Teaching English in China Experiences (9 Teachers On Advice, Challenges, Etc.)

I have taught English in Taiwan, Korea and China. I also did some traveling around mostly East Asia and while doing so I interviewed other teachers. In China I interviewed 8 other teachers.

In this video I share some of the highlights of those videos. These English teachers were interviewed in Xiamen and Hangzhou. There is footage from there too as well as Suzhou and Shanghai were I taught and lived.

In this video the teachers share some of their experiences and tell their stories which includes advice, challenges and info on the salaries and requirements.

Related articles on teaching in China:

• What’s the salary to teach English in China?
• What are the requirements to teach English in China?
• What’s the cost of living for teaching English in China?
• Can you teach English in China without a degree?
• Should you teach English in China or Taiwan?
• Should you teach English in China or Korea?
• What’s the age limit to teach English in China?

Video transcript:

You can make less than 2,000 us and only spend $3–400 a month. Salaries vary quite a bit to teach in China on the high end you could make 20,000RMB or maybe more teaching in a city large city, kindergarten training center, or international school if you’re licensed teacher.

Then on the low end you can make maybe 7–8,000 teaching in a university. I think in all of China you can get some benefits, but it really depends on where you are and the situation.

Some schools like in Shanghai you know, included accommodation is rare so it really depends on the school. Things vary a lot so 7–20,000 and the average maybe 13–14,000 depending on the school.

Advice

What advice would you give to someone that’s thinking about coming abroad to teach?

I would say don’t go looking for a job online first like research some cities first then come to China as a tourist and actually look at the facilities themselves. Talk to foreign teachers there.

There are so many just really bad horror stories, so definitely check it out in person. Go by word of mouth…

Be sure that you know what you’re stepping into. There’s two kinds of guys who come into place looking for a job: people who are passing through and people who take it seriously.

If you step into a place that is serious about working go about it, you know 120% otherwise you’re gonna find that there’s a lot of heat. If you’re passing through there’s always tutoring. There’s a lot of money in that.

Come with an open mind no pre concepts or whatever. Come as you are. If it doesn’t happen for you it doesn’t happen. If you feel that it’s nice then stay.

First of all just remember wherever you go, whatever country you end up going to remember that you are a guest in their country do not come with some delusions of grandeur that you’re going to come and change everyone’s mentality and way of thinking and change their culture.

Remember you’re a guest here and that it’s an opportunity for you to learn as well from your students. You learn from them and they learn from you it’s a reciprocal thing.

And if you come with a mentality of respect you will have a great experience if you don’t then you’ll be miserable.

Just just come here. I didn’t even train they are in dire need and teachers are here… Well just get ready to adjust to a lot of the differences, but there’s people from all over the world teaching English.

It just takes patience and persistence.

Challenges

Teaching here… Discrimination. The first time I applied for jobs here obviously I was turned away. But with this school I’m working for now they gave me a demo class then the chance. I started part-time and slowly became the head teacher.

Learning the Chinese language. Getting to understand the culture just cultural differences.

What about your school do you have any challenges with your school? Again just cultural differences between the management and foreign teachers.

Learning not to cross cultural boundaries to not disrespect them unintentionally. Getting away from home but you know once you get over those hurdles it’s not so bad.

To be to be honest with you I think living abroad is not difficult as long as you just keep an open mind and somewhat of a liberal sentiment towards people of different cultures and backgrounds.

If you’re not so open-minded then yeah it can be very difficult for people, but for me it came to me quite naturally. I love it here I have no complaints at all except no Mexican food, there’s no Mexican food.”

Watch the full interviews with English teachers in China