Do You Need a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certificate to Teach English in China?

Are you thinking about making the leap to teach English overseas? Wondering what it’ll take to get yourself started? Searching for a (TEFL) course in China? Whether you're a fresh graduate, starting your gap year, or just someone who wants a bit of a change, teaching English in China could be the perfect fit for you. We warmly welcome first-time teachers, alongside our many experienced educators, and provide all the training and resources needed to support you every step of the way and help you start strong. It isn’t as complicated as one might think to get started, and with big English institutions such as English 1 (formerly EF English First), here to help, most of the hard work is already taken care of.

Read on, readers!

It can be daunting to think about becoming an English teacher. We have spoken English our whole lives, but teaching it is an entirely different story. How would I plan a lesson? How can I describe this grammar point? What happens when someone asks me a question I can't answer? Do I need a TEFL certificate to teach in China? You'll be happy to know that all these questions (and more!) are answered for you in a course known as a TEFL course.

Set yourself up for success

Taking a teaching course before you start teaching is, single-handedly, the BEST way to set yourself up for success in front of a classroom. It's safe to say that almost all schools in China will ask that you have some sort of teaching certification, so it's a win on all fronts to have this.

Furthermore, in taking at least a 120-hour TEFL course, you'll have access to experienced instructors who can answer all your questions. You'll be given topics to study and asked to complete a set of assessments to boost your teaching credibility. Some of the best courses require a practicum—a certain number of hours in front of a class—so that you can really hone your skills.

Not all courses are created equal!

Now be careful—not all teaching courses are created equal. Depending on what you want for your teaching career, you might opt for a TEFL certificate that can be used in multiple countries, doesn't expire, and gives you the maximum amount of teaching practice. A 120-hour TEFL certificate is just that.

The costs of TEFL courses vary. A well-run, online 120-hour course should cost you about 1,000 USD on average, but there are ways around this price tag. For example, English 1 provides new hires a free 120-hour TEFL course. That's right—free. What's even better is that you'll be learning under one of the biggest and best English teaching institutions in China.

So, you now have an idea about TEFL. Awesome. What you should do next is look at the helpful tips below to make sure you aren’t forgetting anything before you start your teaching English in China adventure:

• Have an updated passport. This is especially helpful if your future plans are not concrete. Many of our teachers planned on staying for one year, and five years later, they’re still with us! How about you—are you open to staying if you love your job?

• Maybe plan an Asian backpacking trip afterwards? Are you thinking about it now that we’ve mentioned it? Having a passport with at least two years of validity is a sure way to avoid sticky situations, and while you’re at it, make sure you’ve got plenty of empty pages for all those country stamps you’re about to collect!

• Utilise all your experience. Oh, we really do mean all of it. We have far more experience in teaching than we sometimes realise. Have you ever helped a friend with a problem in class? Tutored someone after school?

Even the times you’ve corrected your own or a friend’s spelling in a text can be considered teaching experience. Some of our teachers have even used past friendships with international students as examples of cultural and teaching experience. Don’t forget any volunteering work with children, and yes, this includes babysitting!

• Don’t forget to mention your in-class tactics. One fabulous way to ensure you’ve got the skills as a teacher is to capitalise on your experience in lesson planning. Don’t have any experience? Think again! Remember all those book reviews you did in primary school English? That’s an example of evaluation. All those peer reviews and edits you did? Editing experience. Do you remember any of the games and songs you played in school? This is all top-level material for life as a teacher.

Jot down a list of the games you most enjoyed, and you’ll have extra time in class sorted. Better yet, think about the different ways your teachers split up the class or rewarded you for a job well done. An interviewer who hears you’re already thinking of games and classroom management techniques will rate you highly, so make sure you keep that list handy.

Teaching English in China is one of the most eye-opening, cultural, and life-enriching experiences you can have. We can’t stress enough how much fun you’re going to have, and we haven’t even started talking about how adorable the students are! Best of luck on your teaching adventure!