Types of Teaching Jobs in China

There are many opportunities to teach English in China. All grade levels study English, and qualified teachers are highly sought to teach from preschool level through post-graduate level. There are two main types of teaching positions available for study abroad participants in China: One-on-one teaching (tutoring) and classroom instruction.

One-on-one

Opportunities to teach English one-on-one abound. Business people are willing to pay to improve their English fluency. Many companies are willing to pay to have key employees taught one-on-one, as are some government agencies. Additionally, many parents hire private tutors to help their children get a leg up on the competition. English is very important to Chinese students for a number of reasons, but here are the main ones:

 Gaokao. Students who are more proficient in English stand a better chance of scoring well on the annual examinations. This improves their chances of qualifying for admittance into highly competitive high schools and colleges.
 Business. Today, China is a major player in the global marketplace. Because English is the most commonly used trade language in the world, fluency in English is important for many Chinese businessmen, particularly those involved in manufacturing and importing/exporting.

 Career Opportunities. A number of career opportunities at all levels are available in China for those who are fluent in English. These job opportunities include everything from government positions to translating manufacturers’ instructions.

In the Classroom

Chinese children begin learning English in the classroom fairly early, often around the age of seven or eight, although the exact year may differ from one locale to the next. Because of this, there are many opportunities to teach English in a classroom setting in China. In most cases, you don’t even need prior teaching experience. English is taught at all colleges and academic high schools in China, leading to many teaching jobs being available at all levels. Deciding which age you want to work with in a classroom setting, from young children to postgraduate level adults, is largely a matter of preference.

Classroom teaching in China tends to emphasize both competitiveness and teamwork. While at first glance, these may seem contradictory, they are both important within the Chinese educational system. Students are taught to work well together in groups, as this will be an important skill for them throughout their lives, but are also encouraged to be competitive and do their best to advance as individuals.

You will find that the majority of high school and college students are very dedicated to all of their studies, and to English in particular. While Chinese students generally have a great drive to succeed in school, they are, in most respects, similar to students elsewhere. They are not always well behaved, nor do they all work diligently all of the time. Teaching children in China, in many ways, is similar to teaching children anywhere else in the world. Teachers need to properly manage classroom activities to engage their students.

There is a vast difference between teaching young children and teaching working adults in the business world. The approach you take to teaching will vary widely depending on who you are teaching and why they are studying English. Today, many Chinese people have at least a working knowledge of English. Unless you are working with very young children, you will have students who have at least been exposed to the language. You will, of course, need to adjust your methods and style of teaching to fit the students you are instructing.