Teaching abroad is a great option for those who want to see different parts of the world, while still having a career and a steady paycheck. Full time teaching work in China on average will pay between CNY9,000 – 20,000/month. Given the cost of living in China, this is enough to cover day to day living expenses, including accommodation, eating out etc., as well as allowing you to save money each month to spend travelling. You can use this money to go on several short breaks around the country throughout your time in China, or else save your money and go on a longer trip around China and other parts of Asia during summer vacation.
China is a vast country, approximately the same size as Europe, yet, before coming to China, people often fail to realize how many different cultures there are within the country. You could spend months upon months travelling around China, continuously learning, and constantly being surprised at the new things you will experience in each location.
Depending on where you are located in China, you have the option of taking weekend trips to various places around the country. For example, if you are based in Shanghai, you can be in beautiful scenic areas such as Suzhou and Hangzhou within a few hours- perfect for weekend trips during the school year!
For longer trips, there a several Chinese National Holidays each year- ranging from one day to one week in length. This means that people with jobs teaching English have plentiful time to travel to various locations across the country. The most popular places to visit in China are Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guilin and Xian. However, as a teacher working in China you’ll regularly meet new people who will tell you about various hidden gems across China, giving you the chance to visit the more ‘non-touristy’ areas in the country.
During your time teaching in China you can use your longer vacations, such as Chinese New Year and summer vacation, to travel to other Asian countries. This means that the money you earn from teaching in China could allow you to sunbathe in the Philippines, attend a full moon party in Thailand, or go elephant trekking in Cambodia.
During my time in China, I have met several people who have told me how teaching English has funded their travels around not only Asia, but the rest of the world. One girl told to me how she used the money she saved from teaching English for one year to go travelling around South America for several months, another explained how teaching English in China has allowed her to save money to visit Europe.
Even if you do not travel far, China is such a diverse country that there is unlimited exploring and cultural activities to do in each city. In many countries, a person’s daily life can become extremely monotonous. This is not the case in China. Every day you will see something different, or learn something new about Chinese culture.
In short, although teaching English abroad is not a job to be taken lightly, it is one that offers an unparalleled platform for travelling in foreign countries, and therefore is a perfect choice for those of you who want to see the world and learn a new culture, while developing your career.
