Reasons for choosing China

China is a popular destination for teachers looking to work abroad for lots of different reasons. Here are some from those we chatted with:

• To be able to travel somewhere completely different.
• To be able to gain valuable experience while earning a competitive salary.
• To be able to learn a new language, specifically Mandarin.

The recruitment process

This varied from school to school, but here’s the general gist of what teachers said they had to do:

Stage 1: Job application with a cover letter

• Not all schools asked for a cover letter, but the majority did. If the option’s there, we highly recommend attaching one. And make sure to create a unique cover letter for every job – never copy and paste from ones you’ve used before.

Stage 2: Interviews

• This stage differed quite a bit between the education professionals we chatted to. Some had a telephone and video call interview whereas others just had one. Our advice, be prepared for both.

If you haven’t already, sign up with us to get your preparation pack. It’s got loads of advice on writing an impressive CV and nailing your virtual interview.

Biggest concerns before teaching abroad

We asked them about their biggest worries before they moved. Here’s what they said:

• Homesickness and missing family.
• Nervous they wouldn’t like living overseas.
• Feeling lonely and isolated.

If there’s something putting you off working in an international school, remember that it’s completely normal. There are loads of online groups and expat forums you can join to help you settle into your new city and make new friends.

Biggest challenges when looking for a job overseas

Applying for international teaching jobs is an incredibly exciting process, but be prepared for a couple of bumps along the way. Here are some of the job-hunt challenges teachers faced:

• Applying for jobs in a highly competitive industry
• Going through a tough interview process. 
• Communication with the school was made a little tricky because of the time difference.

It might not always be plain sailing, but trust us, teaching abroad is an invaluable experience that’s not only character-building and empowering but also super exciting. It’ll broaden your horizons, and let you see the world from another perspective. Go on, you got this!

Biggest changes between working in the UK and China

Experiencing a culture shock is completely normal and very common when moving abroad. Some of the biggest differences teachers mentioned were:

• The local customs.
• Not being able to speak the local language.
• An entirely new working culture and way of life.

Don’t worry, there are plenty of things you can do to help you feel at home in your new country. We share loads of useful advice over on our blog, so be sure to explore it!

What to do to prepare:

We asked them what they did to get set for their big move abroad. From learning languages to doing lots of research, there’s plenty you can do to make the transition easier:

• Read up on the city you’re moving to.
• Find out if there are any local expat communities.
• Learn a bit of conversational Chinese.
• Attend a job fair.
• Contact the school and speak to the staff.

What teachers love the most:

There’s so much to love when it comes to working in an international school, check out some of the popular perks that were mentioned:

• Learning about Chinese culture.
• Experiencing a new cuisine.
• Travelling and exploring whenever they wanted.

Top advice from teachers:

“If there’s going to be a language barrier, accept that embarrassing situations will happen a lot! So try and learn the language as much as possible before going over. But if you don’t, just go with the flow when embarrassing stuff happens and laugh it off.” 

Michael Rose, English Language Assistant, Tianjin Experimental High School

“Talk to someone who has taught overseas. Listen to their stories, the good, the bad and the ugly. Then decide if it is the right thing for you to do.”

Peter Embleton, Principal, Maple Leaf International School – Tianjin TEDA