Essential Apps in China – 6 downloads to kickstart your teaching career

So you’ve decided to change your life. You’ve got all your documents authorised and have completed your TEFL certificate. Your new career as an English teacher awaits you. As you touch down on the other side of the world, jetlagged and weary – China hits you! The noise, the smells, the sheer number of people! Your adventure begins right now so kickstart your first month with these 6 apps to download before you arrive!

WeChat – the ultimate app for everything

In China, WeChat will quickly replace WhatsApp as your main form of communication. It has a vast amount of functions. You can make voice and video calls, pay for things, send money and book train tickets to name but a few. Share posts with your friends as you would on Facebook. You can join groups of other English teachers and share ideas about teaching and life in China. You will soon realise how difficult it would be to function without WeChat in China!

Didi – navigate China with this awesome app

Forget Uber and start thinking Didi. This is the ultimate car-hailing service and it has an English version too! This app makes getting around an absolute breeze. Type in the location you want to go, see the fare price and choose what type of car you want from a shared ride up to a VIP car. Fancy getting some exercise instead? There are loads of bike sharing apps, such as UFO and Mobike so you’ll always be on time for your first lesson.

Meituan – mouth-watering food is an app away!

Feeling hungry? Download the Meituan app! You can order from almost any restaurant. From spicy tofu to dumplings – the Meituan bikers will get your order to you within the hour. You can’t miss these guys in their yellow jackets breaking traffic laws to get your dishes to the door. If you want western food, McDonald’s, KFC and the other big brands are all available for delivery too. It’s a great app if you want to put your feet up after a day teaching English.

Taobao – an amazing one-stop to buy anything

Combine eBay, Amazon and any other buying apps you have and replace them with Taobao. You can find anything on here and prices are low as most of the things are made in China and the competition is extreme. There isn’t currently an English version so you can follow the guide above to set yourself up and register. Everything is delivered to your address. It is great for teachers as you can purchase little gifts and rewards for your students here at a low price. Happy shopping!

Duolingo language app -master the language and speak like a native

Duolingo is a fantastic and fun app to help you learn Chinese on the go. Its interface is very user-friendly and it is great when you have a spare 5 minutes to learn a couple of characters. There are loads of games so you don’t even realise you are learning. The quicker you can speak some Chinese the better. Your adventure will be enriched and you will get to know locals and the culture in far more depth!

App for Teachers by Teachers

Teachers Pay Teachers is a great resource for new English teachers. You can search a vast array of resources that will liven up any classroom. It is an online marketplace where teachers buy and sell original educational materials. As you embark on your teaching career you will gather and produce original materials which can be sold on this fantastic app. So get set for adventure and kickstart your teaching career in China by downloading them!