
Teach English in China
120 Hour Advanced TEFL Course, Paid Graduate Job, Teacher Training, 24/7 Support and Orientation!
February & August fly outs
- Programme Fee £650 -
Welcome graduates!
Our Teach English in China Programme is our most popular opportunity! Placements typically start with our orientation and further teacher training which takes place during the last two weeks of August in China, then you will start with your school in September. We want you to be earning enough to save, travel and spend money as you please whilst here, so all of our placements offer a great salary and benefits:
What's Included
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Salaries range from 9000 to 18,000+ RMB per month!
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FREE accommodation (excluding Shanghai, due to a higher salary)
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4-6 weeks winter vacation in January + 2 month summer break
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Flight reimbursement (both ways)
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Visa & legal fee reimbursement (depending on location)
All applicants will be given the choice of the following cities to teach in: Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Foshan, Jinan, Nanjing, Nanning, Zhengzhou.
What else?
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Pre-departure online TEFL course along with an interactive teacher training week with private tutors
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Orientation and teacher training
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24/7 guidance and support through out the whole process and once in China
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Assistance with criminal record check, visa process and authentication of documents
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A guaranteed paid placement teaching English in China with an approved school
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Assistance with bank and sim card set up
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The Fewer Things Survival Guide to China
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Private group chat with all applicants
Our team will be with you from the start of your application process all the way down to your last day in China. You will receive assistance and guidance on every aspect of this experience and we will be at your service when you need it.
The teaching is exciting, engaging and leaves you wondering why you didn't apply sooner, you will be placed in a well established public school with a light work load. We cater the experience as close to your needs as possible, so let us know if you are looking to boost your teaching experience, add to your CV or looking to tick off as many things on your bucket list as possible.
The working hours vary from city to city and you are able to tell us your preferences for: Age range, location and salary expectation. Everyone applies to this experience for different reasons, so be sure to tell us exactly what you want to get out of it and we will recommend the best route to take! Placements are for 10 months, but a lot of our teachers for this programme do tend to stay on for an additional year!
Have a look below at the package and how to apply.
Pictures of Applicants
(Swipe to see more)
How It Works
If this sounds like something you're interested in, there's a few things we need to know before we can start the application process:
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Do you have a bachelor's degree or higher (in any discipline)?
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Are you a Native English speaker? (Check requirements on our Apply page)
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Are you able to a pass a criminal record check?
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Are you in good health?
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Are you enthusiastic, outgoing and ready to make a change?
All of the above are essential to your application, if you have a TEFL qualification already, great! However, if you do not have one, don't panic. As part of our 'Teach English in China' programme you will complete an online TEFL course before you depart. For anyone in their last year of university and feeling a bit overwhelmed with the potential work load, the course is short and simple, It will take you no more than one week to complete.
The application process starts after a short interview with a member of The Fewer Things team, this will be carried out by either phone call or Skype. This is to get to know you and why you want to teach in China! We want to ensure everyone who applies gets exactly what they're looking for, so honesty is the best policy in this laid back interview.
From here on in you will be preparing for your move to China!
Enrolment & Programme Fees
Please read the following information carefully.
The Fewer Things asks all successful 'Teach English in China' applicants to pay a support-fee of £650 which can be paid in two instalments, the first payment being to secure your place on the the programme and start your TEFL Course.
Please check the live conversion rate if this is different to your local currency here, which changes daily.
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Pre-departure online TEFL course along with an interactive teacher training week with private tutors
-
Orientation and teacher training
-
24/7 guidance and support through out the whole process and once in China
-
Assistance with criminal record check, visa process and authentication of documents
-
A guaranteed paid placement teaching English in China with an approved school
-
Assistance with bank and sim card set up
-
The Fewer Things Survival Guide to China
-
Private group chat with all applicants
The Beijing Summer Camp only comes with this package if you are applying for our September start date.
Please note for our 2023 intake, the Summer Camp in Beijing may not happen due to Covid-19 restrictions, but we will aim to update applicants in advance. This will not impact your placement and you will still receive all of the training and orientation in the city you're placed in.
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Keep reading below for more information on 'Other Financials', 'Friends & Couples' and 'Accommodation'
What's Included in the Programme Fee?
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Already have a TEFL?

Please tell us if you are already qualified, we can fast track your application and the support fee will be considerably lower. If you're an experienced and already qualified teacher we can connect you with some higher salary positions. Please note; if you do already have a TEFL and are looking to come out to China as soon as possible, you may not get to take part in our Beijing Summer Camp, but you will receive an induction week from your school/university. Applicants can also benefit from getting part or full reimbursement for their TEFL course. For your TEFL certificate to be accepted by employers in China it must be for a minimum of 120 hours and the certificate must not read the words 'online' anywhere.
Shanghai Applicants

To all of our Shanghai applicants please be aware that the free accommodation does not come with this package as the salary is considerably higher. You are able to negotiate with different estate agents and possibly get them to agree to reducing the initial upfront cost. Typical housing cost in China is lower than in the UK so you will be looking around 2500-3500 RMB for a house share or 4000-5000 RMB for a place of your own. Applicants will stay in a hotel provided by their school for around one week while they look for accommodation, you will be assigned a coordinator who will help you look for your new place. Applicants doing this option receive some excellent benefits: Semester bonus, free health insurance, transportation allowance and free mandarin classes.
Other financials

Other financial aspects have to be taken in to account when accepting your offer onto the programme such as initial visa, criminal record check, document authentication, flight and insurance costs along with spending money and a potential medical from your local doctor which states you are fit and well to work in China (depending on city you choose).
Shanghai placement costs: £2500-2700 (due initial housing rent)
All other placements costs: £2000
All of the placements offer a reimbursement for your flights, both to and from China. Some schools will help reimburse the visa & authentication of documents cost too!
The application process over all will take around 6-8 months or longer depending on when you apply, so there is plenty of time to save and the cost will be spread out over a long period.
Friends & Couples

What better way to come on a crazy adventure to China than signing up with your other half or group of friends, please let us know when applying if you are part of a group or couple. We can place you together in the same school/city and you can start your new adventure together!
Winter Break
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Once you are in China, you will get a number of holidays which will allow you to travel around Asia. The most notable one is the winter vacation at the start of January which all teachers benefit from. This break is usually 4 weeks but could stretch to 6 depending on which city you are based in. When the time is near, we will give you tips and advice on which countries and places we think you should check out. We will point you in the right direction when booking flights to make sure you get the most out of your money.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in China is considerably lower than what you would expect in your home country. Here is a quick run down of what to expect:
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Average Living Cost - 4000 RMB per month (£450 / $580)
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Average Accommodation Cost - FREE with The Fewer Things*
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Potential savings per month - Minimum 4000 RMB
You can also gain extra income by private tutoring, which is something we will explain how to do once in China. You can earn 400/500 RMB per hour!
*Our Shanghai placements do not offer free accommodation due to a much higher salary being provided.