4 Questions You Need to Ask a Potential ESL Employer in China

So you've finished your TEFL certification course and you¡¯re ready to teach in China. Now comes the hard part. Once you post your resume on websites like Dave;s ESL Caf¨¦ and Tefl.net and job offers start coming through your inbox, you want to be prepared to ask some difficult questions. Following are the questions you should be prepared to ask. If the school avoids answering these questions, you will want to look for job offers elsewhere.

Is Your School or Training Center Licensed to Hire Foreign Teachers?

ESL employers in China usually fall into two categories: government schools and private training centers. If the job offer is from a government school, there should be no problem in securing a work visa and Foreign Expert Certificate, both necessary for teaching legally in China. However, private training centers need to be licensed by the city and provincial governments in order to be eligible to hire foreign teachers. Without this license, you will be forced to work on a tourist visa or business visa. If you are caught teaching with either of these visas, you will be deported.

Can I Speak To A Foreign Teacher Who Is Currently Employed At Your School?

Unfortunately private training centers will tell you what you want to hear rather than the truth. By asking to speak to a foreign teacher at the school, you will be able to get the information that the school will not tell you. You¡¯ll want to ask them questions about the working conditions, hours, expectations, and frustrations at the current job. They will also be able to give you inside information about the city where they are living.

Am I Speaking to a Recruiter or an Employee of the School or Training Centre?

Many of your first job offers will be from recruiters who are not directly affiliated with the school they have described to you in their emails. Often they will misrepresent themselves as being part of the school and this could hold potential dangers for you. These dangers range from having to share a percentage of your salary with the recruiter to a potential bait and switch scenario where you will have to work in a school different from the one described.

Once I Arrive in China, Will the School Provide Me With Temporary Housing?

If accommodations are not included as part of your offer, you will have to search for a place to live by yourself or with some help from the school. Finding an acceptable living situation in China can often be difficult. You might need several days or a week to finish the process. If you¡¯re going to China on a limited budget, you should ask your school if they can give you free temporary housing for the period of your housing search. Often schools have special agreements with local hotels or residential complexes.

By asking the right questions, you can save yourself a lot of the frustration that many teachers experience when they first arrive in China.