Life in China - Teaching Conditions of Service

What should you reasonably expect if you come to China to teach? Well, conditions vary considerably from province to province and even from school to school. As a minimum you would expect the following:

For an approximate cost, divide Yuan by six for Australian Dollars and eight for US Dollars or Euros.

2500 Yuan to around 4000 Yuan per month

Some form of bonus at the end of each semester; usually a one-way airfare to your home country, though sometimes this is only paid if you work a full year

Free accomodation with heating or aircon as necessary (electricity is very expensive)

At least 14 hours work a week (possibly up to 20 if you earn more money)

In addition to this, you may also be able to negotiate extras such as:

Medical expenses paid up to a limit (mine is up to 1000 Yuan) per semester

Some other form of bonus, such as a 'travel' or 'study' bonus

For myself, this is enough money to live a comfortable lifestyle and also save money for travel on the weekends or during the holidays. There is also the possibility of extra work at the minimum rate of about 100 Yuan per hour.

What you should generally expect is:

Classroom sizes of up to 55 students

Ordered row upon row of students with a lecturn at the front

Absolutely no questions asked and usually blank stares from your questions

A general reluctance to be involved in discussions - the flip side to this is that once you break the barrier, you will not recognise the students. Their imagination that is suppressed by years of Chinese education will astound you if given the chance

Very little advanced notice of holidays, time off, changes in time tables, etc

No curriculum

What you might like to bring:

Your national flag

Photographs, especially everyday ones of your family and local area where you live, this may seem mundane to you, but can be an endless source of fascination for your students

Souvenirs from your country or region, key chains, postcards, etc

Sense of humour, will be needed very quickly

If possible, make a video just showing your local area, include local shops, parks, traffic, sites of interest. Include on the video television commercials from your country - Western television programs they can often get here, but commercials are another story. Students are fascinated by all this stuff.

Open mind, this is often left behind

Do not bring:

Sense of superiority, almost everybody unwittingly does

Sometimes when you are here, you will think why am I here. This is normal. In fact, it'd be a lie to say that there are many people who do not go away hating teaching here. But there are also just as many who, whilst they may not love it, they do come away with a better appreciation of life in China, one that they would never have received as a short term tourist.

The common theme with living and teaching in China is that many people spend time worrying about it before they come, and then when they are here, they realise how easy it is and wonder what all the worry was about. Just do it.