Viktor’s experience report from Qingdao
Between culture shock, 70 silent faces and sheer growth.
Viktor
Gastdozent in Quingdao
‘Talking to a brick wall’ – The reality in the classroom.
I soon realised that a lecture-style approach leads to nothing but frustration here. So I changed my strategy.
Hello everyone! I’m Victor, and if someone had told me a few months ago that I’d be standing in front of a class of 70 people all on my own in a Chinese city with a population of over a million, without speaking a word of Chinese and with no teaching experience – I’d probably hardly have believed it myself. Now that I’m back, I look back on a time that has shaped me more than any previous trip.
Why on earth do people do that?
I’ve always been the sort of person who likes to ‘jump in at the deep end’. I love a challenge and enjoy travelling abroad, but China was completely uncharted territory for me. What drives me? Seeing the world with my own eyes, understanding a completely foreign culture from the inside, and testing whether I can hold my own even in extreme situations. I wanted to learn how to impart knowledge and get to grips with new subjects.
Would I do it again? A resounding yes! Although there is one small caveat: next time, I’d try to teach in my immediate field of expertise. It’s simply more enjoyable and gives you more confidence when you’re talking about the things you’re really passionate about.
Qingdao, Beijing and the pitfalls of everyday life
My adventure began in Qingdao. A fascinating coastal city that I explored extensively in my spare time. An absolute must if you’re there: a weekend trip to Beijing. The high-speed trains get you there in no time at all, everything is superbly organised, and the experience of standing on the Great Wall or in the Forbidden City is indescribable.
But let’s not kid ourselves: day-to-day life is a real struggle at first. In China, there’s a bloody steep learning curve. Nothing works without apps. Everything – and I mean everything – has to be sorted via Alipay or WeChat; you book taxis through Didi, and you need Google Lens to translate every road sign. There were moments when I just stood there, on the verge of despair. But the lovely thing is: in the end, it always works out somehow. You grow with every little sense of achievement.
‘Talking to a brick wall’ – The reality in the classroom
Working on site was a mind-blowing experience. Although the students are extremely respectful and people in general are incredibly helpful, I reached my limits in the classroom. There I was, standing in front of 70 people, many of whom simply didn’t understand me or were constantly on their mobiles.
Talking ‘to a wall’ for four 90-minute sessions a day is really mentally draining. I quickly realised that traditional classroom teaching leads to nothing but frustration here. So I changed my strategy.
My tip for the first few days (especially with passive students): Break the ice with an activity! I split the class into groups of ten and set them the task of preparing their own presentations. Whilst they were working in their groups, I was able to walk round the classroom, offer individual help and – very importantly – prepare my own material for the following day. When they’re then standing at the front and have to give a 10-minute presentation in German, they come out of their shells. Don’t force them to give spontaneous answers in front of the whole class; they often find that embarrassing (‘face culture’). Give them the safe space of the group.
What I personally take away from it
Despite the language barrier and moments of isolation (hardly anyone on my campus spoke English or German), it was a personal boot camp. Anyone who manages to keep 70 disinterested students in check and cope with everyday life in a country where you can’t read the writing won’t be thrown off course by much.
I’ve become much more confident when it comes to giving presentations, and I’ve learnt to adapt to new environments extremely quickly. China is also an incredibly safe country. I didn’t feel uncomfortable for a single second. If you need help, people will look after you – even if communication is only through hand gestures, body language and translation apps.
My top tips for you:
Preparation: Don’t stress about planning everything down to the last detail. Prepare the first week; you can sort out the rest once you’re there, whilst the students are working on their projects.
Technology is everything: Without a good VPN and a local eSIM (for mobile internet), you’ll be stuck. Don’t rely on the university Wi-Fi.
Apps: Download Alipay, Didi (for taxis) and AMap (navigation) in advance.
Food: It’s brilliant and great value! Use Google Lens to take photos of menus.
Social affairs: Ask if there are any other lecturers there. Talking to like-minded people in person is invaluable, as you can otherwise quickly start to feel a bit isolated.
Conclusion: It’s a huge step out of your comfort zone, but it’s a tremendous asset to your CV and, above all, to your character. Just go for it – everything will be fine!
