TESOL Courses in Shanghai (Hangzhou) | China

Located just 180 kilometers from Shanghai, Hangzhou is one of the most dynamic, prosperous, modern cities in China, the capital of Zhejiang province and the home of our TESOL school in eastern China. It is south west of Shanghai on the Qiantang River, which makes it the southern terminus of the Grand Canal. Hangzhou has an excellent climate as it doesn’t get too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter. Its four distinct seasons are pleasant throughout the year. The natural beauty, location and wonders to be found in Hangzhou make it a very popular location to take your TESOL course, justifiably so.

In the 13th century, the great explorer Marco Polo praised Hangzhou as being the most beautiful city in the world. Although time has passed since then, the beauty of Hangzhou certainly hasn’t. One of the seven capitals of Ancient China, it is blessed with the amazing natural beauty of West Lake, as well as the Fuchun and Xina’an rivers and the Thousand Island lake, which are national scenic areas. Famous for the great Chinese traditions of tea and silk production Hangzhou is a cultural and ancient city, populated by 5.2 million people spread over six urban districts, seven suburban counties and 6,047 square miles.

The West Lake, known as Xi Hu by local people, is every bit as impressive as the many accolades showered upon it suggest. Famous for its stunning beauty, the lake itself is split by two causeways which are perfect for walking or cycling across, as are the numerous parks surrounding the lake. For those who want to explore the lakes and its islands, boats are available to hire for a relaxing, scenic tour.

There is plenty more to see and do in Hangzhou throughout your TESOL course, including various museums and the Hangzhou Paradise Park, which is a water park only a half hour drive from the middle of Hangzhou. You can also visit Fei Lai Feng - legendary caves which are home to hundreds of Buddhist stone statues dating as far back as the 10th century.

Hangzhou is also a haven for shoppers at both ends of the scale! Shanghai’s wealthy flock here for weekend shopping trips, taking advantage of the latest fashions from Versace, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, amongst other designers available in Hangzhou’s department stores. There are also many more reasonably priced stores and markets available, the highlight of which may be the night-market. Here you can take care of all your holiday presents and have some fun at the same time. Bargaining down the staff to 20-50% of the price is usually a lot easier if you do it with a smile and a joke!

For those who like to stay out late, Hangzhou also has a vibrant night-life. The local culture can be found in abundance in the cities many bars and clubs, and the locals are happy to mingle and interact with visitors. Although the nightlife is more popular with younger Hangzhou residents, there are people of all ages to be found throughout the night. You may want to start out with a western style happy hour at Hong Feng Jiu Ba and then head out on to the Nanshan Road, which is cluttered with a number of local bars.

If you want to explore more than Hangzhou throughout and after your TESOL course, there are several ways to travel to Shanghai. The most popular option is perhaps the high-speed express train, which will take you directly there. This costs around US$10 and takes only 80 minutes.

Our TESOL school is ideally located, both for tranquility and action. On our doorstep are a number of green hills, canals, bridge and walk-ways to discover and enjoy without the ache of car hors and mobile phones in your head. You may also want to experience the contrasting Xiao Shan district, only a short drive away.

Our main building has a dance hall, cafeteria and kitchen, as well as twenty classrooms and a large office with internet access for you to plan and produce your lessons. Our teaching resource library will take care of all the materials you will require for your TESOL course, and students can gather and compare notes in our main hall and student centre.

Hangzhou offers

• A number of cultural and outdoor activities for you to participate in.
• Wi-Fi access in our classrooms and dorms.
• Some of the best nightlife in all of China.
• The opportunity to study the Chinese language at an affordable rate.
• A course orientation and welcome dinner to allow you to meet your fellow students.
• A great environment to study for your TESOL course and interact with adult students from all over China, who want to improve their English and gain foreign friends.
• Weekend trips to neighboring towns such as Shanghai, Suzhou and Nanjing, as well as ancient towns such as Shaoxing and the water town of Zhouzhuang.
• Local people who are friendly, peaceful and patient with foreign visitors.

Throughout your stay in China, you will stay is our standard three-star hotel rooms. These are located above the office areas and TESOL classrooms on the second floor and cafeteria on the ground floor. Our accommodation comes very reasonably priced for your stay.

Laundry facilities are provided on each of the two floors the accommodation takes up, while there is also a shared fridge on the dorm floor. Each individual room comes with one or two beds, bathroom with western toilet, TV, closet and air conditioning.

You will be able to check in to your rooms from 9am – 7pm on the Saturday, or 9am-5pm on the Sunday preceding your course start date.

We are also able to offer free meals for the duration of your TESOL course. This fantastic offer includes 3 meals and day Monday-Friday, and lunch and dinner on a weekend.