China is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, with 5000 years of history and culture. This giant country is one of the most popular destinations for ESL teachers to explore and immerse themselves in a new environment.
The ESL market is booming in China, and there is always a high demand for English teachers. If you’re looking to teach abroad, consider teaching in the middle kingdom!
Requirements to become an English Teacher in China
- Be an English native speaker and hold a passport from Australia, the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland or South Africa.
- Have a bachelor’s degree.
- Have a 120-hour TESOL or TEFL certification
- Some TEFL/TESOL experience
- Criminal background and health check
- An invitation letter from your employer
These are the necessary requirements to apply for a Z visa. Click on your country below to find out more about applying for the Z visa in your country.
Where to find an ESL Job in China
Public Schools
In a Chinese public school, you will work alongside a Chinese English Teacher and assist them in helping students with their English skills.
Classes will be quite large with up to 50 students. The age range of your class will be primary, middle and high-school ages, so you will encounter many types of students at different levels.
Work is Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Working in a public school offers teachers many breaks, and you will work for around 18 per week plus possible office time.
Teaching ESL in a public school can actually be very relaxing as you are only expected to come to work to teach. You are not required to do anything outside your job role.
You will mainly focus on helping your students increase their speaking skills while your Chinese English teacher helps students with other skills.
You may possibly be the only foreign English teacher working at your school. Because your co-workers will all be Chinese nationals it would be useful to learn some Mandarin before you come to China.
Training Centers
Unlike schools, training centers are private companies that teach for-profit. Students attend training centers to supplement their English education.
Classes are smaller, which allows for more interaction with students. You will teach around 4 to 8 students per class, with one-on-one sessions also available.
The age range of students vary greatly as training centers are open to anyone. You may be teaching Chinese businessmen one day and preschoolers the next. Therefore, you’ll have to be an adaptable teacher.
Each training center has its own curriculum so your responsibilities will vary from. There a various ESL jobs available in training centers, such as tutoring for exams to being a speaking coach.
Training centers do not have a regular work schedule like schools, and you may be called to work in on weekends.
Private Schools
Private schools are similar to public schools; however, the student to teacher ratio is much smaller.
Teaching at a private school will require you to interact with parents more often than in public schools. Parents will judge your teaching expertise based on their children’s progress, and this will have an impact on your employment.
Kindergartens
Working in a kindergarten will require the same work schedule as a public school and you can expect to earn roughly the same amount as you would in a private school.
Young children can be an absolute joy to teach! They are cheerful, playful, and they will bring heaps of positivity into your life. However, you will need to be very patient as these children are at the very beginning of their ESL journey, and thus you will need to adjust your speaking and teaching style.
International Schools
International schools are filled with students from multicultural backgrounds. Working here will require two-years of teaching experience. Teachers who have experience teaching in an IB school will be given preference. You will also need a higher teaching qualification than the 120-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate. A postgraduate certificate in education is a
You may be selected to teach other subjects, such as maths, science, geography, etc. As these schools use an international curriculum, everything will be taught in English.
Universities
Teaching ESL at a university in China will provide you with much more free time, and your work hours will be low (around 15 hours a week).
Your students will be young adults, and You will, however, receive roughly the same amount of pay.
To find work in a university, you may be required to hold a master’s degree or higher.
How to apply for an ESL Job in China
Apply Directly
Many private schools, kindergartens and training centers will advertise positions on online job listings and on their websites. Applying directly is a quick and simple process with no cost involved.
Here are some excellent sites to find ESL jobs in China:
Recruiters
Recruiters can help you find a perfect-fit teaching job in China. They are free of charge and will help you with all the paperwork needed to apply for a job in China.
There are many dodgy recruiters in China unfortunately, so it’s wise to stay on guard. Genuine recruiters should not ask for money as they are paid by the schools and should never force you to agree to anything you don’t like.
My recommended recruiter for China is Gold Star Tefl Recruitment. They are one of the most professional and honest recruiters in the ESL industry.
Teach Abroad Programs
TEFL programs in China is another option for first-time ESL teachers. Some programs even have Chinese lesson classes to help you get immersed in society.
Programs will have contracts for two school semesters although one-semester contracts are also available. Becoming a teacher through a program can the doorway to kickstarting your career as an English teacher in China!
Here are some awesome teach abroad programs for China:
How much will I earn as an ESL Teacher in China?
Your salary in China depends on the school or educational institution you’re teaching, your qualifications and experience. Having no teaching experience will result in less pay.
Teaching ESL in Tier 1 cities like Beijing or Shanghai will earn you more; however, the cost of living in these cities is much higher than other tiers
Although you earn less in Tier 2 and 3 cities, the cost of living is much lower so you’ll be able to save more depending on your lifestyle choices.
On average, an ESL teacher makes around 10,000 RMB ($1415) a month.
All prices are in RMB and USD
Beijing and Shanghai (Tier 1 Cities)
| Public Schools | 10,000 – 18,000 RMB | $1415 – $2548 |
| Private Schools | 10,000 – 20,000 RMB | $1415 – $2831 |
| Training Centers | 12,000 – 20,000 RMB | $1699 – $2831 |
| Universities | 8,000 – 10,000 RMB | $1132 – $1415 |
| International Schools | 15,000 – 30,000 RMB | $2123 – $4247 |
Tier 2 Cities
| Public Schools | 9,000 – 15,000 RMB | $1274 – $2123 |
| Private Schools | 9,000 – 15,000 RMB | $1274 – $2123 |
| Training Centers | 10,000 – 12,000 RMB | $1415 – $1700 |
| Universities | 7,000 – 10,000 RMB | $991 – $1415 |
| International Schools | 13,000 – 25,000 RMB | $1840 – $3539 |
Tier 3 Cities
| Public Schools | 7000 – 10,000 RMB | $991 – $1415 |
| Private Schools | 7,000 -12,000 RMB | $991 – $1700 |
| Training Centers | 5,000 – 10,000 RMB | $707 – $1415 |
| Universities | 5,000 – 8,000 RMB | $707 – $1132 |
| International Schools | 10,000 – 20,000 RMB | $1415 – $2831 |
Work Benefits
- Housing is provided
- Flight reimbursements
- End of year bonuses
- Free lunches
- Up to 6 weeks of paid holidays
- Career Development Plans
- Paid to go on school trips
- Mandarin Chinese language lessons
Can I teach in China without a degree?
It’s illegal to teach in China without a degree. You are even unable to teach part-time if you are studying in China. The only way to teach legally in China without a degree is by doing a TEFL internship.
What is it like to teach English in China?
Your experience will depend on many factors, but overall, teaching ESL in China will be a once in a lifetime opportunity and absolutely worth it!
Compared to other countries, the cost of living in China is relatively low and for the amount you earn as an ESL teacher, you could potentially save around 70% of your salary every month.
The people of China are friendly but the culture is very different to the one you may know. Be prepared for episodes of culture shock but don’t let it undermine your time there.
Teaching in public schools will also be substantially different than other schools. As you’ll be working with Chinese teachers, they may have their own ideas of how the English language should be taught.
It’s important to teach your students the correct use of the language using the Engage-Study-Activate method, so be aware of how things operate at your school.
Teaching ESL in other educational institutions may require more or less work, depending on various factors. Be sure to always check the responsibilities of your role and expectations that your employer may have before you sign up to teach.
Coming to China with an open mind and sense of adventure will be beneficial for your overall ESL experience. The country is so big that there are an endless amount of things to do and encounter.
Although most foreign ESL teachers work in China for around three years, you might just stay there longer, or forever!
Current ESL teaching opportunities in China
TEFL Internship
If you don’t have a university degree yet, then a paid TEFL internship may be an excellent opportunity for you. You will earn around $1500 a month with additional benefits.
Most TEFL internships in China last four to five months and you will receive a TEFL certification. Through the training, you will experience working and living in China. You could be placed anywhere in this incredibly vast country. The experience of a lifetime!
Click here to learn more about doing a paid TEFL internship in China.
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