Teaching English in China

Salaries vary depending on school and location and are often times commensurate with experience, qualifications and whether you want to take on extra classes or responsibility within your school. Overall, teachers expect salaries to range between RMB 6,500 and RMB11,000 per month.

In recent years the government in China has passed a law requiring all teachers to have at least two years work experience after University, in addition to one of those years being relevant full time teaching experience. Many schools (but not all) also require teachers to have at least a 100hr TEFL certification. If you don’t yet have a TEFL qualification we can recommend the best course for your needs (and get you a discount) OR you can apply to teach with our programs in South Korea or Taiwan!

You are welcome to submit your application at any time. If we feel your application is too early we may wait a few weeks or months before offering you an interview. This will be because the schools aren’t yet sure of their vacancies at the time you are looking to arrive. Don’t worry though ~ we will always keep you updated of your application status and we will make sure there is more than enough time to guide you through the interview, placement, visa and arrival process!

You can apply at any time. There is no deadline for applications. Please keep in mind, however, that it takes about 1-2 months to process a visa for China. If you are looking to teach in China, it’s really best to apply to us 3 months before you are looking to arrive.

Your school will provide you with health insurance and this can cover up to 80% of medical bill. The hospitals and medical systems in major cities in China are usually very good. However, we would still recommend looking into purchasing additional health insurance from your home country that provides international coverage and evacuation insurance.

Yes, but the saving potential in China is not as great as the saving potentials in South Korea. Therefore, if your student loans are very high it might be worth working for a year in our South Korean placements (where the financial benefits are excellent) before heading over to China through our alumni program.

Yes, but you will need to receive your diploma at least one month before you aim to fly to China as it is needed for the visa application process. It is important to find out when you will receive your diploma and let us know when you apply to us.

The cost of living in China is considerably lower than the cost of living in the United States or the United Kingdom, for example. Although we will include a more detailed explanation of what the cost of living is in your acceptance packet with Reach to Teach, it’s worth noting that the cost of living varies depending on your location. Rural areas are much less expensive than city areas.

This depends on the school you are working with. While some schools outside larger cities offer housing, most schools in the larger cities do not. However, the school will always ensure you find appropriate housing to match your salary and you will never be homeless! Apartments are typically clean and modern and are often times within walking distance to the school!

No, the school will need to act as sponsor for your visa and therefore you will need to have secured a teaching placement prior to getting your visa.

No. But you will need to plan ahead and follow the steps carefully. You will be guided through the entire process.

In addition to national holidays and a week for Chinese New Year (sometime in January or February), vacation time will vary from school to school. Vacation time is usually several weeks per year.

You can arrive as soon as we have secured your teaching placement for you and guided you through the China visa process! Generally, it will take several months to go through the placement and visa process before your arrival.

Food is as varied as the people in China! Different regions offer different specialties. Szechuan is known for this spicy fare while Shanghai is renowned for their “small eats”, like dumplings or vegetable plates. In addition to the traditional Chinese cuisine, there are some really exotic and tantalizing options from chicken feet to snake. Western restaurants like McDonalds, Burger King, TGIF, and Outback Steakhouse are prevalent all throughout China as well, but be prepared for larger bills when the check comes out!

Taxes vary from province to province in China and usually reflect your salary. A higher salary equates to a higher tax rate. Generally the tax rate varies between 5% and 10%.

We have schools located all throughout China with a majority in larger cities. Common placements include Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Ningbo. If you prefer some fresher air, we also have placements in rural areas as well where the cost of living is considerably lower.

Teachers always buy their won flights, but some schools will reimburse the cost. This is dependant on the school you work for. As a rule of thumb, schools that do not reimburse flights will offer you a different benefit elsewhere in your remuneration package.

Round trip flights vary in price depending on distance, time of year and how close to the date of travel you book. Generally, flights can be anywhere between US$600 and US$1,200.

Prior to arriving in China, we will guide you in preparing the necessary documents to submit to your school. The school will then submit your working documents and prepare your visa prior to your arrival in China.

Before signing a contract, it is very important to review your own personal situation and understand you are making a promise to students and a school that you are committed to work for them for the entire year. If unavoidable circumstances occur you will need to address the situation. As always, the more professional and understanding you are in the handling of the matter, the better the outcome will be. When contracts are broken it is very normal to forfeit elements of a contract (for example reimbursed flights, bonuses, etc).

We have an excellent country guide for China including important information regarding everything from transportation to culture and history. This is a great jumping off point to learn about your new home and make notes on how you might integrate into life in China. You can find that page here.

Great question! This is a very common concern for teachers who are teaching English abroad in China. So common in fact, that we have dedicated an entire page to answer just this quesion. Please follow this link to find out more about paying your taxes as a US citizen abroad.

Visit our links page, you should find plenty of useful web sites there. Feel free to contact us friendly folk here at anytime. We are here to answer all your questions, concerns and worries. We have been through the same process ourselves, so we understand it can be confusing at times. Again feel free to contact Reach To Teach for questions about anything from your salary to the availability of your favorite shampoo!

Here is a checklist to get you started!

1. Prepare your resume, cover letter and recent photo!

2. Your cover letter does not need to be long but it should express your interest in China and the reasons you feel you are the right person for a teaching position. It should also highlight any strong preferences you may have (although we would encourage you to remain flexible if possible). For example, if you wish to only be located in a specific town/city, etc. Your photo should be a recent smiling picture – as we like to see you look friendly and approachable!

3. Check your passport is valid for at least the next year and a half, or longer.

4. If you don’t yet have your University diploma/degree, find out when it will be awarded to you. That date will mark the earliest time you feasibly apply for your China visa.

5. Submit your application! (you can do this here). We will guide you from there!