Not sure where to start with your transition and teach English in Shanghai? Know what requirements and troubles you are bound to come across? Don’t worry, we are here to help! Let’s get started.

Why Teach English In Shanghai?

The Chinese English teaching market is only growing! Did you know, according to The China Science News, there are over 300 million people in China currently learning English? 300 million people. Surely that leaves some room for you to find some eager-to-learn students and share all of your wisdom.
Here are some important things to take into account if you’re looking to find an English teaching job in China.

What Requirements Do I Need To Know?

Ugh. Requirements. Boring I know, but most definitely important. So, here we go!

Pass a background check!

Let’s hope you avoided any mischief when you were younger.

Hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree, and at least two years of teaching experience.

This is something that we have come across very often. In order to teach English here, being able to acquire a work visa is essential, which, unfortunately, without two years of work experience is not possible.

Be a certified English Teacher!

The most recognized certificate in China is a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate, which you can do online.

Be under the age of Chinese retirement

I know this is a weird one, but worth noting. If you’re over the age of 55 as a woman and 60 as a man, you’re unfortunately out of luck.

Have a passport from a natively English-speaking country

Yes, unfortunately, this is true. If you are not from either the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa, you’re going to run across legal issues with working as an English Teacher here.

What Issues Might Come Up When I Teach English In Shanghai?

Daunting. But let’s not get blindsided by any troubles, shall we?

Education Culture

If you’re used to a more Western form of teaching, with students often getting involved with questions, you will most likely not find that here. Students are most accustomed to a lecture-style approach to learning, with note-taking and reciting information being the most common tool seen in education. This is less true for private and international schools here, as their approach to learning leans more Western.

Hiring Agencies

Avoid Them! There have been numerous occasions where hiring agencies have not done what they were supposed to do, and aspiring teachers have gotten into legal trouble as a result. This ranges from Visa issues to hounding bonuses and pay. It’s probably best to avoid them.

The Important Things To Keep In Mind When You Teach English In Shanghai

Now that we have gotten through some of the troubles that could arise, let’s look at some other applicable and useful things to keep in mind when teaching English in China.

As I am sure you already know, at least one would hope if you’re an aspiring English teacher, is the importance of communication. Most students you will be teaching will have a very limited understanding of English or the specific use of language. Articles and tenses vary from English to Chinese, so make sure you can effectively show the difference. Try to encourage engagement from your students, either through fun games or even speaking a little Chinese! Making students feel more comfortable speaking their language will make them feel more comfortable speaking English to you.

We hope this helps you determine if you are able to teach English in Shanghai! Feel free to check out our other posts to learn more about China and the amazing experiences you can have here, alongside teaching English! We’ve linked one here:

https://www.thatsmandarin.com/blog/5-reasons-to-learn-mandarin-chinese-in-china/