China Week

China Week! Learn about teaching in China

This past week was ‘China Week’ and below are some of the activities, articles, thoughts and photos from the Edvectus team and teachers we have placed in China.

It surprised teachers to find that the number of international schools in China rivals the number in the UAE. They are often very high quality schools that are very academically focussed, because culturally the Far East places a huge emphasis on education.

There are two different kinds of international schools in China.

Schools for the Children of Foreign Workers. These schools can only be attended by children with expatriate passports, and before 2013 they made up the majority of the opportunities in China.
Private Schools. These schools serve mainly Chinese children and each school addresses this market differently. What they have in common is that, by law, Chinese children must be taught the Chinese national curriculum from grade 1 to 9, but what is done at Pre-school/Kindergarten, with enrichment subjects such as Music, Art, Drama, PE as well as value-add in subjects such as English, Design Technology, Science, etc is where these schools make their varied marks. This part of the market is the fastest growing thanks to the over 3 million Chinese millionaires who want their child to have an education that can take him or her to the world’s top universities.

There are also TEFL schools teaching English as a foreign language, usually after school and weekends. These schools have different salary, packages and hiring criteria and are not considered international schools.

How much can you save?

Employment packages at international schools are just as lucrative as the Middle East, especially when you consider that the cost of living is around 30% lower. Salaries are taxed in China but at a relatively low rate and school benefits such as transport allowances, travel allowances, housing and utility allowances are not. The savings potential is huge and most teachers save ¼ to ½ of their salary.

More information.. Teaching in China - Fact vs. Fiction

Edvectus Stories

Almost all of the team at Edvectus have visited China and quite a few have taught there. Here are some photos and some of our stories.

Hannah’s story: A glimpse of expat life in China

Anda’s story: Anda’s top location picks to live and work and My Life’s a journey and it took me to China!

Lisa’s top 5 highlights of her trip to China

Teacher’s photos and stories

Team Preston’s blog. This teaching couple and their twins are living and teaching in Guangzhou, China after teaching in Jordan (both through Edvectus) and the UK. Their intelligent, amusing and honest blog gives you insights into the ups and downs of life abroad. Landing Gear Down

Case studies

We ask teachers we place to give us feedback and to provide advice. Below are some of the stories from teachers we have placed in Hong Kong and China.

Theresa from South Africa in China

Nathan from the UK in China

Rachel from the UK in China

Christopher from the US in Hong Kong

China Week Quiz

Could you have passed this killer quiz that Pearl put together for the staff ....without using Google?

Question 1: What does the largest star on the Chinese flag stand for?
Question 2: Which was the first British pop group to tour China?
Question 3: Around how many characters are there in Chinese writing?
Question 4: The map of China is shaped like a Rooster…what city would be the “eye”?
Question 5: What is the official length of the Great Wall of China?
Question 6: How many countries does China border?
Question 7: Which is the most popular surname in China?
A.   Chen 陈
B.   Wang 王
C.   Li 李
Question 8: Which is the most popular western fast food chain in China?
A.   McDonald’s
B.   KFC
C.   Pizza Hut
Question 9: The first western-styled fast food outlet opened in which city?
A.   Shanghai
B.   Beijing
C.   Guangzhou