Looking for a teaching job in China? You’ve come to the right place! Join our State School Teaching Programme and teach English in Beijing, Shanghai or one of many other exciting destinations.
Run in partnership with the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), Teach English In China’s State School Teaching Programme is one of the most reliable around. We work closely alongside this organisation, registered with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, to ensure our candidates go to China on the right visa and find teaching jobs in safe, reputable schools. Owing to our vast network of institutions, our teachers have a wide range of choice in terms of age group and location. Together with CEAIE, we strive to find you a job in a city and school that suits you.
As a teacher at a Chinese state school, you will receive a generous salary*, free accommodation and utilities**, and long vacations. Working 15-25 hours per week, you will plan and lead fun and engaging lessons with a focus on spoken English. Class sizes range from 30-50 students, and depending on their age and ability you’ll have a Mandarin-speaking assistant to support you in the classroom. Your school will provide you with textbooks and guidance, though there’s plenty of room for imagination and creativity to make your classes special. Read our teacher’s stories to find out what it’s like.
No previous teaching experience is necessary, but don’t worry; Teach English In China is here to help you prepare. We provide our state school teachers with a pre-departure orientation session, a TEFL qualification and a 2-week training camp in Beijing***, all before you begin your teaching job. With us, you can rest assured you’re in safe hands!
To get an idea of how many cities there are to choose from, and to read placement guides written by our teachers, check out our placement locations page.
| Intake | Programme Fee (GBP) | Programme Fee (USD) |
| August | £549 | $750 |
| February/March | £400 | $520 |
August Start
As our most comprehensive programme, this option is ideal for recent and prospective graduates with little teaching experience or knowledge of China. It includes extensive training and support to prepare you for your placement.
What’s Included?
- 120-hour online TEFL course
- 2-week training camp in Beijing
- Food and accommodation during training camp
- Pre-departure Orientation Day
- Return flights (reimbursed upon completion of contract)
- Access to our Lesson Plan Library and Member’s Area
- Former teacher ‘buddy’ to give advice
- Private Facebook group with all participants
- Visa support and guidance
- Ongoing in-country support
- Reference on request
What’s not included?
- Visa and visa administration fees
- Police check
- Travel insurance
Initially, you will need to pay for your flight to China, but this will be reimbursed by your school upon completion of the contract. Though not guaranteed, some visa administration costs may also be reimbursed by your school at a later date.
Please note that the programme fee is paid in 2 instalments of £274.50 ($370), subject to deadlines.
February/March Start
This option allows you to take part in a 9-12 month placement in various locations across China. Please note, although we provide some pre-departure training, we are unable to provide a training camp in China due to the school year schedule.
What’s Included?
- Pre-departure Orientation Day
- Access to our Lesson Plan Library and Member’s Area
- Visa support and guidance
- Return flights (reimbursed upon completion of contract)
- Private Facebook group with all participants
- Former teacher ‘buddy’
- Ongoing in-country support
- Reference on request
What’s not included?
- Visa and visa administration fees
- Police check
- Travel insurance
- Online 120-hour TEFL course
Initially, you will need to pay for your flight to China, but this will be reimbursed by your school upon completion of the contract. Though not guaranteed, some visa administration costs may also be reimbursed by your school at a later date.
Please note that the programme fee is paid in 2 instalments of £200 ($260) and is subject to deadlines.
| Departure Month | Application Deadline |
| August 2019 | 17th May 2019 |
| February 2020 | 15th October 2019 |
| 4.5 months | End of August or end of February |
5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, and plan lessons around this time. Teachers receive a comfortable monthly salary of approx. £550-£1700 ($720-$2200)* and schools provide free* accommodation in either an individual apartment, or a room within a shared apartment.
*in all locations except for Shanghai
| Intake | Contract Length | Contract Start | Contract End | Location |
| August | 10 months | 1st September | 30th June | Country-wide |
| February | 11 months | End of February | Early January | Shanghai, Xuzhou, Wuhan |
| August | 4.5 months | End of August | Early January | Xuzhou |
| February | 4.5 months | End of February | 30th June | Xuzhou, Suzhou |
Please note, our Xuzhou partner is not associated with CEAIE, but is an organisation we have worked alongside for several years.
Most schools are open to renewing their teacher’s contacts, so you can usually extend your contract if you want to.
You must also:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree by the time you begin the placement
- Have completed a 120-hour TEFL by the time you begin the placement
- Demonstrate a commitment to teaching
- Possess good time management skills
- Work well both independently and as part of a team
- Be confident speaking to a large group of students
No previous teaching experience or knowledge of Mandarin is necessary.
Upon enrolment onto the programme, you will receive access to our exclusive Member’s Area, containing lesson plans, programme information and travel advice to help you prepare. You will also be invited to our pre-departure Orientation Day. This consists of a teacher training session, a language class and advice about state school teaching in China.
Please note, you may also be invited to interview with a school once the placement process begins.
*Amount depends on location (£550-£1700/$720-$2200 per month), **In all locations except for Shanghai, ***TEFL course and training camp only apply to August start
“Living and teaching in China was probably the most rewarding experience I’ve ever had. It gave me a unique perspective on a different culture and helped me learn about myself and what I’m capable of. Teaching and facing new situations every day has made me a lot more confident.”
Charlotte Gray, Shanghai Placement 2015-16“I enjoyed the process of planning great classes and the chance to practice teaching several times a day. I enjoyed the opportunity to be creative; the school gave me a curriculum of words and sentences to teach, but I could teach them any way I wanted. It was a great opportunity to put a lot of ideas into practice and see what works.”
Ted Rayner, Wuhan Placement 2014-15“The cost of living is so much cheaper here and living in China has provided the ideal platform to work and be able to afford to travel on weekends and in the holidays, something I would never do if I were still at home. I’ve been to the Yellow Mountains, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Ningbo, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin, Seoul, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh!”
Katy Pegg, Shanghai Placement 2016-17