Teaching In China

Before coming to China you need to ask yourself if you and China are a good fit, so ask yourself the following questions:

1. Why do you want to teach in China? If it’s so you can sightsee or you think working as a teacher is easy, you won’t fit. Seeing China is great, but you must first remember your reason has to be you want a job teaching, and being a teacher is hard work.
2. How flexible are you at adapting to new cultures? If you think it will be easy I caution you to think again. China is not a Western culture, and while some things here have become very Western, it’s still very much Chinese. This will mean you need to be flexible and understand you will often be left wondering why things are done the way they are done. If you think people will adapt to you, think again. You are the guest here, and you need to remember that. You are the one who will need to adapt.
3. Can you learn and are you teachable? Seems like a silly question but the truth is you need to be as much a learner, as you are a teacher. It won’t be necessary to be fluent in Chinese, you can pick up enough to get by, but you do need to realize that lack of language will be a constant problem. Communication issues tend to be the primary reason most foreign teachers become stressed out. If you are flexible and willing to compromise then you will do fine.
4. Are you seeking an adventure or a career? If coming to China is strictly about having an adventure, you can do that as a tourist. If however, you are seeking a career, then China can be a good place to start. Your time spent here will gain you plenty of experience that you can later take with you to other destinations.
5. Can you learn to eat strange things? If you are not slightly adventurous when it comes to food choices you may find living in China very challenging. Being open to trying new foods and learning new customs is what makes teaching here so rewarding.
6. Do you really love teaching and children? If you have never taught then working in China may be the answer to discovering if this is your profession. China will also be very challenging to seasoned teachers because the Chinese educational system is very different. You need to love kids, Chinese kids are very cute, but they can test your patience. Chinese parents will most definitely test you, as they tend to be very hands-on and opinionated. However, if you love kids and you are at heart a real teacher, you will find teaching in China to be very fulfilling.

If you answered these questions and you still want to come teach in China, then here are some suggestions for how to make the paperwork for getting your Chinese visa less stressful.

1. Gather all your documents together before you begin looking for a job. If you have them ready (notarized and apostilled) then the process will go much faster.
2. Hire a company that can help you process your documents. This will mean paying someone to do what you can do yourself, but if you live far from a Chinese Embassy then it might be a good choice because it will save you time.
3. Do your homework, research all the laws about working in China before you come. Know the rules and learn about the employers you might want to work for, and try to figure out where you might want to live and work in China. If you don’t mind humidity and much warmer temperatures then working in the southern cities of China may be a good fit. If you prefer colder and less humid climates then seeking work in the north of China is a good choice. Do you prefer big cities, or do you want to experience life in a smaller city, the choice is up to you.
4. Finally be prepared to commit to a one-year contract. If you can’t do that you will find it difficult to find a good job or employer.

At Perfect English we offer one-year contracts, we help you find housing when you get here, we can assist you with everyday living issues until you become more comfortable living here. We do all we can to make the transition easier for our teachers. We offer additional teacher training and we encourage our teachers to pursue higher educational goals to become better teachers. We will even help you when it’s time to find your next employer. We’ve been hiring teachers for many years so we know what foreign teachers need in order to adjust to life in China.