China
C ou n try Gu i d e
Education Group
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| China
China is the world’s most populous country and home to over a billion
people. It is also one of the largest countries in the world by landmass,
at roughly the same size as the United States. Dominating Eastern Asian
geography, China is bordered by a whopping 14 nations: Afghanistan,
Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam to the south,
Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to the west, Russia and Mongo-
lia to the north and North Korea to the East. Also part of China are the
Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong (returned from British rule
in 1997) and Macau. Though actually connected by land to China, these
two regions are nonetheless commonly referred to as apart from “main-
land China.”
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Culture
Ancient and fascinating, China’s 5,000 year-old culture has been shaped by a tradition of ruling families-- dynasties
whose emperors have each made their unique mark on this enormous nation. Modern China asserted itself in 1911,
however, and at the end of the Imperial era the Chinese empire officially became the People’s Republic of China.
Communism took hold in the mid-1900s, as controversial leader Mao Zedong cemented the dogma of collectivism
and government control that is in place to this day, despite China’s position in the world as capitalist giant.
Taoism and Buddhism are the major religions in China, and Confucianism, which is a school of philosophy rather
than a religion, is perhaps the most deeply rooted influence on Chinese ideology. Across China, Tao, Buddhist and
Confucian temples reflect the Chinese concepts of harmony with nature, holiness through art, and the importance of
personal reflection and study.
Chinese arts are expressed in delicate and detailed forms such as calligraphy, silk making, embroidery, porcelain,
paper cutting and kite making. China is also the birthplace of many martial arts, and Tai Chi can be observed (or
joined) any morning in city parks, where it is practiced en masse by residents young and old.
Among China’s many festivals, Chinese New Year is the most important, and is kicked off on the first day of the first
lunar month, with the Spring Festival. During this time, families travel long distances to have a special feast together
and to celebrate the coming of a new year by watching fireworks, attending theatrical Dragon Dances and exchang-
ing gifts such as red, money-filled envelopes. The luminous Lantern Festival marks the end of the holiday.
Food in China is renowned, and far more diverse that what most of us have experienced in the West. The availability
of fresh ingredients varies considerably throughout China, leading to distinctive regional cuisines, such as Anhui,
Cantonese and Hunan. Commonly found ingredients in Chinese food are mushrooms, bok choy (Chinese cabbage),
ginger, garlic, peanuts, tofu, seafood, pork and duck. Dishes may be steamed, deep-fried or stir-fried, and are usu-
ally made with a base of rice in the south, or noodles in the north.
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Things to Do and See
In a country of China’s size, there is a mind-boggling amount to see and do. The Great Wall is on many a bucket list,
and Beijing makes a good starting point for a visit there. This man-made wonder is of such a scale as to be viewed
from space, but up close it is best tackled in sections, where surprises like a wintertime alpine slide await discovery.
Explore this and other sections of The Wall, then head back to the city and visit Olympic Park to imagine how the
real athletes did it. Spend some time within the walls of the mysterious Forbidden City, Beijing’s ancient city center,
with its palace complex of over 900 buildings. Literally across the street, take in giant Tiananmen Square, which
had the world’s attention during the shocking student protests of 1989. For some tranquility, meander the bridges,
pavilions and temples of The Summer Palace, surrounded by hills on Lake Kunming.
Further south, Shanghai is a newer city than Beijing, having grown exponentially from fishing village to metropolis
since the mid-1800s when it opened itself up to French, British and other European trade. To see this influence,
take a walk along the Bund, the colonial waterfront district where the river offers Shanghai’s once stately financial
buildings one side, and modern Shanghai on the other. From there, search for bargains at famous Nanjing Road,
the city’s main shopping street, then recover your culture at Shanghai History and Art Museum or the surprisingly
fascinating Museum of Architecture and Financial Planning. Find your escape from the crowds by sipping afternoon
cocktails atop the Shanghai Financial Center—the world’s second tallest skyscraper, or by sitting back and seeing
the city by ferry, in a ride along the lazy Huangpu River.
Outside major cities, Chinese countryside offers a break from the crowds, traffic and pollution. In Southern China,
artists have been inspired for thousands of years by the craggy limestone rock formations, called Karst, in places
such as the Stone Forest near Kunming in Yunnan. In Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve, also in the south, see valleys
laced in waterfalls, with forests and lakes that provide a habitat for giant pandas.
Currency/Cost of Living
The currency in China is called the Yuan (CNY). You may also
see this written as RMB, which stands for Ren-min-bi, its more
official name. For the most up-to-the-minute conversion rate to
your country’s currency, click here: currency converter.
Sample Cost Guide,
Nanjing, China* (in USD)
*Teaching experience is required by schools in some of China’s
major cities, such as Beijing and Guangzhou, so sample costs
here are for another large Chinese city popular with teachers.
A small local beer- $1.00
A gallon of milk- $6.00
Lunch at a local restaurant- $5
Rent for a one-bedroom apt $500.00
Public transport (one way fare)- $.50
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| Teaching in China
Demand for Teachers
There may not be a country in the world right now with a greater demand for teachers than China. As it continues
to rise as an economic world power, every corner of the country, from major cities to rural towns, seems to have a
near-desperate need of native English-speaking teachers to help them acquire the international language of busi-
ness and commerce. This, of course, is great news for teachers, who will find an abundance of all types of teaching
positions throughout the country, with decent salaries and benefits provided.
Major TEFL Cities
Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai are the most sought after cities by teachers, but plenty of opportunity exists in
other cities, such as Tianjin, Chongqing, Nanjing, Huzhou, and Dalian, as well as cities and towns throughout the
country. Teachers can find positions in just about any corner of China!
Typical Students
It is possible to teach a variety of students in China. English is a required course for school children once they reach
the age of nine, and is often taught well before that, so many TEFL teachers work with young learners. High school
students are another common student demographic as well, since many young people are looking to pass English
proficiency tests that will allow them to study overseas. Colleges and universities employ foreign teachers, too, as
do institutes catering to adult professionals.
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Typical Salary
Teachers in China make varying salaries based mostly on their
teaching city. Salaries in the cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Shen-
zhen, and Guangzhou are around $1,800 to $2,500 USD per
month, depending on the teacher’s qualifications (teaching
experience is typically required in these cities). Teachers in other
cities in China may make around $1,000- $1,500 USD, also
depending on city. When looking at salary it’s important to note
that some employers subsidize housing costs, making these
amounts go much further!
Typical Benefits
Employers in China will often reimburse your airfare costs and
may include housing as part of the teaching contract. Other
benefits can include relocation assistance, Mandarin Chinese
lessons, health insurance, and paid vacation.
Teaching Hours
If you teach at a public school, expect to work a full 40-hour
teaching schedule (7 a.m. to 3 p.m., for example) if you are the
main teacher. Assistant teachers might only work 20 hours. At
private language institutes, you’ll work about 20-30 hours per
week, with a range of hours (split schedules) to accommodate
both young learners and professionals. In addition, language
institutes may require additional hours from teachers outside of
their regular schedules for activities such as hosting language
clubs, or even recruiting new students to the school.
Contract Length
Employers in China prefer hiring teachers for one-year contracts,
but shorter contracts (such as 6 months) are also sometimes
available.
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Peak Hiring Season
In China, demand is so robust that positions are available at
language institutes all year round. However, those teachers look-
ing to work in K-12 schools should start applying to positions a
few months before the September start dates. Many summer
positions are available as well, when children take extra English
classes or attend English language camps.
Preferred Hiring
Requirements
While onsite courses are excellent training for anyone without
teaching experience, many language institutes and K-12 schools
in China accept online TEFL certification. The preferred number
of hours is 120 (with some schools accepting fewer hours as
well). A bachelor’s degree is required by most employers, as it is
a condition of the work permit.
How to Find Jobs
It is hard for native English speakers not to find teaching jobs in
China! Teachers can line up positions in advance, from home.
This is recommended due to the fact that your employer will
assist you with the work visa process prior to arrival. You can do
this by taking part in a program that includes TEFL certifica-
tion and job placement, or you can get certified first, then use
online TEFL job boards or a teacher recruiter to arrange a job.
Online TEFL job boards advertise pages of vacancies, to which
qualified teachers may apply directly. In addition to these general
job boards, Chinese-centered sites like ChinaESLjob.com are
a good resource. Many teachers even begin applying before
they have completed their TEFL certification (or have even
signed up!) and are hired contingent on its completion.
Another way to get teaching jobs prior to arrival in China is to
go through a teacher recruiter, a common means of finding jobs
in Asia. Recruiters do not charge teachers a fee and can match
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you with the right teaching location based on of 120 hours will meet TEFL requirements. You will
preferences for a certain region, city or and student also find schools that accept teachers with 100,
age group. 60, or even 40-hour TEFL certificates, since some
employers put more emphasis on other factors,
Interview Tips such as being a native English speaker or holding a
university degree.
China is known for its preference for young teach-
ers, so those fresh out of college will fare well. The Bridge Teach in China Program bundles a
Teachers with advanced degrees should empha- 120-hour TEFL certification, paid job placement in
size their qualifications, as these credentials hold China, and other benefits into a convenient pack-
significant weight with Chinese employers. You age, making it another convenient option, especial-
should also be open to getting hired on a “pro- ly for new teachers.
bationary” basis, as this has become standard in
many Chinese schools and language institutes. Onsite TEFL courses such as the Cambridge
CELTA or Bridge IDELT remain a solid option for
those who would like their training to take place in
Work Visa Process person, with an included teaching practicum.
Your Chinese employer will assist you with the
process of arranging a work visa by first providing
a letter of invitation once you have been hired. This
letter is one of the documents you’ll need to apply
for your “Z visa” from the Chinese consulate in the
U.S., prior to your departure for China.
Once you arrive in China on your Z visa, which is
valid for 30 days, your employer will apply for a
Residence Permit for you. That permit is a long-
term visa and is also “multiple entry,” which will
allow you to come and go from China without
issue. You will need to have the following with you:
your passport (valid for the length of your contract),
two professional references, an original or certified
copy of your college degree, a current resume and
several recent photos.
Recommended
Courses
For most TEFL jobs in China, an online certificate
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| Contact Us
If you have additional questions about teaching in Brazil and would like to speak to an advisor, call 1-800-437-0413.
You can also visit our TEFL Resource Page for other helpful information about teaching abroad or to message an
advisor online.
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registered trademarks of Bridge Education Group, Inc. in the United States. All other trademarks
held by their respective owners. This brochure, or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced
without the express written permission of Bridge Education Group, Inc.
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