’re fairly short in thin, with small feet and narrow shoulders.

So if any of your feature don’t fit that description, you should probably bring plenty of clothes that fit you.

My husband is tall and stocky, and he couldn’t buy a single article of clothing while we were in China. I am thin but have wide shoulders. I bought a gorgeous Chinese dress that almost fits … but the shoulders are really tight. I decided to keep it anyway, but it’s a little uncomfortable.

2. Medication

In China, some medicines are easy to find in drugstores. But Chinese people’s attitude toward medicine is different from most Westerners’, so I recommend packing what you expect you’ll need.

My husband packed as much of his ADHD medicine as he could legally bring. We also stocked up on cold medicine, because Chinese people use Eastern medicine for colds, which we aren’t big fans of.

You should probably bring medicine for your stomach, because your system might take a while to adjust to the new food.

3. Books or eBooks

Depending on where you live, you could have trouble finding a library or store that has English books.

If you’re a reader, pack a few books to sustain you. An even better option is to take a Kindle or Nook. Download a bunch of eBooks before you leave for China, and you’ll be set for a long time.

4. Coffee and a coffee maker

China is full of places to buy amazing tea. But the coffee culture, or lack thereof, is a bit of a bummer. Especially if you’re a coffee addict, like me.

You can buy lattes and cappuccinos, but they can be a little pricey. Especially if you buy one every day. In America, I had two or three cups of drip coffee every morning before work. I didn’t expect China to be any different. Boy, was I wrong!

We couldn’t find a coffee maker in any store. Thankfully, we had brought a French press.

But then we couldn’t find ground coffee at any supermarkets. No big deal, we just bought bags of coffee beans.

Then we couldn’t find a coffee shop that would grind the coffee beans we bought for us! It was a tough, coffee-less year.

What Not to Pack

1. Gaming consoles

You might already know you need a VPN to access a lot of websites in China, such as Facebook and Google. My husband packed our PlayStation 4, thinking we could hook it up to play games or watch Netflix.

Well, guess what? It turns out gaming consoles can’t connect to VPNs. A tragic waste of luggage space.

2. Kitchen utensils

Don’t take up a bunch of room in your suitcase with pots and pans. You probably won’t end up cooking at home as much as you think you will. If you need a kitchen utensil, you can easily find a place to buy it. My husband dedicated a good chunk of room in his suitcase to our rice cooker. The first time he used it, he forgot to use an adaptor when he plugged it in, and it immediately blew out! We didn’t even get one meal out of that rice cooker.

Apps to Download

1. WeChat

WeChat is everything in China. Everything.You use this app to text. To order food. To pay friends, stores and restaurants. Even to pay rent. It’s a life changer, and I wish we had something comparable in America. Download WeChat before you get to China so you can jump right in.

2. Google Translate

Google Translate is a huge help, especially when you first arrive in China and are overwhelmed by hearing Mandarin all the time. Type in the English word you need to translate and find the corresponding Chinese word.You can even press the camera button and hover over Chinese characters to have them translated. It isn’t always a perfect translation, but it’s better than nothing. This feature has helped me understand restaurant menus many times.

3. Language learning app

Get at least one language app to study Mandarin in your free time. Check out Duolingo, Memrise, or FluentU.

Learning a foreign language is difficult. Especially a tongue like Mandarin, which is drastically different from English.

Sure, you can get through your year in China by pointing, grunting, and miming to communicate. But why would you do that when you could throw yourself into learning Chinese and make the most of your time abroad?

So immerse yourself! Ask your Chinese coworkers to teach you a few words. You could even take public or private lessons. Here are six reasons to learn Chinese in China.

1. Order food

Eating at restaurants can be both the best and worst part of living abroad. On one hand, tasting authentic food while surrounded by natives is a thrilling (and delicious) experience. On the other hand, ordering food in a foreign language is intimidating! When I moved to China, the first words I made a point to study were the food-related ones. It makes all the difference to be able to express to a server what you want. Do you like spicy or non-spicy food? Lamb or beef? Noodles or rice? This way, you can order food you know you’ll enjoy. Or you can use your language skills to ask for new and exciting dishes! And you’ll be confident enough to go to a restaurant alone, so you don’t have to wait around for a friend who speaks Chinese.

2.Form relationships

You’ll spend most of your work week around Chinese coworkers and students. Your job will become much more enriching if you form relationships with them! If you learn a few basic phrases and show you’re trying, the people at your school will think you’re the greatest thing since sliced bread.

3. Travel

My first month in China, I tried to buy three cross-country bus tickets in Mandarin. It was humiliating. I had no idea how to go about it, and the woman at the ticket booth looked at me like I was an idiot.Learn some phrases so you can buy tickets, ask for directions, and even just ask a fellow passenger if you’ve arrived at your metro stop.

4. Don’t get ripped off

Haggling is very popular in China. Let’s say you’re at a clothing market and want to buy a shirt. If a vendor catches on that you don’t speak a lick of Chinese, they can just give you as high a price as they want. They know you won’t dispute it! Some taxi drivers use the same tactic. Save yourself lots of money by learning the language!

5. Learn a valuable job skill

Learning any second language is a valuable skill to put on your resume. But Mandarin? It might be the best language for business out there! China is a huge player in the international business world. And while most of us simply associate Chinese with China, it’s also spoken around countries such as Malaysia and Singapore, which are also important in the business world. Whether you stay in China, travel around the world or pursue business in your home country, you’ll be a much more marketable employee.

6. You’ll become a better teacher

There are several ways learning Chinese can make you a better teacher while you’re in the country.

If your English students know you’re also learning a second language, that makes some of them more receptive to your teaching methods.

Sometimes it’s hard to communicate directions to a classroom in English. If you know a few key Mandarin phrases, you won’t waste class time figuring out how to express yourself.

Last but not least, using Mandarin in the classroom can be fun! Sometimes I would say the word for “yes” or “sit down” in class. It caught kids off guard, so they perked up. The atmosphere instantly became more lively!

When preparing to teach English in China, you’ll probably take all the advice you can get!

You might read tons of travel blogs, including the one right here on GoldStar’s website. But plenty of people who aren’t writers have advice to give upcoming expats.

I asked four teachers I knew in China what words of wisdom they had for new expats preparing to teach. They all come from different backgrounds. Some had taught abroad before moving to China, others hadn’t. They all have something completely different to say, but every word is valuable.

1. Justin

“For me, teaching in a nutshell is ‘patience.’ I always think to a book I have from India called ‘Educating the Educator.’ In order to teach something, I always am trying to be aware of what my personal barriers are.

Am I impatient, too demanding, too rigid with the kids, inflexible in content and in situations of discipline?

I realize that the kids are actually there to show me who I am as an educator and as a human being. And when I am more aware of myself, it allows me to go into a class room with fresh eyes and fresh understanding.

That’s then paid forward to the kids in their learning, because they get a more self-aware, compassionate leader who is able to put their needs forward, and not continue to stumble on personal barriers.”

2. Renae

“The best teaching advice I can give to teachers abroad is to relax and be open minded. The biggest thing is walking into a classroom with 60 or more kids and feeling like you’re in way over your head and overwhelmed. If you let that get to you, it tends to show in the classroom and the kids pick up on that. Instead of you being in control, now the kids are in control. But if you relax and have fun, they will too.

I learned that sometimes all they want is a bit of fun, which makes learning easier for them and now easier for you as a teacher. Once you relax not only in the classroom but with your coworkers and your fellow friends, you can learn a lot from them and get great advice from some well experienced people. This will take you a long way throughout your teaching career abroad.”

3. Daniel

“Dig in, grit your teeth, and do something that terrifies you. Whether going to a Chinese restaurant with no pictures on the menu, or going to a club when you’re more of a bar person, or skydiving. Get out of your comfort zone early and the culture shock will be less severe.”

4. Matt

“Teaching in a foreign country is an unbelievably fun and exciting challenge. If I had to offer any advice, it’s that preparation is everything. Starting your lesson planning earlier in the week can save a ton of stress and headaches for the procrastinators out there. Also, the classroom is your stage. I took it as my job to teach the kids as well as entertain them and keep them paying attention.

For younger grades, songs, games, and anything to make it fun and competitive is a blast and will work great. For the older crowds, getting them to raise their hand and speak at all is more of the challenge because they don’t want to make mistakes in front of their peers.

You will learn your audience and the different dynamics of each classroom as you go along. The time will go fast so enjoy the ride, have fun, and cherish the moments with your students.”

It’s no secret that traveling as a woman can be a tad … tricky.

There’s always a little voice in our heads telling us to stay safe. We don’t anyone to hurt, harass, or even ogle at us. This fear doesn’t just apply to walking around in public. We also want to be comfortable in our work space.

Not to mention, every culture treats women differently. How do you know what’s culturally appropriate and what isn’t? How should you dress and act? How should you expect people to act toward you?

There are tons of questions to ask, but hopefully I can answer a few of them! Here are some tips for Western women entering a brand-new work place: A Chinese school.

1. Pack according to Chinese dress code

Before moving to China, I didn’t realize how different the expectations would be for female teachers than in America. At least regarding clothing.

Granted, in America, it’s important to dress modestly overall. But if you show a little clavicle, no big deal!

Ladies, pack shirts and dresses that go up to your neck. Some schools are slightly more flexible, but better safe than sorry. You don’t want to have to buy a whole new wardrobe after you arrive because yours is deemed inappropriate!

The day of my school interview in China, I wore a dress I considered modest. At the end, they said they’d like to hire me, as long as I knew the way I had dressed was “too sexy.” I was mortified! Although I ended up loving that school and job, I made sure to never wear anything questionable again!

After reading that anecdote, you probably assume you should pack fairly long skirts and pants, right?

In China, women are much more liberal with skirt lengths than necklines! Once again, every school is different. But on countless occasions, I saw fellow female teachers in short skirts and turtlenecks.

2. Clarify your school dress code

It never hurts to ask what your school’s expectations are for your clothing.

For example, some of my friends’ schools didn’t care if they wore tank tops. However, my school strictly required women’s shoulders be covered.

I wanted to be offended, but I never saw male teachers wear tank tops either. So I guess I couldn’t complain too much.

3. Don’t be scared by men’s compliments

When I wore a dress or put extra effort into my makeup, people noticed. Male teachers, including my principal, made comments when they saw me.“Wow, so beautiful!”

Or if their English was poor, they usually said something along the lines of, “You … you …” and gave me a thumbs-up.

Because my husband worked with me, sometimes they said my husband was lucky.

In America, many women would consider these comments inappropriate. Especially in this day and age!

Don’t be freaked out, though. In China, it’s not rude at all. They are genuinely complimenting you. And remember, because you’re foreign, everyone is watching you. They’re bound to notice if you’ve dressed up that day!

4. Know that children might slap your butt

Chinese kids think it’s hilarious to slap each other’s butts. If you teach elementary school, young students might be so bold as to do this to teachers. Super brave kids might even slap the foreign teacher’s butt.

I didn’t know how to respond the first time a little third-grade boy slapped me as I walked by. I asked a Chinese woman about it later, and she said it’s normal.

So don’t take it badly. However, you should feel comfortable banning children from doing so if it bothers you. Remember, you’re the teacher!