Teach in China
Stan has been teaching English in China for the past two years now and has been absolutely loving his time there. He’s been able to travel to nearby destinations in every bit of free time he has – the traveling teacher life!
Stan works for a company called Teach in China, which hires people to teach English to children. If you want to make the move to China, check out Stan’s insight into the company, benefits, what you need to teach there and living like a local.
What inspired you to want to teach overseas?
I always wanted to explore Asia, China in particular. I thought teaching English and getting paid to travel around would be nice.
Why did you choose to teach in China?
My friend told me teaching English is a big thing in China, so I decided to give it a try. Basically it’s not too much work for a huge salary compared to living expenses.
How long have you taught in China?
I’ve been teaching here for 2 years already.
What agency/company did you use to find and secure this position?
I heard about a recruiting company called “Teach in China” from a friend. You can find all the info about proposals from different provinces in China, as well as interviews with teachers sharing their thoughts about living and working in those specific places.
Did the agency cover any of your expenses?
Yes, definitely. The school covers the flight expenses and pays accommodation allowance monthly. I can afford renting a fully furnished 2-bedroom apartment with a big living-room and a swimming pool outside, spending the allowance the school is paying.
What documents did you need to organize before leaving for China?
The school provides a work Z-Visa (the only visa you can legally work in China with). I just sent a copy of my degree, non-criminal record and health check to the manager and she took care of everything. After the school got everything done, they sent me an invitation, I took it to the Chinese embassy and got the visa.
Did you need any specific qualifications or training to teach there? (Specific for your job)
In order to get a Z visa, my school requires the candidate to have a degree (any field of study) and to be an English native speaking country passport holder (USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, South Africa). Tefl/Celta qualifications and teaching experience are a big bonus to your salary, but not obligatory.
Is there a website people can visit to see the salary they should expect in China?
Yes, if you want to teach English, you can visit the Teach In China’s official facebook page to get the rundown of the salary paid through the agency.
Were you able to travel while teaching there? Where?
I’m living in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province. It’s is an amazing place on the border with Burma, Vietnam and Laos. I’ve also been to Thailand, Malaysia, India and Indonesia. Everything is comparatively nearby, so I spend all my free time traveling around Asia.
How do you find teaching in China?
It’s been great so far! I love my students, they are adorable. My kids are mostly from 4 to 8 years old. I have around 15 teaching hours a week, usually with 3 to 6 students in one class.
What do you love most about teaching overseas?
Local people are really friendly and seem to smile all the time. When they see a foreigner everybody wants to get to know you, make pictures with you and most of the time you can get free drinks in bars just for coming (winner!). Yunnan is famous for Pu’er tea, which originated from here. Pu’er is really refreshing and I enjoy it on a daily basis. Also, as I mentioned before, it’s a great spot to travel around Asia.
Have you personally had any issues while teaching overseas?
It could be difficult if you don’t speak Chinese in the beginning, but you get used to the culture quite fast and learn the language eventually.
What to expect – living in China
Social life in China?
There’s lots of other foreigners here and the locals are very friendly as well. I usually hang out with other teachers, go to the gym, relax in hot springs. On weekends I explore other cities with friends.
Culture shock in China?
For me the local food is a little bit too spicy, so I cook myself or eat in western places.
Is speaking a different language a barrier?
Only in the beginning. You learn the basics to get by in the beginning and keep picking it up along the way.
How do you find accommodation in China?
When I first came to teach, my school met me in the airport and brought me to a hotel for 3 days. During that time, they helped me to open a bank account, buy a Chinese sim card, get a residence permit in the immigration office and find an apartment. They showed me 3 places to choose from and on day 4 I had my own apartment already.
Check out the Teach in China facebook page to find out all you need to know about teaching English in China.
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Do you have any advice for teachers wanting to take their career to China?
Don’t hesitate and come over, you’ll have a time of your life!
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