Which ESL Job Is Right for You?
So you’re interested in teaching ESL, maybe in China or maybe in other countries around the world. Which type of school should you work in? There are quite a few options, and the details I’ll give will specifically be about China.
Kindergarten
If you love kids, then a kindergarten could be a good choice. Usually the work load is less than a primary school or high school. If you’re worried about your teaching experience, the pressure is less on foreign teachers since they generally have a local teacher in the room to assist. If you’d rather not teach complicated grammar, you won’t have to do that at a kindergarten. Also, depending on where you are, kindergartens often offer a higher salary. The drawbacks are the lack of professionalism and organization in many kindergartens, and teaching a class of 50 children who don’t understand English could be overwhelming for most people.
Primary School
If you like children, but are hoping to communicate and connect more with your students, having students who are little bit older could be more up your alley. Foreign teachers usually still have a local teacher to assist them in class, and you might even get the chance to teach something like art or music in addition to English.
International School
An international school will probably best model schools in your home country. Students in international schools generally use English in all of their subjects, so you won’t be teaching English as a Second Language. Instead, you’ll be teaching math or science or grammar, just as you might in your home country. Of course, you’ll be teaching students from a variety of countries and cultures, and English might not be their first language, which will come with its own unique difficulties. These schools are typically the most professional and have the most familiar working environment. Salaries are usually considerably higher than in a public school, and many provide other benefits, such as insurance or 401K contributions. International schools generally have high requirements for their teachers, and they might as for licenses from your home country.
Public School
Those who feel brave enough to get into the thick of it can try a public school! You could be teaching at a middle school or high school. Having older children gives you the chance to build better relationships with them, especially since teenagers are at such a crucial time in their lives. Honestly, I don’t know many teachers who teach at public schools since there are not as many open job positions as in other schools. Middle school and high school students are plagued with standardized testing, so many times, schools prefer to have a Chinese teacher to really dig into grammar. Depending on the school, you might be required to focus on their test preparation instead of just oral or spoken English. Qualifications can vary greatly depending on where you are.
University
Teaching at universities also have quite a lot of variety. There are three standard tiers of universities in China. To teach at a first-tier university, you will need at least a Master’s degree. Many ask for even higher degrees than that. Universities have flexible schedules, and many teachers will teach classes like oral English or listening. If you like having the same group of students, and like the possibility of building relationships with students, college students might have more time than high school students to hang out with you. Administration often just leaves foreign teachers to do their own thing, so teachers can have a lot of freedom inside their classrooms. Salaries can also vary, but often they’re a little less than an international school.
Training center
This is the most popular option for foreigners. There are hundreds of companies that teach adults or children at night and on the weekends. Most of these companies teach children, and the biggest companies are Wall Street English, EF, and Meten. If you work at a training center, be prepared to have your schedule change. Most shifts are from 1 or 2 pm until 9 or 10 at night, since students come to study after work. Your weekends might actually fall during normal week days, since the weekends are the busiest times for training centers. Salaries can be competitive if you are willing to ask for more, and there are plenty of jobs available. You probably won’t get to know your students well, since there’s a high turn over with students, and usually you don’t have a fixed class. Many training centers also have a bad reputation when it comes to legal matters. If you work at a training center, do your research in choosing one, and make sure your visa is legal. At a training center, you will be a very small cog in a very large wheel, so if you’re looking for a job where you can just go in, work, and get out, it’s a good fit. There’s generally no extra lesson preparation or grading, so once you leave work, you’re done! If you’re interested in traveling, often schedules are flexible so you can travel when no one else is.