The Ultimate Guide to Teach English Abroad

Teach English Abroad in China

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work in China and teach English? China is home to the world’s oldest civilization. The country is as big as the United States, with over 1.3 billion people (almost 4 times the population of the US). China’s economy has been growing exponentially. The world’s starting to hear more about the success of Alibaba, Xiaomi, or the technology innovation growth of Shenzen.

China offers not only delicious food but also diverse landscapes and plenty of beautiful cultural heritage sites. The number of Chinese people looking to learn English to do more business with the rest of the world continues to increase and shows no sign of slowing down. All in all, it’s a great destination for ESL teachers!

What Are The Job Requirements to Teach English in China?

Here’s a shortlist of requirements for teaching English in China, taking into account the new regulations announced by the Chinese Ministry of Education for all online and in-class ESL teachers in China:

A Bachelor’s degree or above
A 120-hour TEFL Certificate from an accredited institution
Completed federal background check and medical check
A valid passport from an English-speaking country (U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa)
For non-native teachers, you can teach subjects other than English if you have proven 2 years of experience.

ESL Teaching Job Options in China

Private Language Centers (English Training Schools): They could be a large chain or family-owned. You’re most likely teaching children or junior high and high school students, typically for 25+ teaching hours and maybe some office hours per week. The class size tends to be smaller, and you’ll have to work odd hours such as evenings and weekends.
Public and Private/International Schools: They tend to offer more PTOs and better benefits. You’d generally be treated with more respect here, yet it’s also expected of you to prepare your curriculum and lessons. The class size is often large. And the schedule will be normal business hours, from around 7:30 am to 4 pm or 4:30 pm.
Colleges and Universities: They offer a great teaching environment, don’t require as many hours, and provide lots of vacation time, yet the pay isn’t so great. You’ll need at least a master’s degree, sometimes even a Ph.D. Thus, this type of position is usually better for long-term or permanent residents.

Teach Abroad China

Teach Abroad China – Cities

How to Get a Job in China?

First of all, nail the minimum job requirements: an undergraduate degree and TEFL/TESOL certificate! Then, use a recruiting agency to help you navigate through the enormous sea of job opportunities in China. You can find ESL jobs online on your own as well, but it’s hard to communicate with the schools to get all the exact details and know which one best suits you, especially with the language barrier. Save yourself the hassle and maybe even get a higher salary by using a recruiter. We can also help you find English teaching jobs in China.

Not all recruiters are trustworthy, so you should thoroughly check out any school or agency before signing a contract. Ask for contact information of the school’s past teachers so you can get reliable reviews. Join our Teach English Abroad Facebook group to see daily job postings and connect with fellow ESL teachers in China!

China is a Huge Country

If you want to teach abroad in China, it’s a good idea to narrow down your focus. After all, China is a huge country and has many very distinct regions and climates.

Just how big is China? Well, it’s roughly the same size as the United States (The U.S. is 3.79 million square miles, and China is 3.7).

Of course, most English teaching jobs will be in larger cities in China, but it’s not impossible to find jobs to teach abroad in China in rural regions, too.

So, it’s important to ask yourself these questions: Do you want to be located in a huge city that’s much larger than New York City? If so, you’ll want to check out Shanghai or Beijing. But, be sure to ask recruiters or hiring companies where the school is located in the city.

It’s not uncommon for schools to be listed as “in Shanghai,” when in reality, they’re very far out in the suburbs. If you want to be in a city, you don’t want to end up over an hour away. So, always ask up front, and make it clear that you want to be in the city center.

Cold weather doesn’t bother you? Check out Beijing or Harbin. A special note about China: government schools turn on the heat for all schools above Shanghai’s latitude. So, if you’re located in a government school in Shanghai, that’s right, there’s no heat, and temperatures have been known to dip down into the 40’s in the winter.

Do you prefer warmer climates? You may want to head South to Guangzhou or Hainan Island.

Would you prefer to be closer to nature and different cultures? Check out Kunming in the Yunnan province. This province is famous for Pu’er tea. There’s a city named for it!

How Much Do I Get Paid As an ESL Teacher in China?

The salary of teaching English in China vary tremendously among regions. What you get paid will depend on the number of hours you teach, the school, and your qualifications.

Generally speaking, an ESL teacher’s salary in China ranges from $1,400 to $3,000. If you’re an experienced teacher with a specialty, you may get up to $5,000 teaching full-time at an international school in China; you may earn up to $1,600 a month for a 20 hours of teaching a week in a university.

As mentioned above, the figures vary upon regions in China.

What are the 1st and 2nd Tier Cities in China?

The top 4 1st tier cities in China – Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzen.
New 1st tier cities – Chengdu, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Nanjing, Tianjin, Chongqing, Suzhou, Xi’an, Zhengzhou, Changsha, Shenyang, Tsingtao, Ningbo, Dongguan, and Wuxi.
2nd tier cities – Dalian, Kunming, Xiamen, Hefei, Foshan, Fuzhou, Harbin, etc

General ESL Teaching Job Salary and Benefits Teaching in China

The compensation and benefits of teaching English in China vary from organization to organization. Depending you’re hired by a Chinese staffing agency, local school, or private language institute, you likely to receive a different compensation package.

In general, private schools in China offer better perks and monthly salaries. However, the number also depending on your teaching qualifications.

Common Benefits

Here is a checklist while you are negotiating your job offer.

Airfare subsidies
Housing accommodation
Health insurance
Bonuses – sign up bonus, contract completion bonuses
Salary policies – monthly base, overtime, etc
Total working hours – teaching hours, office hours, holidays, etc
Professional development opportunities and social events

City Guides

The Cost of living in China

Most foreign English teachers in China could make a decent saving while working in China since the cost of living is relatively lower than most Western countries. This isn’t true for the fast-growing cities such as Shanghai or Beijing, however, since the prices there are similar to in Tokyo or even in New York City.

Here are sample prices for living in a larger urban area of China:

Rent: RMB 2,000 – 5,000 per month. The number highly depending on the location, size of the space, and whether you’re staying in a major metropolitan or not. In the majority of the cases, you’ll need to find your own accommodation but assistance from the local agency or by the school, but occasionally you might able to find ones with an allowance.
Utilities: 200 – 400 RMB per month
Phone & Internet: RMB 50 or less. Data is cheap in China!
Food: RMB 1500 ~ $2000
Insurance: RMB 300
Income tax

Transportation:

Metro: as cheap as RMB 5-25 per ride depending on the distance
Bus: less than 50 cents/ride
Didi (China’s version of Uber and bought Uber) is cheaper than taxis and easy to use
The bike-sharing program is ubiquitous, with tons of bikes lying around everywhere for you to pick up and pay via a mobile app for just 15 cents (1 RMB) per hour!

How are the living standard in China compare to the US, Canada, UK, etc?

The living standard in top major metropolitans like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, etc are very good. They are modern cities with sophisticated infrastructure, transportation network, and health care. However, don’t expect everything to be the same as your home!

Expect to pay high prices at Westerner restaurants and bars! Overall, if you live like a local and cook on your own or eat out at small, local restaurants and street stalls, you’ll be able to save a ton.

Where Should I Live and Teach in China?

CHINA IS HUGE! But you already know that. Even the small cities in China have millions of people. And the demand for English teachers is high everywhere. Thus, you’ve got options were to teach English abroad in China.

If you prefer the big metropolitan areas, Beijing and Shanghai are your best bet! They offer the highest salaries but also fierce competition. And the number of job opportunities available in these two big cities is huge.

Beijing is the capital of China, rich in history and culture with 21+ million residents, many world-class restaurants and shopping malls, and famous attractions like the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square.

Shanghai, on the other hand, is home to an impressive skyline and the financial heart of China. It’s the country’s largest city, beloved by many ex-pats. As a result, it is one of the cities with the greatest demand for English teachers.

Following Beijing and Shanghai, the first-tier metropolitans like Tianjin, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou also have a lot to offer. Shenzhen is only an hour’s driving away from another world-class international hub, Hong Kong.

Smaller cities are nice too, since they are more affordable living and slower pace, and it’s easier to fully immerse yourself in the culture. Some of the “second-tier” or the “New first-tier” cities in China are Hangzhou, Nanjing, Xi’an, and Chengdu. All are great places for foreign ESL teachers. Chengdu is famous for its pandas and spicy food. Xi’an is popular for its historical prominence and low cost of living.

Other places worth noting, including Yunnan Province, have many great cities (Kunming) and ancient villages (Lijiang, Dali, Shangri-la, Shaxi). While it’s significantly cheaper to live in Yunnan compared to other parts of China, it’s still very convenient (you can get anything shipped to your door) and is a dream destination for nature lovers. You won’t have to worry about pollution, traffic jam, or noises like in Beijing or Shanghai, and will get to experience the lifestyle of different ethnic groups in China.

Wherever you choose to live and teach English in China, each place is unique and offers plenty of things to do and explore. Do take weather into consideration, whether you prefer warmer weather in the south or cold temperature in the north.

Chinese Culture and Lifestyle

China is a country of 1.3+ billion people and over 50 ethnic groups. The simple fact that popular sites like Google, YouTube, and Facebook are blocked in China is enough to overwhelm many foreigners. Seriously, how do I function without Google?! It’s another world in China!

China has a unique culture as it opened up to the world only a few decades ago. Chinese culture is heavily influenced by Taoism and Confucianism philosophies. As opposed to the focus on individualism in Western cultures, China encourages collectivism and harmony over individualism.

Being nurtured within China’s distinct history, culture, context, and language characteristics, the Chinese people’s thought process might be vastly different from your perspective. On the other hand, younger generations in China grow up being more exposed to foreign cultures and arts, thus are different than their parents or grandparents’ generations.

Overall, culture shock is an essential part of any living abroad experience. You can overcome it by doing your due diligence and keep an open mind while teaching English and living in China!

Where to Find Teaching Jobs in China?

You’ll able to search and filter through this comprehensive list of ESL teaching jobs in China.

What to Expect of being ESL Teachers in China?

So what is the truth about teaching English in China? Teaching methods in China will likely be different from what you know. Most schools hire a native speaker like you to give the students a chance to interact more with an authentic English speaker. Therefore, come up with engaging songs, games, discussions, and speaking activities to get the students talking.

Remember that sites like Facebook, YouTube, or Google are all blocked in China. You will need to ask your employer for alternatives or use a VPN, though that may not be allowed in some schools.

The work culture is different in China. It may take you a while to get used to things and know how to behave. For example, you may experience frequent schedule changes with minimal warning.

Overall, if you had prepared your lessons well, you will be okay. Just relax and go with the flow, and don’t take things too personally!

Visa Requirements To Work in China as an ESL Teacher

With a country known to have a strict visa policy like China, you may be wondering, “What are the visa requirements to work in China as a foreign teacher?”

You’ll need to obtain Z-Visa – the Chinese working visa to teach English, as well as a Work Permit and Residence Permit.

The requirements vary upon your home country. The recruiting agency or your employing school should guide you through this specific process when the time comes. But here’s a typical method of entering China as a foreign ESL teacher:

Before you arrive in China:

Accept the teaching position offer.
Notification of Work Permit (15 business days)
Apply for Z Visa (5 business days)

Once you entered China:

Apply for a Foreigner Work Permit (10 business days)
Apply for a Residence Permit (7 business days)

Besides the requirement that you must be 18+ years old and from an English-speaking country.

Here’s a list of documents typically required to apply for a Chinese Work Visa:

An original or notarized copy of your university diploma
A 120+ hr TEFL/ TESOL/ CELTA teaching certificate
A color scanned copy of your passport information page (with passport ID and photo)
A recent passport photo that meets the Chinese Embassy’s photo requirements
A reference letter and Foreigners Employment Permit (obtained from the school or recruiting agency)
An excellent medical examination report from a hospital
A clean background check authenticated by the police station and Chinese Embassy.
A Chinese visa application form. You must fill it out on a computer then print it out (one-sided). Only the signatures and dates in Part 4 and 5 must be handwritten.

There might be other supporting documents required for non-US citizens and some exceptional cases. To learn more, please visit this detailed article about Chinese Work Visa requirements.

The Internet & the Great Firewall

As you probably know about the Great Firewall, this might take some effort for you to adjust to it. Any website based outside of China will either be blocked or be relatively slow under the government’s scrutiny. Generally speaking, you will able to access most of the websites as you are outside of China. Still, anything related to social media or news media, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, services by Google, New York Times, etc., are blocked.

Nevertheless, inconvenient, but it’s not the end of the world. You just need to install a VPN on your phone and computer to bypass the restriction. We highly recommend using Astrill VPN in China. We end up with Astrill as we have tried many top-ranking VPN solutions out there, like NordVPN, Express VPN, Betternet, etc. Astrill is not the prettiest with its surprisingly outdated UI. However, it offers the most reliable and high-speed Internet connection solution in China.

Not all VPN solutions have good support in China. Take NordVPN as an example, as you’ll need to switch it back on every time trying to connect to Gmail, Instagram, or other blocked services. With Astrill, you can stay on it all the time until switched off. The mechanism runs the blocked sites and services via VPN but the direct connection for local Chinese sites and apps, which improve the overall Internet browsing experience at the top speed. Astrill VPN supports all types of platforms, iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac OS.

Remember to download and install a VPN before entering the Chinese border because you won’t be able to download a VPN app legally as the apps are removed from the Apple app stores and Android app stores. There’s no Google app store in China, but app stores by the phone providers. Different from others, the beauty of Astrill is that you can still install it insides China.

Besides that, the Internet in China is generally high-speed. You will find websites and applications running fast within China. You just need to make new friends and explore alternative local apps.

Phone Number and The Everything App, WeChat

The majority of the people in China have skipped the PC era and straight into the smartphone. Smartphones have become a virtual extension of our bodies, especially China’s case, from getting Didi (Uber equivalent) car-sharing service, paying via Alipay or WeChat app, buying grocery online, scanning QR code of everything, and beyond. You also need a phone number to access all the accounts, including a bank account and all other mobile apps. Email still works for many, not all.

Wonder which app do people use to communicate? WeChat is the one. All communication, whether business or personal, is done via WeChat. Yes, you will soon make friends and communicate with colleagues on WeChat. There’s not much work-personal line here. Beyond serving the purpose of chat, you can also use it to buy things, split a bill with your new friends, pay the meal, get a taxi ride, send red pockets. Scan the QR code befriend with us!

How to Apply to ESL Teaching Jobs in China?

We work closely with many reputable local schools and registered agencies in China. You can find a list of active hiring local schools in China here or let us find the best matching job by submitting your application to us.

Recruiting Agency in China

Some recruiters recruit teachers to teach English in private programs within government schools in China. In some cases, the classes may be quite large, with over 40 students. These types of classes offer few opportunities to develop relationships with individual students. Be sure to ask your recruiter about class sizes and whether the schools are public or private.

However, public schools do not always mean the class sizes will be enormous. In some public schools, parents will pay a little extra fee to have a pronunciation class with an English-speaking teacher. In these cases, you’ll most likely have a more manageable class size of 10-25.

Other recruiters are hiring for the Chinese-run private or bilingual schools. Private schools will have more facilities, fellow foreign teachers, and smaller class sizes. However, many private schools only accept applicants with degrees and teaching licenses from their home countries.

Finally, IB (International Baccalaureate) schools are a private school that usually includes a mostly foreign staff. These schools operate more on American or British ideas than Chinese ideas, though many private IB schools offer a great mix of both cultures. IB schools are very strict with hiring. You may want to go through a recruiter, like Search Associates, or go to a job fair to be hired for these types of positions.

Currencies Fluctuation

If you’re teaching English in China, you’re most likely to be paid and deposited into a Chinese bank account in RMB, also called yuan, the currency of China.

When it’s time to leave China, whether it is for a vacation or to go back to your home country, you’ll want to exchange your RMB into another currency.

Don’t be too hasty and exchange your money at the first bank you find. Check out the trend of RMB to USD over the past year. Maybe you can ride a wave, wait a few weeks, and get a better deal for your money.

Note that there is a restriction on how much money you can convert to RMB brought from outside of China, USD$ 50,000 per year. However, there is NO limitation on converting your hard-earned (and legal) money to other currency for foreigners.

Expat Networks are Very Helpful

Some teaching jobs in China will offer free housing, while others will expect you to arrange your accommodation. In these cases, many recruiting agencies or schools will offer some housing assistance with local realtors. However, it’s always a good idea to explore your options, as, at times, these “ex-pat housing” opportunities could be overpriced.

Be sure to connect with local ex-pat groups on WeChat groups and other local sites so you can ask about your best options. Many ex-pats have been living abroad for years and know all the local secrets. It’s a good idea to tap into these resources to find all the information you need.

Here are some tips for teaching abroad, including legal contract, Visa, and general reminder.

Scan the following QR code to join the OETJobs community on WeChat and get job and other support in China!

Do I Need To Learn Chinese To Teach English Abroad in China?

Like for most countries, you aren’t required to learn Chinese to qualify as an ESL teacher. You come here to teach English, thus you’re expected to speak English most of the times at work. The schools will likely send somebody who can speak English to get you from the airport, introduce you to the school and show you around initially. But then, you’re on your own.

At school, you should be able to find colleagues who speak English and can show you the ropes. There’s a large number of expats residing in multiple parts of China that you’ll be able to find through local expat networks. And, there’s Google Translate!

However, once you travel to China, you’ll realize how little English is used in many places in China, even in Beijing or Shanghai. Most locals in rural areas don’t know English at all. If you want to eat at local restaurant, take the local bus to explore, ask for directions when you’re lost without the help of Google Maps, you’ll want to learn to speak some basic Chinese!

There are five main language groups in China, and Mandarin is the most widely spoken. Though Chinese can be a difficult language and overwhelming to learn at first, the best way to study Chinese is to make friend with the friendly locals. There are some free mobile apps like Hello Chinese or Duolingo that make studying Chinese more practical and conversational. Or, sign up for a formal course at a local Chinese language school. If you’re up for the challenge, it’ll be extremely rewarding and beneficial for your new adventure in China.

Be Ready for Lots of Paperwork

When you apply to teach abroad in China, the recruiting agency, or school will most likely ask you for lots of information, which typically includes your resume, passport, university degrees and transcripts, and a criminal background check.

Every company requires slightly different information, so be sure to check with the school or recruiter directly to see what they need.

However, if you thought the paperwork ends once you’re hired, you’d be wrong. After flying to China, you will typically need to undergo a health check at a Chinese hospital, which includes blood tests. You’ll also need to register with the local police department, as well as apply for your Chinese visa.

Be sure to ask your school or company if they will walk you through these processes and assist along the way.

Are you looking for opportunities to teach English abroad in China? Check out our Teach English Abroad Facebook group for daily job listings.