Q&A Section: Got Questions on ESL Teaching Jobs in China?
Find Your Answers Here!

What kind of qualifications or experience do I need to teach English in China?

We offer a wide variety of ESL teaching jobs in China and our positions require a bachelor’s degree. Some schools also require a TEFL certification, CELTA, or relevant teaching experience. However, other positions don’t require any previous teaching experience or extra qualifications. The best thing to do is contact us to see what is available for you!

Do I need any previous teaching experience?

All of our ESL teaching positions provide paid training. The type of training provided, largely depends on the position you choose! Some schools will have you do the training in your destination city; whereas other schools will have you take part in a 10 days paid training at one of their HQ schools in either Beijing or Shanghai.

In this instance, the school will pick you up at the airport, and take to you to a provided hotel. During the training, there will be on average 15 other foreign teachers participating, and everyone will be working for the same company together. The group training programs are a lot of fun because everyone goes sight-seeing, dining and exploring while completing their paid training. Plus, you’ll be making many friends all across China, giving you more reason to go visit locations like Hefei, Nanjing, Shenyang, etc.

In some instances, other schools will require that you obtain a 120 hour TEFL Certification. In this instance, the school will reimburse the cost of the online TEFL certification when you arrive in China. Or, alternatively, you’ll be able to join the company’s online TEFL certification courses before coming to China. So it largely depends on the position you choose!

Do I need to speak Mandarin to teach English in China?

Schools actually prefer that teachers don’t speak Mandarin in the classrooms. Teaching fully in English helps with immersion and ensures students stay focused.

For instance, if a teacher speaking Mandarin makes a mistake, students tend to become very excited. The next few minutes of class changes from an “English Lesson” to a “Let’s Teach the Teacher Chinese.” Overall, it’s generally best not to speak Mandarin in the classroom.

However, if you wish to learn Mandarin, there are plenty of opportunities, both through your students, your school and your setting. For teachers with advanced abilities in Mandarin, clarifying complex instructions in the student’s native language can be a powerful tool indeed.

China Link ESL is also 100% free for our job seekers. Start your new teaching adventure in China today!

What about Accommodations, Provided Apartments or Housing Allowance?

Teachers can expect help in finding or being provided an apartment close to their workplace. This is common in 2 tier cities, such as Chongqing, Hefei and Suzhou. The vast majority of cities in China provide this service.

Once you arrive in whichever city you choose, you’ll have free airport pick- up, and you’ll be taken to your provided apartment, where you’ll live without cost during your teaching career. From there, your school will assist in getting you paperwork sorted, your bank account set up and assist you in getting to and from your workplace.

Since English teachers make more money than average when compared to Chinese citizens, the rent is very cheap in most cities. Schools make it the number one priority to make sure teachers have excellent and fully-furnished apartments.

This provided apartment system is really straightforward and easy. In some schools, you’ll have options to take an “apartment allowance” in addition to your regular salary if you find other housing options that are more appealing to you.

What sort of teaching resources will I have?

Chinese Chinese Language Schools are very modern and have plenty of tools for teachers. Internet, digital white- boards, textbooks- with written, audio, and video segments are all available! Schools also provide outlines for lesson plans and ESL targets. You’ll have the freedom to teach those subjects however you’d like.

A lot of the time will be spent using the provided textbooks, PPT’s, online ESL games, flash-cards and technologies. Schools really want a fun, education, interactive experience for their students.

What kind of things will be asked during the Online Interview?

When you start the application process, we take time to learn what kind of teacher you are and what you ideally want when teaching English in China. During the interview process, we’ll discuss your availability, preference of location, and whether you‘d be interested in teaching kids or adults.

We also want to know about your teaching experiences, if you have a TEFL Certificate and what you’re looking for when coming to China. If you already have a background in teaching, we’ll also ask about your students, their ages and you personal teaching specialties.

China Link ESL is also 100% free for our job seekers. Start your new teaching adventure in China today!

What is the Visa Process?

Your school will organize all the necessary paperwork needed to obtain a legal one year work (Z) visa. This process can take up to 5 weeks.

The papers will then be sent to you and you can take these papers, along with your passport, application form and any other documents needed to your nearest Chinese embassy, where they will issue you a visa within 1 week.

Once your visa is stamped into your passport, you can enter China and begin teaching English!

What will my Salary and Benefits be?

English teachers’ salaries in China are very competitive, which will provide you with a very comfortable lifestyle. The monthly salary for our job openings is $2,500 – $5,500 USD a month. The exact amount is determined by the school you’d be working for, the city you are based in and the number of years of previous teaching experience.

As the cost of living in China is significantly lower than that of the West, an English teacher’s salary goes a long way. Eating dinner at a local restaurant will typically cost between 15 – 30 RMB per person (Roughly $2 – $4 US dollars) and most teachers find they can live easily on 100 RMB per day ($15 USD). The cost of living in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai is slightly higher than smaller cities.

China Link ESL is also 100% free for our job seekers. Start your new teaching adventure in China today!