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How will the new education policies affect English teachers and schools in China?

Frank — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 15:26:16 +0000

No, training centers in China are not all being closed down! No, English teachers are not banned from teaching in China! Let’s look at the new education policy in a bit more detail and examine what the implications are for teachers and schools in China.

In July 2021 the ‘Opinions on Further Reducing the Burden of Homework and After-school Training for Students in Compulsory Education’, known as the “Double Reduction” or “720” policy was issued by the General Office of State Council in China. The purpose of the policy is to reduce the workload on Chinese students and to reduce the financial pressure on Chinese parents when it comes to educating their children.

What does this mean for the education industry in China and what impact will this have on English teachers in China and their schools? There has been a great deal of confusion and misinformation online around the implications, so this article will help to clarify the situation.

The main elements of the policy are as follows:

1 – Teachers living outside China will not be allowed to teach online classes.

It is important to note that this only applies to online teachers living outside China, who are teaching for online Chinese companies. Already, a number of large online teaching companies have announced they will be closing down in the coming months or pivoting their business model significantly, as they will be no longer be allowed to employ teachers living outside of China.

Teachers currently outside of China are still allowed to be legally hired by schools that intend to bring them in to China to teach at their schools. If you are looking to get a job with a school in China and to enter China from overseas to teach, that is still absolutely allowed and there are no plans to change that. You will need a PU letter from your school, which can be used to apply for a work visa to enter China. More details on that process here, an example of a school that is able to provide PU letters here and an interview with one of our teachers who has gone through that process here.

2 – After-school tutoring companies can not run weekend and school holiday classes for core subjects teaching the national curriculum (including English).

The good news is, for schools that have classes running Monday to Friday during day time, this will not affect them at all. We have a wide selection of teaching jobs at primary, middle and high schools, as well as universities, international and bilingual schools that are not affected by the new policies at all and continue to hire teachers. For current job opportunities with these schools, have a look at our Job Board.

For training centers and tutoring companies that run evening and weekend classes, the implications of the new policies still need to be clarified. As the new policies will be implemented by the local governments, there won’t be a single, nationwide policy that is consistent throughout China. Schools in cities throughout China are currently discussing with their local government how the policy applies to them and how they will have to adapt.

As a recruitment agency with over 12 years experience in the ESL market in China, Gold Star TEFL Recruitment has close contacts with hundreds of schools all over China. We have been communicating with various training centers that we partner with to get a better understanding of how it could affect them and what adjustments they may need to make. The most important area that needs to be clarified is regarding the curriculum being taught. Schools we have spoken to have either already or are in the process of adapting their curriculum, which then needs to gain approval from their local education bureau.

For their weekday evening classes, training centers can continue to run their usual curriculum. For weekend and summer and winter holiday courses, many training schools are adapting their curriculum to fall in line with the new guidelines. This means rather than focusing on national English curriculum exam preparation, they will be gearing the curriculum to teaching English through, for example, debating, journalism, drama, public speaking, story-telling, reading, science, craftwork, music, cooking, sports, brain development. These are just examples and of course, a school is unlikely to adapt all of these courses, but more likely will focus on just some of them. Many schools already have a varied curriculum incorporating some of these areas, so will not have much adapting to do. Some areas of China have announced there will be a ban on foreign textbooks for primary and middle school aged students, so schools might have to adapt the materials they use. It remains to be seen whether any additional qualifications might be required for teachers to be hired to teach the courses mentioned.

Quotes from training centers around China on their plans for the future

“For our company, there are no immediate changes. A lot of the changes are targeted towards company’s that do not have the proper licenses and those who have foreign or traded in foreign markets. The major change for us has been shifting some of our curriculum to follow the new policies. We do not see it having any impact on our schools, teachers, and hiring process for the time being.”
Training center in Shanghai

“The full policies will be implemented immediately in six or seven select Tier 1 cities and then a pilot city in each province as well. There is due to be a meeting in this city for all its training centers with provincial government officials where they will announce their implementation of the rules and which city/class of schools will follow the announcements on a trial basis. Basically, there are some minor changes affecting all the schools immediately with the other larger amendments being trialled elsewhere and all we can do is watch and wait for future developments.”
Training center in Shijiazhuang

“Because the new policy was recently promulgated, we have lots of details that have to be communicated with the government education office, including class schedule and subjects that foreign teachers can teach. We can continue to operate and we’re creating new course already. We have to submit the plan to education office and get the approval.”
Training center in Shenzhen

“Regarding core subjects, we are still working with the education commission for the proper interpretations as our lessons are not based on the national curriculum. Nonetheless, our team is working diligently to meet the high demands of the new regulations. The company has decided to grow with the times. We are implementing strategic plans to improve and expand our workforce. Our school is developing new products beyond the current products, which will require in-depth training and research. This will increase the need for teachers and leaders within the company. We will also continue with our current curriculum and develop and implement ways to improve it.”
Training center in Beijing

“The ruling around what can and cannot be taught hinges on the Highschool entrance exam. If there is a written section for the exam then that is considered a subject under the new legislation and no training at all is allowed if it is specifically for that subject. Not all areas are affected yet either. The pilot cities are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenyang, Changzhi, Nantong, Zhenzhou and Weihai. Xi’an and Xiamen have also enacted the policy. I have heard the whole of Liaoning Province will also soon enact it. As for non-profit that does not really have any bearing on our day-to-day as it just means all profits generated must be reinvested in the business.”
Training center in Xiamen

“To answer your question about the weekend/holiday classes, it seems certain groups of students can and can’t take classes during these times, that is what we are working around at the moment but currently for us, business is as usual, with all our classes going forward just as they were a month ago. At the moment what is happening is that our schedule is currently undergoing changes, as students who don’t meet the requirements to take classes on the weekend will have to have their classes shifted to the week days.”
Training center in Hangzhou

It is worth mentioning that the new policies only apply to a select list of cities for now, as test cases. In a year things will be reviewed and suitable policies, based on how the testing went, will be rolled out to more cities in China. By then we will know more about the real-world effects of the policy and how schools plan to adapt.

3 – Ban on companies listed on foreign stock exchanges

Foreign companies will not be allowed to invest in companies engaged in tutoring or training and these companies will not be allowed to be listed on foreign stock exchanges. The companies will not be allowed to raise capital. We have already seen the stock price of listed online tutoring companies such as such as New Oriental Education and TAL Education Group plummet and the IPO of VIPKid was cancelled.

For privately owned companies in China, this policy won’t affect them.

4 – Fee capped and advertising regulations

Tutoring and training companies will have a limit put on how much they can charge for their services, to reduce the financial burden on parents of the students, who pay for the classes. There will also be guidelines implicated around how these companies can advertise, ensuring they are not making inaccurate claims.

There will definitely be some changes to the industry and it does seem like some schools will have to adjust their curriculum. But the education and training industry is definitely not going away. Wen Zhan Wang, a former senior staff member from the Ministry of Education spoke about his interpretation of the recent policies during the 2021 China Internet Education Conference. His key message is that private tutoring companies need to keep the faith and adapt. The government wants to regulate the tutoring industry not to shut it down.

We will continue to update this article as we get the more information and receive more feedback from the schools we work with.

For further reading, this report provides a good analysis of the policy.

If you are interested in teaching English in China, have a look through our Job Board, it is updated daily with new opportunities and submit your resume here.

The post How will the new education policies affect English teachers and schools in China? appeared first on Teach English in China - Current TEFL / ESL Teaching Jobs.

Interview with Altiné Moumouni about Teaching in Shenzhen

Altiné Moumouni — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 16:56:21 +0000

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GS: So, can you tell us a bit about how you first got into English teaching and why you decided on China as your destination?
AM: In 2019, I took a month-long vacation to explore Asia. Initially, I was looking into teaching and living in Japan. But while I was on vacation in Japan, I met a few people from China, and most of them were English teachers vacationing in Japan. From our various exchanges, I learned about teaching in China and decided to teach in China instead of Japan.

As soon as I got back to Canada, I started the process of moving and teaching in China.

GS: Could you give some details about how Gold Star TEFL Recruitment assisted you through the recruitment process?
AM: I first came across Gold Star recruiter Annie via an online advert. I applied to a job posting, and the next day I received an email from Annie asking my preferences in terms of job (location, salary range, student level, etc.). And then, I was contacted by HR managers from different schools and agencies in China.

Annie has been really great and very supportive in helping me secure a teaching job in China. She made sure all my requirements are met, and I actually got my top preferred job and location. I currently teach math at an international high school in Guangzhou.

Since I posted my resume on the internet, I got contacted by many agents and schools, but none was as professional and selfless as Annie. I felt like most of the agents care only about their interests and put teachers’ interests second.

As a first-timer in China, the process was a little scary and overwhelming at the beginning. Thankfully Annie has been tremendously helpful and supportive. She still checks on me from time to time, even after my arrival in China, to see how things are going. I really appreciate it.

GS: How was the process of flying from Canada to China during COVID for you?
AM: Flying from Canada to China during COVID 19 pandemic is like a little adventure itself; you never know what will happen next. Thankfully, I made it with Annie’s support and help, the agency that hired me, and a helpful community of Canadians on WeChat trying to get back to China.

Having support, especially during these times, will make it very easy and smooth. Every country has its own dedicated WeChat group with people trying to get to China, and I would encourage anyone to join these groups as they are beneficial.

GS: What was the arrival and quarantine process like for you? Do you have any tips for teachers due to arrive soon?
AM: I flew from Toronto to Shanghai on January 17th, 2021, via Air Canada. After landing in Shanghai, we waited about an hour on the airplane for the quarantine team. They first gave us consent letters to sign (COVID test) and checked our health code. And then they sent us to our hotel quarantine. I did 21 days of quarantine (14 hotel quarantines in Shanghai and 7 days in Shenzhen).

Here are a few tips that I found beneficial:

Be friendly and kind to everyone you meet. I notice that people might appear to be shouting or unpleasant, but the only reason is that they are concerned about their English level. Tips: Ask for their WeChat so you can communicate easily. I did this most of the time during my quarantine with the doctors and hotels’ quarantine staff.
Join your hotel quarantine WeChat group. Most of the cities have WeChat groups for people in quarantine or people who have arrived. It will help ask questions.
Ask your school to provide you with teaching materials so you can start planning your lessons and get organized. And it will also send a signal to your school that you are a serious teacher.
Create a routine and start your day by making your bed. It might seem cliché, but having a routine will help stay sane. I would advise you to have a daily to-do list as it will give you a sense of accomplishment each day.
Exercise daily using at-home workouts videos, including yoga, push up or bear crawl exercises.
Catch up with friends and family as human beings we all crave connection. During my quarantine, I made a list of all the people I wanted to reconnect with. Every day I call 2 or 3 old friends or family members, and trust me, it is uplifting. If there is anything we learned with this current pandemic, we all crave connection, so go over your contact list and make yourself a list of people you would like to reconnect with.
Bring an external drive packed with your favorite movies and TV shows because some of the hotels quarantine might have an unstable internet connection.
Do not bring anything that needs to be kept refrigerated. I made the mistake of bringing chocolate as gifts, and most of it melts during my quarantine.
Do not forget to prepare as many different kinds of entertainment as you like, including gaming consoles, digital book readers like Kindle.

With proper preparation and structure in place, you can make your quarantine an excellent experience to do all these things you always wanted. It can also be a great way to start a successful routine and habits that you carry on even your quarantine ends.

GS: What advice do you have for people about the recruitment and interview process when looking for jobs teaching in China?
AM: My advice is to build relationships and don’t choose a job based solely on compensation. I know it is important but not as important as building relationships with your agents, school, and HR managers. You want to choose a school or company that will be there for you in case of an emergency. Sometimes things might not go as planned. Once you are in China, you will need someone to assist you days and nights. Someone who can check on you and will do something if something happens to you. And that is what Annie has done and continues to do for me.

Another piece of advice is to join a WeChat group related to people from your country of origin or residence. Especially with this pandemic, it will help you be up to date on the process. Things continue to change continuously. We have a group of Canadians and have over 300 Canadians trying to get to China.

GS: You are teaching in Guangzhou at the moment, can you tell us about your impressions of the city? Are there many COVID restrictions there these days?
AM: I am actually teaching math at an international school. Guangzhou is pretty relaxed in terms of COVID restrictions. Gyms, restaurants, and most of the venues are open. I just started practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

I am relatively new to the city and have just spent about a month in Guangzhou, but so far, my experience has been enjoyable.

At my school, it has been great so far; everyone from the school administration to my colleagues has been supportive in making my transition smooth.

GS: What do you like most about teaching English?
AM: I like the fact that as a teacher we have the opportunity to change someone’s life forever. Most of the successful people we know were influenced by a teacher. For instance, Jay Z or Kobe Bryant, or even Warren Buffet, these successful people were positively affected by their teachers.

I am inspired to make this kind of impact on my students. Our job does not stop at teaching English; we are also coaches, mentors and most of these kids look up to us. We can inspire them to reach their full potential in other areas of their lives.

GS: Can you tell us about your favourite class at the moment?
AM: My favorite class is a grade 12 class. I am helping the class prepare for an Australian University entrance exam. They are all motivated and eager to learn, and that makes me happy.

GS: Talk us through a typical day teaching English in China.
AM: Well, I have three different classes and my days vary. Most of the time, I start by teaching students the main concepts and then move to practice questions. I work on building their confidence level because sometimes I notice that they usually hesitate because of the language barrier, even if they know the answers. I consider my job as two parts: teaching math and also preparing them for university. So I want them to learn to participate and ask questions during class.

I also usually have lunch with other Chinese and foreign teachers around noon. We have a great community of teachers at the school.

GS: What are the teaching resources like there?
AM: Most of the teaching resources are Australian math textbooks, and I also use past exams to test my students and get them ready.

Other resources I use are also other teachers’ experiences.

I ask many questions and even ask them to sit in their class to observe how they prepare and deliver their course.

GS: China is full of surprises and unexpected adventures, tell us about one you have had recently.
AM: The unexpected? I would say how kind and helpful Chinese people are. When I decided to move to China, many of my acquaintances and “friends” tried to dissuade me from coming because black people were refused service in Guangzhou. Well, I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly, and kind people are in Guangzhou.

For example, on my first day in Guangzhou, I was at Guangzhou South train station with three luggage pieces and completely lost. I saw an army guy on duty and asked him to watch my two pieces of luggage while picking up the rest. He watched them for me and then when I came back he carried them for me to get a taxi. And there was also a huge line up of people waiting to get a taxi, but he asked people to let me go first. That was a memorable experience for me.

So, compared to everything that was told about Guangzhou, for me, this is unexpected.

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The post Interview with Altiné Moumouni about Teaching in Shenzhen appeared first on Teach English in China - Current TEFL / ESL Teaching Jobs.

Tick list for USA citizens applying for work visa and flying to China

Frank — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 14:56:48 +0000

This article was last updated 10th January 2025

For any questions please get contact with your Gold Star recruiter, or contact us here or speak with the HR department at your school.

Important note about your passport:
Your passport must have at least 1 year validity and 2 blank pages and have no damage such as creased pages or water damaged pages. If your passport does not meet these criteria your work visa could well be rejected, so please apply for a new passport.

Visa Agents

-Consider using a visa agent to assist with the process. They can offer free advice or take care of the entire process for a fee. Some suggested visa agents:
VisaRite
MyChinaVisa
ChinaEntryVisa
NationalApostille

Google China visa agents in your area for more options

1) Get Criminal Background Check notarised and authenticated

Apply for a Criminal Background Check, also known as an Identity History Summary Check. This is an official statement stating that you do not have a criminal record. This document will be valid for the purpose of the China visa application for six months from its issue date.

There are two options: a) federal level check (FBI) b) state level check . Check with your school which is required, usually a federal level check if preferrable.

Procedure for criminal background check from the FBI:
NOTE: submitting your fingerprints electronically via the post office service is significantly quicker than submitting via mail:
-Visit the FBI page here for instructions
-Confirm your nearest post office which is authorised to submit your request by entering your zip code here. You may also choose an FBI-approved Channeler or if you are already in China, refer to the US embassy page.
-Submit your request here. IMPORTANT: check the box requesting a hard copy of the results
-They will email you your results within 24 hours and send the hard copy by mail within 7 days
-Get your Criminal Background Check document authenticated by the US Department of State. Make sure to inform them the document is intended for China.

Procedure for criminal background check from state level:
-Go to your home state website and request a criminal history check
-Get the document authenticated by the Secretary of State from the state where you live. You can see a list of the Secretary of State offices for each state at the bottom of this page and also on the Chinese embassy page here.
-Make sure to inform them the document is intended for China.

We have also heard Accurate Biometrics offers a very good service for getting your criminal background check.

2) Get degree diploma notarised and authenticated

1- Obtain from the registrar of the University an official true copy of your degree diploma. The registrar should then execute an affidavit attesting to the validity of the document before a notary public.
2- Take the document, with the notarial certificate to the State Notary Public Administrator (scroll down to bottom half of the page) for authentication. Make sure to inform them the document is intended for China. Check this website for samples for each state.
3- A diploma authenticated in some states must be further authenticated by the US Department of State. These states include Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, Washington DC, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Island.

Please see this guide for more details on the process.

3) Get TEFL certificate notarised and authenticated (if required)

Check with your school whether you need to get your TEFL certificate notarised and authenticated. In some cases, if you have sufficient teaching experience for example, you do not need a TEFL certificate for the work visa application.

The process is the same as for your degree diploma, it needs to be notarised in the state or country where it was issued.

4) Documents do NOT need to be authenticated by Chinese embassy anymore

-On 7th November 2023, China joined the Hague Convention, meaning that your documents do NOT need to be authenticated at the Chinese embassy anymore.

5) Medical Check Certificate

You may be required to provide this, however, you may not. Please check with your school to ask if it is required.
-Book an appointment with your local doctor
-Download and print this form and take it to the doctor’s with you
-You might not have to have the blood test, chest x-ray or ECC tests done, please check with your school
-Make sure the doctor writes ‘healthy’ and signs at the bottom of the form
-Doctor must stamp over your photo on the top right of the form and at the bottom of the form
-The health check certificate is valid for 6 months from date it was issued

6) Email notarized and authenticated documents to your school in China

The school will use the documents to process the Work Permit Notification letter that you need to apply for the work visa.

7) Apply for China ‘Z’ Work Visa at the Chinese embassy / consulate

-Visa applications should be made via http://cova.mfa.gov.cn. For questions email the embassy in DC at washington_visa@csm.mfa.gov.cn

-List of Chinese embassies and consulates and here in The US. The embassy in Washington DC is now dealing with the all matters for the Consulate in Houston, as the Consulate in Houston is currently closed.

-Be sure to check for updated announcements from the Chinese embassy on procedures.

8) Book flight to China

-Confirm the target arrival date with your school before booking the flight.

9) Arrival at the airport

IMPORTANT: When you arrive at the airport you may need to provide the name, email address, phone number and address of a contact person from your school in China.

-Get to the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.

Things to bring:
-Passport
-All your original notarized documents (degree, TEFL, criminal background check)
-Phone with WeChat installed (recommended but not required)
-Name, phone number, email address and address of a contact person in China
-Download a VPN, if you wish, for use in China as they are hard to get once you arrive

Procedures may vary so be sure to check at each stage.

For teaching jobs in China please browse our Job Board.

The post Tick list for USA citizens applying for work visa and flying to China appeared first on Teach English in China - Current TEFL / ESL Teaching Jobs.

Tick list for Canadian citizens applying for work visa and flying to China

Frank — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 20:43:14 +0000

This article was last updated 9th November 2024

For any questions please get contact with your Gold Star recruiter, contact us here or speak with the HR department at your school.

1) Get required documents notarised and authenticated

Apply for a criminal background check at from a local police station in Canada or here. This is an official statement stating that you do not have a criminal record in the country that issued your passport. This document will be valid for the purpose of the China visa application for six months from its issue date.

-Get your degree certificate, TEFL certificate (in some cases required, check with your school) and criminal background check notarized and authenticated.

Process:
1- Get a high quality colour copies of your degree certificate and TEFL certificate notarised by a local public notary or lawyer.
2- Then get your degree certificate, TEFL certificate and criminal background check documents authenticated by the provincial authority responsible for authentication, as listed here:

Québec – Chambre des notaires de Québec

Ontario – Official Document Services

British Columbia – Order in Council Administrative Office

Alberta – Deputy Provincial Secretary’s Office

Saskatchewan – Ministry of Justice and Attorney General

Manitoba – Commissioner for Oaths/Notary Public

New Brunswick – Executive Council Office

Nova Scotia – Department of Justice

Prince Edward Island – Department of Justice and Public Safety

Newfoundland – Deputy Minister’s Office

Nunavut – Nunavut Court of Justice

Northwest Territories – Department of Justice

Yukon – The Commissioner of Yukon

List of all contact details for locations in Canada where to get documents authenticated.

Visa Agents

-Consider using a visa agent to assist with the process. They can offer free advice or take care of the entire process for a fee. Some suggested visa agents:

ALSC
CIBT Visas
China Visa Canada Service

Google China visa agents in your city for more options

Medical check certificate
You may be required to provide this, however, you may not. Please check with your school to ask if it is required.
-Book an appointment with your local doctor
-Download and print this form and take it to the doctor’s with you
-You might not have to have the blood test, chest x-ray or ECC tests done, please check with your school
-Make sure the doctor writes ‘healthy’ and signs at the bottom of the form
-Doctor must stamp over your photo on the top right of the form and at the bottom of the form
-The health check certificate is valid for 6 months from date it was issued

2) Documents do NOT need to be authenticated by Chinese embassy anymore

-On 11th January 2024, China joined the Hague Convention, meaning that your documents do NOT need to be authenticated at the Chinese embassy anymore.

3) Email notarized and authenticated documents to your school in China

They will then send you the Work Permit Notification letter that you need to apply for the work visa

4) Apply for your Chinese “Z” work visa from the visa center

– https://www.visaforchina.cn/globle/ – select your country and city

5) Book flight

-Confirm the target arrival date with your school before booking the flight.

6) Arrival at the airport

IMPORTANT: When you arrive at the airport you may need to provide the name, email address, phone number and address of a contact person from your school in China.

-Get to the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.

Procedures may vary so be sure to check at each stage.

For teaching jobs in China please browse our Job Board.

The post Tick list for Canadian citizens applying for work visa and flying to China appeared first on Teach English in China - Current TEFL / ESL Teaching Jobs.

Tick list for South African citizens applying for work visa and flying to China

Frank — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 23:18:08 +0000

This article was last updated 9th November 2024

For any questions please get contact with your Gold Star recruiter, or contact us here or speak with the HR department at your school.

Important note about your passport:
Your passport must have at least 1 year validity and 5 blank pages and have no damage such as creased pages or water damaged pages. If your passport does not meet these criteria your work visa could well be rejected, so please apply for a new passport.

1) Get required documents notarised and authenticated

Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate. This is an official statement from a national or local government agency stating that you do not have a criminal record in the country that issued your passport. This document will be valid for the purpose of the China visa application for six months from its issue date. The application may be made at any SAPS office by taking a copy of your identity document or passport, completing the application form at the office and paying the prescribed fee. Application forms are available online on the SAPS website and at all police stations.

Tip when applying for your Police Clearance: include a cover letter to the police captain explaining that you need the document urgently for a work visa application for China and include a copy of your school contract. There is a good chance they will issue the Police Clearance certificate much faster.

-Get your degree certificate, TEFL certificate (in some cases required, check with your school) and police clearance certificate notarized and authenticated
Process:
1- Degree certificate can be certified at South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)
2- TEFL certificate can be notarised at a law firm and apostilled at the High Court of South Africa
2- The degree, TEFL and police clearance certificate documents can then be legalised at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). Email is Legalisation@dirco.gov.za

IMPORTANT UPDATE: DIRCO is now allowing walk-in appointments for documents to be notarised on the same day! Much quicker than doing it online.

The DIRCO office address is: OR Tambo Building, 460 Soutpansberg Road, Rietondale, Pretoria, 0084, Gauteng, South Africa.

The DIRCO office in Pretoria is the only office that issues the DIRCO apostille stamp in South Africa. DIRCO only accept original documents.

-Consider using a visa agent to assist with the process. They can offer free advice or take care of the entire process for a fee. Some suggested visa agents:
Easy Apostille
Be Authentic
SVS Services
Doc Assist
Road2Asia
VisaRequest

Google ‘China visa agents in South Africa’ for more options.

Medical check certificate
You may be required to provide this, however, you may not. Please check with your school to ask if it is required.
-Book an appointment with your local doctor
-Download and print this form and take it to the doctor’s with you
-You do NOT have to have the blood test, chest x-ray or ECC tests done
-Make sure the doctor writes ‘healthy’ and signs at the bottom of the form
-Doctor must stamp over your photo on the top right of the form and at the bottom of the form
-The health check certificate is valid for 6 months from date it was issued

2) Documents do NOT need to be authenticated by Chinese embassy anymore

-On 7th November 2023, China joined the Hague Convention, meaning that your documents do NOT need to be authenticated at the Chinese embassy anymore.

3) Email notarized and authenticated documents to your school in China

The school will use the documents to process the Work Permit Notification letter that you need to apply for the work visa.

4) Apply for your Chinese “Z” work visa from the visa center

– https://www.visaforchina.cn/globle/ – select your country and city

5) Book flight

-Confirm the target arrival date with your school before booking the flight.

6) Arrival at the airport

IMPORTANT: When you arrive at the airport you may need to provide the name, email address, phone number and address of a contact person from your school in China.

-Get to the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.

Procedures may vary so be sure to check at each stage.

For teaching jobs in China please browse our Job Board.

The post Tick list for South African citizens applying for work visa and flying to China appeared first on Teach English in China - Current TEFL / ESL Teaching Jobs.

Tick list for UK citizens applying for work visa and flying to China

Frank — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 18:47:38 +0000

This article was last updated 9th November 2024

For any questions please get contact with your Gold Star recruiter, or contact us here or speak with the HR department at your school.

1) Get required documents notarised and legalised

Apply for a ‘police certificate’ criminal background check at ARCO Criminal Records Office. This is an official statement from a national or local government agency stating that you do not have a criminal record in the country that issued your passport. Another option is the basic Disclosure & Barring Service check. Please check with your school to confirm which one they require. This document will be valid for the purpose of the China visa application for six months from its issue date.

-Get your degree certificate, TEFL certificate (in some cases required, check with your school) and ARCO criminal background check notarized and authenticated.

Process:
1- Get a high quality colour copy of your degree, TEFL (in some cases) and ARCO police check notarised by a public notary
2- The Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) must then legalise the documents by issuing a stamp (apostilled)

–Contact us for a more detailed Visa Guide for step by step instructions and support on getting your documents notarised and authenticated

-Confirm with your school what needs doing

-Consider using a visa agent to assist with the process. They can offer free advice or take care of the entire process for a fee. Some suggested visa agents:

Vital Consular
Apostille of the Hague
5 Star China Travel
China Visa Direct
CIBT Visas
i2visa

2) Documents do NOT need to be authenticated by Chinese embassy anymore

-On 7th November 2023, China joined the Hague Convention, meaning that your documents do NOT need to be authenticated at the Chinese embassy anymore.

3) Email notarized and legalised documents to your school in China

The school will use the documents to process the Work Permit Notification letter that you need to apply for the work visa.

4) Apply for your Chinese “Z” work visa from the visa center

– https://www.visaforchina.cn/globle/ – select your country and city

-Email address for help is ukcentre@visaforchina.org

5) Book flight

-Confirm the target arrival date with your school before booking the flight.

6) Arrival at the airport

IMPORTANT: When you arrive at the airport you may need to provide the name, email address, phone number and address of a contact person from your school in China.

-Get to the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.

Procedures may vary so be sure to check at each stage.

For teaching jobs in China please browse our Job Board.

The post Tick list for UK citizens applying for work visa and flying to China appeared first on Teach English in China - Current TEFL / ESL Teaching Jobs.

Pros and Cons for using a Recruitment Company to Teach English Abroad

Andy Nesbit — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 06:34:11 +0000

For many people, the concept of teaching English abroad is that you simply head out to the country, show off your English prowess, and land a job. As awesome as that would be, let me tell you from experience that this is not how it works!

In reality, most people will look to use a recruitment firm to help them land a job in the industry. Is that a good idea, though? I want to take a look at the pros and cons to help you decide.

The pros of using a recruitment company

There are many benefits to turning to a recruitment company for help and advice, and many times they can be the ideal solution to get you started. Here are some of the benefits involved in using a recruitment agency to land a job teaching English abroad:

Contrary to popular belief, most recruitment agencies charge schools a fee, not the teacher.
With most recruiters, you won’t find that any of your wages are held back from you – your wages are what you earn.
Recruitment firms often have contacts and friends within reputable schools, improving the chances you have of landing a more reputable post.
With the vetting process already done on you by the recruitment agency, your employer will ask far less questions about why they should choose to hire you.
Recruitment agencies can help you to land long-term work as opposed to short-term semester contracts. This allows you to find a permanent position much easier.
At the same time, you’ll be able to find a role through an agency that suits your skillset. This helps you to avoid being either under-used, or in over your head.
Recruitment staff are often able to help you out with kinks in your profile, as they will often be bi-lingual and thus better at spotting potential issues in your profile.
By working with the same recruitment firm for years, you can build up a clear rapport and make it easier to find the kind of work you were hoping for in the first place.

The cons of using a recruitment company

However, not everyone is going to benefit from using a recruitment company for finding work teaching English abroad. While not always the case, keep an eye on the following concerns:

First off, you need to take some time to research the recruitment firm to make sure they are legitimate and can be trusted.
Choosing the wrong firm can be detrimental to your chances of landing work; make sure you choose an agency with the correct opportunities for you.
Some companies are more focused on landing their commission for recruitment as opposed to putting you in the right job: always be sure to investigate their motivations!

Really, the main challenge with getting a job teaching English abroad is making sure you use the right kind of help. For those starting out, I would highly recommend starting out with a recruitment agency. They can help you to open up many doors that might have otherwise been closed off to you and can ensure that you find a good, professional opportunity in the field that you are most suited to. Just be sure to evaluate and research the agency before doing anything else, though; a little bit of knowledge goes a very long way when evaluating your future career prospects!

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Work in China – 4 Alternatives to Teaching for Foreigners. But which is best?

Jason McCarthy — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 02:10:28 +0000

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We’ve all fancied a fresh start every now and again, but you’re actually brave enough to do something about it. That sets you apart.

You’re looking at what you can do for a living if you should choose to move to China, and you’re confronted with the same thing time and time again:

Teacher, Teacher, English Teacher, Teacher, Teacher, Teach online, Teacher, Teaching English online, Teacher, English Teacher, Teacher, Teacher…

But what do you do if you want to live in China, but categorically do not want to be a teacher?

Hands-on jobs like engineering are already pretty much covered by the locals, so you want to play to your strengths; you don’t have to teach English, but knowing it puts you head and shoulders ahead of the game.

There are plenty of jobs available for those of you who can speak English proficiently, and this is a strength that you want to be advertising at every potential avenue.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of our top 4 picks for alternatives to teaching while you work in China, focussing on jobs which make use of your natural linguistical advantage.

1 – Working in IT

The IT sector in China is one of the most profitable and lucrative areas for employment, particularly for those of you coming from outside the country.

Your capacity to speak English will prove to be nothing short of an absolute benefit.

Liaising with foreign companies as you solve problems you didn’t even know existed, for people prepared to throw money at you the whole time… for many, this is the dream job.

Some previous experience working in IT is pretty much essential though; so it’s worth going back through all your old qualifications from school and seeing if there’s anything relevant you can use to your advantage.

2 – English Writer or Editor

A foreign perspective is one of the most sought-after things by local Chinese newspapers or media outlets.

If you have a grasp of the ‘goings on’ in China then you can write columns from the perspective of an outsider, and local businesses will pay you for it.

You can even find work as a freelance writer and editor, with many companies calling out for people prepared to give their input. Everybody has it in them to talk at length about something, right? So find a venue which allows you to just ‘get it off your chest’, and you’ll even make a little cash along the way.

3 – Working in Business

Chinese businesses are always desperate for people who can speak English, and who are prepared to do some hard work for good money; and make no mistake: the work will be hard, but the money will be good.

A quick Google search showed me that a whole host of various companies are looking for English speakers, even with very few necessary qualifications; none other than the likes of Apple and Google have proven themselves to be some of the most prolific hirers in China.

Businesses often need people who can communicate effectively with clientele and prospective buyers, and you’re putting yourself into a great position by being able to speak English already.

4 – Translator

There’s no shortage of people needing to work with English-speakers; primarily because of how invaluable an asset your knowledge of English really is.

If you advertise your services as a freelance translator, or even if you contract yourself in this position to a company, you’ll find you’re quickly snapped up.

Many businesses are looking to work with companies overseas and particularly Chinese ones. Your ability to serve as a middle-man/woman for these big companies is a sure-fire way of lining your own pockets in the process.

Play to your strengths…

The fact that you can speak English will already put you well above any potential competition.

You don’t have to be a teacher by any means, but definitely don’t lose sight of the fact that your language is your greatest tool in the foreign workplace.

Teaching is not the be-all-and-end-all of working in China, and there’s plenty of other things you can do there – and your ability to speak English is going to get you one foot in the door every time. However, teaching in classrooms or teaching English online is certainly the most reliable source of income out of this list.

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8 Great Activities for Primary School Classrooms

Laura Grace Tarpley — Wed, 24 May 2017 08:36:41 +0000

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My husband and I teach at a public primary school in Shenzhen, China. While the children are adorable and hilarious, teaching English to little kids can be challenging for several reasons.

First, they have an overwhelming amount of energy. Second, they have short attention spans. The younger they are, the more often we have to change activities to hold their interest. Third, there are 50 to 60 students in our classes, so we need to find activities that engage all of them. Fourth, I teach grades 1 and 2, so my pupils haven’t learned how to write in English yet. As a result, the exercises I can do with them are limited.

If you are a primary school teacher, you may find yourself facing similar obstacles. After teaching for 6 months, my husband and I have found several games our little learners enjoy that are also consistently effective instructional tools. Here are 8 of our favorites.

1. Coloring pages

During the second term, my grade 1 and 2 students learn colors. Every once in a while, I give them coloring pages with images of their vocabulary words. Then I tell them to color each image a certain color. For example, I say, “Color the blouse pink,” and “color the dress red and yellow.” They are able to review their colors and practice their new vocabulary.

After they finish coloring an image, I call on one individual at a time to practice the target words. Grade 1 students just have to say something simple, such as, “It’s green!” For grade 2, I make things a little more difficult. Last week they had to say complete sentences using colors and clothes. For example, “I have a red and yellow dress.”

2. Hide and Seek

Print pictures on sheets of paper. Show the first picture to the entire class and call on one child to identify the image.

“Flower!”

That kid comes to the front of the classroom and closes their eyes while you hide the paper under a book on another student’s desk.

The first student has to find the sheet of paper. They do so with the entire class’s help. They must say, “Flower, flower, flower …” The closer the seeker gets to the hidden paper, the more loudly their classmates chant the vocabulary word. Hide and Seek is a fun way to have the entire class repeat and memorize vocabulary words!

3. The Bomb Game

Divide the students into groups and let them compete! Roger’s ESL PowerPoints offers some free Bomb Game templates, which you can adjust to your class’s vocabulary. Give each team five points at the beginning of the game, and the team with the highest score when the bell rings wins! This also offers students an opportunity to practice their letters.

4. Tic-Tac-Toe

Divide the students into two teams, X and O. A child must answer a question correctly to get an X or O on the board for their team. This website provides a variety of easy-to-use PowerPoint templates, but I especially like Tic-Tac-Toe.

We’ve played this game with grades 1 through 6. It’s always a hit, no matter the age!

5. Songs

Singing is a great way to get children to loosen up and learn new material.

Go onto Youku.com to download songs. Super Simple Learning has numerous great options, such as, “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” “Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes,” and “Baby Shark.” If your kids are learning the seasons, most students adore the song “Four Seasons.” Bounce Patrol, a Youku channel, has a great series for learning letters of the alphabet.

6. Ball game

A fellow primary school teacher recently recommended this game to me as a warm up, and my kids love it!

Bring a ball to the classroom. Students pass around a ball while you play a song on the computer. I usually play Justin Bieber’s “Baby.” They go bananas for The Biebs!

When you stop the song, show the students a picture on a flash card or on the PowerPoint. The person holding the ball when the music stops has to identify the vocabulary word.

7. Board races

Call two students to the front of the classroom. In your PowerPoint presentation, pull up two pictures side by side. You may have a picture of a pie and a picture of a cake. Yell, “Cake!” The first kid to run to the board and touch the cake picture wins a point for his team.

8. Pictionary

Young students are usually eager to participate in Pictionary. They love to get out of their seats, be creative, and show off! I usually have one child draw at a time. The student who correctly guesses the vocabulary word gets to draw next.

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Career Advice: 10 Most Common Interview Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Priyanka Misra — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 08:02:43 +0000

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Job interviews are like first dates: Good impressions count; Awkwardness can occur; Outcomes are unpredictable. Your palms tend to get sweaty and you clam up. Or you get self-conscious and start talking non-stop to fill every pause in the conversation. Both, not good scenarios. If you get that first impression wrong, that would most likely be the end of the line for you! No second date and definitely no amazing job. But worry no more. We have the perfect list of dos and don’ts to get you through any interview, with flying colours.

Mistake #1: Lack of preparedness before interviews

Job interviews can be tough. Some are the nerve-racking types, while others just reduce your legs to jelly, in an instant. But you can never be prepared enough! And here is how you do it:

a. Understand the Job Description: You would like to know what the role requires of candidates and how your skills match with the job in question!

b. Research about the Company and Interviewers: When a candidate is completely clued-in on the company background, it reflects his/her genuine interest in the role. But to earn those extra brownie points, it would help to read through the LinkedIn profile of your interviewer and mention about it in passing!

c. Carry a perfectly formatted, comprehensive and well-worded resume: Even if you have already shared the digital copy with them, it always helps to keep a copy of your CV handy, for the reference of interviewers.

d. Be prepared with answers to common interview questions: Remember that one time you ended up sounding pretentious and deceptive by saying that your biggest flaw is your drive for “perfectionism”? Or when you couldn’t tell the interviewer where you see yourself 10 years down the line?
Don’t let that happen ever again. Create a regularly updated roster of such common questions, that you can keep referring to before each interview.

Mistake #2: Not keeping your phone on silent

One just can’t stress enough on the importance of keeping distractions to a minimum during an interview. By just keeping the phone in meeting/silent mode, you show respect for the interviewer and also allow the interview to proceed without any interruptions.

Mistake #3: Wearing inappropriate clothing

It’s not just about not wearing loud or revealing outfits. One needs to research on the company culture before picking out the perfect “interview-outfit”. With a spurt in start-up culture, in India, more and more companies encourage you to wear what you are comfortable in.

But when in doubt, err on the side of caution and wear sensible business suit and shoes. It also helps to power dress, in order to look and feel confident to tackle the pressures of an interview.

Mistake #4: Arriving late to the interview

A BIG NO! If you can’t respect other people’s time, your candidature will most likely not be respected. Even if you have a really good excuse for being late, if reflects poorly on your punctuality. So, always check traffic situation and aim to reach at least 15 minutes prior to the interview.

Mistake #5: Appearing too excited or under-excited

When you really want the job, you can’t let it show. Needy and over-enthusiastic candidates put themselves in a position of lower bargaining power. And just like that, good-bye stellar pay-package! The same end result applies for when you look uninterested or bored with the role on offer. The interviewer will interpret it as lack of seriousness towards the role, causing you to miss out on the opportunity! The trick, therefore, is to be professional, amiable and composed, while showing just the requisite amount of interest in the company and the role.

Mistake #6: Criticizing the previous employer

No matter how much you hated your last organization or how unfair they were to you, an interview is definitely not the forum to talk about it. For, if one resorts to mud-slinging, it would only show immaturity and lack of loyalty. Stay professional, when outlining the challenges faced in your previous organization.

Mistake #7: Exhibiting poor body language

There is much more to cracking the interview than just speaking correctly! Your body posture and facial expressions almost tend to be a window into your soul. If you slouch, are shifty eyed, or if your body language communicates arrogance, the interviewer might just write you off!

The trick is to maintain regular eye contact, give firm handshakes, smile occasionally and sit well-poised! It’s your interview to conquer; stay classy and confident as you do so!

Mistake #8: Not asking the right questions

When the interviewer asks if you have any questions for them, never say no.There is so much you don’t know about the workplace, its culture or the team you could be joining. You might not even know how soon the role needs to be filled! By asking the right questions, you will be able to make an informed decision about whether the role is really meant for you! It also gives the interviewer the impression that you have thought well and hard about the role and not just applied on a whim.

Mistake #9: Forgetting to follow up

Consider the fact that you’ve had a very successful interview. Then weeks go by and surprisingly you don’t hear from them. And by then you feel awkward asking about the status of your application.

Wonder why? Chances are your candidature was forgotten.

What should you have done to prevent this? Write a pleasant email, thanking them for the interaction (interview). In the email, you could also ask when you can expect to hear from them. This way you know when to follow up and your application will be fresh on their minds (and on their email)!

Mistake #10: Giving wrong recommendations

Your job references are the ones who will boost your eligibility score for that coveted role, once the interview is over. They need to be carefully selected and then asked for permission to include them in your reference list. But don’t ever lie about your references! That would be akin to career-suicide.

Now that we are all done, start tweaking these pointers to suit your personality and the vibe of each interview. At the end of the day, it’s about setting the right chemistry.
So, the next time you have an interview to take, think of how you would approach it as a first date. Just like in the case of finding a life partner, remember you are not trying to land just any job. You are looking for the right one.

It’s a huge commitment to make on both fronts; making it really important for both parties to truly know each other.

So get out there into the job-hunting circuit, and land yourself that perfect role!

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