Do Something Exotic With Your Degree And Teach English In China
I spent my first year after college doing absolutely nothing. I just wasn't ready for the real world and I was scared to take a job that would be beneath my skill level, so instead I just numbed myself with Netflix and a bottle of wine. Eventually, the boredom began to wear on me and I decided it was time to find something I could do that would pique my interest.
How many of you have heard of Teach For America? It's a non-profit organization that recruits talented and gifted college graduates to teach in under-resourced public schools.
Well, that got me thinking. What if I didn't go to school for the four years it takes to get my masters and instead just worked my way up the corporate ladder? What if I quit right now, stopped going to classes, and took a year off before getting my degree. I would still be able to hold down a job, but I could also supplement my income by teaching abroad in some exotic location such as China or Hong Kong. I had always dreamed of going to Asia, so I decided to do a little research.
My education might not be anything special, but I did learn how to do some killer Google searches and the more I read about teaching English in China the more it appealed to me. A friend of mine from college was already out there teaching English and making $1,600 a month. That's barely enough for a studio apartment in New York City and basically nothing by American standards, but it sounded like a dream come true when compared to my graduate school tuition or working an entry-level job at Starbucks (which is what I would probably be doing right now if I hadn't quit). I could make all of my kids' college tuition payments in one year and then get out there to see the world while I was still young enough to do it.
After crunching the numbers, my decision was made. I quit school and got a job at Starbucks. I've come a long way from that nearly bankrupt kid who used her student loans to pay for sushi lunches and guitar lessons, donned a black pleated skirt and sat watching her parents cringe back home as she tried to teach them about the Slender Man, but it's nice to know that I still have that community spirit that makes watching someone else burn their clothes on New Year's Eve so much fun. I know I've made the right choice.
So, if you're lucky enough to live in a country where you can legally get paid to drink beer, watch movies and teach your co-workers how to speak English, then this article is for you. Here's how you can get a job teaching English in China.
How To Get A Job Teaching English In China: Find A Job
The first step toward any goal is finding the right information. Luckily for us there are tons of websites geared towards helping Westerners find jobs in China's growing ESL industry. If you want to teach English in China, then you won't have to look very hard.
Here are a few of my favorite sites (but there are many others out there):
Echinacities.com - This site is a great resource for expats living in China. It has information on everything from job postings and forums to travel guides, recipes and the E-C library. Be sure to check the bulletin board for teaching jobs and posting any resumes you have. Beijing Kids - Beijingkids is another great ESL community website offering ESL teachers an opportunity to learn about schools, write reviews and find jobs via their classifieds board. It has sections for kids, teens and adults. ESL Teacher Chat - This is a good site to find information about the kinds of issues that you might have while living in China (health care etc.). It's also a great place to just rant about your day and get some advice from other teachers. Reddit - Reddit is known for it's highly active community where users share links and post comments on everything from politics to porn. If you're looking for answers, you'll probably find them here. Simply typing "teaching English in China" into the search box will give you access to an endless supply of comments from real ESL teachers who have been there and done that.
Teach in China.com - This is a good site to start learning about the Chinese culture, what to expect from the schools, and how you can land a job. It also has links for finding housing and living expenses. Danny's ESL Cafe - This site has a forum where you can ask questions, share experiences, find answers and get help navigating the ESL industry. Make sure to look at the job section for listings.
Chinatefl English - You guessed it...another website offering jobs in China with information on living there and teaching abroad. There's also a blog with some great advice and information on how to apply for jobs in China.
If you're feeling really adventurous, you can check out a variety of ESL websites dedicated to finding jobs in China and even offer a two-week free trial if you're interested in the teaching profession. Here are a few more to get you started: Top Chinese Schools - I know this one looks pretty shady, but it's actually legit. From what I can tell, there are no bad reviews left on this site, so if you're looking for a job teaching English in China this is the place to start. ESLHire - This site has lots of information on living in China and teaching ESL there; it also has some great advice for expats looking for work there. ESL Jobs in China - A Chinese-based job board with links to a bunch of other Chinese language sites. Xiamen English Teacher - This is another job board with a ton of visa, living and teaching information.
Step 2: Find a School
This step will probably be the most time consuming part of the process and will depend on what kind of school you are looking for. If you just want to teach at some local ESL school, then you don't need any special qualifications, but if you want to teach at an international international school then it helps to have a bit more experience or some certification in your field.
**If you have any experience teaching in English, write the school a letter talking about it. If you don't have any teaching experience, send them a photo of your resume and cover letter.**
There are tons of ESL schools in China and you can find one that suits your needs by doing a little research on some of the other websites listed above. Go to the job section at one of those sites above and look for an ESL school in your area with the following information:
"Teaching Contracts"="0" - This is an important field because it shows how many years they offer contracts (usually six months to a year) and what their average salary is for those contracts.
Conclusion
If you're looking to work abroad, teaching English in China can be a lot of fun. It's a great way to meet people and learn about a culture that is completely different from ours.
It's important to remember that teaching in China is not always easy and as with any other country it comes with it's ups and downs. You've got to keep your eye on the prize and make sure that getting paid to drink beer and watch movies in China is worth the headaches you'll undoubtedly face along the way.
A friend of mine once told me: "You can't judge someone else's happiness without walking 2 moons in their moccasins.