Teach English in Suzhou (Salary - $1750/m)

Teach English in Suzhou

Benefits and requirements

Education:
No Bachelor degree is 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:
Public schools, Colleges, International institutions, Language centers, Kindergartens, and Montessori schools
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:
20-30 hours of classroom & extra prep time
Types of Students:
Kindergarten education, business professionals, school children, private students,
Cost of Living per Month:
$400 - 800 USD (2,800 - 5,500 RMB), accommodation is free
Additional benefits and perks:
7000 RMB contract completion bonus, Health insurance, 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

Average Monthly Pay:
Salary up to 12,000 RMB (depends on your schedule, experience, level of English, etc.)
Start-up Cost:
Flight tickets to Beijing + money for the first month of living in China until you get the first salary of $1,000 - 1,300 USD (6,800 – 9,000 RMB)
Potential to Save or Break-even:
Typical monthly savings range from $600 - 1,750 USD/Mo
Accommodation Benefits:
We provide free accommodation to all our teachers (usually very close to the place of work)
Flight Reimbursement:
Flight ticket reimbursement after 9 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 qualifications. We reimburse you the visa fee after 6 months of the contract

Types of ESL Teaching Jobs in Suzhou

Public institutions
International schools
English courses

The city is full of opportunities for those, who want to work with young learners and school children. Students, inexperienced educators, non-native and native speakers are all welcome here.

Unfortunately, you can no longer start teaching English abroad without a degree – at least not in China, so you are expected to have completed a minimum of 4 years of studies in any field.

Good news is that you are not obliged to be a professional teacher – a standard 120-hour TESOL/TEFL course will suffice.

There are two main options in the education job market: state schools and training centers.

If you look for a vacancy for teaching English in primary schools in Suzhou, you’ll get dozens of offers, but beware, that public schools have larger numbers of students per class – 30 on average.

Sometimes you get to handle groups of 50 people, which can be quite challenging!

On the other hand, in such cases, you always have a Chinese teaching assistant to help you out.

This person usually becomes the very first friend of a teacher from abroad: you can practice your Mandarin with him/her, ask for everyday life tips, advice or even go out together. It makes your adaptation faster and easier.

What is the schedule like?

Schedules for public school jobs in Suzhou are usually very typical: you start at 8 am and finish by 5 pm Monday-Friday and are free on weekends. Plus you have extra 15-20 days off per year when you can do whatever you like.

Language courses have limited numbers of students so you will deal with 8-20 people at once.

The working time might be different and depends on the school policy and your contract: either you have days off on weekend or you work on weekends and have your days off on workweek. Another bonus is that you get to start a workday later – at around 1 pm or 3 pm.

By the way, it’s the ideal option for those foreigners who wonder ‘Is it possible to teach adults in Suzhou?’, since not everyone is good with children or likes it.

Wages differ and depend on your schedule, qualifications, and experience, and range from 7,000 RMB to 13,000 RMB. Bonuses can boost your pay up to 14,000 RMB ($2,050).

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What to expect from your role as an English teacher in Suzhou

Flexible schedule: Monday-Friday till 5 pm and weekends off / work in the afternoon + Saturday-Sunday and have days off during the week
Around 20 hours of class work
From 0 to 15 office hours (depends on the school where you’ll be teaching in Suzhou)
Teach 8-20 or up to 50 students in a class
Plan lessons
Work together with Chinese staff
Attend social events, meetings, training, and presentations
Use interactive whiteboard and video during the class
Be creative, use up-to-date approaches
Develop speaking and listening competencies
Provide written feedback, correct homework and tests
Help with placement testing

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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.

Living in Suzhou in a free apartment for English teachers

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.

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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.

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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 English as a foreign language in China

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!

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.

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.

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.