China’s educational system is not as homogenous as you may think. Everything from the curriculum to the teaching approach, workload, and so on might change. A lot depends on the sort of school you choose to teach at. Public schools follow a standardized curriculum and provide comparable experiences for instructors. Private language schools, foreign institutions, and even colleges might have significant differences. This implies that there are several sorts of teaching positions available here, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Here’s a rundown of the many sorts of teaching professions in China. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages will help you determine which one is best for you:
Kindergarten jobs
Kindergarten employment in China might be great if you like teaching and working with youngsters. It also helps that these are among the best-paying positions available.
Kindie roles need you to be creative while also providing excellent working circumstances. If you are fortunate enough to work in an international setting, you will not have to work on weekends and will have lots of time off.
Typically, you’ll be teaching Monday through Friday, with both morning and afternoon sessions. Taking a nap throughout the day helps you to prepare for courses and/or a longer lunch break.
Your passion and ability to educate young children will decide whether this is your dream profession or the most demanding one you’ll ever embark on.
Positions in public schools
Public schools, which are sometimes disregarded, are some of the lowest-paying teaching professions in China. If you’re just getting started as an ESL instructor, public schools might be a terrific place to start. You will follow a prescribed curriculum and will not be required to work outside of school hours. You will also get every weekend and school holiday off. Overall, this is a fantastic opportunity to get your foot in the door.
Typically, you will be expected to teach 10-15 hours each week. Your role will be to enhance regular English-language sessions (taught in Chinese by Chinese instructors) with some spoken practice.
Due to the enormous class numbers (up to 50 pupils! ), public school teaching in China may be difficult. However, the inclusion of a teaching assistant will tremendously aid.
International schools
The majority of ESL instructors who go to China desire to work at an international school. These are some of the highest-paying and most prestigious careers available.
These positions are difficult to get for first-time applicants, but if you are fortunate enough to land one with an international school, you can anticipate fantastic income and a significant boost to your CV. You will find it simpler to get the same job type in another nation.
In exchange for the good income, you will be required to work hard. The prerequisites for admission to the greatest international schools are likewise quite stringent. They normally only consider the most qualified and experienced candidates.
International schools are known for upholding the highest standards, and lessons are held in English, so you may get a teaching career in a variety of areas.
Jobs at Universities
By the time Chinese kids reach university, they will be expected to be much more open-minded and inquiring, therefore professors consider them to be among the most fulfilling (but also lowest-paying) teaching professions available.
At university in China, you will have much greater teaching flexibility and will teach for far less hours than in conventional schools. You may think of this as a part-time teaching position. Your income, on the other hand, won’t be all that fantastic, but that should be alright if you’re not relocating to China mainly for financial reasons.
Training facilities and private language schools
These schools provide extracurricular English classes to students of all ages. This means you’ll be teaching in the evenings and on weekends. In exchange, you will have free time every weekday (typically until 4 p.m.) and two full days off throughout the week.
If you’re not a morning person or despise the conventional Monday-to-Friday routine, this job is for you. Classes are often small (5-10 students). Salaries and working hours at private language schools vary greatly. If you work 40 total work hours, make sure you are compensated handsomely for it.
Teaching positions available online
Teaching English to Chinese students online from a distant place (your own nation or any other country, for that matter) has been one of the fastest-growing ESL teaching possibilities in recent years. COVID is projected to smash all records in 2021. So, why not take advantage of this expanding trend and become a remote English teacher?
The nicest aspect about this particular teaching job is that since you will not be in the country, you will not be required to meet the eligibility criteria for a Chinese working visa.
As an online English teacher, you’ll reach students from all across China, be able to pick how many (or how few) hours you work, and have access to a variety of online teaching organizations.