Pros and Cons for Teaching English in China

By William, Foreign Teacher from Wall Street English - Shanghai

So, you’re thinking about teaching English in China! Having lived and taught in Shanghai for nearly 2 and half years, it’s my pleasure to share with you my perspective on expatriate life here. While not without its challenges and frustrations, life and work in China can be a deeply rewarding experience, and one worth considering for anyone looking for an exciting change.

To start with the good, I can easily say that Chinese students are some of the best I’ve taught. Previously teaching in Paris, France, I noticed my French students were too often disengaged in class despite my best efforts to tailor my teaching to their needs and interests. Most were learning English at the direction of their jobs, and with little personal reason or desire to develop their language skills, keeping their attention was a struggle. Thankfully, this is far from the case with most Chinese students who, for the most part, are extremely driven to improve, either through the desire for promotion at work, a desire to travel or relocate overseas, or simply better themselves through learning. Moreover, they deeply appreciate the chance to communicate with anyone foreign. Be prepared for numerous, direct questions about yourself, your educational background, your family, your favorite films and TV shows, your dating experiences, pretty much any point of comparison students can make between what you’re willing to share and what they experience themselves in China. The questions can, sometimes, border on intrusive, but open and honest answers from teachers are almost always met with heartfelt thanks and reciprocal sharing about life in China.

Besides the significant language barrier, the vast differences between Western and Chinese culture can often make understanding difficult. Chances are a reference you make that would be strikingly obvious to any Western citizen will be utterly incomprehensible to most Chinese students (unless it involves the NBA or Marvel films). This does represent wonderful opportunities for you to introduce and share what you love with students, but it does mean that an exceptional amount of context and explanation needs to accompany any discussion about details of Western life and culture.

As previously mentioned, the language barrier is also a serious issue, both in and out of the classroom. While some student posses some truly wonderful English language skills, the average Chinese student is at a lower level compared to learners elsewhere who may have had many more opportunities to engage with English on a daily basis, either at work or through entertainment. Out of the classroom, a few basic Chinese survival phrases will make life much easier to navigate, either when ordering in a restaurant, giving a taxi driver a destination, or shopping in the local market.

On the subject of life in China, it’s hard to imagine a more vibrant experience. The sights, sounds, and smells of a major Chinese city can be overwhelming and intoxicating. It can require a good deal of adjustment, especially for those that treasure peace and solitude, but Shanghai is hard to top as a raw experience; for the adventurous culinarian, you’ll be able to sample different regional cuisines and dishes for years and barely scratch the surface of what China has to offer. Architecture aficionados can marvel at the Pudong skyline and whatever new skyscraper is dotting its skyline this month. Shopping mavens can explore the neon-soaked East Nanjing Road or the upscale boutiques of Huaihai.

That said, this earthy charm comes at a price: the push and shove of Shanghai can hit you as soon as you step out the door and will literally assault you at rush hour on the metro as you are crushed and carried by the wave of humanity into the next sardine-packed subway car. Smaller differences in manner can also grate on the nerves; a ‘No Smoking’ sign might seem like an absolute in the West, but in China it is, at best, a vague suggestion to be followed according to individual inclination. Traffic laws also seem to be up to taste and habit; pedestrian crossings should be approached not by looking both ways but by looking all conceivable ways possible as electric scooters fly at you from seemingly every direction. 

To summarize, like all enriching experiences, life in China includes some adjustments to be made and obstacles to be overcome. It’s all part of the adventure and for those willing to lean in, make good use of help offered by friendly locals and seasoned colleagues, and treat each challenge like a learning experience and fun story to tell later when you share the tales of your amazing adventure overseas.