Things You Should Know Before Teaching in China
Moving abroad to teach English in China can be a life-changing experience, but it’s essential to consider several factors before making such an important decision. Here are some things to consider:
Requirements
Before moving to China, it’s important to prepare all your documents long before heading to the airport. You’ll need a working (Z) visa that is sponsored by your school. Typically, a bachelor’s degree in any subject and a 120hr TEFL certificate in needed. Additionally, a criminal background check and degree transcript are required for visa application, both of which will need to be apostilled and notarised at the Chinese embassy. Get in contact with Totally Teach to find out if you’re qualified to teach in China, we can advise you every step of the way!
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Salary Ranges
Salaries vary greatly in China depending on 3 main things. the type of school you are working at, location, and qualifications you hold. International schools will offer higher salaries than smaller training centers, this is typically because their requirements are stricter, and they hire those with a teaching license. You can expect salaries to range between $1,500 to upwards of $4000 a month (before tax).
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Financial Considerations
Before moving to any country, it’s important to do some research on the economy and understand the currency exchange. You should research the cost of living in China, as this can vary massively depending on which city you choose as your new home! Tier 1 cities can be as expensive as London or New York, whereas Tiers 2 or 3 offer a lower cost of living.
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Company Culture
Chinese work culture is known for appreciating hard workers and so don’t be surprised if your school decides to throw a huge Chinese New Year bash for the entire staff! This celebration will likely be accompanied by hilarious games, off-tune karaoke, and a lot of delicious food! It’s very common for schools to host huge “lucky draws” where the prizes can be as big as the newest iPhone! Chinese working culture is drawn from respect for one-another, and so it’s important to communicate well with your co-teachers to ensure smooth cooperation.
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Communication
Your school may have its own internal communication network, maybe it’s email or Microsoft Teams. Although, it’s almost always a given that all communication will be over WeChat. So don’t come to China without preparing a WeChat account, it’ll be your lifeline!
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Local Cuisines
Be open to trying local cuisines, which may differ significantly from what you are used to. If you have specific dietary restrictions, learn how to communicate them in Mandarin. If you are living in larger cities like Shanghai or Beijing, there are thousands of food options complying with any dietary requirement. Plus, English is more common than you think so the waiters will, sometimes, know how to communicate with you in English.
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Classroom Management & Behavior
The behaviour of students is China is, overall, outstanding. Students have huge respect for their teachers and can typically be found participating as the “little teacher” by enforcing rules amongst themselves. Of course, there’s always a couple of jokesters or troublemakers in each class, so come prepared with some attention getters or management strategies. When first meeting your students, it’s important to create a fun, relaxed, and safe environment that students feel comfortable in to make it easier for them to learn.
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Class Sizes
Class sizes in China can be large (or larger than back home). Classes may also have students with varying English proficiency levels, especially after implementation of the “lottery” system across some cities in China whereby a child’s school is determined by how far away they live from the establishment. Be open to adaptation and be willing to prepare your classes accordingly.
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Language Barriers
Typically, there is no language barrier when teaching in China. Your co-workers and senior leadership team will likely all speak perfect English. However, when working in a kindergarten, you can expect your ‘life-teacher’ to not speak English at all. As with living in any country, it’s courteous and useful to learn a few phrases so you can communicate with everyone on your team. However, don’t be intimidated – someone will always be on hand to translate (maybe even your students!)
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Extracurricular Activities
They love a good selection of ECAs in China! Don’t panic if your school asks you to host an after-school club, it can be anything from netball to film club. There seems to be a shift towards a more holistic approach to education in China, with students encouraged to take up arts, sports, and character development alongside their academics
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