Overview
Click to OpenCORONAVIRUS PROGRAM UPDATE
The safety of CIEE participants is our highest priority, and all of our decisions reflect that commitment to participant safety. Due to the recent and ongoing Corona-19 virus, CIEE Teach Abroad has only suspended its Teach in China programs for the Spring 2020 term. After careful consideration, and in the absence of any specific change in conditions, we will continue to offer our programs as planned in all other locations. Learn more
Teach English for one or two semesters and experience Chinese heritage and culture firsthand.
Placements are available at reputable schools in urban and suburban areas in southern and eastern China. Would you rather teach young children nursery rhymes in English, or have deeper discussions with university students? Let us know your preferences and we will find a school that is a good fit for you. Pay is competitive and housing is provided - meaning that your salary will go a long way in China! Whether you’re a recent grad or not-so-recent, getting to know the Chinese people will be the experience of a lifetime.
Want to add a Chinese language course to your teaching program? Consider Teach in China Immersion, available each fall.
| Term | Start Date | Deadline | Duration | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2021 | February/ March | July 1 | One semester (5-6 months), or two semesters (10-12 months) | 7,000-18,000 CNY (approx. $1000-2,650)/month plus housing |
| Fall 2020 | August/ September | March 1 Chongqing Only* |
One semester (5-6 months), or two semesters (10-12 months) |
7,000-18,000 CNY (approx. $1000-2,650)/month plus housing |
*If you already have a TEFL certificate or an education degree, you can still apply for Fall 2020 Shanghai jobs with our China Basics program. If not, there isn’t enough time to get a TEFL certificate for that location and start date.
About Our Program Fees
CIEE, a non-profit organization, has been sending university graduates abroad to teach English since 1997. Our program in China includes CIEE’s online TEFL certification, orientation on arrival, and a high level of support throughout your experience (see all features below). To cover those costs, there is a program fee of $1,900. Once we accept your application, there is a $1,000 deposit to reserve your spot and start your TEFL training. The second and final payment ($900) is due a few months later after you accept a job offer from a Chinese school. CIEE alumni receive a 10% discount!
What's included
Click to OpenWhat's included
- Placement at a reputable Chinese school or university
- Enrollment in a CIEE 150-hour TEFL certification course
- Rent-Free Furnished Apartment
- Completion bonus to offset the cost of airfare (2 semester contracts only)
- 7-15 days off per semester during school and national holidays
- Pre-departure support, including an online pre-departure orientation course with lots of advice from alumni
- Multi-day in-country orientation
- 24-hour in-country support by CIEE staff
- Transportation between orientation and your teaching assignment
- Personalized, step-by-step guidance with document preparation for your visa
- iNext international travel and emergency medical insurance
The Destination
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The Destination
CIEE’s placements are concentrated in the major metropolitan areas of Shanghai, on China’s eastern coast, and Chongqing, near the center of the country.
Chongqing is both a city and a region. The central city has 10 million residents, and the region, about the size of Maine, is home to 30 million. It’s an economic powerhouse with a brand-new metro and airport, and more shopping malls and movie theaters than you can count. Enjoy spicy Sichuan cooking, visit karst canyons or ancient Buddhist caves, or relax in the hot spring retreats in the mountains around the city. Universities, private schools, and kindergartens in Chongqing are always eager to hire teachers! Read more or watch videos about Chongqing.
Shanghai was once called “the Paris of the East,” and today you’ll find vintage European architecture alongside modern skyscrapers and offices. This city of 24 million is a global financial capital, and has been a hotspot for expat living for decades. CIEE’s partner employers in Shanghai are private schools and kindergartens serving children aged 2-16.
Placements in Guangzhou, Shandong, Nanchang, and Nanjing are occasionally available, but not every season.
Follow our Travels:
The Take-Aways
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Compensation
All teachers receive a competitive salary and rent-free furnished accommodations. Two-semester teachers receive up to 8000 CNY airfare reimbursement at end of contract.
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Preparation
All participants receive a premium 150-hour TEFL course, guidance with complicated visa documents, detailed pre-departure information, and an in-country orientation.
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Assistance
All participants receive 24/7 in-country support from CIEE staff in China, as well as international travel and emergency medical insurance with CIEE/iNext.
Program Blogs
Click to OpenProgram Blogs
Job Description
Click to OpenJob Description
As a lead classroom teacher, your goal will be to improve the conversational English skills of students. Many Chinese students are more comfortable reading and writing in English than they are listening and speaking. Through creative classroom exercises and interactive games, you will give your Chinese students the confidence to use English in conversational settings.
Compensation
You’ll earn a salary of 7,000-18,000 CNY (approx. $1000-2,650)/month, plus rent-free housing. If you sign up for two semesters, you will be eligible for an end-of-contract bonus of 8000 CNY. Salaries tend to be higher at private schools and kindergartens where teachers work more hours. Universities are at the lower end of the pay scale but teachers enjoy a lighter workload and a generally more relaxed work environment.
Pay is competitive, far more than what local teachers make. Expenses are very low, and your income can go a long way, leaving you with savings or funds to explore all that China has to offer!
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Schools
In the fast-growing Chinese economy, English is a pathway to success. Many students and young children enroll in private English centers outside their everyday public school classes, and college students are often expected to have strong English as well.
CIEE’s partner employers in China can be grouped into three categories, with salary ranges as follows:
Universities (Chongqing only): 7,000-8,500 CNY/mo
Private Schools (ages 4-17): 7,000-11,000 CNY/mo
Kindergarten/Pre-Ks (ages 1-5): 10,000-18,000 CNY/mo -
Workload
Jobs with younger kids have higher salaries and tend to have longer working hours. Teachers at kindergartens typically have 25-30 contact teaching hours per week. At private schools, it’s normal to have 20-30 hours of teaching time, plus extra time for lesson prep. University jobs have 18-25 teaching hours per week.
A Glimpse at the Cost of Living in China
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Breakfast (Typical Chinese breakfast: baozi [steamed bun filled with meat or vegetables], soy milk):
- 1.5-5 CNY (25-80 cents)
Lunch & dinner (meat, vegetables, rice):
- Shanghai & Beijing: 20-50 CNY/person ($3.25 - $8.00 US)
- Midsize city: 15-25 CNY/person ($2.50 - $4.00 US)
- Small city: 5-10 CNY/person (80 cents - $1.60 US)
Qualifications
Click to OpenTEFL Certification
Click to OpenOur Team
Click to OpenOur Team
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Luke Beland
Operations Manager
Luke studied abroad in Morocco and taught English in Jordan. He loves traveling to China to help with orientation, ride bullet trains, and eat baozi!
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Kelvin Li
In-Country Manager
Born and raised in Shanghai, Kelvin joined CIEE’s Teach in China Program in 2007. Fascinated by travelling and reading, Kelvin...
Ready to change your life?
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