I complied the Q & A for those who are looking to work in China. Many of them are common sense. But experience tells us that it’s often the ignorance or neglect of the common sense that gets people into trouble and remorse. Many negative things have been written about the downside of working overseas and I will focus on the sunny side. If you have anything to add to the list, please drop me a line at bjwellgo8@yahoo.com.cn
Best luck,
Jeff
Q: What are the advantages of teaching and learning in China?
A: It is an
excellent way to learn about the Chinese culture, customs, and behavior. You can
teach English to the Chinese and share your culture with them, but also can
learn Mandarin Chinese from them. Besides, you will make many friends with both
the locals and other foreign teachers and build useful network. It is especially
helpful if you want to pursue an international career in the future, as China is
a rapidly developing country and is playing a bigger role in the world economy
and politics. Besides, you will be offered free accommodation, a salary, and in
some cases, free meals, airfare reimbursement, and free excursions!
Q: What are the requirements of teaching in China?
A: In many cases, you
just need to be a native speaker of English, have a college degree, have a
passion for teaching and are healthy. In some cases, a native speaker with a
high school education and TESOL/TEFL certificate are accepted to teach oral
English to younger kids.
Q: I'm not a native English speaker. Can I teach English in China ?
A:
Native English speakers are preferred but not required as long as you have a
good command of the English language and do not have much of a foreign accent.
There are many ESL/EFL teachers in China who were not educated in English
speaking countries but teach very well.
Q: Am I able to teach in China without any prior teaching experience?
A:
Many teachers who come to China to teach have no prior teaching experience,
especially for shorter term programs. It is fine as long as you have the
motivation and patience to teach. If you do not have any prior teaching
experience and have never been in China before, we suggest that you participate
in a TEFL training and orientation program before the start of your teaching
program.
Q: How about the teaching time in China ?
A: Teaching time in China
varies from school to school, but often is between 12 and 19 hours a week. Each
teaching period lasts from 40 minutes in primary school to one hour in an
university.
Q: May I choose a teaching-position freely?
A: Yes. You may choose
whatever ESL Job is on any website and wherever the job is. But make sure that
the school is registered with the government and authorized to hire foreign
nationals. Teachers who are hired by an organization without proper
authorizations may find themselves in financial and legal trouble.
Q: How do I know if a recruiting school is authorized to hire foreign
nationals?
A: One simply way is to ask the school. If you are not sure
whether you get a true answer, use an agent. Most agents do a background check
of their clients and have good knowledge of relevant laws and regulations. We
make sure that all our client schools meet the conditions to hire foreign
nationals and have a good reputation.
Q: How can I tell a reputable agent from one that is not?
A: First of
all, you want to make sure that the agent is a professional company in this
business. Check the database of the Administration of Industry and Commerce of
the location where the agent is based to find out if the agent is registered
with the government authority and in good legal standing. Use common sense. If
the promises sound too good to be true, then they are not true. To find out
information about the companies in Beijing, log onto www.hd315.gov.cn
Q: Is it legal for the school or agent to ask for my personal information?
A: It’s a standard practice in this business to solicit personal
information. The employer will ask to see the applicant’s ID card or passport
before handing out the offer. BUT no one except the government agency has the
right to keep your ID card, passport or other official documents.
Q: Will there be opportunities to learn or improve my Chinese during my
contract?
A: Yes, many schools in China offer Chinese language courses for
foreigners that you can take at your spare time. Some schools may offer you
lessons or tutoring services at a discounted price. You can also find a private
tutor or share one with other foreign teachers. A private tutor may ask for
between RMB 30-40 an hour. We find the best way to learn Mandarin and the
Chinese culture is to find a local Chinese student or teacher as a language
exchange partner. Many Chinese students and teachers are eager to teach you
Mandarin in exchange for your help in English.
Q: What about the compensation?
A: For your work at a public school,
college or university, you will likely be paid between 3,000 and 5,000RMB/month
(roughly US$400-$620) in addition to free housing and health care. If you commit
to one year of teaching, most host schools will reimburse at least a one-way
ticket and many schools will reimburse a round-trip ticket. Some schools will
also provide a traveling allowance equivalent to half of a month's salary.
2,000-3,000RMB a month is little money by Western standards but it is far
greater than what Chinese professors get paid. In any case, things are cheap in
China and 2,000-3,000RMB is enough to cover your expenses. However people come
to teach in China mainly for the experience with the culture and the people;
there are also people who use the opportunity as an investment for their future
career.
Private institutes, mostly under Western management, generally pay more than state colleges and universities. The pay ranges from $500-$800 per month. All of them reimburse a round-trip ticket to China if you commit to one year of teaching at least.
Q: How much should I be paid? How much do I need to spend in China ?
A:
Yes, indeed you are higher paid than many local workers and teachers in China .
Normal wages in Beijing and Shanghai (the richest cities) are between RMB
1500-2000, and less in rural/inner China. Since you do not have to pay for
accommodation, your main expenses will be on food (some schools also provide
free meals to teachers), transportation, and entertainment. Food is generally
cheap in China. Single dish meals at the cafeteria on campus cost as little as
RMB 3 (USD 0.40). Chinese restaurants on campus in the school area offer meals
(including a main dish and soup) for RMB 10 - 20 (USD 1.25 - 3) per person.
Western restaurants cost between RMB 30-100 (USD 4-12) per person per meal.
Transportation options include public buses (which cost about RMB 1 per ride)
and subway (RMB 2-3 per ride), and taxi costs about RMB 10 (USD 1.25) for short
distances. Internet Cafe is very cheap for about RMB 3-6 (USD 0.4 - 0.75) an
hour. Entertainment in general is also inexpensive. Of course, there are places
that can easily cost you a whole month’s salary and those are not the places
people frequent.
Q: Can I have another part time job or teach at my spare time to earn extra
income?
A: Yes, as long as you fulfill your contracted teaching hours and
responsibilities, most schools will allow you to earn some extra money through
another job or more teaching at your spare time.
Q: Do I need to pay tax to the Chinese government?
A: Salaries are tax
free to the Chinese government if you earn less than RMB 4,000 a month. Tax free
income for Chinese people is 1200 RMB in Shanghai and Beijing and 800 RMB in
other cities. If you earn more than that, you will have to pay some tax, but the
rate is quite low. Some schools may pay the tax for you, and it will depend on
your teaching contract with the school.
Q: Can my partner go with me to China?
A: You can usually take your wife
or husband with you if you have been offered a legal job with visa and working
permit. However, she or he may not be allowed to work and you may find it
difficult to support a dependant on a teacher's income. If, however, your
partner is also an EFL teacher, you could probably both find work in the same
school or town..
Q: What about taking children to China ?
A: With a legal job you can
usually obtain a resident's visa for your children, though again you may have
difficulty in supporting them on a teacher's income. There would also be the
question of their education, which in some cases would prove exorbitantly
expensive, especially in major cities.
Q: Should I find a job before going to China?
A: If you like adventure,
and have a good TEFL certificate and perhaps a degree for working permit
purposes you might get off with the reasonable confidence of finding work when
you land. If you are a little more staid, or nervous, or cash-strapped, you
might do better to fix it all up before leaving.
Q: Can you help me find a job in China?
A: Kindly send to
bjwellgo8@yahoo.com.cn your CV/Resume (as Word attachment), a copy of your
academic degree/diploma/certificate/or college transcript, the data page of
valid passport, recent color photo, a letter of recommendation or a letter of
release from your previous Chinese school (Only if you worked in China). Soon
after receiving the above documents, we will process your application and find a
suitable placement for you.
Q: How do I get a work visa?
A: When working in China , you are required
to have a "Z" or "F" visa. The easiest way is to get an "F" visa with an
invitation letter or you can go to Hong Kong without any visa and apply for a 30
day tourist visa at the Hong Kong airport. As soon as you arrive at the working
location, give your school your passport and two passport photos and they will
help to obtain the work visa within a month. Always remember to renew your visa
at least two weeks before it expires.
The second way of getting a work visa is: First, prepare a copy of your passport, four passport photos, application letter, recommendation letter and health check report (you must get the form from the local China embassy). Then your school will mail an invitation paper to you that you will bring to a Chinese Embassy to obtain a "Z" work visa. It takes at least 20 days for the school to mail the invitation paper to you. You will get a work visa from the Chinese embassy directly. Usually this way is troublesome, we highly recommend the first way.
