Types of teaching
There are mainly two types of schools in China.
1. The public schools
These include Primary and Middle schools and government owned Universities. As a teacher in these schools you should count on large numbers of students in one class. The average class size in Primary Schools is 50 young learners. As you can imagine, having the right management skills is a necessity. The TEFL Course at TEFL CHINA helps you prepare for this.
2. Private Schools
In privately owned schools teachers will find that the classes are often small with an average of 12 students per class. Although this is mostly the case, it is certainly not the rule and you may find that you have to teach classes of 30 students or up. Most adult learners in private schools are very motivated to learn since they have probably left a good job to study English. Mostly, these adults need to improve their Oral English (speaking) or Business English, or they need to prepare for English examinations (notably IELTS or TOEFL); for study abroad purposes or to consolidate English skills before embarking upon trips abroad.
There is also plenty of opportunity to teach young learners in the private sector.
There is also the possibility to work independently for companies or to become a private tutor.
Salary and working hours
In the big cities teachers should be able to get about 10,000RMB to 15,000 RMB a month (average of 25 hours a week) plus an end of contract bonus. Most common is around 5,000RMB. Private institutions and Universities often pay higher but require you to work more hours per week. Keep in mind that the salary you will be getting largely depends on the type of school and its location. You may be able to get up to 15,000 RMB in Shanghai for a job that will only get you 5,000 RMB in a poorer province.
There is a great deal of work available, so you should make sure that you have explored your options before tying yourself to a contract. When you are ready to sign, keep the following things in mind: Does the school…
- Provide accommodation?
- Pay for a round-trip flight at the end of a years contact?
- Provide internet access?
- Pay for any visa costs?
Visas
Schools should take care of visa applications, and they usually get a Z-type visa. This is the only visa that allows you to work legally in China for a salary. You will also need a residence permit. In order to obtain a Z-visa you will be submitted to a mandatory health-check. Some schools also offer F (business) visas, but be careful, this does not allow you to earn money in China, so make sure that you have a good arrangement with the school.
Accommodation and monthly expense
There is a great range of accommodation available. Typical rent depends on your location and whether you are prepared to share or not. Sharing accommodation will halve your accommodation costs. Mostly you should be able to get free accommodation form the school that you are working for. It is sometimes also possible to get an allowance if you wish to stay off-campus.
In most places you should be able to find decent accommodation around 2000 RMB per month. In some big cities like Beijing the costs can be higher - around 3000 - 4000RMB – if you want to stay near the city centre. Accommodation is much cheaper outside of the big cities. In Yangshuo you can rent an apartment for about 500 RMB.
Food and drinks are usually very cheap. On a budget of 2000 RMB per month you should be able to live reasonably comfortable. Most schools offer meals for their teachers and accommodation. In these cases, you barely have any expenses. However, if you teach in the country side, don’t expect to become rich.
When to look for work?
The school year starts in September but most schools will recruit during the year as well - particularly in February/March. There is, however, a constant shortage of teachers in China, and jobs are available at almost any time of the year with lots of short summer school placements from June to September. Most schools are looking for teachers that are willing to make a longer commitment, so the chance of getting a well-paid job will increase if you are willing to sign a 6 month or one year contract.