Do you ever wish you can just go and see the world? Experience different cultures and cuisine? But, you don't know how? Teaching abroad might be the option for you...
How it all started...
After teaching at a school in Pretoria for a few years I just woke up one morning and decided that I need to experience more in life. I decided that I need to go have an adventure in China. So with that being said my then boyfriend (now husband) decided we will go and teach in China. At first people didn't really think we were serious until both of us had quit our jobs, packed our bags and booked the plane ticket. Needless to say it was the best experience in my life!
We were appointed as kindergarten teachers to go work in Chengdu, China. When we arrived in Chengdu our agent was waiting for us to help us with all our needs. We lived in a hotel for the first couple of days while searching for an apartment. We were amazed at how big the city was and how easy it was getting around.
It didn't take us long to find a place that suited our needs which we could call home for the next year.
Teaching in Chengdu
Being a kindergarten teacher was so much fun! We were the ESL- teacher and taught English to the 3-6 year old children. Our day usually started at 08:30 where would wait and greet the kids at the gate. Throughout the day we taught at different classes. Our lessons were themed based and had to be interactive and fun. We used a lot of games, pictures, songs and videos to help the kids grasp English vocabulary and concepts. Between 12:00 - 14:00 kids would eat and have their nap. This provided us the opportunity to get some rest and have lunch. Our day would end at 16:30 where we would say goodbye to all the kids as they made there way home.
It wasn't always as easy as it sounds. Some days you worked long hours, got emotionally drained and longed for home. However, it still felt so rewarding.
The teacher's salary
I am sure you would also like to know how it is as a teacher making a living in a foreign country. Foreign teachers enjoy a lot of perks such as an amazing salary. Depending on your agency and your educational background, teachers can earn around 20000 RMB (an average of R45 000) a month. A lot of the agencies also provide return flight tickets as well as a severance bonus at the end of the year. Due to things being very affordable in Chengdu, we were able to save a lot of money and travel - a lot!
Traveling in China
Traveling in China is fairly easy once you get the hang of it. A variety of transport is available to use such as bicycles, trains and taxi's. The most affordable/free transport to use is bicycles. Bicycles are available everywhere and anywhere and very convenient to use.
Trains in China are also fairly cheap and a great form of transport to use if you are traveling longer distances. We only used their taxi service "Didi" when absolutely necessary as it can become quite expensive.
Traveling to other cities and places are just a train ride or flight away. We made use of the bullet train as well as flights to travel to places such as Hong Kong, Beijing and the Philippines. We loved living and travelling in China due to the rich culture and amazing food.
How to become a teacher in China
All of this sounds exciting right? To legally work in China you will need a bachelor's degree, a TEFL certificate, a valid passport from a native English speaking country, and a criminal background check. If you don't have a teaching certificate yet, many programs offer free TEFL certification as part of the benefits package.
It is always a good idea to find a legitimate company that can help you to get all the correct documents in place. They help you get interviews at schools, arrange all the documentation and help make travel arrangements. It is a good idea to have someone in China that can assist you with anything that comes your way.
Have a look at the places and food you can look forward to when teaching in China: