Teach English in Suzhou

Teach English in Suzhou

Benefits and requirements

    • Education:
      No bachelor degree required but will be a benefit to get a higher salary
    • TEFL Certification:
      TEFL/TESOL Certification is preferred but not necessary since we provide a free certificate (online or offline at your choice) when you arrive and start your work at a school
    • Other requirements:
      - English language fluency in speaking, reading, and writing
      - Willingness to stay with the school for 12 or 15 months
      - Passion for teaching, indulgence, genuine interest for Chinese culture and an open mind
    • Peak Hiring Months:
      Year-round
    • Types of Jobs:
      International kindergartens, language centers, kindergartens, and training centers
    • Citizenship Requirements: 
      Citizenship from the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa typically required. We also hire non-native English speakers with fluent English from other countries.
    • Typical Hiring Process:
      Interview by Skype, Self-introduction video, CV
    • Average teaching hours per week:
      20-25 teaching hours & 15 prep time hours
    • Types of Students:
      Kindergarten education, school children, private students
    • Cost of Living per Month:
      $400-700 USD (2800 - 4900 RMB) depending on your lifestyle, accommodation is free
    • Additional benefits and perks:
      5000 RMB contract completion bonus,       Airport pickup, Overtime pay, Referral bonuses per person (if a new teacher is hired through your recommendation), Help with a bank account, taxes, paying bills, officials and doctors, Pre-job training, Salary increase + yearly bonuses for teachers who stay with the employer, Well-equipped classrooms, All necessary teaching materials, 24/7 phone support during your stay in China
    • Monthly Pay:
      Salary from 9000 up to 16,000 RMB (depends on your qualification, education, skills, , experience, level of English, etc.)
    • Start-up Cost:
      Flight ticket + money for the first month of living in China until you get the first salary (~$400 USD)
    • Potential to Save or Break-even:
      Typical monthly savings range from $600 - 1100 USD/Month depending on your lifestyle
    • Accommodation Benefits:
      We provide free accommodation to all our teachers (usually very close to the place of work)
    • Flight Reimbursement:
      Flight ticket reimbursement after 6 months (the amount should not exceed 3000 RMB)
    • Vacation - Paid 2 weeks & sick days, national holidays, including Chinese New Year
    • Visas:
      Z Visa is the legal work visa to teach in China, however, teachers may work on other visas depending on their qualification. 

 

Accommodation

The best part about Suzhou international school jobs is that housing is free, which means, that you get the possibility to save the extra money and spend it on travel, gifts, and delicious food. Most centers provide you with an apartment, while some give you more freedom and assure a monthly allowance of $300-$450 to help you with rent and bills.

  • You get to choose the place to live in both cases. An estate agent and school assistants will assure, that you rent a cozy apartment to your taste.
  • The school will deal with documents and help you arrange everything.
  • If you feel like it, you can ask for a flatmate. These are usually fellow foreigners teaching English at a Chinese school you work for. It’s a great way to save a little as well.
  • Apartments are usually situated in the city-center or another safe district, close to the school, local supermarkets, and some tourist attractions.
  • Until you can move in, you’ll live at a hotel at the school’s expense.

What kind of accommodation should you expect?

Apply Now to Teach English in Suzhou

Would you like to teach in Suzhou? Apply by filling out the form below and we will be in touch within the next 24-48 hours to find you a job in the city.

What is it like to live in Suzhou?

Suzhou is one of those cities, where you can easily find a job in education, whether it’s teaching English as a second language or subject teaching at an international school.

This place offers plenty of ways to boost your curriculum while immersing yourself into Chinese culture and cuisine.

Although jobs for foreigners in Suzhou are very diverse and always well-paid, most of the professionals from abroad seek TEFL positions, because they prove to be the most convenient, beneficial and numerous.

Even in such a “small” town as Suzhou, there is no shortage of education jobs: over 150 state and private schools, plus 70 international institutions and language centers.

Many clients recommend this city as a first Chinese destination for those, who want to see what living and working here is like.

It’s one of the places you can teach English abroad without certification and get the training online for free, which makes it ideal for fresh graduates without experience and enthusiastic debutants. 

 

English teaching jobs in Suzhou

What Makes Suzhou Unique?

  • Language: Mandarin + local dialects
  • Population: 10,6 million
  • Public transport: international airport, 3 main railway stations, subway (3 lines), bus routes, taxi
  • Climate: subtropical with cool and relatively dry winters and warm summers

The Suzhou city is often referred to as the “Chinese Venice” as nearly 42% of its surface is covered with winding canals and waterways. Actually, it’s one of the rare places you can have a glimpse of ancient China. This 2,500-year-old town once used to be as rich and developed as Shanghai (which is very close, by the way!).

It might not be the very first one that comes up when you think about China, but it’s surely very well-known and popular among foreigners.

Teaching jobs for foreigners in Suzhou
Teaching English as a foreign language in China
Teaching English abroad programs

Here are a few reasons why living in Suzhou may make you happy:

Clean air

The Suzhou climate and air quality are remarkable: there are no extremes in temperature during the year and air pollution level is low most of the time. This means fewer health risks and sinus infections even in winter. However, it’s advisable to use an air purifier at the apartment, especially if you tend to be sensitive or allergic.

It’s international

Despite all the traditional culture, you won’t be overwhelmed with the Chinese language during your adaptation period, because there are lots of expats, teaching English in Suzhou. You can meet them at Western-style restaurants, bars, cinemas etc. Speak Mandarin is a useful and recommended skill, but if you don’t feel like it or you’re bad at language learning, don’t worry, you won’t feel lonely or lack for English-speaking practice.

It’s old and traditional

It’s not difficult to find traces of the past here: many old streets and buildings have kept their original aspect. This sometimes gives an impression of time traveling while taking a walk around the old city quarters.

There are over 60 local gardens, worth visiting, especially the Humble Administrator’s one. Enjoy your picnics on the bank of the enormous Taihu Lake and go on a trip on one of the fisher boats. When you live in Suzhou, China seems amazingly different from the idea you tend to get watching modern documentaries.

There is more history, tranquility, and stillness here than anywhere else. Even though it’s a tourist city, there are days, when its streets are deserted and places like Jinxi or Han Shan temple are very quiet. This town is the right place for history lovers and collectors of antiques!

Old and traditional Suzhou

A strong economy and career options

It’s easy to find jobs in Suzhou no matter how experienced you are. If you opt for a mentor career and wish to settle down here, you’ll get promoted fast to become a senior teacher or coach. After a few years of teaching som,e foreigners shift to different fields, especially those with a relevant university degree, because English speakers are in high demand everywhere.

Teaching English abroad programs

Travel opportunities are endless

After you’ll have seen every beautiful street in the city, you’ll be able to travel outside, see water towns or go further by bullet trains or plane. Don’t forget, that Beijing is only 5 hours away and it only takes 27 minutes to get to Shanghai. Korea and Japanese destinations are not that far away either, so your days off can be as full of new experience and traveling as you prefer.

Travel to South Korea just in 5 hours

Extremely cheap living

Although it’s hard to find a really expensive place in this country, there are statistics for each big city and Suzhou is very cheap compared to many others, which makes it one of the best places to teach English abroad.

It’s 34% less expensive than Beijing or any other, so you’ll put by more. If you work in Suzhou as an English teacher, you will earn around 7,000 – 13,000 RMB ($1,000 – $2,000) monthly and be able to save at least $500 on a regular basis.

A 45m2 apartment costs around $450 per month and the rent is covered by the school, so you’ll exclude housing expenses. Average expats spend around $340 per month on food and entertainment.

It will suit your lifestyle

No matter what kind of person you are and whether you like parties or peaceful and slow life, you’ll fit in just fine. As teaching jobs for foreigners in Suzhou always give great flexibility and freedom, you’ll have enough leisure time to make friends, go out and entertain yourself.

Copious meals

For many people teaching English in Suzhou is an opportunity to visit China and try local food – and in fact, it’s one of the best regions to start with. As the city is situated on the lake shore, most of its specialties are fish dishes, like the squirrel-shaped mandarin fish with sweet and sour sauce or Fengzhen noodles.

They also make the traditional sweet semen Euryale soup and other tasty things. Eating out at Chinese restaurants is a great way to discover regional cuisine and to save money too because Western-style places tend to be much more expensive.

Famous Suzhou Noodles

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