Teaching English in China : It’s Easier Than You Think

09:25:4711/07/2017

“Teaching English”, two words, by themselves, that can appear somewhat uninteresting, unless of course you are an English teacher. But what if I put “teaching English” in a context? What if I say something like: “teaching English in China”? It just got way more interesting, hasn’t it? And how about if I added money into the mix? “Teaching English in China offers good pay and exceptional benefits!” Well, that was sure to pop some eyes out of their heads.

 

“Teaching English”, two words, by themselves, that can appear somewhat uninteresting, unless of course you are an English teacher. But what if I put “teaching English” in a context? What if I say something like: “teaching English in China”? It just got way more interesting, hasn’t it? And how about if I added money into the mix? “Teaching English in China offers good pay and exceptional benefits!” Well, that was sure to pop some eyes out of their heads.

And now that I’ve got your attention, let’s get down to brass tacks. I can see so many question marks hanging over your heads.

But first, I’d like to clear away the fog surrounding China. China is not Japan. Just saying. Secondly, although it could be argued that its political system is far from ideal, China is a capitalist country. Even the most Western Westerner would be impressed with how capitalistic it is. And last and least, not all Chinese people are short and know kungfu.

Wait but why China? China, the country of more than one billion people, is booming. It, in fact, recently became the world’s second largest economy. As a result, its middle class has grown big time.

All these (literally millions and millions of) people are chasing the Chinese version of the American dream. They want better lives for themselves and their children. They want to travel the world, study abroad and work in international companies. Therefore learning English is their passport to this better life. However, there are far too many jobs for English teachers than there are actual English teachers. Big education brands like Top Edu and SeekTeachers are looking for talented young professionals. And that’s where you come in.

Not an English teacher? Not a problem. If you are a native English speaker, you already qualify for the job. A bachelor degree in any field is a must have prerequisite. Be it a degree in engineering, sociology or cosmetology. Also, you will most likely need a TEFL certificate (teaching English as a foreign language), but that’s nothing to worry about. These days the Internet is overflowing with online TEFL courses. Let’s take a moment to praise for life after web.

What If I don’t know Chinese? So what? 99,9% of people teaching English in China don’t know even a single Chinese word. If you are part of the 0,1%, hey that’s great, but it won’t boost your chances of getting the job (#cynicism). All classes are entirely taught in English. This is an integral part of the teaching method.

What’s the deal with teaching English in China? You skipped the rest of the text and got straight here? Sneaky, very sneaky. Teaching English positions are available in kindergartens, high-schools, universities and training centers throughout China. The salary very much depends on location, school and experience, with a range usually between ¥ 7,000 - ¥ 15,000 per month. Contracts typically last 12 months and classes can be as small as 3 to as large as 80 students. And I saved the best for last: you will be provided with accommodation, food and medical alongside your salary. Nice to see some smiling faces.

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Then again certain folks around here are still skeptical. I completely understand. I am just like you. I know what you may be thinking right now: “Why take the leap?“ So here are my reasons (4 in particular) for why you should teach English in China.

1. You’ll raise your C.V. to a whole new level (C.V. being an abbreviation for Cool Very). Having an international work experience in a country like China is basically like being a blonde that walks down a street in Xi’an. You can’t go unnoticed.

2. You could add money to your piggy bank. Obviously, this will depend on such things as your salary and the city where you work. The cost of living in first-tier cities (like Beijing and Shanghai) is higher than province medium-sized cities. But the general idea is that you will still have enough money to make a comfortable living and put some money aside. That’s the spirit!

3. You will be living in a phenomenal country. China is nothing like you’ve seen before. With a history spanning over 4000 years, there are hundreds of jaw-dropping historic sites to visit. And the food, ah the food is fantastic. You may think I am biased. And you are thinking correct, my friend.

So, for the sake of objectivity, let me cite some facts from HSBC’s survey of over 7,000 global expatriates, conducted in 2013. First of all, most foreigners seem to like what they find, once they arrive in China. And second and most importantly “China ranked as the best overall destination ahead of Germany and Singapore” when it came to employment packages and overall experiences.

4. Eventually you are going (to have) to learn some of the language unless you belong to the 0,1% who already speaks Chinese. No, but seriously, your job will not require your Chinese skills, but maybe you will. As long as you are willing to put some effort and perhaps take some classes, you can achieve the unthinkable: speak and read Chinese. Did you know that with only 900 characters, you could actually read 90% of a newspaper?

I think my job is done here. So if you are seriously considering to take that leap, the time is now and the how is easy. And as a wise Chinese man once told me: 机不可失,时不再来 - opportunity knocks at the door only once.

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