Calling all globe-trotters! Calling all kid-lovers! Calling all teachers and learners and new-experience seekers! There are oh so many reasons to get TEFL certified, and we’re guessing that whether or not we hit yours dead-on, you’ve got more than just a few of them lingering in your mind.
To whatever is your motivation, we’re full-heartedly saying, yes, go for it! Get that certification, get that international job, and get going on changing your life for the better. Ready to start your ESL career? Get your TEFL certification, China-style. You’ll save $$$ and have a blast!
Where will you land for TEFL courses in China?
English is becoming an increasingly globalized language, with more and more countries, cities, villages, and schools including it as a mandatory part of life. It’s in museums, on street signs, written in menus, and built into textbooks, so the spiking demand to speak English has got to be confronted dead-on with a supply of English teachers – and that’s where you come in. The need for English as a Second Language teachers is booming, so why not do the selfless thing and join the ranks. Plus, luckily for you, getting TEFL certified is also now easier, quicker, and cheaper than ever.
6 affordable TEFL courses in China
TEFL courses in China in particular are the thing to do. With a population of 1.3 billion people (and several million of that billion in the process of learning English), this is the top hub to get certified and get employed.
Not to mention the sheer land mass of China… are you looking for a major metropolitan experience, or quiet time away in a remote village? Are you looking to be surrounded by technology and trends, or immersed in centuries of dynastic history? When taking TEFL courses in China, you can have whatever you’re after – any and all of it.
If you’re ready to get a head-start on your career as an English teacher abroad, it’s time to explore some of these TEFL certification China opportunities!
1. LoPair Au Pair China
This program has something really special to offer: the opportunity for full immersion by making your TEFL courses in China a full-on, international family-bonding experience. With LoPair Au Pair China, you’re not only gaining the tools to be an ESL teacher abroad, but you’re also gaining the unique experience of spending three to twelve months learning the cultural traditions of your host family in China.
That life-long bond you’re creating is going to make your experience that much richer; it’s going to make you that much better of an ESL teacher and here’s an additional perk – it’s going to make the costs of your training that much lower.
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2. The TEFL Institute
The TEFL Institute is a great fit for anyone who wants to aim higher than entry-level teaching jobs in China. Its fully accredited 180-hour Level 5 TEFL Diploma is designed for future teachers who want a respected qualification, stronger job prospects, and access to better schools with better salaries.
What makes this option especially appealing is that the support doesn’t stop once the coursework is done. Along with gold-standard training, students get help with CV writing, interview preparation, and job connections through a dedicated employability team—so the path from certification to classroom feels a whole lot smoother.
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3. International TEFL Academy
When getting your TEFL certification abroad, the actual training itself is only one piece of the equation. When you sign on with ITA, you’re going to get your money’s worth after the courses are completed and you’re out in the world itself with all of this provider’s additional benefits.
We’re talking lifetime job search guidance and a lifetime of networking opportunities with fellow ITA alumni, making your lifelong TEFL career comfortable, smooth, and fun!
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4. International TEFL and TESOL
Looking to stand out in a competitive teaching market? This 180-hour online TEFL course sets you apart, thanks to its built-in 20 hours of real teaching practice with actual students—giving you hands-on experience before you even start job hunting.
With guided training and support leading up to your practicum, you’ll build confidence in a real classroom setting, not just in theory. There’s even the potential to transition directly into a part-time teaching role, making this course a practical pathway from certification to employment.
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5. Asian College of Teachers
Shanghai: China’s biggest city and a global financial hub. For those of you who are seeking fast-paced city-living as an aspect of your TEFL certification abroad, the Asian College of Teachers International TEFL Certificate Program is going to land you in the heart of this coastal city with affordable courses under your belt.
While courses themselves begin at about $200, this program boasts employment placement into well-paying jobs, with an average base earning of $800. Sometimes you’ve got to give a little to get a little, right? And with this international experience of earning your certificate within one of the world’s most global, bustling hubs, the “little” you get will quickly feel like a lot – we promise.
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6. TEFL Graduate
If teaching abroad in a country rich in history, culture, and opportunity sounds like your next move, TEFL Graduate's hybrid program delivers on all fronts. With China boasting a high demand for English teachers, you can step into roles in public schools, private language centers, or private tutoring.
What makes this experience especially appealing is the strong support and benefits package, including free accommodation, flight reimbursement, visa sponsorship, and even Mandarin lessons. It’s a chance to build your teaching career while fully immersing yourself in one of the world’s most dynamic and evolving destinations.
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Find and Compare TEFL Courses in China with MyGoAbroad
Ready for your own TEFL certification in China?!
Spoiler alert: You’re gonna get to see and do some pretty cool things during TEFL certification in China.
Beginning your journey as an international language teacher with TEFL courses in China is a logical step, but it’s not only that. Given the huge quantity of English-language students throughout the country, it’s also certain to be a personally worthwhile one.
With such an enormous range of providers, program types, areas to live, and job opportunities, choosing China as your TEFL certification destination is going to launch you into a fulfilling, robust, international English-teaching career.
In a country so populated, historical, and enormous in landscape, finding the TEFL training program that checks all of your personalized, ideal boxes – seriously, no matter how specific or minute! – is going to be more doable than you think.
It might not be simple; you’ll have to put your mind and your patience to some thorough research (we could only do so much in this one article!), but we have no doubt that you’re well on your way to finding the best possible (not to mention affordable!) TEFL program in China. So make that check-list and get searching!
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Samantha Harper
Field Direct Associate - American Red Cross
Samantha Harper’s quest to learn about her family heritage in Prague ignited the travel flame within her. A Wisconsin native and Pitt alumnus, Samantha’s insatiable appetite for the world led her into an International Relations master’s program in Italy. Still not feeling like she’d seen enough, she finagled her way into spending a summer in Spain and teaching for a year in Thailand. She is (temporarily) settled in Washington, D.C.
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