Why I am teaching at italki Today, one of my students (I actually prefer to call her ‘friend’) asked me, “Why do you teach on italki? “ I have been meaning to write a notebook entry for a long time. By hearing that question, I thought that it would be a great topic for me to write about. I have been an italki member since the year of 2011, when I went to great lengths to improve my English. Since my major was Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, I also applied to teach Chinese at that time. However, due to the pressure from working as a full-time teacher, I had to quit my teaching at italki. Last year, my husband told me that next year he would be very likely to work in Israel for at least half a year. I visited Israel last year, and the beauty of the Mediterranean Ocean was embedded in my memory. Thus, I resigned from a full-time teaching job this summer and decided to go to Israel with my husband next year. I have started to work part-time at a local language institute, teach Chinese at italki, and also write Chinese podcasts for a website since August. As a Chinese who was raised in a typical Chinese family, I took it granted that I should go to a graduate school after completing college education and find a job after obtaining the Master’s degree. I was afraid to stop because I was told all the time that life is a fierce competition, and if I take a break, and I will be left behind. Therefore, it’s not an easy decision for me to quit a good job. However, my experience during these months proves me that my decision was correct. Teaching online enables me to meet with people from all over the world, hear their stories and some of them are even more motivated and proactive than my previous students at a school setting. I am very satisfied with my life now, and I am grateful for the late ‘gap year’. If time went back to the beginning of 2015, I would make a New Year resolution like this: in this year, I will discover myself and explore the world. :D