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Order your copy of the books on Amazon! ● Teaching Location: Fuzhou, China
● Type of Teaching Job: Kindergarten to mid-teens
● Student Age Group: 4-16
● Monthly Salary: 7,000 RMB to start (~$1,000 USD), 9,900 RMB by end of year (~1,400 USD)
● Monthly Rent: 2,000 RMB (~$290 USD) extra provided by company for apartment
● Living Arrangement: 2 bedroom shared apartment
● Monthly Savings: 5,000 RMB per month (~$720 USD) but dependent on individual
● Contract Bonuses: Airfare paid at six months and at end of contract
⋯ By Gayle Aggiss ⋯
For almost a year now I have been living and working in Fuzhou, China, a relatively small city in the southeast of that enormous country, at a company called York English. York pays a reasonable wage of 7000 rmb or 1000 USD to start and sets up a shared apartment for their teachers that they pay for. Their schools have classes for all age groups from Kindergarten to mid-teens based on a pre-determined curriculum that has room for some teacher creativity.
I have almost finished my contract now and am readying myself to go home. York has been a great company to work for, with chances to travel as well as save some money, and while the city itself is a little boring the opportunity to live and work in China cannot be undervalued. This year has been an adventure on a number of fronts and trying to distil that down into an easily communicable form is not an easy task, but a number of elements do stand out.
What I Like About Teaching English in China
Different Culture
One of my favourite things about working in China is how fundamentally different it is. Growing up in Australia, you are taught tolerance and that everyone is the same under the surface differences and then you go overseas and realise how untrue that really is. China and its people are incredibly different from Westerners in important and obvious ways, from their ways of interacting to what foods they will eat and that is amazing. Every day is an adventure because of the unexpected beliefs and practices and one of my favourite things to do is just sit and watch in a busy area, you never know what you’ll see but it will be strange to your very different sensibilities.
My Company
The company that I am working with here in China really is amazing. It is fairly small and so still feels very personal despite the fact that they now have several branches in the city. They are quick to help out whether you are new or have been here a while and always available to talk and provide support and solutions. They’re a really good company to work for in a foreign country where everything is unfamiliar and you frequently need help with things that would be second nature back home.
My Students
On a similar note, the students in China are amazing to teach. They’re shy at first, but once they’re comfortable with you are always happy to see you, affectionate and eager for your attention and approval. I enjoy all of my classes and that’s purely because the kids are incredibly hard working, but amazingly sweet at the same time.
What I Dislike About Teaching in China
Pollution
On the negative side, the pollution in Chinese cities is really hard to take. Coming from relatively unpolluted Australia to huge cities where the pollution has turned the sky permanently grey is hard on my lungs and has given me a permanent, irritating cough. The dreariness of the sky is also a surprising side effect of the pollution, I miss the bright, clear, endless skies of Australia more than I ever thought I could.
Spitting
Another thing I really hate is the spitting. I am aware that to Chinese people, this is a normal thing to do, but to me there is nothing more gross then seeing someone hawk phlegm onto the sidewalk or on the floor in shops and restaurants. Even worse are the bikes that pause at the side of the road so the driver can clear his nostrils into the gutter. I’m always slipping on the shiny little piles on the sidewalk and pushing down the urge to retch at the sound of the man spitting behind me as I walk.
Hygiene Standards
Finally, and this is an issue that anyone travelling anywhere in Asia will probably have to deal with, is the differences in food hygiene standards. It’s not unusual here to see a cockroach running over your foot while you’re eating in a restaurant and people are perfectly happy to prepare my food without ever washing their hands. It’s a shock after being in Western countries, where there are fairly strict expectations of cleanliness in order for restaurants to remain open. Here, a restaurant that is just a little unclean is a marvellous treat.
That being said, the whole experience has been amazing. I have some amazing memories from China and they are the ones that I will keep close to me in the hard and the dark times as evidence of my strength and my courage. The lessons I have learned here, about myself and about the world, will be the ones I’ll cherish and build upon throughout the rest of my life. I will always be grateful to China, to the people I have met here and to myself for having the courage to get on the plane a year ago.
Contact Gayle Aggiss
Website: GayleAggiss.com
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- Where to Teach in China
- Working as a Millennial EFL Teacher in a Millennial EFL World
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- Teaching English Through Music in China
- Managing Culture Shock When Working Abroad
- 2 Amazing Years Teaching English in China
- The Best Job Sites for Teaching English in China
- Experiences Teaching English at a University in Shanghai
- Teaching English in China: The March of the Volunteers
Interesting to read your blog. Now China is giving more importance to the English language. Those who are looking for English teaching job in China they can get the golden opportunity in China. There are other benefits too which makes China a lucrative country for teaching profession (Teach In China).
I have taught ESL to Spanish speakers in the US and Equador, as well as Lithuania. I am currently teaching via online platform to kids mainly in Beijing. Teaching ESL in China is a very different experience. The students are highly motivated. In general, their days are typically filled to the max up to 18 hours a day, so it has stretched me as a teacher to be creative in ways that make my class fun and rewarding, while maintaining the high standards parents expect of their children’s education. That being said, my Chinese students truly are some of the… Read more »
This is so informative! I teach Chinese children online. Maybe one day I’ll make it there to live and not just visit!
Very interesting blog! I am teaching in Turkey currently. It is nice to see what other people are experiencing in other parts of the world!
Wow. I was considering applying for a year-long position, and your post was going great for me until the Hygiene section. As a certified germophobe, I see that I may require additional mental preparation for China. I was able to eat around swarming flies in Cuba; I have prepared myself for flies in W. Africa; I am willing to adapt to many situations. That being said, roaches on my plate, coupled with phlegm on the streets and random hacking and spitting, may be too much for me. Clearly, you’re having an amazing experience.
As a fellow Australian ESL teacher, it’s always great to read about other people’s experiences. Thanks!