TEFL Teach China

6 to 12 Month Teaching Placements in The Middle Kingdom

Experience head-spinning diversity in a country that sweeps from the wide open, silent spaces of inner-Mongolia, through chattering trade hubs such as Xi'an and Ningbo, and races beyond, onto the brash, booming skylines of Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen!

English teaching program in China, at a glance

• Teach mostly middle school students to adults (15-35 year olds)
• Full curriculum provided including text books, teaching aids, CDs, games and quizzes
• Help students gain confidence in pronunciation, vocabulary and conversational English
• No Chinese language skills required!

Benefits include

• Excellent local salary of up to RMB12,000 (£1180) monthly
• Accommodation allowance of RMB1000-2000 (£98-£196)
• 5 days paid vacation
• Paid national holidays
• Medical insurance
• Free Chinese classes

Locations available

Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dongguan, Foshan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Xiamen, Wuhan, Zhongshan

Requirements

• UK, USA, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand or Irish nationality (due to visa requirements)
• Bachelor's degree (any field)
• TEFL Certified - Don't have a TEFL qualification? Enroll here.

Skills & Qualities

We are looking for enthusiastic, passionate people who can commit themselves to between six and thirteen months of working with one of our Chinese schools. As a teacher you will have full classroom responsibilities including creating lesson plans, student assessment, and curriculum development. This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in something special, to gain a real insight into China's unique culture, and to influence the lives and community of Chinese young and old. Experience is not necessary. Spirit of adventure is compulsory! Sound interesting? Then why not apply now!

How do I apply?

• Get in touch with a copy of your resume and a recent photo
• Regional coordinator will process your application and visa
• Arrive in China!

TEFL Teach China dates

• Positions available throughout the year

Why apply for China teaching positions through ESLstarter?

We are a TEFL placement agency run by former TEFL teachers. As such we have extensive first-hand experience of teaching TEFL in exotic, far-off lands! Our mission is to make it easy for other people to be able to achieve their dream of teaching English overseas.

Jump to:

• FAQs
• Practicalities
• What to bring and weather
• Fast facts China
• How much in China?

FAQs

Can I choose my own location?

Yes, although limited spots are available so it is best to choose 3 or 4 different locations that you are most interested in.

Will there be other native English teachers nearby?

China is a very popular location for teaching English abroad. Therefore, there are lots of native English teachers from the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa living and teaching in China. So, it is always possible to meet other native English teachers even in the more rural destinations.

What happens at the orientation?

The one or two week orientation covers plenty of ground including essential tips on lesson planning, curriculum guidance and practice on how to teach English to Chinese students!

What is an average weekly teaching schedule?

You would be teaching at a private language school, which students attend after their regular school day has finished for extra English practice. Schedules are determined on a need basis but the school will try to be as accommodating as possible when assigning classes.

You teachers would typically have two non-consecutive days off throughout the week.

Would I need to teach at weekends?

As the schools cater to students who want to take supplementary English classes outside of their regular school day, classes would normally take place either in the evening or at weekends. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days with teachers having their days off between Monday and Friday.

Is overtime available?

Overtime is optional but not compulsory.

How many students per class would there be?

Classes are small with a maximum of 18 students per class. Students are grouped according to ability, ranging from elementary through to advanced.

How long are the classes?

The classes run from 30 minutes to two hours including a break.

Do I always teach the same students?

Children usually attend the school once per week so you'd teach each class of children one time each week. There are some adult classes and the adults would generally attend the school two or three times per week.

What do I need to wear to work?

Casual dress is fine so jeans, t-shirts and sweaters are all perfectly acceptable.

Will there be other native English teachers at my school?

In most cases there will be anything from 3 to 30 foreign teachers teaching at the same school.

Is housing provided?

You would receive a housing subsidy and assistance will be provided to find an apartment that you like near to the school.

When is the salary paid?

Salaries are paid monthly on the 10th of every month.

Do I need to pay telephone and utilities?

These charges are administered by the school but the teacher is responsible for the paying the costs. The telephone and utility charges are deducted from the monthly salary.

When are the Chinese national holidays?

The three main holiday periods in China are: Labor Day (early may), National Day (early October), and Spring Festival (late January - early February). During these periods, you will also have paid holidays.

How does the visa process work?

The school will be responsible for your work visa and will also ensure that you have the required invitation letters in order to apply for your China teaching visa. Once you have been issued a contract, the school will mail an appointment package to you which you take to your nearest Chinese Embassy / Consulate in order to pick up the teaching visa.

Practicalities

Health Care

The standard of health care in China is extremely varied. Hospitals in the major cities are often on a par with Western levels and most doctors speak English. In the more rural conurbations, doctors and nursing staff tend to speak less English so it's worth taking a Chinese friend to help translate. Treatments and prescriptions are usually distributed at hospitals as opposed to private clinics and surgeries.

Food

Chinese cuisine is world-renowned, with preparation and serving elevated to art form status amongst a nation famed for their extravagant tastes! Peking duck, Shanghai pork bun and Cantonese dim sum are some of the better known delicacies hailing from Chinese Chu fang (cooking rooms). Less known but equally delicious dishes include Zhou (rice porridge topped off with chicken, beef or pork), thousand year old eggs (pungent duck eggs that have been preserved in ash and salt for one-hundred days) and Gobi Manchurian (cauliflower fritters doused in a spicy sweet and sour sauce).

Travelling in China

China has more than 1.352 million km of highway making even the smallest towns and villages easily accessible by road. Long distance soft-sleeper and soft-seat buses are comfortable although often slow. Travelling by train is an inexpensive and efficient alternative with high speed rail networks linking the major urban hubs. Domestic air-travel in China is relatively cheap with a range of budget options available.

What to bring & weather

Temperatures across this huge country are extremely variable with bitterly cold winters across northern China (-10 Degrees or colder). Summers (April to September) can be stiflingly hot and humid with typhoons hitting the southeast coast between July and September.

Here's a quick check-list of what we'd recommend bringing with you:

• Summer & winter attire
• Anti-perspirant (very difficult to find in rural areas)
• Adapter for your electronic devices
• Big shoes (if you have large feet) - big shoes (and big feet!) are rarities in China
• A good insect repellent

Fast Facts China

• 1,286,975,468 - current population of China
• 20,000 - number of characters in the Chinese language
• 1,500 - number of miles that the Great Wall of China spans
• 3240 - TV broadcast stations throughout China
• 86% - literacy rate in China
• 13,831,900- population of Shanghai, one of the most densely populated cities on earth
• Red - a symbol of happiness for Chinese people
• 2600 BC - the year that the world's oldest calendar, the Lunar Calendar, originated
• US$40 billion - the estimated total cost of hosting the Beijing 2008 Olympics!
• Bats - are a good luck symbol in China!

How much in China?

China is an inexpensive country to live in by Western standards. Here's a guide to how much you can get for your RMB...

Item	Cost RMB*
Furnished apartment in modern residential block	1,200
Bowl of noodle soup from a street vendor	7
Burger and fries	18
Can of Coca-Cola	2
Food court meal	18
Dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant	60
Can of beer	2.5
Cup of coffee in a cafe	15
Wine	40
Bottle of mineral water	1
Shampoo	16
Tube of toothpaste	10
10 minute taxi journey	8
City bus fare	1
Cell phone	200+
Yearly gym membership	1500
Tray of fresh fruit	10

Apply now!