The Life Cycle of a Teacher in China

The Life Cycle of a Teacher in China
Oct 26, 2009 By Paul Bacon , eChinacities.com

For me, it was an overwhelming sense of boredom with life in the UK and the challenge of coming to live in a country that is growing and changing so fast. For others, it might have been the allure of the mystic East, the desire to learn a new language or the chance to immerse themselves in a strange foreign culture. And, for some, it might have been the image of beautiful Chinese ladies. There are myriad reasons that bring foreigners to China. However, for most, there is just one way to get here: teaching English. This sector represents by far the largest amount of jobs on offer in China. It would, though, be foolish of us to lump everyone who teaches English under one giant all-encompassing umbrella labeled 'English Teachers'. The truth is that the industry is far more diverse and nuanced than that. Therefore, I thought it wise to look at some of the typical career paths of teachers here in China.

Most teachers tend to arrive in China by one of two routes. The first is through a recruiter, who will find them jobs in a state school or university. If you were to look on any teaching website, these would be the jobs that are listed in such ways as “Middle Schools in Shanxi” or “Universities Across Eastern China”. They are usually hired based solely on a resume and a scanned copy of either a degree or a teaching certificate. With jobs like this, teachers tend to sign up for a semester or, at most, a year. Teachers who take this route tend to be younger and often may not hold teaching qualifications or any experience. Accordingly, salaries tend to be low, at 5,000 or 6,000 RMB per month for example.

The second gateway into China is through a private English-language company, such as English First. Again, contracts will tend to run for a year, but salaries may be a little higher since many of these companies require teaching certificates – only TEFL, nothing as advanced as DELTA or CELTA certificates. Recruitment, again, is a pretty direct and simple process. A degree or TEFL certification plus a brief phone chat is enough to secure a job – sometimes large companies also recruit teachers by offering training programs at home, with jobs in China at the end of the courses.

After the initial six months or year comes decision time. Should they stay or should they go? For many, who are just in China for a change of scenery or a break from the norm, this is the time they bid zaijian to the Middle Kingdom and head home. For others it is a chance to move onwards and upwards in the teaching industry. The end of the initial honeymoon period is the time of greatest migration for expats. It is unlikely that many teachers will stay at a drafty state school somewhere in the hinterlands of China's vast interior or in a distant suburb or satellite town of a major city after they have completed their first contract. Instead, we see two types of migration, often happening in conjunction.

The first is from country to city. After experiencing a slightly more traditional take on Chinese life and culture, younger teachers are often keen to get a taste of the country's modern face. So they buy a one-way ticket to Beijing, Shanghai, and the like. The second migration is up the teaching pay-scale. Those at state schools may look to move to university jobs or move to private language companies. This will help them to find higher salaries as both universities and language schools will pay higher salaries to those with experience in China and who are already in the country. This time the process is not quite as simple as when they landed in China. The language school or university are at least likely to want to meet them and put them through an interview. Although with the demand for teachers as great as it is, this is not likely to be the most strenuous of recruitment processes.

The second phase of a teacher's life in China can last until they decide enough is enough, and it's at last time to head back to their home country. However, there are further steps up the ladder. These usually take two or three forms. The first is the top-end language school. In China, the top dogs at the moment are Wall Street English, but there are other smaller companies who offer similarly high-end services. The second option is to move to some of the international schools operating in the major cities around China that are always on the look-out for experienced teachers. Both of these options certainly pay far better than at the lower end of the teaching ladder. But, they are not easy to secure. Most of these organizations will require teaching certificates – usually TEFL certification at the very least – and will put potential teachers through lengthy interviews and even demo classes. These are the type of jobs that are most likely to lead to a long-term career, and to keep teachers in China.
 

Related Links
How to Find the Perfect Teaching Job in China
The Four Best Websites for Finding Teaching Jobs in China
Forget English Teaching: Other Jobs for Expats

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