Foreign Teachers Guide to Living and Teaching English in China

Teaching English in China

Summary Mini-Checklist

Below, for the reader's convenience, we have included a simplified summary checklist of the various issues addressed in this guide that every prospective teacher should raise and consider when reviewing various job offers. This list is intended as a simple reminder for those who have already read the guide. For those who haven't had a chance to read the guide yet, we suggest you take a look at our comprehensive summary checklist, which includes more items as well as a thorough discussion of each topic.

  1. Number of face-to-face teaching hours per week? (view corresponding section)
  2. Number of office hours and other work? (view corresponding section)
  3. Typical amount of time needed for preparation and grading homework? (view corresponding section)
  4. Does the school have multiple branches and are teachers required to work split-shifts, especially across multiple branches? (view corresponding section)
  5. How far is the apartment from where you will be teaching? (view corresponding section)
  6. Is travel time between branches compensated for? (view corresponding section)
  7. Is overtime mandatory or voluntary? (view corresponding section)
  8. Does the school have English Corners and contests, and, if so, what are the rates of pay? (view corresponding section)
  9. How many days off per week do you have and are they contiguous? (view corresponding section)
  10. Total number of paid vacation (non-rescheduled) days off per year? (view corresponding section )
  11. Travel allowance, straight reimbursement of airfare, or bonus and how much? (view corresponding section)
  12. Probationary period and, if so, how long? (view corresponding section)
  13. Does the school appear to value the role of the foreign teachers or are they simply viewed as superfluous? Related, ask if foreign teachers are ever assigned to teach classes other than "oral English." (view corresponding section)
  14. Apartment will be inspected, repaired, painted as needed and cleaned before arrival? (view corresponding section)
  15. What is the school's policy, if any, on overnight visitors and long-term house guests? (view corresponding section)
  16. What floor is the apartment you will be assigned on and does the building have an elevator? If so, does the building have a backup generator and, related, how often and for how long each time does the area lose electricity? (view corresponding section)
  17. Does or will the school provide a Western-style, coiled-spring mattress? (view corresponding section)
  18. Are utilities and Internet included and, if so, are they shared across several apartments? (view corresponding section)
  19. Is a kitchen included, and if so, what provisions for cooking are there, e.g., gas/electric range, microwave, etc.? (view corresponding section)
  20. Are kitchen and cooking utensils provided? (view corresponding section)
  21. Did/can school provide you with the names and contact information of both current and former teachers? (view corresponding section)
  22. School will pay for residency permit and physical exam for foreigner? (view corresponding section)
  23. Did the school provide you with representative photos of the apartment you will be living in? (view corresponding section).
  24. Is moonlighting allowed? (ask this of teacher only) (view corresponding section)
  25. Does school pay on time? (ask this of teacher only) (view corresponding section)
  26. Adequate air conditioning/heat in all rooms? (ask this of teacher only) (view corresponding section)

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