Do I need a TEFL to teach overseas?
If you are not a certified teacher (in your home country) with a 4 year degree, you will be required to obtain a TEFL certification in order to fulfill China’s work visa requirements for foreign teachers. If you already have a TEFL or are a certified teacher, you won't be required to obtain or renew your TEFL certification.
Why is a TEFL/TESOL certification so important?
Among other things, one of the legal requirements needed to obtain a work visa is that you hold a TEFL/TESOL certification (or be a certified teacher in your home country). The primary purpose of the TEFL is to provide you with resources and prepare you for the teaching position you’ve been offered. At some point in this process you may have thought, 'Sure, I know how to speak English, but how do I actually teach English??' That's where the TEFL comes in.
A TEFL certification course is accessible online and a self guided course which covers things like classroom management, how to create lesson plans, getting shy students to speak up and making learning fun to name a few.
If you are not a certified teacher (in your home country) with a 4 year degree, you will be required to obtain a TEFL certification in order to fulfill China’s work visa requirements for foreign teachers. If you already have a TEFL or are a certified teacher, you won't be required to obtain or renew your TEFL certification.
Why is a TEFL/TESOL certification so important?
Among other things, one of the legal requirements needed to obtain a work visa is that you hold a TEFL/TESOL certification (or be a certified teacher in your home country). The primary purpose of the TEFL is to provide you with resources and prepare you for the teaching position you’ve been offered. At some point in this process you may have thought, 'Sure, I know how to speak English, but how do I actually teach English??' That's where the TEFL comes in.
A TEFL certification course is accessible online and a self guided course which covers things like classroom management, how to create lesson plans, getting shy students to speak up and making learning fun to name a few.
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Our Recommendation for Online Certification
After researching several options, our recommended provider is MyTEFL, which offers a 120-hour accredited TEFL that fulfills the requirements for teaching in China. Additionally, MIF teachers receive a 35% discount through our program. Just enter MIF35 at when selecting your course. 
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Choosing the Right Certification Program
Selecting the right certification is important, but you don't need to spend $2000.00 to find a great program. Most schools recommend getting a TEFL rather than a TESOL since it’s more widely recognized in China. However, if you do have a TESOL already you will be fine. In-person classes or online certification? This choice will largely come down to cost and time. In-person classes will offer you interaction with your teacher, practice teaching a group of your peers, and demo classes, but they are the pricier of the two options and can run for several weeks, making it a bigger time commitment. On the flip side, online certification is more affordable and can be done on your time schedule and at an accelerated rate, allowing you to finish more quickly. Be careful however when selecting an online option since there are several online TEFL courses which are scams. Whichever certification program you choose to get your TEFL, make sure it’s accredited and at least 120 hours. |
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Map of Chinese Provinces
Quanzhou (Fujian)
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Chengdu (Sichuan)
Jinjiang (Fujian)
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Guangzhou (Guangdong)
Julong (Fujian)
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Dongguan (Guangdong)
Mudanjiang (Heilongjiang)
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