China
has over 300,000 students studying abroad, and increasing 20% a year.
The need for English teachers remains in high demand. Treated like
kings and queens, teachers in China are amongst the most respected
and honored professions. Whether teaching kindergarden, secondary
school, university students, or adults, teaching in China is a
rewarding experience.
If
your native language is English, and you hold a bachelor’s degree
in any major, you can earn as much, if not more than a Chinese
university professor. China’s demand for foreign English speaking
teachers reflect salaries from schools. Foreign teachers can expect
to earn as high as 25,000rmb (nearly $4,000) per month, the average
being between 8,000rmb ($1,250) to 11,000rmb ($1,730) per month.
Year-end bonuses and return home flight tickets included. Full-time
work consists of 20−22, forty-minute classes a week, with
accommodations and meals included. Public and private schools offer
Chinese holidays off, most with pay, allowing time for travel or
taking a crash course in Mandarin. If you have the ability to teach a
specialty course such as math, history, science, TOEFL, or SAT,
salaries are much higher.
Living
expenses vary from city to city, with the trade-off reflected in
salary. Teachers can expect to live a very comfortable life with
entertainment and purchases for as little as 400rmb ($63) a month. If
you travel, expect to pay a little more for transportation. If you’re
married, no problem, many schools prefer couples to teach.
In
an attempt to diminish the backpacking “riffraff” entering China
for a free meal ticket and place to stay, China has enforced all
English teachers obtain a working permit. This is reflected in the Z
visa. The Z visa requires an invitation letter from the school, and
an invitation letter from Chinese Foreign Affairs. These documents
will be required at the Chinese consulate in your city. Many
foreigners enter on the tourist visa (L visa), and find teaching
employment in small towns, but this is not advised, large fines can
be imposed on you and the school.
With
all Chinese Holidays, major American Holidays, and winter and summer
time off, a teacher has plenty of time to travel. There’s the Great
Wall, Tianmen Square, the Emperor’s Palace, the Queen’s Garden,
Shanghai, Macau (Las Vegas of China), Sanya (China’s Hawaii), and
so many others. China boasts a 4,500 year history, so it’s
guaranteed you’ll find something that interest you.
One
of my favorite places is Yangshuo, Guilin. A small tourist town
engulfed with China hat mountain tops. Attracting foreigners from all
across the globe, Yangshuo is well-known for its many English
emersion colleges, which foreigners tend to gravitate for teaching.
The famous West Street caters to foreigners, including an abundance
of English restaurants. For a dollar, you can rent a mountain bike
for the day and bicycle through the town and along the Li River in
the back country. It’s here you’ll find ancient ruins, rice
fields and water buffalo, a 4,500 year-old banyan tree, and beautiful
multicolored quartz caves. One of China’s most popular area for
rock climbing, several licensed operators offer lessons on an actual
mountain. There’s bamboo river-raft rides, waterfalls, swimming,
hiking, and bicycling. There’s Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Yoga, and massage
classes. Artists from around the world gather to paint the next Van
Gogh. Writers gather to write the next Hemingway. Watch silk being
made from silk worms; enjoy street performers and ancient Chinese
crafts being made. Everything is negotiable from vendors, so never
say “yes” to the original price. Nightlife? Every night is a
Saturday night in Yangshuo. Bars and clubs offer drinking games,
dancing, and shows. It’s a party paradise.
If
you have a four-year degree and can speak English, you have an
opportunity to turn those thoughts of an exotic vacation into
reality. Stay for three months, six months, a year, or indefinitely.
Give yourself a break, go on an all expense paid vacation. Come to
China!
No comments:
Post a Comment