The ELT experts in China
Meet the EF Central Recruitment Team
GETTING TO KNOW US
Don't forget to meet our Training Team
Having lived in Asia half of her life, Jaimee is the go to girl if you want to know the best places to take your adventurous self and gain a couple stamps in that beloved passport of yours! Jaimee came to the TRT team after being a teacher for a Kids & Teen School in Shanghai for a year. She is also a self-admitted Skype and Korean food addict, so if you have a question that needs answering or want some spicy goodness, she will be there!
- Hometown: Seoul, Korea / Seattle, USA
- The Years: in Shanghai since August 2009
- If I had a million dollars, I'd buy myself a: little bungalow in Phuket, and a houseboat in Amsterdam.
- What keeps you here: the fact that I never get that “same ol’, same ol’” feel in this city, it’s huge and wicked awesome!
- Advice for new teachers: Never be afraid to ask questions or venture into the unknown, you’ll be pleasantly shocked by the amazing things you will find.
Coming all the way from the little island chain of Hawai’i, Courtney, a surfer and water baby, loves being outdoors . Ironically, she found her second home in China to be a crowded warehouse inundated with stalls of countless tailors ready to create any imaginable article of clothing! If you need a fabric market partner, come find Courtney. Originally arriving in China as a teacher for EF she is now a recruiter in Shanghai.
- Hometown: Kailua, Hawaii, USA
- The Years: second year in China and with EF
- If I had a million dollars, I’d buy myself a beautiful home on the beach with a wrap-around porch.
- What keeps you here: The pulse of the city, it is this indescribable energy that makes Shanghai fast-paced and vivacious!
- Advice for new teachers: The city is a fantastic place, but try to immerse yourself in the culture; travel, eat and make friends. It’s those unexpected and unusual experiences that will make your stay in China the most memorable and worthwhile.
Nayeli is a food lover and enjoys tasting, cooking and sharing different dishes whenever she gets the opportunity. She will be sure to tell you where to grab the best bites in town! Born and raised on the US-Mexico border, having lived and worked in 6 different countries and speaking four languages are some of Nayeli's multicultural background qualities that give her the ability to share worldly advice on living and working abroad. Her passion for cultural diversity brought her to China, the place to be for those interested in learning about one of the world’s most ancient cultures and fastest developing country. She started her journey with EF China teaching the most amazing kids and teens in Shenzhen for 1 year and a half.
- Hometown: Del Rio, Don’t mess with Texas, USA
- The Years: 3 (half Shenzhen half Shanghai)
- If I had a million dollars, I’d travel around the world on a culinary adventure!
- What keeps you here: Hot pot and cheap street food!
- Advice for new teachers: Explore Embrace and Enjoy!
Christie, an eternal optimist and a Chicago native, came to Shanghai in 2011 in search of a teaching adventure and some cultural enlightenment. After a fun year of teaching adults, she joined the recruitment team ready to share her great experience with future teachers. She is openly addicted to peanut butter and guacamole, and she cannot live without chap-stick, Pandora and the daily news. Outside of work, she can often be found frolicking about the city on her bike or by foot, or seeking out cafes, boutiques and hidden Shanghai gems. She is happy to provide recommendations!
- Hometown: Chicago, Illinois USA
- The Years: Start of my second year in China and at EF.
- If I had a million dollars, I’d buy myself: A trip around the world.
- What keeps you here: The endless opportunities to learn and discover something new.
- Advice for new teachers: Try everything, explore everywhere and keep an open mind.
Janice is a dance enthusiast and is, quite truthfully, also an arts and crafts nerd. Coming from Northern California, she is almost always hoping for perfect weather. When the sun's down, you'll probably find her exploring the city streets for new restaurants or already out enjoying Shanghai's ever changing nightlife. She joined EF as one of the first International Online Center teachers in Shanghai and a year and a half later joined the Recruitment team in the hope of creating new opportunities for people who have a passion to teach abroad and travel. Last of all, don't let her looks fool you, her Chinese is nowhere near perfect but if you're looking for more insight on Chinese culture, she's your go to!
* Hometown: San Francisco, California, USA
* The Years: 2.5 years… Shanghai, you sly fox, you.
* If I had a million dollars: I’d spoil my closest friends with an outrageously extravagant trip to another country... save the world one holiday at a time!
* What keeps you here: This city’s constantly changing and there’s always something new-love the vibe and the international lifestyle of this place.
* Advice for new teachers: Work hard, play hard. Travel when you can, be open-minded, make new friends, laugh a lot, and make the best of it!
From Dublin and having already lived in the US, Finland and Australia, Keith moved to China in January 2010. Keith is a Project Manager and has worked for Microsoft releasing software and as a an Event Manager on a range of events. Since being in China, he set up the English language media in Nanjing and also managed a graphic design business. Keith is happy to talk rugby, football (soccer to you North Americans), travel destinations, food, movies, fonts, design or politics. He's pretty sure music stopped when he moved to China.
- Hometown: Dublin, Ireland
- The Years: Over 3 years in China. 18 months in Shanghai.
- If I had a million dollars: Can I have it now? I'd buy Greece off Germany and with the remaining 500k I would study architecture, get a pilot's license and travel until the cash ran out.
- What keeps you here: Airline weight restrictions…'stuff' accumulates.
- Advice for new teachers: Treat China like a new home, it'll be easier to settle if you think of yourself as a new local rather than a tourist. Explore your new neighborhood, walk down dark dirty lanes. Try street food, all of it. Take photos. Delete your Facebook page, your life will be fuller without it.
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