Deciding to teach English in China is an increasingly popular choice due to the generous benefits packages and an opportunity to experience a very different culture. Because of stricter government regulations and a teacher shortage following COVID, the demand for ESL teachers is higher than ever. Whilst it is easy to become overwhelmed by the options, it is generally not advised to jump at the first offer received without first considering personal objectives.

Types of Employers

Surprisingly, many ESL teachers are rarely aware of the vastly different types of employers they are eligible to work for. Apart from training centres and kindergartens, you can also work for private bilingual schools, public schools or even universities. The hiring criteria varies from employer to employer, however, having a 120-hour TEFL certificate and a university degree is a great start for most job seekers.

The key differences between training centres and schools

You will have a very different teaching experience depending on if you are teaching at a training centre or a school.

Working for a school means you will have set working days Monday to Friday and generous school holidays on top of the public holidays. You will be responsible for delivering the teaching curriculum, as well as assignments and assessment of your class. The class sizes will generally be bigger but this does depend on the individual school. If you work for an international department at a public school, the lessons you deliver will sometimes resemble lectures, whilst, for example, at a smaller private school using an IB curriculum, you will have a smaller group and the lesson format will be interactive with lots of group work and discussions.

Training centres, on the other hand, focus on the after-class teaching and this will affect your working hours. You will be expected to work in the afternoon/evening and the weekends with your two days off being during the week. On a plus side, the class size will be kept small and you will get a chance to really get to know your students and see them improve. Salary and benefits will be very competitive and allow for great savings.

Can I only teach English?

Typically, the bulk of jobs advertised are for English teachers, however, there are also many opportunities to teach other classroom subjects. Schools in China value specialist knowledge and having a degree in Mathematics or Science, for example, would allow you to apply for and teach these subjects. It is also not uncommon for schools to hire someone as an English teacher and then give them options to teach another subject they have personal interest in. Many teachers find it very motivating to be able to share specialist knowledge with their students and it allows them to stick with their field of interest.

Student Age

This one may seem obvious; however, it is often overlooked when applying. Not everyone is cut out to teach at a kindergarten, the same way as not everyone who speaks English knows how to explain the finer details of English grammar to a seventeen-year-old. It is important to consider what age group you would be most suited to teaching. Younger students require a lot of play-based learning, ideally an interest in singing/arts/crafts and a lot of energy to top it off. Working with middle school students may require someone who is confident in their classroom management abilities and high school students may be suited for someone with more specialist subject knowledge. Knowing what you feel most comfortable with is an important starting point to avoid bad experience.

Location

First tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai are large and modern with great access to western amenities, malls, bars, shops and high-end restaurants. The majority of truly international schools are located here, alongside local bilingual schools. The barrier for entry is higher than some of the smaller places with schools often expecting prior classroom teaching experience. The salary packages are generous but do sometimes come with the expectation that you will take care of finding and paying for housing yourself.

Second tier cities, like Wuxi and Zhuhai, offer a mix of international and local experience. Salary packages are generous and will stretch further with the lower living costs. The school will be more likely to offer an apartment close to other international staff. The international community tend to be close and inclusive. Due to the rapid technological and infrastructural advancement, you will be able to access most products and services anywhere in China, so even the smallest places are not as remote and disconnected as they used to be 15 years ago. Deciding where to go needs to be based on personal overall objectives to ensure the best experience.