The Truth About Teaching English in China

You’ve seen the pictures – smiling teachers and students playing fun games while learning English. It looks like the best time ever, doesn’t it? And often, it is. But is teaching English in China always that great?

Many people only share the good parts – I’m not one of them.

Being an ESL teacher provides fantastic material for a stand-up comedy routine, which also doubles as therapy for those in the profession. Just picture the kids and all the wild things they do, then throw in language barriers and cultural differences – it’s a chaotic, real-life experience for ESL teachers here in China!

So here it is: the unfiltered truth about teaching English in China.

Okay, all of that may have sounded a bit harsh. So, on the flip side of the challenges that come with teaching English in China—and regardless of how demanding the job can be—it’s also one of the most enjoyable jobs out there (in my completely biased opinion). Essentially, we get to play games with children for a living! If you plan the activities so that they align properly with the lesson objectives, the students will have so much fun in class that they won’t even realise they’re learning.

With older students, you don’t play as many games; instead, you begin to build rapport with them, which creates opportunities for banter and conversation in English. I often say that once a student can be funny in their second language, that’s when they’re truly becoming proficient.

Even in your first year teaching English 1, you'll witness the remarkable progress your students make in speaking English. Watching them grow—not just as students, but as children—with your support, is one of the best feelings in the world. One of the most valuable rewards of this job is the positive impact your teaching has on their lives.

The effort you put into creating engaging and enjoyable lessons fuels your students’ enthusiasm for learning English and keeps them coming back to class week after week. And that makes it all worthwhile.

Well, there it is—the truth about teaching English in China. It takes planning, energy, and emotional resilience. It can be mentally and emotionally demanding. But despite being one of the toughest and most challenging jobs I’ve ever done, it’s also one of the most rewarding and meaningful.