- A growing number of Chinese retirees are pursuing overseas education after decades of work and family responsibilities.
- Many retirees have financial security, time flexibility, and familiarity with overseas education from sending their children abroad.
- China's overseas education market for older adults is projected to reach 1.2 trillion yuan ($167 billion) by 2030.
- Some retirees face challenges: language barriers, mismatched course levels, and isolation, as seen in Zhao and Zhang's experiences in New Zealand.
- EF Education First failed to provide appropriate beginner English courses, leading to frustration and a sense of being misled.
- Providers like New Oriental offer short-term (2-4 week) overseas programs tailored for older adults, with interpreters and no language prerequisites.
- Ella Wang thrived in a Greek archaeology program at the University of Athens, finding purpose and redefining her identity beyond societal labels.
- Wang's experience highlights the value of learning as an end in itself, not just a means to an outcome.
- The contrast between difficult and successful experiences underscores the need for programs designed specifically for older learners.