As the dominant language of the global economy, English is a priority for many Chinese looking to get ahead. The problem for these ambitious Chinese is that there aren’t enough English speakers to go around, much less ones that are native speakers. Often times just being a native speaker is enough to get you a teaching job anywhere in Asia. That asset is reason alone for schools to pay for everything – including airfare, accommodation and visa fees – to get you out of your home country and inside a classroom ASAP.

Sometimes these offers can be enticing, especially when you are stuck as a desk zombie or tired of job hunting in a poor economy. Still, many job postings can sound fishy (as the result of bad translation or purposeful deception), and some most certainly are. Finding the best place for you is a lot easier once you are already on Chinese soil and can take matters into your own hands.

How to go about it

As a native speaker from California, having already taught English as a second language to business professionals in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and owning a TEFL certification, I knew in advance that I would have a plethora of teaching opportunities in China. I decided to wait until my boots were on the ground before looking for work, preferring to scope out the situation as opposed to putting my faith in an online job posting.

After two months of living in Chongqing, I decided I wanted to find a job teaching in the city. My search began online and included Abroad China, Dave’s ESL Cafe, Horizon Recruitment, Gold Star, Craigslist China, and of course, the eChinacities job section. I also took the initiative of walking into a few random English schools in my neighbourhood (Nanping) to see if they needed teachers (which they always did).

I contacted about a dozen schools and recruiters over the course of two days, interviewed (both in-person and over Skype) with seven of them in under one week and got offers for employment from all of them. I was only interested in offers to teach in Chongqing, despite many others coaxing me to relocate with much higher salaries. I was admittedly a bit exhausted after running around between each of Chongqing’s main districts for various interviews in the sweltering heat, but it was my priority to weigh all the options. But it was worth it. Essentially, eight days after the start of my search, I had seven different teaching employment options sitting in front of me.

Although some of the schools might seem similar, each has their positives and negatives. To get the most out of your interviews and avoid being another ESL Asia horror story, be sure to cover all of the bases and to have the deal you want before you sign a contract. That’s always easier in person.

Students & lessons

Who are you going to teach? Do you prefer certain age groups or experience levels? Maybe you want variety. One school I interviewed with, Owen, specializes in teaching 3-7 year-old beginner students. What are you going to teach them? Do you have to create the lesson plans or are does the school have a set curriculum? Owen also asked that I teach a demo class to three 3-year-olds, based off of my own lesson plan (which consisted of a ball, a cup, a bag and a book). These are pivotal questions, whether you’re an experienced teacher or someone looking to take their first teaching job.

Location & staff

Do you like the area where the school is? What’s the vibe at the school? If you’re not interested in something super corporate and rigid then English First, Web International and Meten might not be good options for you (although they would most likely be paying you on time). Do the other teachers and staff seem like people you’d get along with? Smaller schools, (I interviewed with one called First Leap) might provide the chance for you to work more closely with the staff.

Fine print & perks

Ask to take a look at the contract wherever you interview, whether it’s a digital or physical copy. Are work visas (usually a Z Visa) handled by the school? What is the penalty for leaving the contract early? Are your hours and schedule flexible? One public university I interviewed with offers free Chinese classes, compensation for my visa expenses (including transport to and from Hong Kong) and a lighter workload. Long term, public schools also offer the couple month summer break.

The most important thing to remember is that most things in China are negotiable. A teaching contract is no exception. Even if you aren’t a bargainer, don’t be too shy about asking for a higher salary or asking them to include a perk that you didn’t see in the contract. More often than not, the schools need you a little more than you need them. Many are willing to negotiate. Seldom did schools shut down requests that I made outright.

There are a lot of great reasons to teach English abroad. Keep these reasons firmly in the front of your mind during the interview process. Whether you are trying to make and save money, build your résumé for a career in education, or whether you looking for a way to balance your Chinese language study with some work, make sure the terms of the contracts meet your requirements before you make any commitments.

Many teachers sign contracts before leaving their home country. If you find yourself in China prior to putting pen to paper like I did, the ball is in your court. Take your time to find the right school and the right deal.
 

Related links
5 Tips on Finding the Perfect Teaching Job in China
Right Country Wrong Job: 5 Common Problems for Teachers Coming to China
Teaching in China: Tips for First-year Teachers

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