i-to-i TEFL COUNTRY GUIDES: CHINA
China is one of the world’s oldest civilizations but one of its newest industrial powerhouses. Since freeing up its economic restraints and opening itself up to the outside world during the latter part of the 20th century, it has achieved rapid growth and seen an influx of foreign visitors. Its attractions lie as much in the past as they do the future, from the ancient sights of the Forbidden City and the Great Wall to the buzz of Beijing.
Cities like Shanghai are unrecognizable from a few years ago, having sprouted gleaming high rises and modern shopping malls. This hasn’t culled the country’s cultural intensity and its vastness means there’s many different sides of China to be explored.
TEFL in China (Contracts, Salary, Work)
- Demand for Teachers
- Main TEFL Regions
- Busiest TEFL Periods
- Contract Lengths
- Types of Teaching
- Accommodation
- Flight Reimbursement
- Currency
- Salary
- Taxes
- Cost of Living
- Potential to Save Money
- How Much TEFL Training is Recommended?
- Common teaching conditions
Finding Work
Work Visas
Why choose China?
Be Aware
Before you go
A Few Fun Facts
TEFL in China (Contracts, Salary, Work)
Demand for teachers
Very highChina’s attitude to westerners has softened greatly, and there are over 400 million English language students across this vast country.
Main TEFL regions
Shanghai, Guiyang, Hangzong, Kunming, Yinchaun, Yan'an, Yanliang, Weinan, Xianyang, Lianyungang, Wuhan, Zhengzhon, Dalian, Jinan, Xian, Dandong, Shenyang, Tangshan, Beijing; and many other smaller towns and cities and rural areas.Busiest TEFL periods
Year-round.Contract lengths
From 1 month to 12 months+Types of teaching
- State and private secondary schools: General English
- Colleges and universities: General English, Business English
- State and private primary schools: General English, English for Younger Learners
- Foreign language institutes: General English, Business English
- Teacher training colleges: General English, English for Specific Purposes (ESP)
- In-house company training: General English, Business English, ESP
- Private tuition: General English, Business English, ESP
Accommodation
This is usually provided by your employer, and you’ll share with other English teachers.The quality of accommodation can vary from very comfortable to basic, but most are of a good standard.
Flight reimbursement
This depends on your employer, although many schools offer a bonus on completion of a 12-month contract.Currency
Chinese Renminbi, commonly known as the Yuan (CNY)Symbol: ¥
Salary
There’s a big salary range depending on your qualifications, where you work and for how many hours per week: anywhere between US$400-1,400.Taxes
At the lower end of this salary range, you will pay around 11% of your income as tax; at the higher end it’ll be closer to 16%.Cost of living
This can be very low for those who eat local food and travel on cheap public transport or on the ubiquitous bicycles. If you live in a rural area, you may have no choice but to cook your own food, but don’t be surprised if the curious locals offer you Chinese cooking lessons!Potential to save money
If you land a good job you could save US$500 or more per month, but foreign exchange in China is tightly controlled, so negotiate a clause in your contract that allows you to convert this money to your home currency.How much TEFL training is recommended?
You only need a university degree to get a job, and in some workplaces you don’t even need that. However, to maximize your earnings, you’ll need a decent TEFL qualification.Common teaching conditions
As conditions can vary between posts, you should negotiate your circumstances and timetable wherever possible.Expect to teach for 15-25 hours per week, but classes can be big (sometimes with over 50 students) and you should set aside time for extra-curricular commitments such as marking.
Finding Work
How do I find work?
The easiest way to find a job is to combine one of i-to-i’s TEFL courses with a 6-12 month teaching contract in China. You’ll get free accommodation and a bonus on completion of your contract.Otherwise, you can always search with the embassy or apply directly to language institutions advertising online. There’s also plenty of placement agencies that find teachers for schools and colleges in China.
Can I find work while in-country?
Have a look in the English language newspapers or simply pop into a school or college to see if they have any vacanciesWhat is the usual hiring process?
When applying for a job, you usually send a copy of your CV/Resume, along with a photograph, photocopy of the front page of your passport, a copy of your degree and any references.Work Visas
Is a work visa required to find paid work in China?
Yes. You usually apply for a work visa by taking a copy of your job offer to your country’s Chinese Embassy. Your employer will also need to arrange other permits that allow you to teach.Work Visa requirements:
- In good health
- Passport
- University degree
- Job offer
Why Choose China?
- Beautiful and fascinating with plenty to see
- The chance to experience a country experiencing major cultural change
- The food!
- High wages and low living costs
- Lots of teaching posts
Be Aware…
In the past, it was common to enter China on a 1-3 month tourist visa and then your school issued the work visa in-country. But the Chinese authorities are cracking down on this practice and you could find yourself fined.
Due to foreigners keeping their options open by accepting multiple jobs, many language institutes found themselves without a teacher. For this reason, once you’ve found work independently, it is important to keep in touch with your employer until your arrival, or you could find yourself without a job!
Before you go
Read this…
Red Azalea by Anchee Min – racy account of a young woman’s coming of age during the Cultural RevolutionWatch this…
To Live – Zhang Yimou’s seminal story of a couple trying to survive a fascinating period in China’s history.A Few Fun Facts
- It’s the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion people: about a fifth of the world’s total population.
- It manufactures more than half of the world’s bicycles
- The Bailong elevator in Zhangjiajie is the world’s tallest outdoor elevator: a massive 1,070 feet high!
- Food is very important in China, and “chifanle meiyou� (“Have you eaten?�) is one of the country’s most common greetings.
