Are you planning on teaching in China? Are you planning on teaching online?
If you answered 'yes' to either of these questions, you need to complete a TEFL course to become certified.
Here's everything you need to know.
First things first – what does TEFL stand for?
TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
A TEFL course trains you to teach English in another country or online. When you successfully complete a TEFL course, you receive a TEFL certificate.
You may have also heard the acronym TESOL, which stands for Teaching English as a Second or Other Language. It's another way of saying TEFL.
How do I get TEFL certification for China?
It’s easy!
Simply head to our TEFL Store and choose a course that suits your needs and budget.
Just make sure it's at least 120 hours. This is the minimum requirement for China.
There are other requirements to teach in China, including a bachelor's degree, as outlined below.
If you have a teaching or education degree, you don’t need a TEFL certificate (lucky you!).
What about TEFL certification for teaching online?
All the legitimate schools based in China require a 120 hour TEFL course.
What kinds of TEFL courses are available?
There are three kinds of TEFL courses for China:
- Online
- Face to face
- Combined (online and face to face).
Many people choose to complete their course fully online. It's a quick way of getting TEFL certification.
However, it's worth considering a combined course. A 120-hour combined course typically has 100 hours of online study and 20 hours of face-to-face practise.
A combined course gives you the opportunity to practise in person what you’ve learned in the online component. And it’s a great way to shake off any nerves before your first class!
If you have the time and money to do your course entirely face-to-face, then go for it! You can do this in a few cities in China, as outlined further down.
What is the best TEFL course for teaching in China or online?
When choosing a TEFL course, there are three main things to consider:
- Quality and reputation
- Features
- Cost.
We've taken the guesswork out for you by providing reputable courses in our TEFL store that have great features and are competitively priced.
Features differ slightly between courses, so have a think about what matters to you.
For example, do you want tutor support via Skype? Getting detailed written feedback? Or access to things like video case studies?
We recommend doing a combined course. This gives you some face-to-face practise as well as the online study component.
A combined course gives you face-to-face practise.
If you decide on a purely online course, check out this blog on the best online TEFL courses.
The more effort you put in to your course, the better equipped you’ll be for a class full of Chinese students.
If you need help choosing a course, we’d be pleased to help. Simply give us a call or send us a message.
Can I do a TEFL course in China in person?
Due to COVID-19 affecting international travel, in-country TEFL courses may not be available until after the pandemic.
Online and combined courses may not suit everyone, and that’s why in-country TEFL courses in China are available.
You'll study in China for four weeks with other like-minded people from USA, Britain and around the world.
You can choose from Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Zhuhai (near Hong Kong). Note that some sessions are currently unavailable due to the coronavirus affecting international travel.
Before you head to China to do your course, we'll help you land a China TEFL job.
This means once you finish your course you can head straight to your school and start teaching!
Doing a TEFL course in China is a great experience.
A face-to-face TEFL course in China is a great way to meet like-minded travellers, and an awesome way to start your teaching adventure.
We've partnered with iTTT, a leading course provider, for our TEFL courses based in China.
For more information, dates and to sign up, choose from your favorite city below:
Unsure if teaching is for you?
If you're not 100% sure about teaching overseas or online, we recommend you 'test the water' by doing a basic course like this one.
An entry level course is a good option for those who want to learn about the basic principals of teaching English as a foreign language.
If you decide teaching isn't for you, you can rest assured knowing you haven't invested much time or money into the process.
Do schools in China have a preference for the kind of TEFL certification?
The schools in China we partner with accept online, face to face, or combined TEFL courses.
So, choose what's right for you – as long as it's at least 120 hours!
Any course type can get you TEFL certification for China.
Note that some schools prefer the certificate not to have 'online' printed on it.
Will the kind of TEFL course I choose have any impact on my salary?
No, not really. Again, just make sure it’s at least 120 hours.
We don't recommend any of the poor quality courses like the ones you find on Groupon.
These may be unusable.
What is actually involved in doing a TEFL course?
Generally, a TEFL course includes areas of study such as:
- Grammar
- Phonology
- Classroom management
- Lesson planning.
TEFL courses cover off areas such as lesson planning and classroom management.
You will have little tests along the way to check for your understanding.
The tests may be multiple choice or free answer. A TEFL instructor will assess your free answers and your overall mark.
TEFL courses for teaching in China aren’t overly difficult, though they will require your time, patience and concentration. It’s best not to rush through your course.
Some courses need to be completed within a few months, while others give you up to a year.
Can I do one of your TEFL courses and then choose a different country or recruiter?
Of course!
Once you pay for your China TEFL course you don’t have to go on to teach in China, or partner with us as your recruiter.
But we’d love you to experience all that China has to offer!
The courses in our TEFL Store are suitable for other countries. Just check the requirements of the place you're going to.
Here's a good guide for other countries.
Do I really need a TEFL certificate to teach in China?
According to the Chinese authority that sets down the guidelines for foreign teachers, there are two things you should have if you want to teach in China:
- A bachelor’s degree
- More than two years of related work experience.
Many foreigners who come to teach in China, however, don’t have teaching experience.
Therefore, instead of insisting on relevant work experience, most schools in China simply require you to obtain a TEFL certificate.
So although there is no legal requirement to have a TEFL certficate to teach in China, you would be hard-pressed finding a reputable school that doesn't demand one.
Got TEFL? Then you can teach in China!
All the schools we work with require you to be TEFL certified (unless you have a teaching or education degree).
You can find all the requirements to teach in China here.
Can I get a free TEFL course?
Some schools we partner with offer a free or discounted TEFL course as part of the employment package.
Ask us for more details when you apply for a position with us.
Do I need a TESOL certificate to teach English in China?
TESOL stands for Teaching English as a Second or Other Language. It's just another way of saying TEFL.
So yes, you need a TESOL (or TEFL) certificate to teach in China unless you have an education or teaching degree.
Do I need CELTA to teach English in China?
CELTA stands for Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults.
It's an internationally recognized qualification, administered by Cambridge English (part of the University of Cambridge).
The course is usually run face-to-face, includes real-life teaching experience, and takes a month to complete full-time. This makes it more comprehensive than a TEFL or TESOL course.
While it's a great certificate to have under your belt, TEFL is sufficient for China (and costs significantly less, too!).
Can I apply for a teaching job if I haven’t started a TEFL course?
Yes, you can still apply for a teaching job in China with us, even if you haven’t started a TEFL course. Just mark this on our online application form.
However, you will need to have completed your TEFL course well before you intend on teaching in China.
This is due to the visa process, which usually takes a few months. We can help you with the visa.
You must complete your TEFL course before starting the visa process.
Can non-native English speakers take a TEFL course?
If you’re a non-native English speaker, you can still complete one of our TEFL courses.
However, to teach in China with us, you need to be a native English speaker and satisfy other eligibility requirements.
Are there any TEFL course discount or promo codes?
The courses we offer in our TEFL Store are already discounted.
We're able to offer you these discounted courses thanks to the special arrangements with our TEFL partners.
If you have any further questions about China TEFL courses, we’d love to answer them.
