September 2007 saw the opening of our dedicated Children’s department – a specially created and custom built area where we teach children from 3 years and upwards not only English but also help to develop all their skills that are so essential at this young age.

English is taught from carefully selected text books and every class is enhanced with activities to make learning fun. On Fridays and at the weekends we hold extra lessons that enable the children to practice the use of the language learnt in an interactive way, from painting and drawing and craft work to learning and singing traditional English songs, poems and games

On Friday 21 December a Christmas party was held where the children performed ‘Jingle Bells’ for their parents, played Pass the Parcel and other festive games and also included a visit from Father Christmas.

A great time was had by all.

Real Life English teacher Jana, from Australia

CJ Winter from Australia – Real Life English Head Teacher, SOHO campus – entertaining the children with his magic show

It’s never quite the same being away from family and friends at Christmas but we did get to celebrate the day in the extended family that we all enjoy here.

The Friday before Christmas Day, 2007, saw parties at both our centers with our Chinese students where festive food was eaten, Christmas cards were made, games played including a very interesting Pass the Parcel and Santa paid a visit, making sure that everyone when home with a gift.

Christmas Day was a 'normal' working day with classes and students and a full teaching schedule.

We were able to get a short break, however, and enjoyed eating turkey, backed ham, potato salad all washed down with cups of hot mulled wine, followed by cream cakes and a prize drawer.

From left to right Real Life English teachers – Sarah from the UK, Heidi from the USA and Owen, also from the USA	From left to right WorldLink Education staff - Alex our PHP Developer, Kristy from HR, Yanzhina, our Russian Programmes Advisor, Cvetanka, our Systems Developer and Kevin our Web Developer

It’s not quite the same as being at home but meeting and making new friends is part of the Teach in China experience and good memories and new experiences can never be replaced.

Working in a truly International environment means that we continually share new adventures, take trips together and get to understand each other and the challenges that we all face.

This annual event when we deliver shoeboxes full of basic items to the children at Xin Xin Migrant School saw us busy packing 250 boxes on Sunday 23 December ready for delivery on Christmas Eve.

This project has grown enormously over the past 3 years when we delivered just 160 boxes in our first year Each box is carefully filled with age related items and basic school supplies for children from kindergarten to 6th graders and delivery always comes with carol singing and a party held at the school

Teacher Aaron, from the USA, helping with the packing on Christmas Eve	Real Life English teacher Megan, also from the USA and now in her second year at Real Life English, sorting all the gifts and the 250 shoeboxes

From left to right Real Life English teachers Renee from the USA, Jenny from the UK, Anna from the USA and Rachael (Anna’s sister visiting for Christmas) singing carols.

Our involvement with Xin Xin Migrant School has grown considerably, from on-going volunteer teaching, to fundraising to improve the schools facilities (new doors and windows and this summer a new roof) to now sponsoring children through Middle School and an ongoing commitment, thus enabling them to hopefully find a better future and thus avoid becoming street vendors at the age of 12.

To fund the scholarships we now hold bi-annual Rock n Roll nights during which everyone has a great time.

From left to right Real Life English teachers – Jana from Australia, Sarah from the UK and Megan from the USA	From left to right Real Life English teachers – Isaac, James and James, all from the USA	And our great Real Life English students