Why Shanghai?

Situated on the estuary of Yangtze River, it serves as the most influential economic, financial, international trade, and cultural center in East China. Known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, Shanghai is truly an international metropolis in every sense of the word. The most vibrant and progressive city in China, Shanghai is the economic and cultural center, blending an incredible mix of Eastern and Western culture.

To teach English in Shanghai is to live in the epicenter of modern day China and to be a part of the animate growth and dynamic energy of a city racing to the future. New skyscrapers and old Shikumen together draw the skyline of the city. Western customs and Chinese traditions intertwined and formed the city’s culture, making a memorable impression.

The demand for learning English is as strong as ever and Shanghai is the place to be for high paying teaching jobs and the chance to build valuable experience while having the time of your life.

Who will love it: Big city lovers. international city, 24 hours entertainment, Also, people that are a bit nervous about teaching English in China.

Attraction: A great mix of old and the new. From the cafés of the old French Concession to the modern apartment high-rises next to a decades-old temple, the combination is everywhere. Whether its eating out at some of the world’s hottest restaurants, dancing to the beats of local DJs or shopping at cute boutiques, there is nothing like Shanghai.

The total salary usually includes the following

Basic salary

Performance / KPI / Class bonuses

Housing allowance / Free accommodation

Visa allowance

Ticket allowance

Health / medical insurance

REQUIREMENTS

In order to teach legally in China, you have to meet the following criteria in order to obtain a Z visa.
⦁ You have to be a Native English speaker, which means you need to be from one of the following countries: South Africa, The United States, England, Ireland, Australia, New-Zealand or Canada.
⦁ You have to have a passport that still has 2 years’ validity and at least 6 blank visa pages.
⦁ You have to have a clear criminal background and be able to obtain a police clearance certificate showing that you have no convictions.
⦁ You have to have at least a Bachelor’s degree. The degree can be in any field, however, it needs to be a degree. Unfortunately diplomas and certificates aren’t accepted for visa purposes in China.
⦁ In order to find work in big cities in China you need to have at least a 120-hour TEFL certificate which you can easily obtain through The TEFL society or any other TEFL company whose certificates are accepted by the Chinese government for visa purposes. You don’t need the TEFL in order to apply for a position and you are encouraged to APPLY NOW, but in order to get the visa you would need to complete a course.

How do I apply?
Please click on the APPLY NOW tab on this website.

How much will I be paid?
You will earn between $2200 – $3500 per month

Are the remuneration packages you mentioned what I can expect to receive?
Yes. However, certain schools might pay slightly more. It all depends on your location, experience, etc.

Will I be kidnapped? Are you doing human trafficking?
NO!!! Strangely enough, we get this question quite often. You don’t need to worry about being kidnapped.
Go have a look at this BBC video and you will see that there are security cameras EVERYWHERE in China. The chances of something happening to you is almost zero. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNf4-d6fDoY

Is China safe?
From the above video link, you can see that surveillance is everywhere and as such crime is at a minimum. The general public is also not allowed to own guns in China and as such violent crime almost doesn’t exist.

Is China convenient?
Yes. China is extremely convenient. We use our phones to do everything here. We don’t need cars, and if we really need to talk to a local we use translate on our phones. Here are a few more links to show you how technologically advanced this country is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75AXINUL47g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JDoll8OEFE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG4RTb58xSs

How do I know I’m not being scammed?

Here at Tthe Elite Education, we pride ourselves on being honest and open and therefore we have the following policies in place in order to ensure that our teachers are safe.

a. Our recruiters will provide you with their full names in order for you to find them on social media to see if they are real people.
b. We never ask you for one single cent or take a cut from your salary at any point.
 c. If needed, we can arrange a talk with the current teacher in school.
d. You sign a contract directly with us
e. Your employer pays your salary.
f. Upon your request we will provide you with any non-confidential information you might need, including our business registration documents etc.
g. We will not let you be employed in China without having the correct Z/ work visa.

Where will I work, and how old are the kids?
The students are usually between the ages of 3 and 14 years old and we have various positions in Training centers, Kindergartens, Primary schools, middle schools, and International schools all across China.

What’s the catch? How much do we have to pay you?
There is no catch. To prove to our applicants that we are not a scam we don’t ask you anything for our services at any point.

Can I apply if I am not from one of the Native English speaking countries?
Unfortunately, we can only accept applicants from Native English speaking countries such as South Africa, the USA, Australia, NZ, UK, Ireland and Canada.

Can I come over to China with my child?
This is definitely possible. A little more complicated, but we are able to assist. 
How long is the contract?
All contracts are 1 year long at the first year. And we will talk to you 2-3 months in advance to see if you would like to extend the contract.

What happens if I want to stay in China longer?
Extending your contract is always an option. If you sign to stay in the same school for a second year you also receive bonus just for resigning with the school.

Is there an age limit?

We can accept candidates under 45, outstanding ability can be appropriate to relax the conditions, and the legal upper age limit is 60.

Do I need a TEFL certificate to teach in China?
Yes. You have to have a TEFL certificate to obtain the work visa, but to apply on our website you don’t need to have one yet. You are welcome to do our 120-hour TEFL Course or obtain your certificate from any other TEFL provider. However, just ensure that their certificates can be notarised and that they are accepted for work visa purposes in China.

When is the best time to apply?
Apply whenever you are ready to come. It usually takes 2-3 months in order to get your documents ready.

Can I apply with a friend/spouse?
We encourage this! We try our best to place friends or family members near each other.

How can I communicate with my family and friends back home?
In this day and age, communicating with loved ones, no matter where in the world they may be is easy.   Some foreign apps like Google and Facebook are blocked in China, although many foreigners still access them daily. Speak to us if this is something that bothers you and we will walk you through it.

How will I get to work every day?
Most teachers will live in close proximity to their schools, so walking and cycling will be the preferred method of getting to and from work. However, if a school is a bit further away the metro/ subway systems are extremely convenient.

What is the food like?
The food in China is delicious, colorful, fresh, and relatively cheap! You have all kinds of options. You may, for example, choose to shop at a western-style supermarket, like Carrefour or Walmart. Alternatively, you may opt to pick up your groceries at a local market on a street corner and cook up your own stir fry.  But most teachers opt for the convenience of stopping at the myriad of cheap Chinese restaurants available in every direction you care to go.  For the less adventurous: there is an over-abundance of KFC, Starbucks, Burger King, and McDonald’s in every city.

How can I teach if I don’t have any prior teaching experience?
You are not expected to know how to teach on arrival in China, you will receive training, and the 120-hour TEFL course will provide you with the knowledge you need.

How can I teach children if I can’t speak their language?
Speaking Chinese is not at all needed in order to teach in China.  New vocabulary is taught with the aid of flashcards (cards with pictures on them) and grammar is taught through drills, games, rhymes, poems, songs, etc.
You will also have a Mandarin-speaking assistant present in most of your classes, and he/she will translate if it is really needed.

What are the class sizes?
Averagely, 35 for high school , 35 for primary school，and 25-30 for kindergarten.

What should I bring with me?
Pack like you were going on holiday. You will be living in a fully furnished apartment so there is no need to bring your television along. But pack your laptop, medication, clothes, toiletries, the necessary documents and of course, your camera.

Can I open a bank account in China?
Yes. We will help you to open a bank account within the first few weeks after arriving.

How much can I expect to save?
It is completely possible to save between $1000-$2000 of your salary every month. That just depends on how much you earn and how much you spend.

Getting to China.
Packing up and moving half-way around the world is a huge step that requires patience, wit, stamina, perseverance and a whole lot of faith. But once you’re here you’ll see that it’s all worth it and you’ll never look back.
In order for us to get started this is how the process usually works.
⦁ You apply on our website
⦁ One of our recruiters will be in touch and answer any of your questions.
⦁ We will arrange an interview with you
⦁ If the interview goes well you sign a contract with us.
⦁ You start getting your documents ready in order to apply for the work permit.
⦁ You send us all the documents you need in order to apply for the work permit.
⦁ We apply for the work permit here in China and send it back to you in order to apply for the work visa.
⦁ You apply for the work visa at the nearest China visa application centre.
⦁ Once your visa is approved you fly to China and we pick you up at the airport.
⦁ We accompany you to your accommodation and assist in making the transition to your new life smooth and easy.