ForeignExpertsLLC Teach English in china

Below is a chart comparing private secondary and university teaching jobs and a more complete description of these under the chart. Conditions described in the chart and text are by no means representative of every school in China. They are, however, representative of what you can generally expect to find.

Note: University positions are far more common in China, but Foreign Experts specializes in partnering with private secondary schools.

Type of School	Private Secondary (Grades K - 12)	University
Experience Required	- Native English Speaker and at least one of the following: - B.A. in Education, English, or related subject - B.A. in any subject and one or more years teaching experience - B.A. in any subject with high GPA and strong application	- Native English Speaker - Bachelor’s Degree in any subject No teaching experience
Salary	- Anywhere from $1,000 - $2,000 USD/month (approx. 8,000-16,000 RMB/month) - Health insurance, free accommodation & utilities	- Usually between $200 - $500 USD/month (approx. 1600 – 4000 RMB/month) Health insurance, free accommodation & utilities
Students	- Grade school students from around the world but most often from other places in Asia (Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan)	- University students from China, with many majoring in English or Business
Subjects Taught	- English (everything from literature courses similar to those taught in U.S. high schools to ESL for beginners) - Teachers will also often have the opportunity to teach subject courses (History, Geography, Art, Music, Biology, Chemistry, etc.); usually about 30% of the teaching load	- English & English Conversation for intermediate to advanced students
Teaching Load & Class size	- 3 to 5 sections of different courses that meet on a daily basis - 5 to 25 students per class	- 10 to 15 sections of the same course that each meet once or twice a week - 30 to 60 students per class

University positions usually have several things in common. Large classes from 30 to 60 students (aged 18- 22) per section are the norm. To maximize the number of students who receive instruction with a native speaker, universities will also give each foreign teacher 10 to 15 sections of English Conversation courses. This means that teachers may only have to make one lesson plan, but deliver it 10 to 15 times to different students for a total of 15 – 20 hours per week. University positions often require little to no grading or office hours, but also offer minimal financial compensation. Housing, utilities, and health care are usually included in the contract.

Private secondary schools often require office hours in addition to a teaching load of 15 – 20 hours per week. As a result, salaries are higher, class sizes are smaller at 15 to 25 students (from China and elsewhere aged 5 – 18), and teachers have the option to teach subjects (History, Geography, Art, Music, Biology, Economics, etc.) other than English (although English will usually make up the majority of classes). Teachers get to know their students very well as they tend to see the same students throughout the week. Private schools also provide free housing, utilities, and health insurance. These schools are ingrained in the Chinese educational system, making visa acquisitions simple and payment of teachers reliable and on schedule. Foreign Experts partners primarily with these schools.

For-Profit Language Schools are proliferating at an ever-increasing rate in China. As they fill a niche in adult EFL education and face tough competition from other schools to cut costs, teacher salaries tend to be lower and supplemented by minimal compensation. Housing, utilities, health insurance, and visa assistance are not usually provided, and teachers may teach at odd hours and in a variety of locations requiring significant travel time with no compensation. The U.S. State Department cautions against the risks of teaching abroad, and many problems expatriate teachers encounter are with these for-profit language schools.

Finding the Right Match

Yet precisely because there are so many options available to those seeking to teach in China, finding the right placement agency to help you narrow the process is essential. Quality - not quantity - should be your focus because once you choose your school and step into the classroom, all the other schools you could’ve gone to won’t matter; the conditions at your specific school will. That’s where Foreign Experts comes in, with a detailed plan geared to helping you succeed with your students, in your city and your life.

The Foreign Experts Advantage