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English Teacher Placement - Apply Now 
Teaching in China
Frequently asked questions
Q: Do I need to speak
Chinese?
A: No. Your students prefer that you communicate in
English only. If you are having difficulty in communicating, there will
always be a person who can speak English.
Q: Is there a fee?
A: No. We do not require any fee for our services
from our candidates. Your only expenses will be a visa fee of $45 USA, CAN
$70 in Canada, a $10-20 telex fee (if requested) and a $35 freight fee.
Q: Who takes care of the work
visa?
A: Your new employer will process all of the
supporting paper work necessary for you to obtain a work visa. All you
have to do is take those documents to the nearest Chinese consulate. It
usually takes 2 to 3 weeks before your visa is issued.
Q: Can I speak with someone
who has completed his/her contract or is teaching in China currently?
A: Yes. As soon as you are offered a position, you
can speak directly with a teacher currently teaching in China or someone
who has completed the contract.
Q: Do I have to pay rent for
my apartment?
A: No. You do not pay any rent, but you will be
responsible for the utility bill.
Q: Is there someone in China
who I can contact if I have any problems?
A: Yes. IEF Education Foundation Shanghai Office
can help you adjust and to resolve any problems you may have.
Q: When should I apply for an
English-teaching job in China?
A: You can apply for an English-teaching job in
China at any time of the year, as English lessons are taught in all
Chinese schools, colleges or universities all year round. However, the
preferred dates for your arrival are at the beginning of February or
September when new semesters start and early July when English summer
camps will be available on some campuses. It is highly recommended that
you give us at least 60-days notice in advance of the date that you would
like to begin teaching so that all necessary arrangements can be made.
Q: What is the processing
time of my application?
A: You will receive an e-mail confirming receipt of
your application as soon as we receive it. You will receive notification
of the result of your application approximately within 10 working days
from the date of application. Placements will begin to be made shortly
thereafter. Your application can only be received and processed by e-mail
due to the huge amount of workload and increasing numbers of queries and
applications.
Q: What documents/information
am I required to provide for getting a teaching position in China?
A: You are kindly required to provide us with the
following key documents and information when you submit your application.
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A letter of application and detailed resume via
e-mail;
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Copy of your educational certificate, diploma
or degree;
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One copy of reference/recommendation letter;
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Copy of your passport with details;
Please note that you should state clearly the
following in your application in addition to the other required
information:
-
your desired period of commitment in China;
-
the English level of students you would like to
teach in the Chinese school/college;
-
your earliest date of arrival and the starting
date of your teaching in China;
Q: What additional
information must I include in my resume?
A: When you e-mail your resume, please provide the
following information, which will be very important for efficiently and
effectively processing your application and making arrangements for your
stay in China.
Full Name:
DOB (date of birth):
POB (place of birth):
Citizenship:
Sex:
Native language:
MS (marital status):
Passport NO.:
DOI (date of issue):
DOE (date of expiry):
POI (place of issue):
Tel:
Fax:
Address:
Q: Could I also bring my
spouse and kids to China?
A: Certainly. Chinese educational institutions will
be delighted to welcome all of your accompanying family members to China,
but they will not be responsible to pay for your spouse and children's
expenses (air tickets, health insurance, holidays expenses, etc.) unless a
teaching assignment is also arranged for your spouse through the IEF
Education Foundation to teach English at a Chinese school, college or
university. If you bring your children with you, arrangements can be made
for them to study at one of the best Chinese schools at your own expense.
Your spouse may also have opportunities to teach, either full-time or
part-time, or may find other employment opportunities in some cases.
Q: What am I required to
teach?
A: You are mainly required to teach listening
comprehension, written and spoken English, intensive or comprehensive
English courses. If you are capable of teaching English literature,
business English, business administration, accounting, math and computer
science, etc., you could most likely receive a higher salary.
Q: What kind of teaching
materials should I bring with me for teaching in China?
A: There are several textbooks and course
curriculum used in each Chinese school, college or university, which are
set by the Ministry of Education of China. Therefore, you need not bring
the teaching materials that are already available at your prospective
schools. However, if you know of a good textbook or other teaching
materials, you could bring a copy with you and make a proposal to the
school authority. If the school authority is willing to adopt the textbook
that you recommend, they could place an order with your assistance.
Additionally, you will have full access to all the teaching resources at
your school, including the library, language lab, computer room, overhead
projector and photocopying facilities, etc.
Q: At which Chinese
city/school shall I be placed for teaching?
A: Placements are available in many different
areas. Most placements are in provincial capitals and large or medium
cities where a huge demand for English teachers exists. After checking and
evaluating your resume, as well as communicating with your prospective
host organizations, we will place you at a school, college or university
which we have determined is most suitable for you. This will mainly depend
on your academic background and previous working experience. We recommend
that you accept the placement location and the conditions obtained for you
through our careful and considerate arrangements.
Q: When will I know my
specific placement location?
A: Most placements will be finalized in June/July
(for Autumn Semester starting from September), November/December (for
Spring Semester from February). However, placements can be made from time
to time throughout the year and the above-mentioned dates are preferred
ones. You will be notified your specific placement location at least 30
days before your arrival.
Q: What if I have special
requests regarding location, type of school, interest in a more
specialized (not ESL) teaching position, etc?
A: You should send in a complete application
stating all of your requests, preferences, conditions, etc. Efforts will
be made to accommodate your requests, but no guarantee can be made to meet
all of your requests. If your requests are difficult to meet, you will be
notified and your options will be discussed case by case.
Q: Will there be
opportunities to learn or improve my Chinese? If I want to learn Mandarin,
is there a specific region where I should request placement?
A: Yes, you will have a lot of opportunities to
learn or improve your Chinese Mandarin in China. You could arrange a
"language sharing" program with a local teacher, where you'd
exchange an hour of intensive Chinese for an hour of intensive English.
Q: What should be my right
age for applying for an English teaching job in China?
A: As long as you are under (or around) 50 years
old, have stamina and are in good health, you could be qualified for
obtaining an appropriate teaching job in China.
Q: What kind of air ticket
should I buy when I travel to China?
A: You can buy either a round-trip ticket or
one-way ticket. It is recommended that you shop around for the lowest
possible fare. If you buy a one-way ticket, you will be reimbursed at the
end of six months and your return ticket will be purchased for you by your
host organization at the end of your 12 months term. If you buy a
round-trip ticket, it should be a confirmed (OK) ticket. As an open ticket
will be more expensive than the confirmed one, it can't be fully
reimbursed. Please don't worry about buying a confirmed ticket if you wish
to stay longer in China and are unable to return back home on the
confirmed date at the end of your term.
Q: What shall I have to do
during the school holidays in China?
A:It is at your own discretion to do whatever you
like during the school holidays. You can either travel widely within China
as a tourist, or teach English at one of the schools/training
center/firms/industries where a teaching position has been found either by
yourself or by your host organization, or you could learn Chinese language
at one of various training centers where foreigners study Chinese.
Q: How much will I be paid
for my work in China?
A: You will be paid between RMB3,500 to RMB6,500
per month, depending on your academic, educational background and previous
working experience. The current official exchange rate in China is
8.3RMB/1USD. You can also make extra income in your spare time and
weekends by teaching English in other organizations if you wish to.
Q: Could I have the privilege
of taking a free Chinese lesson during my teaching period in China?
A: Yes, if your host college/university offers such
courses or can arrange a tutor for you.
Q: What are my main
obligations and responsibilities during my teaching period in China?
A: Your duties mainly includes the following:
-
Observe all the applicable laws and regulations
in China.
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Observe all the regulations of the school
authority and respect the local culture and customs.
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Motivate your students to study very hard and
to achieve excellent results in their courses in the shortest time
possible, especially in spoken English, listening comprehension,
written ability and vocabulary.
-
Evaluate and closely monitor the progress of
your students in their English study by assigning their homework and
examinations.
Q: What should I do if I have
some disagreement or am not happy with my situation at the school to which
I have been assigned?
A: You may have a certain problem due to culture
shock or misunderstandings, but always remember that you should try to be
very nice and kind to everyone at your school and try to resolve your
problems politely. The Chinese people are generally very friendly,
hospitable and easy-going.
Q: What is the average living
cost in China?
A: Despite its remarkable economic achievements in
the past two decades, China is still considered to be a developing country
where natural resources and labor cost are extremely cheap. Therefore, the
income level is comparatively low. Hence, the living cost is much cheaper
than you can imagine. Especially, the cost of food, clothes, utilities,
rent, electronics and public transportation, etc. are on the very low side
compared with Western standards. The average monthly salary of a
university graduate in large cities is normally around 1500-2000RMB in
their first three years of employment. Most of the Chinese people enjoy
their lives and live happily with this amount of money per month.
Q: What about my
accommodations during my teaching job in China?
A: Accommodations will be provided free to you, and
you will be living in an apartment within a foreign expert building on or
off campus, depending on the school. A single private room with
decorations and furnishings will be provided to you with all the daily
necessities, although hot water may be available only at certain times
each day. Electric power, running water, gas, a heating system, and shower
facilities are guaranteed.
Q: Are there facilities for
cooking?
A: In some accommodations, you may have your own
private kitchen. Otherwise, you may share a kitchen with other foreign
teachers living on the block. "Kitchen" sometimes means simply a
refrigerator and 2 propane gas rings, and an oven as well. You can cook by
yourselves, or the school authority may assign a cook for you; these
arrangements vary from school to school. Many participants usually eat out
all the time as this is very expensive in China. You may also eat in the
school's dining hall with Chinese students and teachers.
Q: What, if any, appliances
will be provided?
A: Each participant's accommodation has a phone, TV and fridge, a bed,
chairs and tables, and some will also have a radio, oven, microwave, and
washing machine. However, you will have to pay your own phone bills and
Internet fees. A quality living standard will be assured.
Q: Are there facilities for
washing clothes nearby?
A: In a foreign teachers block, there is a shared
washing machine on the landing/hallway. Participants in self-contained
apartments usually have their own washing machine. Laundry services are
also available nearby the school campus.
Q: Will I teach alone or
alongside another teacher?
A: It depends. As China is more open now than years
ago, some schools have foreign English teachers on campus for teaching all
year round, especially in large cities. However, in most cases you will
teach alone or have a Chinese teacher as your teaching partner or
assistant. Even when you teach alone, you will not feel lonely in China.
Q: What size will the classes
be?
A: It varies. Each class usually has at least 30
students in Chinese school and colleges. Normally, the size of the class
you will be teaching in China is comparatively bigger than that in your
home country.
Q: How many hours will I
teach per week?
A: Usually 5 days a week and 16-20 hours a week
more or less. Saturdays and Sundays are free and you can make your own
timetable on weekends for your social life.
Q: What are the age group of
the students?
A: The students in Chinese colleges and
universities range from 17 to 21 years old; at secondary schools they are
from 12 to 17; and 6-12 years old at primary schools.
Q: What level of English do
the students already have?
A: It depends. All university/college students have
passed the entry examination given by the government education authority.
They have some knowledge and experience in learning English, so they are
not beginners. Some of them can speak good English. If you teach at a
secondary or primary school, you will encounter some beginners.
Q: Is there a member of the
teaching staff to whom I can turn for guidance?
A: Yes, if you find it necessary to speak to
someone, usually the head of the English department will be the person you
should refer to. Most Chinese universities/colleges have foreign affairs
offices that will provide assistance and service to foreign teachers in
case of any need or for guidance.
Q: What's the dress code in
Chinese schools?
A: You may dress informally, except on special
occasions. Short skirts and sleeveless tops are not suitable when teaching
in class, and you are expected to wear shoes rather than sandals for
classes even in the summertime.
Q: How much will I need to
bring with me?
A: Most participants found they changed between
US$50-$100 into Chinese currency upon arrival, and needed no more until
their first payment for teaching. You are advised to bring up to at least
$300 if you do not want to buy relatively expensive items.
Q: Will I be able to live on
RMB 3000 a month?
A: Yes, and pretty comfortably too in most Chinese
cities. Current participants say that because rent and bills (except
telephone) are paid, you really don't have to spend much at all unless you
prefer to eat at KFC, Pizza Hut, etc. all the time. A budget of RMB 750 (USD
$90) a week covers expenses and allows for the occasional luxury or
spending spree. Many participants find that with a little effort, they can
save about a third of their salary every month towards traveling during
weekends and holidays.
Q: What kind of social life
will I have?
A: It's up to you. After some initial
shyness/reticence, Chinese students are generally very eager to make
friends with foreign teachers. You can visit local factories, companies,
and may also have a visit to the student or teachers' families, and make
friends with them. Chinese people are the most hospitable people in the
world, especially in the North and Northeast China. You will be able to
make many friends in China if you are open-minded and sociable. Social
life will be enjoyable and exciting in China.
Q: Do I have any duties
during the mid-semester holidays?
A: No. You are completely free to study, travel,
take a trip back home, or do whatever you want to do during the Spring
Festival (Chinese New Year) break around mid-January to mid-February. Keep
in mind, however, that you will have to arrange a re-entry permit to China
well in advance if you plan to leave the country at this time.
Q: How is the attitude of
Chinese towards westerners?
A: No doubt, you will have a wonderful, exciting,
and enjoyable impression during your entire stay in China, as Chinese are
among the most hospitable, warm-hearted, generous and friendly people in
the world. You will find that the Chinese people are always very helpful
and show great respect to foreign English teachers.
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