5 Tips on Finding the Perfect Teaching Job in China

5 Tips on Finding the Perfect Teaching Job in China
Jan 04, 2009 By Andrea Hunt , eChinacities.com

Special Topic: Finding and Keeping Jobs in China

Maybe you, like many others, are stressed about work in your home country; maybe the economic crisis has finally hit you personally. For many, it’s not just a story on the news anymore affecting someone else. The truth is that no country was spared from this economic downturn and everyone is trying to deal with the situation the best he can. Unless you are in healthcare, or a similar sector, your job probably isn’t safe. Maybe you have even thought of looking abroad. Maybe you just need something different. Maybe you even thought as far as looking to … China?

Believe it or not, teaching English in China has become one of the easiest ways to not only leave your country but experience an eye-opening opportunity to live in one of the fastest changing countries in the world.  There are absolutely no shortages of teaching positions for native speakers like you and most jobs come with an attractive salary that will allow you to live quite well in China. Forget what you think you know about China. It’s not what you imagined, it’s better.

So why China? If you are trying to save money and get rich China isn’t the top option; but if it’s experience you seek, China offers something unique and fulfilling. Not to mention, teaching in China will allow you to have an excellent standard of living, and above all, teaching is extremely rewarding. This is a fascinating time in China’s history to witness the changes that are taking place as the New China shows its face to the world.

So what is the first step? Most people aren’t willing to pick up their lives at home, sell their possessions, and move to the other end of the earth. There are a lot out here like that, call us the adventurous or the “crazies,” but for the most part, people want some idea of what they will be doing. The best suggestion is to start online. Here are some quick tips to help you along:

1)Research. Get to know the sites that provide information where teachers share their stories, reviews on schools, recruiters, etc. Sites like www.daveseslcafe.com have a lot of good information to get you started as well as additional teaching materials.   Keep in mind that different schools have various requirements. Many schools require only that you be a native English speaker, some ask for any type of Bachelor’s degree, and some require a TEFL certificate. TEFL certificates can be obtained either in online courses or short seminars. They will help you to negotiate a higher salary and also are valuable in helping you teach.

2)Get familiar with salaries in different cities and what standards are typically offered: airfare, room and board, internet access, a TV, paid vacation etc. Go to the forums online, check the scam alerts. Sites like www.eslteachersboard.com are filled with information posted by teachers abroad. For the most part, full time jobs provide airfare, full visa, accommodation, full time salary, and vacations. Part time jobs only pay by the hour. However, in big cities, at times the sum of several part time jobs is more than one full time job, even though the schools don’t provide accommodation or other benefits.

Contracts provide clarity on what to expect. If something looks odd or too good to be true, ask for an explanation. This is your life! Don’t sign away 6 months or a year of your life if you aren’t clear on something. See a sample contract

3)Check online China jobsites and see what is available at present. If you know where you want to live already, then look on our local sites instead of big international ones to find more reputable jobs. You can check all cities at once and compare.

 

 

 

See what’s available, and then ask yourself what age group and level you are prepared to work with. Some of the best paid jobs are with kindergartens or business classes. There are many options to consider so be honest with yourself on what works for you. If you don’t like children, taking the primary school job teaching a room full of hyper bright-eyed 8 year olds is probably not in your best interest. Similarly, make extra certain you like teenagers before signing up for a Chinese high school.

4)Decide where you want to go; look on www.eChinacities.com for useful information about cities in China. Do you want a big city or a small town? North or South? China’s climate varies tremendously so make sure you are comfortable with the weather in that location before signing a year-long contract. If learning Chinese is a goal, you might want to consider living in or around Beijing where the regional dialect is standard Mandarin. Foreigners living in the south lament at times about the dialect in Shanghai or Wuhan. Guangzhou wouldn’t be a good choice either as they speak the Cantonese dialect and not Mandarin.  Additionally, total immersion is obviously the best way to learn Chinese and easiest in a small town, but also consider that being without other foreigners can be lonely at times. Making Chinese friends is quite easy, but at times foreigners find they need at least a few fellow Western friends around.  Some people find the best option is to live in a smaller town outside a bigger city so they can be immersed in Chinese culture during the week while still having access to big city Western comforts like Carrefour supermarket, Watson’s pharmacy, and live music venues on the weekends.

5)Find out what visa you need depending on the length of your contract. You are not allowed to work on a tourist visa, although some people do, it is risky and ill advised. If you sign a long term contract they should pay for you to obtain a Z work visa for one year. However, no part time tutoring jobs actually provide this, so most people settle for F business visas every 6 months. There are various legitimate visa services around town that will arrange F visas in about 10 days. These prices change on a regular basis so look around a bit first before deciding which one to use. Note, after one year after entry from China, you are required to leave the country. Most people simply go to Hong Kong over the weekend to get their visas renewed and get a re-entry stamp. Since visa regulations often change, make sure to call around to different visa agencies to find out your options.

To check current visa regulations go to:

In summation, there is a lot of information out there, doing your homework will help you to get the best job possible. Maybe you have always wondered what China was like. Maybe you have always wanted to teach. Maybe you just need something different! Whatever your reasons are for considering teaching in China, you will not be disappointed when you get here. People come here looking for different things: to find something else or to find themselves.  But one thing is certain: you will find an amazing place on the other side of the world. Forget what you think you know about China, come and experience it for yourself; China is not what you imagined, it’s better.  An old Chinese proverb reminds us that: “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu

Special Topic: Finding and Keeping Jobs in China

Related Links
Get Your TEFL Online: Teaching in China For More Money
Forget English Teaching: Other Jobs for Expats
Teaching in China: What Can it Get You?

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2 Comments

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Luc

Good for you, Pea! Nice to see you stand up for yourself with some class and dignity. Your students are very lucky to have you, and you have surely earned the right to receive that recognition from your school. Good to see your comments here!

Jan 12, 2012 10:40 Report Abuse

Luc

I tried calling you, Anonymous, but I think your phone is turned off. No luck sending to your anonymous email address either. Even the pigeons keep returning with dumb looks on their faces. I just don't know what to do, to get this secret information you have, about the expert exploiters of Nanchang.

Jan 12, 2012 10:26 Report Abuse