With the global economy contracting as it is, more and more people have found themselves unable to land a job at home. As a result, many are looking for opportunities to work abroad, particularly in Asian countries that have been relatively untouched by the inflation and energy concerns of the West. Expat workers of yesteryear found teaching English in China to be one of the easiest ways to nab an overseas posting. But with ongoing Covid restrictions and a government-led cull of private language centers, is it still a worthwhile option to pursue?

 

Barriers to entry

Landing an English teaching job in China is not as easy as it once was. Once upon a time, the ability to speak fluent English was considered an adequate qualification. The bar has been raised significantly in recent decades, however.

Hopefuls will now find themselves faced with age limits (no older than 60), academic requirements (minimum bachelor's degree), work experience requirements (at least two years), teaching qualification requirements (TESOL or TEFL certificate) and country-of-origin requirements (native speakers only). Schools with adequate levels of guanxi may be able to circumvent some of these stipulations, but you can expect any allowances made for your shortcomings to be accompanied by a drop in salary.

Supply and demand

It could be argued that the demand for English teachers in China is on the decline. Outside of the classroom, most Chinese people rarely, if ever, use English. Since 2017, the weight of the English score in the infamous gaokao university entrance exams has been gradually reduced. And in 2021, China’s booming private tutoring industry saw its freedoms drastically impeded by a government apparently keen to safeguard the well-being of overworked students.

That said, there is still a seemingly insatiable demand for English teachers in China. A huge number of upper-middle-class Chinese parents still want to send their children to overseas universities. Beijing’s efforts to de-emphasize the importance of English has been met with skepticism and indifference by this group, who continue to demand native English teachers to help their charges pass university entrance exams. Young Chinese adults harboring dreams of working abroad or for multinational companies will also continue to seek out private language tutoring.

What’s more, as hordes of expats have left China to escape the harsh Covid restrictions of the past two years, foreign English teachers are in higher demand than ever.

In it for the paycheck or the experience?

Due to the fact that there are fewer expats on the ground at the moment, salaries and packages for foreign English teachers in China are currently looking pretty healthy. Many positions come with housing and travel benefits, and those able and willing to live like a local (i.e. without “luxuries” like cheese), could find themselves saving a decent chunk here.

But not all English teachers come to China just for the money. Despite its undeniable dark sides, China is still an appealing and exotic destination for many, allowing for fascinating cultural and life experiences. From the bright lights of big cities to the majestic scenery of the laid-back countryside, there’s something for everyone here… or so the spiel on overseas teaching recruitment websites goes.

Teaching schedules in China are seldom onerous, with delivery usually taking precedence over lesson prep and marking. As a result, expat English teachers usually have adequate time off for travel and partying. 

Oiling the wheels

In conclusion, teaching English in China is not as easy and straightforward as it once was. But if you have the right paperwork, temperament and employer, it can still be a totally worthwhile gig. Here are a few tips to increase your chances of a pain-free teaching experience in China.

1. Ensure you have the right visa and a Foreign Expert’s Certificate – sounds like a no-brainer, but some foreigners are simply too trusting — or too desperate — to wait for the right papers before coming to teach English in China. When discussing a position, make sure your prospective employer will provide you with a work visa before you arrive in China. If they won’t, look elsewhere.
2. Google your potential employer – always do due diligence on your prospective employer. There are some bad apples out there!
3. Check if you have to perform “office hours” – this non-teaching work can really affect your pay-per-hour.
4. Be sensitive to non-verbal communication – learn to recognize signs of frustration or boredom in your students. Some institutions rely heavily on customer feedback. Looking “foreign” only goes so far. You’ll also need to exude excitement and charisma in an industry largely governed by student feedback and economics.

 

Can you think of other tips for making English teaching a smoother ride in China? Add them in the comment section below.

Hot New Jobs recommended for you
Chemistry Teacher Country Garden Schools 20,000 - 30,000 CNY /Month Lanzhou Full Time
Int'l Homeroom Kindergarten Teachers The Little Urban Center Preschool ≤30,000 CNY /Month Shanghai Full Time
Marketing Materials Planning Temu 15,000 - 30,000 CNY /Month Shanghai Full Time|Part Time
Marketing Campaign Specialist Advacare ≤16,000 CNY /Month Shanghai Full Time
University Lecturer-Culinary, Cooking Beijing International Education Institute 10,000 - 16,000 CNY /Month Zhanjiang Full Time
English Teacher BRUNEL LONDON SCHOOL NCUT 350,000 - 420,000 CNY /Year Beijing Full Time
Project Management & Executive Business Luxsan Technology (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. 15,000 - 35,000 CNY /Month Kunshan Full Time
Automotive Export Partner Guangzhou Kingscar International Trade Co., Ltd. ≤30,000 CNY /Month Guangzhou Freelance
Marketing Manager Shenzhen Shulian Huanqiu Technology Co., Ltd. 18,000 - 30,000 USD /Month Shenzhen Full Time
Marketing Materials Planning TEMU 15,000 - 30,000 CNY /Month Shanghai Full Time
View More Jobs

Warning：The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.

Keywords: teaching English in China