How to Teach English in Sanya, Hainan, China
Recent developments in China have left the nation in need of English teachers. With China growing increasingly friendly to the Western world, and the rise of tourism there, the need to learn English has become a high priority in China. China accounts for about one-fifth of the world's population, so English teachers are in high demand almost anywhere. The beautiful island of Hainan has become a hot destination for travelers and has begun to make people think about teaching on the island. The fact that the island has a limited population has made it so that finding a job in Sanya is more difficult than in the rest of China.
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Instructions
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Gain TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification. Only a bachelor's degree is required to teach English in China, but because Sanya is a place that has a lower demand for teachers, a TEFL certification will help you find a job there. Experience can substitute for TEFL certification, so if you have experience, you may not need to invest into the certification courses.
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Contact a job placement agency that specializes in China. You can locate these agencies via an Internet search. Be clear with your job agent that you want to work in Sanya. It may take some time to find you proper placement because English teaching opportunities are sparse on the island.
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Apply directly to language institutions in Sanya, which you can find on the Internet. Also apply directly to the two universities on the island. These are Hainan University and Hainan Normal University. They both have English departments that hire native speakers.
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Contact your nearest Chinese embassy here in the U.S. to learn of English teaching vacancies on Sanya.
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Send the appropriate information to your prospective jobs. Most employers will require certain information, including your CV or resume, picture of yourself, photocopy of your passport, references and a copy of your degree.
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Wait for the job offer. A job offer will be required before you can start filling out the visa application.
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Fill out the visa application. Contact the closest Chinese embassy/consulate and apply for a work visa as soon as you get a job offer. The visa application process will require you to be in good health, show proof of passport, proof of university degree and proof that you were offered a job.
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Understand the accommodations offered by your new employer. Accommodations will vary from employer to employer. Most will offer free room and board; some will offer flight reimbursement.
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Start work. Once you are granted your visa, you are eligible to work. Fly to Sanya, set up your accommodations, go to work and start teaching.
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Tips & Warnings
Most contracts for English teachers in China are between six months to one year. Salaries can range between $400 to $1,400 a month in China. In Sanya and on the island of Hainan, the pay for English teachers is around $650 per month. Due to the nature of the island, it is fairly expensive to live there, so if you have to pay your own rent, it may be hard to live on $650 a month. With this pay, taxes will be around 11 percent. You may want to arrange access to additional funds, so that you can afford to live on Hainan for the duration of your contract.
Foreign exchanges are tightly controlled in China, so if you happen to land a job that pays more than you will be spending, negotiate into your contact a clause that allows you to convert this money into U.S. dollars.
References
- Photo Credit china image by VivitoArt Angela Parszyk from Fotolia.com
