Expert: Tom Carter ~ Travel China Expert - 1/2/2008

Question
Hello,

I was wondering if you could recommend a good place to look for a job
teaching English in China. I've found a posting with a company, "Network
ESL", are they a reputable company? I have a strong background in arts and
culture and am quite creative as well. I'd like to teach in one of the larger
cities. Thanks for any help you can offer.

Answer
Chris, teaching English in China is presently one of the most popular jobs for foreigners living in the P.R.C. What this means to you as a potential expat coming to China is that finding a job as an ESL/EFL teacher will be relatively quick and easy.
What this also means, however, is that finding a GOOD job can be hit and miss. There are an equal number of legitimate and disreputable language schools in China and your chances of getting "shanghaied" are just as high as finding an honest employer - welcome to China!
There are quite literally thousands of ESL schools across China who advertise online, so it's impossible for me to say which ones are reputable or not.  For provincial teaching contracts, you should expect no more (or less) than RMB 5,000-7,000 for 25 class hours per week. Legitimate schools will also offer to pay AND process your 1-year work Z visa, roundtrip airfare reimbursement and furnished PAID accommodations. Any less than those incentives and you are getting the short end of the deal; any more and it probably isn't true. Keep in mind that a college degree and a TEFL/CELTA training certificate will command a higher salary.
If you want to live in Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou then you should not expect a full ride; there's lots of work to be had - sans the perks. Just show up, find an apartment and line up the interviews. China is affordable enough that you don't need much start-up capital when you arrive.
But living in small-town China you can expect the royal treatment and as such won't have to make any arrangements or payments on your own, nor will they be as selective about your teaching background. Up to you!
While no one is paying me to promote their sites, from personal experience I can say that good advice and scam warnings can be found at the China job forum on Dave's ESL Cafe, while That's Beijing has a good board for Beijing-specific job ads.
My parting advice is that you just jump in. If you don't like your contract, you can walk (contracts in China are fluid so the employer can't really hold you to it - nor can you hold them to it). No matter what, every day in China is an adventure, so ups and downs are all part of the experience. If you've got a strong hide and don't break easily, then you'll do just fine here.