Teaching in China

Whether you’ve made the decision of coming to China to teach or are in the “just considering” stage the question of whether or not to get a TESOL certification will inevitably come up. Let me help you answer this question.

1.) In general, having a TESOL certificate will give you an advantage in finding a higher paying job with better working conditions.
2.) Keep in mind, this message is written to those who hold bachelor degrees from accredited universities. While finding a teaching job is possible without a degree, it can be much more difficult.

More foreign teachers in China live in the big cities (e.g. Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou). For this reason schools and training centers in big cities can uphold more strict hiring requirements. This makes for fiercer competition among teachers, and having a TESOL certificate will put you ahead in the game.

The opposite is also true. That is, in smaller cities you will find much less foreign teachers and therefore much more opportunity for being hired with no certification and no experience. It is much easier to find a teaching job in a small city with no TESOL certificate.

The most important questions
You also have to ask yourself, “How comfortably do I want to live?” and “What kind of experience do I want?” Going to teach in a small Chinese city (keep in mind that “small” in China can mean 5 million people) will give you much more of a culture shock than the big cities that have more western influence and more comforts from home. Teaching in a small city will prove to be much more of a cultural experience. If you’re just seeking a “Chinese” experience and not looking to advance your career in ESL teaching then a smaller city is the way to go. My suggestion in this case would be to NOT get a TESOL certification. After all, the courses can get pretty intense and they’re not cheap.