So you’ve decided that teaching English as a foreign language in China is the perfect option for you. Great! Now what? The first step to teaching in China is to become TEFL certified. So why not do that in China too?!
Shanghai? Beijing? Somewhere rural? Where will YOU go for TEFL certification in China?
There are tons of different ways to get your TEFL certification, from online to in-person courses. There’s definitely a lot of options and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, if teaching in China is the dream, getting TEFL certified in China is one of the best ways to go! There are so many benefits to this option. Read on for 9 great reasons to get TEFL certification in China, and feel your anxiety begin to melt away.
9 reasons to get TEFL certified in China
1. You’ll get a head start on cultural immersion
We won’t sugarcoat it. Moving abroad to teach can be tough! Between lesson planning, culture shock, and homesickness, you’ll definitely face some challenges during your first few months. China, like any country, has some different customs that can seem unusual to foreigners.
Many people in China will clear mucus and spit it out in public. While this is totally normal for them, it’s definitely an adjustment for newbies!
Imagine walking to class on your first day of work and having someone hock a loogie right in front of you. If you weren’t used to that, it could definitely throw you off! Even the toilets are different in China. In some places, they’re little more than a hole in the ground. Getting used to teaching and peeing in a hole at the same time? No thanks!
At least the view is usually pretty cool.
But, if you do your TEFL in China, you’ll have extra time to adjust to the culture — before the stress of a new teaching job becomes a factor. You’ll be navigating the crowds (little to no personal space in China) and using the toilets like a pro by the time teaching comes around!
While the culture shock will be a challenge, dealing with it on its own is much easier than dealing with it on top of tons of other stressors. If you get TEFL certification in China will allow you the extra time to do just that!
2. Some courses guarantee job placement
Almost all TEFL courses in China will assist with your job search, from resume help to practice interviews. Some courses will go the extra step and guarantee job placement for you after the completion of the course.
Sometimes this is because the TEFL certification school is associated with a language school that will hire new graduates! Some TEFL certification China schools act as recruiters for you, arranging interviews until you secure a job.
Either way, it’s super helpful and way less stressful to not have to worry about whether or not you’ll be employed at the end of the course. This is a perk that simply isn’t offered by online classes or classes completed in your home country. Getting TEFL certified in China with one of these courses will help launch your teaching career.
3. The job market is ever-growing in China
Over 300 million people in China want to learn English. A large population combined with high demand has made English teachers a hot commodity here! Getting TEFL certified in other countries means smaller TEFL job markets.
If you get TEFL certified in China, you’re practically guaranteed a job after you finish! The sheer demand for English teachers makes China a popular TEFL destination and TEFL courses in China are the first step.
4. There’s tons to explore in China
Uh, there’s plenty to explore ON THE GROUND during TEFL courses in China.
China is huge. It’s the fourth-largest country in the world by area! That means that there are tons and tons of places to explore, incredible sights to see, and adventures to be had! Even with a year-long teaching contract in China, it’s hard to grasp the breadth and diversity of the country.
You need all the time you can get to explore and see all of China! Doing a TEFL certification China course means you’ll have extra time to sightsee. Whether you take a trip to the Great Wall or see the Forbidden City, extra time in China is a bonus!
5. In-person courses are shorter
Online courses are great for the sake of convenience, because many of them are self-paced. In-person courses stick to an intense schedule that gets you through the course in an average of just four weeks! No matter how disciplined a person you are, having a schedule to stick to will only serve to improve your TEFL certification experience.
You’ll also be teaching sooner! Instead of waiting for online certification and classes, you’ll be in and out of in-person TEFL certification classes in China in a flash. That means less time sitting at home on your computer and more time having awesome experiences abroad in China.
6. On-site classes allow for more personal instruction and learning
Online TEFL courses can be great, but onsite classes allow for more one-on-one time with the teacher. You can ask questions in real-time, which will help your understanding of concepts and develop your teaching style.
Being on-site also means more collaboration with classmates! Teaching is all about collaboration, sharing lesson plans and genius activities, and putting heads together to figure out the best strategy for a difficult student. Collaborating with classmates onsite during TEFL certification in China will give you a headstart.
7. Practicum in-country means experience with your future students
Practicum also means immersion. You’ll know the ins and outs of Chinese culture in no time!
On-site courses include an element of practicum, giving you real teaching experience. This is an awesome benefit of onsite courses, and it’s made even more awesome when the students you’re practicing on are the type of students you’ll be teaching!
Asian students in general tend to be more reserved learners. It can take some adjustment for new teachers to develop strategies to truly engage the students. This creates a safe place for them to practice their language. There’s a steep learning curve to this, and doing your TEFL in China will give you a great jumpstart.
You’ll be working with Chinese students from the start, which will help you figure out the best way to connect with and engage your students.
8. You’ll network like crazy!
From the instructor of the course to your classmates, getting TEFL certified in China will help you network a ton. Having teaching connections around China will help improve your teaching, just with collaborating.
But networking can be the difference between getting hired or not! Making connections with your classmates now can only help your teaching career in the years to come.
9. Some jobs prefer it
For all of these reasons and more, some teaching abroad jobs in China will prefer you to get TEFL certified in-country. If the company is split between two candidates, an in-country certification may make the difference!
Companies like to know that you’re already adjusted to the culture and that you’ve got a jumpstart teaching their type of students. And by the time you are TEFL certified, you will have all that and more!
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You’re ready to get TEFL certified in China
TEFL certification in China will surely open the doors to some unique experiences.
Teaching English as a foreign language in China is a wildly popular option for traveling abroad and for good reason! China is huge and there are plenty of teaching opportunities.
Beyond that, there’s so much to see! You might take an epic hike along the Great Wall of China. Or maybe you’ll glimpse the incredible Terra-cotta Warriors in Xian, China. You might even try Xiaolongbao, a popular dish that consists of a steamed bun stuffed with meat!
And, when you get TEFL certified in China, your entire TEFL journey will be enhanced. You’ll have a great network of teachers and mentors, you’ll be uber prepared for teaching (especially Chinese students!), and you’ll have extra time to both experience and adjust to China’s culture.
So, deep breath! You got this. Teaching English in China will be your best adventure yet!
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