China
China is now the “it” place to teach English. China’s rise on the world stage has also led to a rise in the number of people who want to teach there. You’ll find a lot of young (and old ex-pats), an interesting culture, some pollution, and a pretty crazy nightlife. Teaching English in China is a great opportunity for people who are interested in learning about one of the biggest economic superpowers in the world as well being going to a country not completely westernized just yet. While some private institutions are just looking for native English speakers to teach conversational English, most universities will only hire teachers who have a bachelor’s degree.
Basic China Information: The cost of living in China can be very low, especially if you eat local food from local restaurants or food stalls and shop in local markets – 3 Chinese dishes and rice for 2 is roughly 30RMB in Shanghai. China can be very expensive if you eat in Western restaurants or 5 star hotels and shop in Western supermarkets- a TGI Friday Burger is around 100 RMB. China has an excellent public transport system that is also very cheap. Overall, China is a cheap country to live in and you can save a lot of money teaching here if you are frugal. The biggest expense most teachers have is drinking. If you avoid the big clubs and imported beer, you can cut your costs down.
You should also be aware that many Chinese teaching companies can be pretty unscrupulous. Hiring and firing at random, benefits not given, apartments not looking like they promised. Things in China operate on an informal relationship system meaning while laws are there, what’s more important is who you know (and who you bribed.) If teachers work for companies in good favor with the officials, teaching in China will be easy.
Salaries in China: A beginner teacher with a bachelor’s degree can expect to make about 3000-6800 CNY ($471.95-1069.76 USD) per month in an urban area and 5000-9,000 CNY ($786-1415 USD) per month in a more rural area. A more experienced teacher or one with a master’s degree can make up to 15,000 CNY ($2,359.78 USD) per month, depending on if they are teaching in a rural or urban area. You are sometimes able to negotiate your salary or terms of employment, such as living conditions and medical insurance. Moreover, you may be able to earn overtime pay, particularly in larger cities.
One thing to remember is that working conditions and salaries vary greatly in China. Pay in the cities is much, much higher than it is in the countryside. There is even a big difference between top cities like Beijing and middle cities like Nanjing. However, once you leave the big cities, teaching salaries drop drastically. Typically, you will earn about 1/3rd of what you could in the big cities. However, your living expenses will be lower in the country side. Rural ESL jobs in China pay the least amount of money but the upside is that there’s virtually nothing to do there and cost of living is cheap so you’ll save a lot of money.
Job Requirements in China: In China, all you need really need is a bachelor’s degree to teach English. Anything else is extra. Some places might require a TEFL or some experience but you can get away with little qualifications and even less experience in China than other places. If you don’t have a BA, a TEFL will be a valid substitute.
Visa Information for China: You’ll need a proper work visa to teach long term in China. To get the proper work (Z) visa, you’ll need to be sponsored by a school. Visas cost US$150 dollars. You will have to leave the country to turn your tourist visa into work visa but your school will help you with all the paperwork. The Z visa is only granted if you and the employer meet certain requirements. First, the organization must be accredited to employ foreigners. You must meet the requirements as a ‘foreign expert’ and the employer must obtain a certificate stating that you comply. After you get a job with your school, the vast majority of people go to Hong Kong to get the Z visa put in their passport.
Looking for more information? Read our BOOK on teaching overseas for more in depth advice and tips!