As is the case in many countries, English teaching jobs in China aren't too difficult to come by - yet they're not easy, either.
Chinese authorities appreciate certificates, so if you have your TESOL or other certification, you'll get a better job than without one.
But it's not absolutely essential.How do you get a job teaching English
in China?There are two main ways: either show up where English is
taught, or find a job on the Internet.
The easiest place to find a job is in an English language school, otherwise known as training centers. They're popping up everywhere, even
in the country's remotest corners. But beware: not all employers are
created equal.
Make sure you're dealing with a reputable company. There are plenty of 'fly by night' schools in China. For example, companies themselves
may be unregistered and just keeping their heads below the line so they
won't be caught. They may give you a job teaching English in China, but
you won't necessarily have the right papers, which could spell trouble.
Some schools pay your airfare but if they're not reputable, they could find a reason to let you go just before the end of your contract -
and no ticket home, so good research is essential.One long-time teacher
of English in China said the Internet is the way to go. "Sure you can
show up, but you won't know what you're getting into."
One of the most comprehensive resources on the web is the China job board at Dave's ESL Cafe, but you'll find plenty of other sites, like
eTramping's English teaching jobs in China board.
If you'd rather work for a university - they pay well and are all above board - just choose your province and look for a university
website. Type in the city or province name plus the word university, and
you'll get plenty of listings. Most have either a contact form or an
email address. Just write to them and ask for a job - you'd be surprised
how many people have found jobs teaching English in China this way!
And if you don't know where you want to teach, this list of Chinese universities should help you narrow your choices. At university you can
expect to teach 16-18 hours a week, which leaves you plenty of time for
private lessons.
What is teaching English in China like?
The money isn't bad if all you want to do is make a decent wage and live normally. If you're looking for major wages, you'll have to head
for the Middle East - or at least Japan or South Korea.
If you are a native English speaker and decide to teach English in China you can expect to earn around 8000 RMB a month, plus
accommodation. If you're in Shanghai or Beijing, make that 12,000 RMB.
Conversely, if you're in Yunan - where English-speaking backpackers are a
dime a dozen - you'll be lucky to make 5000 RMB a month. Non-native
English speakers typically earn 80% of a native speaker's salary.
As is the case in any country, you'll want to be - or at least try to be - legal, and that means getting a visa. China has three types of
visa:
L or tourist visa: this one is unequivocal - you can't work. Of course, China is a huge country and plenty of travelers work with an L
visa 'under the radar'. Stay away from these situations if possible -
they're trouble.
M or business visa: the advantage is that there is little paperwork involved. About half of all those teaching English in China work on this
type of visa although it's not meant for this purpose. It is difficult
for most schools to get the right licence to employ foreigners so the
only other option for them is to get you a business visa.
Z or teaching visa: this is the one you want. It's easy to get but your employer applies for it, not you, hence the importance of making
sure your employer's company is properly registered as an employer of
foreign teachers. If it isn't, you may find yourself in peculiar
situations, like having to pretend you're teaching in another province
if questioned by the authorities, as has happened to many English
teachers.
