red temple historic building beijing
China

Teach In China Program

TEFL Included - $1,195 value

Dates

-

47 weeks

Program Fee

$1,900

Compensation

8,000+ RMB per month, plus housing

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Dates

-

47 weeks

Program Fee

$1,900

Compensation

8,000+ RMB per month, plus housing

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Overview

Sign up for the adventure of a lifetime – teaching English in China! There’s no better way to experience Chinese culture and heritage firsthand, or improve your Mandarin language skills.

Program Highlights:

  • Competitive salary and low cost of living make it easy to save money
  • Rent-Free Furnished Apartment
  • TEFL Certification course included with program
  • Personalized, step-by-step guidance with documents and visa
  • 24/7 support from CIEE staff

Already have an Education degree or TEFL certificate? Take a look at our China Basics program instead.

Have questions? Find answers on our Teach in China FAQ page.

TERM

PROGRAM DATES

DEADLINE

COMPENSATION

Fall 2024

Two semesters (Aug/Sept to July)

March 1

8,000+ RMB per month, plus housing

Spring 2025

Two semesters (Feb/Mar to Jan)

July 1

8,000+ RMB per month, plus housing

Fall 2025

Two Semesters (Aug/Sept to July)

December 1

8,000+ RMB per month, plus housing

About Our Program Fees
CIEE, a non-profit organization, relies on program fees to provide China Basics participants with a safety net of medical insurance, visa assistance, a high level of support throughout your experience. The program fee of $1,900 is paid in two installments:

  • $1000 commitment deposit due after acceptance
  • Remaining balance due when you receive your placement

CIEE alumni receive a 10% discount!

What's Included

What's Included

  • ESL teaching placement with a reputable Chinese employer
  • Enrollment in the CIEE TEFL 150-Hour Certificate Course
  • Rent-Free Furnished Apartment 
  • Completion bonus to offset the cost of airfare 
  • Paid time off for Chinese national holidays and semester breaks 
  • Detailed pre-departure materials and insider advice to help you through the interview process
  • Expert visa guidance and all required documents to obtain a work permit
  • An online course to prepare you to teach in China and adjust to Chinese culture
  • All-expenses-paid Weekend Retreat with other CIEE teachers
  • 24-hour in-country support by CIEE staff in Shanghai 
  • iNext international travel and emergency medical insurance
Teach_China_Rachael Elliott
The Destination
  • Teacher high-fiving her students
  • beijing-forbidden-city-sunset-side
  • famous beijing shopping street

The Destination

Participants are placed in large and small cities throughout China. Recent CIEE teachers have been placed in the cities of Beijing, Chongqing, Chengdu, Jiujiang, and Guiyang, as well as Hebei Province and Hunan Province.

CIEE wants all our participants to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while teaching abroad. To that end, we've gathered information from local teams and perspectives from former CIEE teachers and others about conditions and cultural attitudes that teachers with specific identities might encounter abroad. We hope those resources are informative and helpful. 

Please note—due to the visa process, it is not possible to plan any international travel in the two months before your program begins. Plan to be in your home country during that time. 

The Take-Aways

COMPENSATION

All teachers receive a competitive salary and rent-free furnished accommodations. Two-semester teachers receive up to 8000 CNY airfare reimbursement at end of contract.

PREPARATION

All participants receive a premium 150-hour TEFL course, guidance with complicated visa documents, detailed pre-departure information, and an in-country orientation.

ASSISTANCE

All participants receive 24/7 in-country support from CIEE staff in China, as well as international travel and emergency medical insurance with CIEE/iNext.

Program Blogs

From CIEE

A Weekend in Shanghai—A Look Inside CIEE’s Weekend Retreat!

By CIEE Teach Abroad at CIEE

CIEE’s Weekend Retreat is one of the many benefits of the Teach in China programs! A weekend where teachers meet in Shanghai and have the chance to make friends and... keep reading

From CIEE

CIEE China Spotlight: Meet Erik!

By CIEE Teach Abroad at CIEE

Erik is currently teaching in Chongqing, China! Read to learn more about his experience teaching English abroad and his life in China. Why China? Have you been before? I played... keep reading

From CIEE

Happy Lunar New Year!

By CIEE Teach Abroad at CIEE

The 2024 Lunar New Year began on February 10th. Lunar New Year is also known as Spring Festival in China or Seollal in South Korea . This Lunar New Year... keep reading

Job Description

Job Description

Many Chinese students are more comfortable reading and writing in English than they are listening and speaking. Through creative classroom exercises and interactive games, you will give your Chinese students the confidence to use English in conversational settings.

Compensation

You’ll earn a monthly salary of at least 8,000 RMB, plus rent-free housing.  You will also be eligible for an end-of-contract bonus of 8000 RMB. Salaries tend to be higher at private schools and kindergartens where teachers work more hours.

Pay is competitive, far more than what local teachers make. Expenses are very low, and your income can go a long way, leaving you with savings or funds to explore all that China has to offer!

Schools

In the fast-growing Chinese economy, English is a pathway to success. There are opportunities to work at pre-K/kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, and at universities.  CIEE's partner employers include both public and private schools.

Workload

Jobs with younger kids have higher salaries and tend to have longer working hours. Teachers at kindergartens typically have 25-30 contact teaching hours per week. At universities, primary schools, and secondary schools, it’s normal to have 20-25 hours of teaching time, plus extra time for lesson prep.

A GLIMPSE AT THE COST OF LIVING IN CHINA

Typical Chinese Breakfast of soy milk and baozi [steamed bun filled with meat or vegetables]:

  1. 10 CNY (about $1.40 USD)

Lunch or Dinner with meat, vegetables, and rice:

  1. Shanghai & Beijing: 30-50 CNY/person ($4.25 - $7.00 USD)
  2. Small and midsize cities: 15-30 CNY/person ($2.00 - $4.25 USD)

What People Are Saying

  • "It's undeniable that teaching abroad is a life-changing experience, but I feel uniquely supported by CIEE. The staff is made of top-notch, helpful personnel, even going beyond their Maine office."

    Abigail C. | Teach in China

  • "To anyone planning to teach abroad, especially in China, it can be overwhelming and really stressful to handle the process of finding a school abroad without the help of someone who has established a relationship with the schools overseas. CIEE gave me a reassuring sense that the contract I was about to sign was trustworthy."

    Keane W. | Teach in China

  • "CIEE is very well organized and helped set us up with everything. We got here with no problems and everything went smooth. It was nice to know we could ask for help if needed as well."

    Leslie T. | Teach in China

  • "Helped me through every step- getting TEFL certified, placing me with a school, setting up interviews and contracts, answering and and all questions. They were great."

    Matt W. | Teach in China

  • "The teach abroad program in China is wonderful. Every step is fairly straight forward and CIEE staff help you with everything. This eases the transition to the new culture."

    Keli B. | Teach in China

Qualifications

Qualifications

You don’t need to speak Chinese to apply! You'll need a bachelor’s degree in any field, along with a few other qualifications. These, plus flexibility, patience, and a sense of adventure, will make you a great candidate.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Native-level English fluency
  • A bachelor’s degree in any field from the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom
  • Citizenship in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom
  • Passport validity must extend at least 6 months beyond end of program
  • Applicants must be 55 years of age or younger to get a Chinese work permit
  • The CIEE TEFL 150 hour certification course is included in the program fee, to meet Chinese visa requirements. If you already have an equivalent certificate or a degree in education, you may opt out of the TEFL training and apply to our China Basics program instead.

*Applicants who already hold a degree in education, or who can provide signed original letters confirming 2+ years of full-time teaching experience, may opt out of the TEFL course.

Chinese temple surrounded by fall leaves
TEFL Certification

TEFL Certification

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification gives you the skills, experience, and confidence to make teaching abroad even more rewarding – both for you and those you teach. The CIEE TEFL 150-hour certification course is included in the fee for this program and ensures that you:

  • Develop an awareness of the field and practices of TEFL
  • Understand the components of English related to teaching nonnative speakers
  • Get personalized feedback from an experienced TEFL tutor
  • Can design lessons for TEFL students at a variety of levels
  • Complete 20 hours of practice teaching experience to hone your skills
Staff

Our Team

Kelvin Li

PROGRAM MANAGER

Kelvin has been a part of the CIEE Teach Abroad team since 2007. He is based in Shanghai, where he was born and raised. Kelvin loves to travel, read (especially detective novels), learn new things, and gain new perspectives!

Ready to change your life?

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