Planning a trip to visit us in China? Winging your way to the the Central Kingdom? Maybe you’re thinking about 
teaching or going to school here. If so, you’re probably wondering how your tech will work or if it will work at all? Will you be able to use the same tools you’re used to using in the States? Today we provide some answers to those questions and maybe a few more as we list our Top Ten Tech Tips for Teaching in China.
Lessons Learned
Dennis – Take a walk in the rain.
Chris – Words are like toothpaste and your mind is like the tube. Once the words are out, they are impossible to put back in. Always pause long enough to engage brain before starting mouth, or text, or telepathic projection.
Notes & Links
In our last show, we answered an e-mail from Brandon who wanted to know how Google works (or doesn’t work) in China. If you plan to go to school here, or teach here you might be wondering what you need to know. So here are our Top Ten Tech Tips for Teaching in China.
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Buy the right phone
- Unlocked, GSM (AT&T or T-Mobile Compatible)
- Get a Chinese SIM either China Mobile or China Telecom (requires registering with a passport)
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Set up WeChat
- Works good as a translator too!
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Power
- Most device chargers work. Make sure the chargers are rated 110-240V. You’ll just need plug adapters for the outlets
- Get the Pleco App – English to Chinese/Chinese to English. Free. Works offline.
- Apple Maps is better than Google Maps
- Microsoft or Google? Most International Schools in China use Office 365 because it doesn’t need a VPN.
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Never assign homework that requires students to use a VPN.
- Offline work ok.
- Google Apps (if available at your school) for use AT SCHOOL ONLY or enable offline docs.
- Want kids to be able to use an app on school iPads? Make sure it is available in the Chinese app store.
- Nobody uses voicemail – welcome to the 21st century!
- Just because you can buy it in the US, doesn’t mean you can get it here. (Even if it says “made in China”).
