Teach English in China

There is a large range in salaries for English teachers in China depending on the type of school but start at a minimum of 8,000 RMB/month and can be as high as 29,000+ RMB/month.  In addition, most schools provide foreign teachers with rent-free housing so teachers have plenty of spending money and the opportunity to build their personal savings.  

Public school salaries tend to be on the lower end of the pay range but they offer attractive schedules with plenty of paid holidays and relaxed teaching schedules.  Private schools, on the other hand, offer higher salaries but also have more demanding work schedules with fewer paid holidays. 

It’s not surprising that China is one of the most popular destinations for teaching English abroad because it offers so many attractive benefits for foreign teachers.  First, Chinese schools offer competitive salaries and usually provide rent-free housing so foreign teachers have plenty of spending money and can also build up savings.  

Second, English teachers can spend their weekends and holidays visiting China’s diverse natural landscapes and cultural heritage sites, such as the Great Wall and the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries.  

Third, foreign teachers in China have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Chinese culture and develop valuable intercultural and foreign language skills that will make them competitive in any career. 

No, you don’t need to speak Mandarin to teach English in China. You will most likely encounter a language barrier, but foreign teachers are able to navigate daily life easily. You’ll be able to learn basic Mandarin phrases quickly after arriving in China. The latest translation apps also let you download the whole lexicon for instant offline translation, and tech-savvy locals have the same ability, which lets you communicate even without a shared language.

As for your students, it’s actually preferable to teach English without relying on the local language. You’ll use repetition, pictures, and lots of acting to get your point across. It works, trust us!

Most applicants will need TEFL certification to qualify for the Chinese work visa. For that reason, CIEE’s Teach in China program includes CIEE’s high-quality online TEFL course! To make sure it’s done in time, you should plan to start that training by early March for fall start date. No need for a separate TEFL application – it’s all included with your Teach in China program.

If you have an Education degree, or a TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certification, or you can get letters confirming 2+ years of full time teaching experience, those things would also meet the visa requirements and you wouldn’t have to take our TEFL course if you didn’t want to. In this case, "Teach in China “Basics” gives you a way to opt-out of TEFL and still get all the other benefits. 

Wherever you are placed, expect to have the role of a full-time, lead English teacher. Working hours will vary slightly from school to school, but a typical assignment is 20-25 classroom hours per week. Other duties include planning, greeting students, lunch supervision, staff meetings, and special events. 

Yes! All employers in China provide comfortable rent-free accommodations with basic furnishings. You’ll either live in a small studio of your own, or a two-bedroom unit shared with another foreign teacher of the same gender.

We get this question a lot: Can couples teach in China together? Can friends teach in China together? The answer is, yes! It’s pretty easy to find a Chinese school that will hire couples or groups of friends and give you shared housing. Make sure to mention each other’s names in your CIEE applications and inform your CIEE advisor that you want to teach in the same school. 

Yes. China’s crime rates are far lower than the United States, especially for violent crime. Our teachers quickly settle in and feel safe and comfortable in their new homes! As long as you avoid drugs, fights, or activism on controversial political topics, you have nothing to fear from the local authorities.