Frequently Asked Questions:Applying for the job (Click on a question below)
China Job (Once Accepted)
China (General Info/Tips)
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Interview Tips:In preparation for your upcoming interview, please find a few tips and some background on China’s approach to pedagogy below:
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In China, children are most often taught in large groups for 10-12 hours at a time from a very young age. Children are taught through rote memorization and dictation and different learning styles are often not accommodated. That said, one of the attributes that schools look for is a break from that approach in its hiring of educators from the West. Schools will want to see that you’re animated and passionate about teaching. The Chinese also take a tremendous amount of pride in their culture, one way to engage your interviewer might be to ask about the educational approach a particular school may embrace, food and/or what teachers enjoy doing and experiencing in China when they have free time. **Be mindful not to discuss the political climate or religion. If you have questions regarding such, please feel free to reach out to M.I.I. in order to discuss. |
Applying for the Job:
1. What are the requirements/qualifications to teach abroad? MIF offers two programs through which interested candidates can teach abroad.
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The requirements for teachers coming through our paid teacher program are: BA in any field, willingness to move abroad, teach for an academic school year and have the ability to pass a criminal background check.
The requirements for teachers coming through the MIF Internship Program are: Enrollment in a BA program and/or experience teaching, ability to pass a criminal background check, willingness to move abroad and teach for a minimum of half-one academic school year. **Program fee applies - learn more here. |
2. Is an airfare stipend/reimbursement provided?
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Each contract varies according to your individual program and location of placement. Please check your internship or teaching contract carefully for flight reimbursement or stipend information and availability.
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3. How long is the teaching commitment?
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A typical contract length for a paid Teaching position is 10-12 months (an academic year).
Our internship program offers shorter commitments, if desired, which range from 5 months to an academic year or 10 months. |
4. How do I apply?
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Interested candidates can apply by submitting a resume to jessica@myinternationalfamily.com and/or completing an application through our website www.myinternationalfamily.com/submitapplication.html
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5. Is housing provided?
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Furnished housing in a private or shared apartment is provided for both paid teachers and interns. Shared apartment are typically with one other foreign teacher. A monthly meal/food stipend is provided to those in the internship program.
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6. How are teachers matched to schools?
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Teachers and interns are matched based on their qualifications and current openings in various schools. While our partners try and take into consideration the preferences of applicants, due to the high demand of certain regions, it is not always possible.
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7. How long is the teaching commitment/contract?
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Teachers commit to a minimum of 10 months (one academic school year) for paid positions.
Our internship program offers shorter commitments, if desired, which range from 5 months to an academic year or 10 months. |
8. Will I be able to travel during my assignment?
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Yes. Travel is encouraged and definitely a perk of being overseas! Teachers and interns receive, on average, 4 weeks of vacation time per academic year. Teachers and interns are responsible to ensure their travel/destination does not conflict with any visa requirements which may be in place.
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9. How will I receive my paycheck? How much?
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Paychecks are issued by the school and the amount is dependent upon your contract. An average salary for a paid teacher position ranges between $18-32K/year. Interns receive a monthly stipend for meals and living expenses.
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10. Will my employer withhold taxes?
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Foreign teachers are required to pay taxes and this should be discussed with the school partner during your interview so that you have a clear understanding.
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11. What if I have a family emergency and need to return home?
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Teachers are obviously free to leave at anytime. Schools are generally understanding about family emergencies however communication would be key. Its not likely a school would continue to pay a teacher in their absence.
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China Job (Once Accepted)
1. What are the steps to getting my Visa to teach in China?
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All candidates must pass a criminal background check. Teacher candidates will also need to get their degree authenticated. Once these initial tasks are completed your employer can apply and obtain a Foreign Experts Permit (otherwise known as Work Permit) from the Chinese government for you. They’ll also issue you a formal Letter of Acceptance to submit with your visa application. Your employer will work closely with you for these step of the process.
What type of Visa do I need? Candidates hired for paid teaching positions will apply for a Work Visa (Z) and candidates accepted for an Internship Program will apply for a Business Visa (F/M). Visa Application Once your employer sends you the Work Permit and the Letter of Acceptance, you’re ready to gather your remaining documents and apply for your visa at your nearest consulate/embassy. You'll need:
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2. What do I bring to China?
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In years past, there were numerous Western items that you simply could not get in China…but my how times have changed! China is modernizing at such a fast rate that many Western items are no longer difficult to find. Several large multinational stores like Walmart and Metro, have opened their doors in China in recent years, making it easy to buy your favorite things from back home.
That being said, there are still a few things we recommend you bring from home: Laptop or notebook As a teacher in China, you simply can't live without your laptop or notebook. You'll need it for work (to prepare and write lesson plans) and pleasure (such as keeping in contact with family and friends). Although computers are widely available in China, the last thing you'll want to do is look for one when you first arrive. You'd have to consider negotiating, the initial setup, warranty and so on. Unless you can speak and read Mandarin, or you have a Chinese friend who can help, it's best you bring your own. Teaching materials. Some schools in China will have a structured syllabus and accompanying text books, while others will be more flexible and allow you to create your own syllabus. Either way, it’s best to come prepared with at least a week’s worth of lesson plans. Avoid bringing any heavy text books – you probably won’t use them. Instead, your curious students will be much more interested in authentic things from your country like:
Travel adapter China's electricity supply runs at 220 V and uses angled two- or three-pin plugs. This is the same as Australia and New Zealand. If you're from one of these countries, simply plug in your electronic device and you're good to go. For everyone else, a travel adapter/convertor is necessary. Although they're available in China, it's easier to bring an adapter with you than hunt for one the minute you arrive. Make sure you pack a couple of adapters if you plan on using multiple devices at the same time. Toiletries and medications Toiletries (like shampoo) and over-the-counter medications (like headache tablets) are available everywhere in China. However, if you're a bit particular, and only like using certain brands, you should definitely bring your own. If you're teaching in China for just a year, bringing a small supply of your favorite toiletries and medications from home may last well into your contract. Make the most of your airline's maximum weight allowance when packing your luggage. If you use any prescription medication, it goes without saying that you should bring what you need. Most Chinese people don't use Western-style deodorant, like anti-perspirant spray and roll on. Don't panic though - you can still get it by heading to one of China's countless Walmart stores. Small gifts You're going to meet some lifelong friends in China. So, when you eventually part ways, it's a nice gesture to give them a small keepsake from your country. The gift doesn't have to be elaborate or break the bank. After all, it's the thought that counts. If you have absolutely no room in your suitcase for small gifts, why not slip in some nice cards? |
3. What's important to know/consider in my contract?
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Your contract should include:
Most (but not all) contracts should include details about the accommodation. In the public-school system, accommodation is included. The schools that don’t include accommodation in the contract (e.g. private centers) usually offer a little bit more money to go towards this expense. |
4. How to manage Student Behavior
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You will have different challenges depending on the age of your Chinese students. Younger students are very active and often noisy, so a lot of your time will be spent on behavior management and controlling the class. On the other hand, older students in China are fairly passive and quiet, and your challenge will be to get them to talk!
No matter what the age of students you teach, one of the most important things you can do is to lay some ground rules early on, preferably in the very first lesson. Write some rules on the board or draw pictures if you must. They need to know that you're the boss! |
5. Working in the classroom
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The classroom will be your workplace in China, so it’s important you get everything in order.
While you won’t have any control over the classrooms you’ll teach in, you can make sure you're familiar with the facilities and how the multimedia works. If you’re teaching in the public system, you’ll spend time outside the classroom creating lesson plans. On the other hand, if you’re teaching in a private center or language institute, you’ll generally be expected to work off set lesson plans created by the school. Managing student behavior will be a key part of your role. While most students in China are well behaved, you may need to keep an eye on one or two who stray from the pack. The more experience you get, the more comfortable you’ll be working with different types of students. |
6. A typical teaching day in China
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Each foreign English teacher in China will have a different schedule depending on the type of school they’re placed in and the number of hours they teach.
However, to give you an idea of what you can expect, here’s an example of a typical day for a teacher working at a Chinese university.
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7. Working in the classroom
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Classroom facilities and equipment in China can vary greatly depending on the school.
What to expect in the Chinese classroom - public schoolsPublic schools in China have basic classroom facilities. This means you'll have a chalkboard or whiteboard and probably a working computer, at a minimum. Access to things like paper and colored markers is limited, so you'll really need to improvise. Chinese classrooms are still structured in the 'traditional' way. All desks face the front, and none are grouped together, even in universities. Desks are usually fixed to the ground too, making group activities quite difficult. If you have saved your teaching material onto a USB stick, check that it works on the classroom computer a day before your classes start. If it's incompatible with the computer, you'll have time to come up with a Plan B! There may be no air-conditioning and heating in the classroom, so you'll always need to dress comfortably. In winter, that means lots of layers! What to expect in the Chinese classroom - private centers and language institutesPrivate centers and language institutes in China are better equipped than public schools and universities. You'll have access to Western-standard multimedia, games and movable seats. In some early childhood centers, you'll even have a teaching assistant to help manage the students. This is a great benefit for ESL teachers, especially inexperienced ones. You're likely to have heating and cool too. The internet in Chinese classroomsMost classrooms in China have internet access but the connection, particularly in public schools, may be slow or unreliable. If you’ve prepared a lesson around something online, always have a back-up lesson ready to go in case there is a problem with the school’s internet connection. Some final words of advice: You won't know exactly what your classrooms will look like until you arrive at your school in China. So before you get there don't create a semester's worth of lesson plans that rely on a particular facility or piece of equipment - unless it's a chalkboard! |
8. A typical teaching day in China
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Each foreign English teacher in China will have a different schedule depending on the type of school they’re placed in and the number of hours they teach.
However, to give you an idea of what you can expect, here’s an example of a typical day for a teacher working at a Chinese university.
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9. Teacher Accommodations
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What’s the accommodation like in China? Your accommodations in China will be clean and simple. As all accommodations are different, it’s difficult to generalize about what yours will look like until during the application process when a school has made you an offer. One thing is for sure – you will live in an apartment. Almost everyone in China's urban areas lives in an apartment due to the country's enormous population. Your apartment will have everything you need: a bed, table and chairs, TV, fridge, toasting oven or microwave, shower and washing machine. Larger apartments may have a sofa. Most accommodations don’t have a full oven, so don’t expect to cook a Sunday roast!
Food in China is cheap, so you’ll mostly eat out anyway. Similarly, you won’t have a dishwasher. Apartments are usually one bedroom, but sometimes two bedrooms. In most cases you’ll live on your own. When you arrive in China, one of the first things you should do is check that your apartment has everything you need. If you have any particular preferences about your living arrangements in China, let us know when you apply. Things you may need to buy when you get to ChinaWhile your accommodation should have all the essential pieces of furniture you need, there are a few things you might need to get. Consider buying:
You could also invest in a clothes-drying rack, though most Chinese people hang their clothes on the balcony. There is often a rod built into the balcony for this purpose. |
China (General Info/Tips)
1. What is the cost of living in China
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Like the US, the cost of living in China varies. Your salary will most often reflect the cost of living based on your geographic location. Please find some information on cost of living here.
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2. What is food like in China?
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Initially, Chinese food may surprise you as it’s quite different to the Western-style Chinese food you’re probably used to. Outside of Hong Kong, it’s hard to find deep-fried chicken in lemon sauce or even special fried rice. But don’t fear. With recommendations from fellow teachers and possibly students (and their parents) about some good, local restaurants, you’ll find that the real Chinese food is substantially better than the Chinese food in your own country. Apart from the wonderful flavor, what you’ll quickly discover about food in China is that it can be very cheap. If you eat like a Chinese person – that is, you eat street food and at local restaurants – you’ll be able to save plenty of money for travel or whatever else you like.
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3. Understanding China at a glance.
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China is a country full of dichotomies and nuances, some of which is still not entirely understood by Westerners. The country is governed by the CCP – Chinese Communist Party. China labels their economy as a “Socialist Market Economy” which is subject to global market forces but the government itself maintains that capitalists control their economy. China has about 819 billionaires, minting more than 200 in 2018 and containing 40% more billionaires than the US. With all of their wealth and continued economic growth, the average person still earns about as much as someone in the Dominican Republic. Again, it is a country of dichotomies.
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4. Salaries & Benefits
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Your salary will be competitive, particularly when one includes the benefits (housing, airfare, medical insurance, paid time off etc). Salary ranges between 18K and 32K per year through our Teaching Abroad Program, our Intern Program comes with all the same benefits minus a monthly salary.
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5. What to do for fun in China.
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Learn about your city/local area and other areas nearby. With the internet as a resource, along with other ex-pats finding fun in China should be a cinch! Exploring different foods, local pubs or clubs where you may find other teachers/Westerners, malls, nature, fitness classes, karaoke, the list goes on! For weekends and extended time off the possibilities are endless: The Great Wall, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guilin, Xi’an. Lonely Planet Book link, other links.
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6. Money & Numbers
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The currency in China is CNY/RMB. Chinese currency, like all currency fluctuates. You can find up to date currency conversions here - https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=CNY
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7. What holidays will we celebrate in China?
Click here for a list of holidays celebrated in China.
