Teaching English in China (Part 1)

As many globetrotters know, teaching English while abroad is a great way to fund your travels and base yourself in one place for a while. Today, in the first of several posts I’m going to tell you all about teaching English in China, including all about the different types of English teaching jobs available in China and how to find the perfect one for you.

Teaching English is a popular gig all across the world but it seems to be that most people deciding on Teaching English in China for two reasons.

1. The pay is REALLY good..

2. There’s a ton of jobs.

Did I mention the pay is  really good? China is desperate for it’s newest generation to grasp English so there’s jobs aplenty. Unlike Europe, the cost of living still really low which means many see working here as a great opportunity to save for future travels.  Of course, while this is what drives many people to China, they stay for something altogether different: the culture, the opportunity to travel all around South East Asia relatively cheaply, the food, the people… The list is endless.

So, what’s the deal?

First of all what can you expect from a teaching position in China? My situation is slightly different as I qualified as a teacher in the UK and have been working in the profession for a while. Therefore I am what my friends call a ‘real’ teacher. However, for those who haven’t taught at all before there are plenty of options ranging from the university lecturer to the ‘white face for the promotional flyer’ kind of teacher. This depends largely on the salary you expect, the age range you want to teach and how comfortable you are being pimped out on the sides of a bus.

University Lecturer: These jobs usually require a University degree and some kind of TEFL qualification. TEFL certificates can be easily gained via an online course (try Groupon for a bargain!) but finding a job at a University without a degree is more tricky. The reason being is Universities like to do things properly and a degree qualification is needed for a Chinese expert certificate (more about that next time) which is required to legally work.

Pros: Easy hours, long holidays (often up to 4 weeks in February and 8 in the summer!), weekends free and the chance to teach adults.

Cons: Less money (The pay for a University position can be between 6000-8000 RMB per month which is around $1000-1350 a month. Positions often comes with some kind of free housing attached.) Facilities (housing included) might also not be as fancy as the private schools.

Where can I find these jobs? Most University positions will be advertised on E China Cities  . If you have a city in mind, you can select the city’s homepage and search from there. Pay for tier 1 cities such as Shanghai/Beijing will be the highest due to cost of living. If you’re planning to move to a relatively small city (tier 2 or below) you’re better off applying to the University directly to avoid agencies who spam these sites. The best time to apply is between February and May.

Kindergartens: These jobs tend to be easier to find all year round although most places prefer a September start. Good news is if they need someone they’ll find a way to get you a visa even if you don’t have the qualifications and  experience the government  demands so it’s good for those just starting out/those who don’t have a degree. There are several big kindergarten companies in the Chinese market such as Disney English (mixed reviews but the pay is good: to $22,000 a year) and Ivy Language Schools. There are also literally thousands upon thousands of local kindergarten businesses so your world is your oyster.

Pros: Better money than University jobs (Average salary is around 10,000-13,000 RMB a month, more for tier 1 cities), easier to find and getting to work with little kids (if that’s your bag.)

Cons: Free housing isn’t usually provided (although sometimes an allowance is) and the holiday allowance is much less than Universities.

Where can I find these jobs? If you want to apply to a big company that could place you anywhere then visit the company’s site directly. If you are a little more flexible go to Dave’s ESL Cafe for up to date listings.

Private Language Schools: Again, these are everywhere in China. They range from big organisations like English First, Wall Street English and Shane. to a local and a laowai (foreigner) who want to try their luck. These places usually involve working evenings and weekends and teaching everyone to toddlers to adult business learners.  Unlike kindergartens, you’ll teach lots of different students as they’ll often study after work/school. In turn, you might be in work for long periods of time but only teach one class a day. Some places insist on office hours so they have plenty of ‘white faces’ hanging around the places.

Pros:  Wages can be good and the bigger firms are often willing to pay for your flight to/from China. Range of ages means it’s good for those who can’t handle all day in a kindergarten! Having time off during the week (rather than weekends) can make travel cheaper.

Cons: Having to work weekends, no summer vacation (in fact hours are even longer during the summer months), quality varies widely.

Where can I find these jobs? Again check out the company’s direct sites or use E China Cities.

Private Tutoring: For a pushy parent, a laowai with an American or British accent is the dream and it’s one they’re willing pay for. These things are word of mouth but once you find a client you can easily be making 200-300 RMB an hour ($25-35) by tutoring privately. Some find that this kind of work is all they need to get by while others use it supplement their income.

Pros: Really good wage, flexibility to set hours and pay, can be a great way to boost full-time salary.

Cons: Won’t get you a visa so you’ll need to find full-time work elsewhere or risk it on a tourist visa.

Where can I find these jobs? They’ll usually find you! Once a local finds out there’s a foreigner in your building, they’ll often knock on your door! Another good idea is to join expat sites in the city you’re in. Foreigners who are leaving often post details of their clients in case a newcomer wants to take them on.

So what next? Once you’ve figured out what type of employment you want, check out the links I’ve given you. I’m not really in a position to recommend an employer in particular. I have friends who work for EF and seem to like it (but do complain of the long hours!). My husband worked for Ivy and hated it (but he does have little patience with the under five in general). He currently works for a university and loves it so was happy to take the pay cut. Like anything it pays to do a little research but do remember this is China and things you might take for granted back home (guaranteed sick pay, medical insurance) might not be offered here. Once you’ve found a position, stay tuned for my next post in which I’ll tackle visas, paperwork and how much you can expect to save in a year’s stint.

If anyone has specific questions about teaching english in China, feel free to comment below or ask me on twitter (@globetrotterjen)