| Ni Hao! (knee how = Hello) | | | | training anyway, even if it costs you some money. |
| If you have little going on right now and are sitting | | | | Kind of eases you into it and builds confidence at the |
| around wishing for an exotic and meaningful adventure | | | | same time. It's a lot better than just being thrown to the |
| on the cheap, consider teaching English in China like I | | | | lions the day you arrive in China after a long, long, long |
| did. Whether or not you are degreed, you can easily | | | | flight (18 hours from California). |
| do this. Many schools pay your airfare both ways, plus | | | | As for salary, you can make only about $500-600 U.S. |
| provide private housing. Most of the schools offer you | | | | per month without a degree, more or less. But factor in |
| a payday bonus system atop considerable signing | | | | your free apartment, free round trip airfare, eating out |
| bonuses if you stay on for another school year | | | | locally for literally pennies a day, and you have a real |
| afterward. You won't get rich doing this, but you can | | | | chance to save enough yuan (you-wahn') to see the |
| live reasonably well and experience something you will | | | | country thoroughly. The very modern train system is |
| never forget. | | | | astounding and cheap (ALWAYS book first class and |
| Things You'll Need:o Current Passport & several | | | | I mean it). |
| extra photos.o Brief resume.o Clear speaking voice | | | | Tips: |
| with little or no local accent.o A degree of any kind is | | | | 1. Be aware that Chinese-owned schools may view |
| helpful, but it's not always required in order to get a | | | | your signed contract as something yet negotiable |
| good teaching job. Also present them with just about | | | | (bonuses, hours worked, on-call, etc). Be ready to |
| any kind of achievement award you ever got.o Be in | | | | stand up to them if they reinterpret anything later on. |
| good health (they will check eventually).o If looking, | | | | This isn't dishonorable. Haggling on some level is kind of |
| have a Chinese tourist visa in hand BEFORE you | | | | expected there, even if you think things are already |
| leave the U.S. OR, if already hired, have a Z-Visa via | | | | nailed down. Be polite but firm in negotiations, and print |
| your school.o Thorough guidebook like Lonely Planet | | | | all emails of arrangement discussions. Make notes on |
| China.o Brief, small English-to-Chinese book to help you | | | | phone calls made prior to employment. Keep a copy |
| get around, order food, etc. Oddly, there are no such | | | | of your contract in English, just in case of any |
| language books or pamphlets available in China | | | | misunderstandings due to the language barrier or what |
| whatsoever, so bring at least one you like. | | | | not. |
| Prepare a very brief resume, stating your qualifications | | | | 2. It's easiest to break in if you are willing to teach in |
| and life experiences pertaining to kids, teaching, | | | | the less glamorous cities (northerly). The more |
| coaching, parenting, whatever. Keep in mind that most | | | | educated you are, the easier it is to get into the more |
| of your potential employers are not native English | | | | modern cities like way-cool Shanghai or bustling Beijing. |
| speakers (though many are indeed Americans, Brits, | | | | 3. If you enter the country to look for work and then |
| Canadians, and Aussies running private schools there). | | | | find it, you will still have to exit the country to get your |
| Keep it simple and let them ask for specifics later if | | | | Z-Visa (work visa). This requires a quick trip to Macao |
| they want them. | | | | or Hong Kong or someplace. However, if you find the |
| Also, nobody expects you to know a single syllable of | | | | job first, you get your Z-Visa before arriving. It used to |
| Chinese. In fact they seem to prefer it if you don't. A | | | | be easy to just knock on the door and get hired, but |
| translating assistant will be assigned to you, and will | | | | this new visa hitch makes that harder to do. |
| repeat everything you say to the kids. You design the | | | | 4. Opportunities exist throughout the nation, and you will |
| curriculum for the most part, based on their proscribed | | | | get lots of offers. Try to scout the regions of interest |
| course, and the main thing you do is run the class and | | | | to you via internet before responding. Some places |
| speak words in English so they can mimic them | | | | have tons of historic sights while some places are |
| correctly. Be aware that you are expected to be strict, | | | | utterly quaint. Others have pretty much just dirty |
| and must keep total control of your class at all times. | | | | factories clouding the sky 24/7 and no ATM's. (A |
| No kids goofing around allowed and I do mean it. If you | | | | Cirrus-based ATM card will work if you can find a |
| let them goof off, you will lose face and get fired | | | | machine - not difficult in larger cities only. Credit cards |
| eventually. | | | | and cell phones seem to work readily everywhere. |
| Depending on your school and the student ages, they | | | | 5. By the way, bring it, but your computer will not |
| may or may not know any English when you show up, | | | | generally find wi-fi internet here. There are many |
| but most will know at least some words. Even fluent | | | | internet cafes and wired hotels. (Later, you can get |
| adults don't seem to know fringe words or slang, so | | | | your own internet service in your apartment.) They |
| don't speak them. You can tell who taught a given | | | | censor a lot of things you may be accustomed to |
| person by their accents (American, Brit, Irish, or Aussie) | | | | receiving online, such as news sources. This is still |
| while speaking English. That is why you cannot ever | | | | communist China. They don't report much global news. |
| speak in your southern twang or Boston twist, you | | | | 6. Virtually all TV is in Chinese, of course, and nary a |
| see. | | | | thing is subtitled. Think about it - a year of that... So load |
| Start making yourself known by posting on a general | | | | your computer up with (legal) digital movies and lots of |
| international teaching want ad site. The best time to | | | | them. Immigration will ask you if you did that because a |
| start shaking the trees is around the end or beginning | | | | lot of movies are banned, but they don't seem to |
| of their new school year. You can Google up lots of | | | | check. |
| these ad sites looking for teachers, but go first to | | | | 7. As a whole, Americans are well liked in China. Lots |
| Dave's ESL Cafe and post your very own ad right | | | | of people will come up and speak to you daily, or just |
| now for free (link below). | | | | draw near while you are talking in English so they can |
| It's relatively easy to qualify at scores of schools, | | | | listen (usually without understanding). Wanna be a |
| however you will face competition. The recent | | | | pedestrian rock star? Walk around in China! |
| downturn in the world economy has drawn more | | | | 8. China has probably the lowest crime rate in the |
| degreed teachers to China than in previous years. | | | | world (and behave yourself, lest you find out why this |
| Avoid "agents" unless they charge only the school and | | | | is true). Of course, stay aware of your surroundings. |
| not you. Consider "combo" offers where they train you | | | | Bad elements are out there, no matter how safe it is |
| for a fee, and then place you - guaranteed. It is nice to | | | | generally. Keep a credit card and some cash handy. A |
| be under someone's wing from the outset. Many of | | | | cell phone is not optional, as there are NO English |
| these ESL training centers are in China itself, or you | | | | speaking operators to help you. Baby, you are on your |
| can train in the U.S. However, you often don't even | | | | own if you don't bring a phone. Keep embassy phone |
| need the TEFL certificate to land a job. It all depends | | | | number at hand, and of course your school liaison's |
| on your overall background, the level of teaching | | | | contact info. |
| involved in a particular opening, and how eager the | | | | 9. Bring your prescriptions and pertinent medical |
| school is to fill their slot (usually very much so). But if | | | | records. Medical services are modern and excellent. |
| workable, by all means get it. | | | | 10. You will notice job ads online for many countries, |
| As inquiries come in, be brief in your responses. | | | | including nearby Japan, South Korea, and Thailand. |
| Emphasize what you think they may specialize in (kids, | | | | Plum spots indeed, but for these you simply must have |
| adults, college-age students). Many Anglo outfits will | | | | a teaching degree and other TESOL certificates. |
| offer you a definite training regimen before you | | | | The job is fairly easy to find, not hard to do, and |
| actually start teaching. I highly recommend this route | | | | downright fun most of the time. The rewards of this |
| your first time out. | | | | experience are unimaginably long lasting. Best of luck |
| If you already have a certificate in teaching English as | | | | to you! |
| a second language (TEFL or others), take their general | | | | |