Everyone who has been thinking about moving abroad knows that there is a great opportunity for this - to move and teach English in China. However, in order to change the country of residence or occupation, it is necessary to seriously prepare. Let's figure out what it takes to get a job as an English teacher in China. What advantages await the teacher, and what possible difficulties should be prepared in advance.
What does it take to get a job as an English teacher?
We have identified several important factors that will allow you to get a job in a Chinese educational institution.
English proficiency
The level of language proficiency must be at least B1 in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
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This point is very important, because building a successful career will only work if you have excellent knowledge of English, and also have the skills to teach others.
It is necessary to know the grammar carefully:
- English tenses, when and how they are used, their agreement.
- Stable phraseological units, professional clichés.
- Rules for the use of articles, etc.
Your vocabulary should be sufficient to be able to freely conduct a lesson in English, explain the rules, maintain a dialogue with students, colleagues and administration.
Of course, if you teach English to children, then a conversational level is enough, without delving into the rules. But if you choose to work as a teacher in a more adult audience, then of course you must know the language thoroughly.
Moral readiness for change
In China, as a rule, they strive to conclude an agreement with English teachers for a period of at least two years, and this is an excellent experience in all respects. Getting a job is associated with a radical change of scenery, leaving the comfort zone, constant practice of English, gaining real work experience, travel and new knowledge.
A secondary benefit can be the creation of your own channel or blog, in which you will describe in stages everything that you do, what difficulties you encounter and how you overcome them. If you take into account the large number of people who want to move and work abroad, your profile will attract attention, new subscribers, and over time will provide an opportunity for additional earnings.
Obtaining a TEFL / TESOL certificate
In order to become an English teacher in China, you need to take a special online course, after which you receive a Teaching English as a Foreign Language / Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages certificate, which confirms your competence as a first-class teacher.
This point is important, because without this certificate for a teaching position in China, as well as in another country, it is impossible to get a job. The minimum requirement is a 120 hour course, but it's worth noting that you'll have a better chance of getting a job as a teacher if you choose a 150 or 250 hour course.
In China, TEFL is more welcome than TESOL, as English is a foreign language for Chinese students. The TEFL certificate is your personal license to teach English abroad, and at the same time confirms a high level of language proficiency.
An analysis of the salaries of English teachers in China
How much does an English teacher in China earn? The standard is $2500.
But there are many variations. Often, wages depend on the number of working hours. Many teachers combine several jobs and teach for several hours a week in different institutions: kindergartens, schools, educational centers. In this case, the payment per hour is higher than with a monthly salary.
But this is usually done by experienced teachers who have mastered and know the job search algorithm in China. If you are traveling for the first time, then find a job with monthly pay, and when you understand the peculiarities of the Chinese education system, if you wish, you can increase your earnings with the help of a second job or students.
Finding True Job Reviews
You should not listen to those who claim that only native speakers are invited to teach English in China.
This is absolutely not the case, and thousands of English teachers from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and other non-English speaking countries, who have been successfully working in China for a long time, are proof of this. You can find more real testimonials from those who received the certificate and how it affected their work here.
Of course, recruiters try to find native English speakers for teaching positions, but every school has a budget that often doesn't pay for Native Speakers.
Another advantage is that non-English speaking English teachers have learned it themselves, so they are able to present the language to others in a clear and understandable way. Therefore, we advise you to cast aside all doubts and uncertainty about the fact that you are not an English lord or an American cowboy, because the most important thing is knowledge of English and teaching techniques.
Learn the culture of China
Before planning a trip, find out all the dates of the holidays. This matters, since with official employment, all holidays are paid. Holidays are very popular in China. Usually there are about two weeks of rest in October, as well as a long rest for the Chinese New Year. But it's so nice to get money when instead of work - rest.
You can also specify your national holidays on which you are prohibited from working for religious reasons: Christmas or Easter.
Study the menu and options for a bite to navigate the prices and not go hungry. It is also worth paying attention to street etiquette and the rules of conduct in cafes and public transport. To do this, you should find several Russian-language YouTube channels, in which those who moved to China share their experiences and interesting remarks.
It will be useful to know what exchange rate is considered acceptable.
Determine the age group and the desired place of work
There are those who can present themselves as an English teacher only for children. Other teachers have no idea how to deal with children and only want to pass on language skills to adults.
You must make this choice yourself. Of course, the chances of finding a good job as a teacher increase if you are a versatile teacher. And you know how to effectively teach English to all age groups. By the way, in each of the TEFL / TESOL course packages there are special sections about teaching people of different ages and professions.
In order to feel confident in any workplace: in kindergarten, at school, in college or in a private lesson, it is important to understand what methods and techniques you will use to teach your student. Courses that have modules dedicated to teaching the language to different age categories are a must-have for novice teachers.
Before signing a long-term contract, you need to understand whether you can cope with the task, whether your future students are the right age for you, and whether you have the necessary teaching methods . Otherwise, in your free time, you will have to additionally study pedagogical technologies in order to improve the quality of the lesson.
TEFL/TESOL courses are also useful because they include a mandatory section on lesson planning. By learning how to plan a lesson, you will be able to plan your lessons a month in advance and will know what to prepare for before class.
Make a plan of conversation with the administration of the school where you will work
Before you sign a contract, be sure to check with your employer in China if he plans to get a work visa before you arrive, or if you will do it yourself when you arrive.
There are cases when the employer insists on a trial period and offers to get a tourist visa first, and after the expiration of the period - a work one. This is a fundamental point, and we recommend that you look for a suitable vacancy until all the conditions completely suit you.
No one is immune from unforeseen circumstances when a visa is never issued. In this case, the applicant is faced with a choice: return home or continue working unofficially, constantly renewing tourist or business visas, leaving every month for nearby countries, such as Hong Kong. This is an illegal activity, so you can get a big fine this way.
This can cause a number of inconveniences, so feel free to ask questions to the employer, and also remember that you can try yourself as an online teacher for international students. Equally important is the fact that some teacher certification courses provide access to a job database with many offers.
In the event that you have agreed on official employment, then you will need to order translation and apostille services for documents. This applies not only to identity documents, but also to a diploma of higher education.
It is impossible to get a job as an English teacher in China without at least a bachelor's degree. The direction of the specialty does not have to be pedagogical - certification courses for teachers will be enough.
They also require a certificate of non-conviction. It usually takes about 3 weeks to receive it, faster receipt is paid additionally, so keep this in mind when you apply for a position. As in other countries, for official employment in China, you will also need a medical certificate of health. A full medical examination with tests is carried out directly in a medical institution in China.
It should be clarified whether the costs of paperwork are reimbursed by the employer.
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Feel free to ask questions and find out more
Before you move, it is worth asking in detail about the conditions of your work with a potential boss.
In addition, you can independently study the information using video blogs about working as a teacher, where they talk about how to choose an apartment, how much it costs, all the nuances about brokers, and the peculiarities of life in Asian countries.
You can read articles and conversations on forums about the mentality of the Chinese, the features of education and culture. You should definitely “monitor” information about travel opportunities, because flights to Asian countries are very cheap. Read about the price level, what you can afford teaching English.
It will also be important to look for good courses that offer many services, such as help with the TEFL / TESOL exam, writing a letter of recommendation, or specialized pedagogical literature as a gift. The most important characteristic is the comparison of courses by price. Very often, the cost of the course is overpriced and varies between $400-500. Be on the lookout for offers on the market, because some organizations offer the same certification services at a more interesting price - from $129.
In addition, if you are still in search, we recommend that you be interested in all possible bonuses:
- assistance in finding a job after graduation,
- tips for writing a resume
- access to the database with vacancies,
- the presence of a curator, tutor or trainer who can explain to you the working moments in the learning process.
English Level Confirmation
Getting a good position with a high salary, official employment and other bonuses is possible only for those who have a document confirming their knowledge of English.
However, do not confuse confirmation with a TOEFL certificate and a TEFL / TESOL certificate. Passing TOEFL can be an advantage, an additional bonus when looking for a job in China, while a TEFL / TESOL certificate is a mandatory requirement.
Having a certificate of successful completion of the TEFL / TESOL exam is your official proof of English proficiency.
We recommend that you carefully prepare for getting a job abroad, fill in the gaps in knowledge so as not to be in an awkward position at the first video interview and not experience difficulties in work.
More information about specialized courses for English teachers can be found here .
Where to look for teacher jobs in China?
As in the case of looking for a job in the Russian Federation, the rule works: the more requests you submit, the more responses you will receive.
Jobs can be found in the following ways:
- Thematic groups in social networks and special hashtags:
- #workinchina
- #teacherworkchina
- #employmentchina
- #english teacherchina
- LinkedIn business dating network, where high-status recruiters post about hiring teachers are looking for a candidate, also look out for specialized groups on LinkedIn.
- In the database of vacancies after completing the courses.
- On the English versions of the websites of Chinese schools, colleges, kindergartens in the "Vacancies" section, or you can send a letter to the contact address on the site.
- Online job exchanges: jooble, hh, work - you need to drive “China” into the search bar, then the vacancies will be filtered out and you will see all possible offers.
- On foreign sites with work.
- Chinese sites:
If you want to place your resume on them, you will have to translate your resume into Chinese.- liepin.com
- 51job.com
- zhaopin.com
- zipin.com
- lagou.com
- Adapted Chinese sites for foreigners:
- hiredchina.com
- laowaicareer.com
- chinajobsdaily.com
- foreignhr.com
- echinacities.com
- eslcafe.com
- in expat groups by city on WeChat
We recommend that you pay attention to trusted sources of vacancies that either offer after receiving a certificate in courses, or provide the most complete and open information about working conditions, salary, hours and reviews of those who work there.
A useful service is kanzhun.com, which shows all available information about the company, the level of remuneration, and attitude towards employees.
Compiling a resume for an English teacher in China
It is important to prepare a separate resume that you will send to Chinese employers. Based on experience, we have compiled instructions for a quality teacher resume that will attract attention:
- Pick a photo that shows you smiling. It is important to create the impression of an open-minded person, i.e. open, smiling, good-natured. Especially if you plan to work with children.
- Indicate only relevant work experience for the selected vacancy. When submitting a resume for a teaching position - do not indicate the experience of working as a sales manager. If there is no or very little experience, it can be noted that you were engaged in private tutoring.
- You should definitely understand the current teaching methods and indicate which of them you can apply in the educational process (you can indicate that you successfully integrate the methods of Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Doman, Waldorf, etc. in your educational process).
- All education received should be described, including courses, webinars, trainings, master classes. It is also worth writing the correct translation next to it if the certificate is issued in Russian. The more courses you have completed, the more recent their date, the more obvious to the employer that you are constantly improving your skills.
- You can indicate your profiles in social networks, according to which you can make a positive opinion about you. If your profile contains photos of your hobbies, family, friends, nature, professional posts, then you can safely link to it in your resume. Many teachers position themselves as a professional brand and maintain a stylish Instagram where they share life hacks, tips, literature reviews, etc. if this is about you, then this will definitely be a plus.
- Equally important is the addition of videos of your lessons or photos that show the process of your interaction with students, the level of your involvement in the process, work with feedback. Of course, the lesson must be entirely in English.
- Be sure to indicate if you are a member of global organizations, think about the future of the planet and are already providing assistance and all possible assistance, this will emphasize that you are a cosmopolitan person.
- Indicate the desired salary at the beginning of the resume so as not to waste time on interviews with low labor rates.
Your resume should create your image as a person without cultural or religious prejudices, open to new things, friendly to the world and other peoples. You can also write a short, few-sentence essay describing your teaching style, how you plan to teach people, and what moral and pedagogical principles you adhere to.
You can add a polite letter to your resume asking for your documents to be reviewed and brief information about yourself and why you decided to move to China.
If you have a high-quality portfolio , you can translate it, adapt it for the employer and attach it to your resume.
How to successfully pass an interview?
After reading your resume, you will be scheduled for an interview. You shouldn't worry about this. They usually take place via Skype and, of course, in English. You should prepare, especially if you have not had the practice of communicating in English for a long time, practice with a friend or girlfriend.
It is very important to be positive and cheerful, in no case show that you are in dire need of work. Do not talk about any financial difficulties, personal problems, or the difficulties of living in the country.
Do not speak negatively about past jobs - this is not accepted in China. Don't complain about low wages - a Chinese recruiter might think that you didn't have anything to pay for. Do not say that your department was disbanded, or you were laid off - this can also be regarded as your personal inefficiency.
If you are asked about the reasons for your dismissal and the search for a new job, tell them that the office where you worked moved to a new address, where you did not have time to get there before the start of the working day. Also, good reasons can be the bankruptcy of a company, your family moving to China, the fulfillment of a childhood dream, etc.
We recommend not only answering, but also asking questions:
- What results does the company expect from a specialist in this position?
- What is the work schedule?
- Is there a trial period? If yes, how is it paid?
- Does the salary quoted include taxes or is it net?
- Is the company ready to help with obtaining a work visa?
- Does the company cover the costs associated with applying for a visa?
- Does the organization provide housing or partial compensation for it?
You can also ask questions about health insurance, holidays, sick leave, airfare to and from China. By asking questions, you show that you know your rights and respect yourself as a professional.
Specify for how long the employer plans to sign a contract, how much of this is allotted for a probationary period.
Be sure to take care of the quality of the video call and the background for the call. Put things in order so that things do not lie around, there are no strangers and in general there is a picture that is pleasant to the eye. Choose clothes like you would for a real job interview.
Keep the conversation going, use professional terms, but don't worry about saying the wrong thing. The demand for English-speaking specialists in China is high, so it may not be the first time, but you will pass the interview with brilliance and get a long-awaited position.
Life hacks for those who are going to move to China
On any trips abroad, you should study the culture and laws of the country so as not to get into an absurd situation. The most convenient accommodation option for the first time is a hotel, because there may not be time to search and rent, and we also do not recommend traveling to new addresses until you remember the hotel address, places of work and the most necessary routes.
In addition, if you settle for the first couple of days in a hotel, then no additional actions are required from you. But if you decide to stay with friends, then you should register at the nearest police station, saying why you came and at what address you live. If this is not done, you will have to pay a fine of several thousand yuan.
Booking accommodation is best on Airbnb. An important point: when renting housing, you will have to pay for 3 months, consider this when budgeting. Before you travel, be sure to calculate your budget in detail and multiply it by 3 so that you have money for unforeseen expenses.
Learn how to use WeChat and look for themed chats there, like in Telegram, to rent an apartment, find a Russian-speaking diaspora, link a card to a WeChat wallet after opening a bank account.
Tips for couples and those who want to move with their families
If you have a family that you do not want to be separated from for a long time, you can try the online format for working with Chinese employers.
When moving with the whole family, you can agree with the administration of the school, kindergarten or college that your child will study in the same educational institution or even in your class. Specify in advance in which language the lessons will be held. Your partner can also take a job as an English teacher, find another job, or do home improvement.
You can ask a question about what other vacancies are available to offer them to your husband or wife. Another working option is to search for a job through acquaintances or communities in WeChat.
Generally, the Chinese company that hires you will cover the travel expenses for you, but they will not be reimbursed for your family members. All family members who come with you will also be granted a visa. However, costs not related to you as a hired teacher will be covered by you.
Don't be afraid of rejection
There are a lot of teachers in China, there is a worthy place for everyone. Therefore, if your first interviews did not go according to plan, do not worry, let this be a kind of experience and motivation for more thorough preparation. You will understand what questions are asked to the English teacher and what answers to prepare for the next time.
Do not agree to conditions that do not suit you - a long-term contract can be difficult to break without fines and penalties.
Use additional features
Working as a teacher in China, especially medium and long-term, is a great chance to grow professionally and improve the quality of your resume. With such work experience, you will be able to apply for higher-paying vacancies in other countries, as well as in the Russian Federation, over time.
First-Person Teaching Experience in China
Watch a video from Jan Mazitov, an English teacher in China, in which he talks about how he got the idea to move to China.
In the video, Jan explains in detail:
- how to find a job
- how he interacted with contractors,
- why did he need a TEFL/TESOL certificate,
- shares teaching details from personal experience,
- explains how to communicate with children, parents and colleagues,
- explains the specifics of communication with toddlers and older students,
- gives helpful advice.
Watch and find out honest answers to the most important questions of those who have long dreamed of teaching English to little Chinese.
Conclusion
Get your TEFL TESOL certification
Travel, work online, get a job abroad, or be
an EFL and ESL teacher in your country.
Knowledge of English today is mandatory all over the world. Good English teachers are sought all over the world, they are ready to pay decent salaries and provide excellent conditions for living and traveling. A professional teacher will be welcomed by many employers in China and other countries.
We wish you good luck in finding a job to your liking, where you will be appreciated!