Whom do I teach?
Usually adult students in colleges and universities, or company employees in large (usually) multinational corporations. Sometimes you will work with private, elementary or high schools, where your students will be small children or teenagers.
At colleges and universities, your students may include English majors, but more often you will get students majoring in anything ranging from electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, to biology, psychology, etc.
What do I teach?
The most requested subject is conversational English and listening comprehension, followed by composition, English literature, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). In these classes, you are often expected to lecture your students on American culture. Depending on whether you are recruited as a "foreign expert" or a mere "foreign teacher," you may also be teaching history, business, law, etc.
How long is the contract?
The contract period is usually one academic year, which is from September to July the following year. Some private schools hire teachers to teach their summer schools from June to September. Usually the contract can be extended if both you and the school/organization agree.
What is my teaching schedule like?
You teach 12 to 18 hours each week depending on the hosting institution, not including preparation, grading, office hours, or other activities that may be required by your host institution. One academic year consists of two semesters (approximately 20 weeks each).
What is the average class size?
The average class consists of 20 to 40 students, but can be as large as 60. Some private schools have smaller classes.
Where do I teach?
Schools and organizations from all over China are recruiting native English speakers to teach English there, so basically you could be teaching anywhere in China. However, higher demands come from institutions in bigger cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, etc.
Do I have a choice of where to teach?
In your application you can tell us your general preference, but we cannot guarantee to place you at specific cities, institutions, or types of schools (college, university or secondary school). We do give you up to five matching choices once we receive your application fee. If you do not accept any of the three, you will have to pay the application fee again to start a new round of placement efforts. The more open and flexible you are, the better chance you will find a match.
How much do I get paid and will I become very rich or poor after one year's teaching?
Typical salary is between 2,000 to 3,000 yuan (or written as RMB) a month, with 50-70% converted to foreign currency. Your salary is determined by the host institution, based on your academic background, work experience, and other factors. Salary is paid monthly, and the host institution will give you an advance when you arrive. The exchange rate in China is floating; currently, one U.S. dollar is approximately 8.3 yuan.
Your salary is more than enough for buying food and other necessities in China but it won't enable you to lead a luxury life. If you want to travel extensively we recommend that you bring extra money with you. Many teachers say they basically spent all the money they earned in China by the time they left the country.
Can my spouse accompany me to China?
Yes. If your spouse is qualified to teach too, it will be an ideal situation because the host institutions usually welcome couples to teach. Even if your spouse is not qualified to teach, he or she may still accompany you to China.
How about my children? Can they accompany me to China as well?
Usually, yes. However, it depends on the individual host institution. Generally speaking, families with small children or teenagers may encounter some difficulties.
What do I do with my children's education?
There are international schools in large cities, however the cost is often very high (in the thousands of U.S. dollars per year). You may consider to place your children with local Chinese schools too with special arrangements.
What type of housing is provided?
It depends. Typically you get a furnished apartment with air-condition within the "foreign guest house" complex on campus. If you are going by yourself, you may have to share the apartment with another foreign teacher.
What about transportation?
A car is not a daily necessity in China. Some ESL teachers get around on bicycles. Others take buses. In some cities, subway system is affordable and convenient. Taxis are available at a reasonable price too.
Will I have a lot of time to travel around?
You will have a 3- to 4-week paid vacation for Chinese New Year ( in January or February, depending on the lunar calendar);1 to2 days off for New Year (January 1st), Labor Day(May 1st), and National Day (October 1st). Usually you will get a few days off for Christmas or Hanukkah. These are the best time you can travel, but remember it's usually the busiest days for travel also, especially around Chinese New Year.
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