Teaching Jobs in China generally fall into 5 categories:
Private Language training center for kids or adults:
Most of the teaching positions in China are at these private training centers. Kids and adults attend these schools in the evenings and weekends specifically for English language lessons. Positions at training centers are often easiest to secure as there is high demand for these classes and they hire year-round. Unlike K-12 programs, if you miss a deadline for submitting documents, you won’t lose your job since all they have to do is delay your start date to the next month.
Highlights of working at a Private Language training center:
- Late afternoon starting time on weekdays
- Premade lesson plans, no need to design your own lesson plans.
- Two consecutive weekdays off- you can do your weekend errands when the city is quiet
- Salary: 9,000-18,000 RMB per month
- Required Teaching Experience: Depends on the city
Public/Foreign language Primary, Middle and High School
In Tier 1 Cities, public school jobs are a great opportunity for people who want to enjoy low teaching hours and have longer vacations. Generally, public school jobs work on 10-month contracts from September to June / July. For those looking for a public school job with a Spring, starting date you should note that many of the programs do not provide summer holiday pay. Also, because the starting time is not flexible, we strongly advise you apply at least 4 months prior to the desired start date so that we can get your documents in time.
Highlights of working at a Public/Foreign language school:
- Work weekday from morning to late afternoon.
- Half vacation pay during one month winter holiday period.
- Salary: 9,000-20,000 RMB per month
- Teach between 12-18 hours per week.
Pre-School/Kindergarten Schools
For those who enjoy spending time with young children from age 2-6 years old, this type of job could be very rewarding for you. Teaching English in a kindergarten or preschool is very common in Tier 1 cities like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing. Teachers can expect a friendly environment and there will always be a teaching assistant in the classroom. Teachers with Early Childhood Development Degrees can expect a lucrative salary here.
Highlights of working at a Pre-School/Kindergarten:
- Work weekday from morning to late afternoon.
- Paid vacation in winter and summer.
- Salary: 13,000-24,000 RMB per month
International Schools
The number of international schools in China is growing and demand outpaces supply. International schools are where wealthy expats send their children to get a premium education. People often confuse international schools with private schools. Only students with foreign passports/ or Chinese students who lived abroad for some time can attend these schools, while private schools can accept Chinese students without any added restrictions. Most international schools usually follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) or the foreign (A-level/AP etc) curriculum. Also, these schools usually require a 2 year commitment from the teachers. Having a teaching license in your home country along with a Bachelor’s Degree is a requirement to work at these schools.
Highlights of working at an International School:
- • Work weekday from morning to late afternoon.
- • Almost 2 months paid vacation per year.
- • Salary: 15,000-30,000 RMB/month.
- • Required Experience: 2 years +