What to expect when teaching English in China
When googling “teaching English in China” you willover 54 million results. Most of the results point to recruiters, TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certification schools, EFL forums, and “cultural exchange programs,”. These rank high with google since they make money if they can convince someone to go. Teaching EFL can be a way to support one’s travel addiction. However, before believing that you can make
a carreer out of teaching English as a second language consider the following.
1: No all Chinese want to learn English
China’s educational system was completely overhauled in 1979. The goal was to make China self reliant by the early 21st century by improving 1) agriculture, 2) industry, 3) technology, and 4) defense. English is accepted as long as it supports the above. As an academic discipline it ranks second at best. However, everyone is forced to learn it to pass the national university admission test.
Unless a student has a clear plan and ample funds to study abroad, or work for an international company, they will never use even one word of English for the remainder of their lives after graduating from college. Most Chinese will simply speak Chinese and with the rise of China as an economic power, the Chinese might be less inclined to learn English, since so many foreigners learn Chinese.
Teh government and some professional certification programs (like the English accounting test ACCA) require that the students are being taught by a native English speaker. There is also a demand for white faces simply to increase tuition in private schools.
Since the teaching and learning of English in China is devalued by China’s academic leaders and administrators, the role of the foreign English teacher is de-professionalized: It is limited to facilitating the students’ speaking and listening skills.Whether a foreign teacher holds a PhD in linguistics with a specialty in second language acquisition methodology or is a recent college graduate with little or no relevant work experience, in the vast majority of cases, each will be assigned to teach precisely the same classes with very little difference in salary.
No. 2 How much do you earn as a EFL teacher
The average salary of a foreign English teacher in China–outside of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou–is in the range of 4,000 to 6,000 yuan per month (about $570 to $850) for 14 to 20 hours of face-to-face teaching per week. This salary represents up to 70 percent more than the average income of 1,800 yuan, however, even though you earn more, to take advantage of this increase, you need to live as if you were Chinese (no car, no Western food, electronics etc.).
Western brand name electronics and everything you take for granted will generally cost as much in China as is does back home.
No. 3 Teaching English in China is Fun and Easy
Teaching English in China can be extremely challenging and thankless job since students simply do not respond. A mixture of shyness and lack of oral skills will turn you into an actor and the classroom into a stage without special effects and lighting where. Being out there you can feel pretty lonely, naked and desperate.
No. 4: Every Native Speaker Can and Should Teach English in China
It makes most sense for you to teach if you are a recent college graduate who would like to study Chinese or gain some travel experience before returning home to resume their real careers. Also if you are at the other end of the spectrum and have retired, you might look for some adventure if you are in good health. Finally as a career EFL teacher you might advance your career if you are working as a school and program director, or in venues only available to fully credentialed and licensed educators.
For anyone else, especially middle-aged and mid-career individuals without considerable means, moving to China to teach English will most likely render you a prisoner of the EFL system: You will change schools, countries every couple of years and will have difficulties to land another job.
Click here if you want to know more about my experience as a teacher in china.
a carreer out of teaching English as a second language consider the following.
1: No all Chinese want to learn English
China’s educational system was completely overhauled in 1979. The goal was to make China self reliant by the early 21st century by improving 1) agriculture, 2) industry, 3) technology, and 4) defense. English is accepted as long as it supports the above. As an academic discipline it ranks second at best. However, everyone is forced to learn it to pass the national university admission test.
Unless a student has a clear plan and ample funds to study abroad, or work for an international company, they will never use even one word of English for the remainder of their lives after graduating from college. Most Chinese will simply speak Chinese and with the rise of China as an economic power, the Chinese might be less inclined to learn English, since so many foreigners learn Chinese.
Teh government and some professional certification programs (like the English accounting test ACCA) require that the students are being taught by a native English speaker. There is also a demand for white faces simply to increase tuition in private schools.
Since the teaching and learning of English in China is devalued by China’s academic leaders and administrators, the role of the foreign English teacher is de-professionalized: It is limited to facilitating the students’ speaking and listening skills.Whether a foreign teacher holds a PhD in linguistics with a specialty in second language acquisition methodology or is a recent college graduate with little or no relevant work experience, in the vast majority of cases, each will be assigned to teach precisely the same classes with very little difference in salary.
No. 2 How much do you earn as a EFL teacher
The average salary of a foreign English teacher in China–outside of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou–is in the range of 4,000 to 6,000 yuan per month (about $570 to $850) for 14 to 20 hours of face-to-face teaching per week. This salary represents up to 70 percent more than the average income of 1,800 yuan, however, even though you earn more, to take advantage of this increase, you need to live as if you were Chinese (no car, no Western food, electronics etc.).
Western brand name electronics and everything you take for granted will generally cost as much in China as is does back home.
No. 3 Teaching English in China is Fun and Easy
Teaching English in China can be extremely challenging and thankless job since students simply do not respond. A mixture of shyness and lack of oral skills will turn you into an actor and the classroom into a stage without special effects and lighting where. Being out there you can feel pretty lonely, naked and desperate.
No. 4: Every Native Speaker Can and Should Teach English in China
It makes most sense for you to teach if you are a recent college graduate who would like to study Chinese or gain some travel experience before returning home to resume their real careers. Also if you are at the other end of the spectrum and have retired, you might look for some adventure if you are in good health. Finally as a career EFL teacher you might advance your career if you are working as a school and program director, or in venues only available to fully credentialed and licensed educators.
For anyone else, especially middle-aged and mid-career individuals without considerable means, moving to China to teach English will most likely render you a prisoner of the EFL system: You will change schools, countries every couple of years and will have difficulties to land another job.
Click here if you want to know more about my experience as a teacher in china.
