We have heard many questions about different types of schools in China from a lot of our teachers. This page is created here for the teachers who have also had some questions or doubts for these schools. After all it is a totally new education system in another country, so those teachers who are doing their research will get some key information they want here.

We have cooperated with many schools in major cities of the east, middle and north of China and more and more schools are requiring to join our partnership too. But to be honest, finding a good and suitable school for our teachers is not an easy job. Those who have no management skills with foreign teachers and no or little care for our teachers have all be canceled cooperation by us. What we want for our teachers are a good working environment with English environment and international atmosphere and team leaders with the thinking way from western background to make as less cultural shock as possible. Therefore, our teachers are all having an amazing time in China and some of them even don’t want to leave after one-year contract.

The next passages are the introduction and comparison of different types of schools that you might be interested in. If you are interested in teaching in China, please don’t hesitate to send us your cv and introduction video to threestepchinajob@gmail.com or threestepchinajob@163.com for us to match you with a nice and suitable school.
1. English Training School for Kids
The Chinese economy has achieved rapid and long-term development in recent years. With the more cultural exchanges going on, Chinese parents hope that their children can speak better oral English in order to get more chances in the future. Therefore, we can see a large number of English training schools opening up and training schools for kids becoming the largest number of schools and it creating a lot of job positions. As the core of the school curriculum, foreign teachers are more welcomed and respected in training schools.

Most Chinese employees can speak English fluently and have no English communication barriers. With a strong atmosphere of western culture, a lot of western festivals are celebrated in training schools. A common phenomenon of the training school is that it is always busier on weekends and that is why teachers usually get days off in the middle of the week. Because it may include singing and dancing part for young learners in the class, this type of school is more suitable for young and energetic teachers.

a. There is a huge number in China with rapid expansion and a large demand for teachers.

b. The location of the school is usually in busy places such as shopping centers or other downtown areas.

c. Some schools offer pre-job training.

d. Most Chinese colleagues can speak English and communicate in English with no barriers.

e. With a good atmosphere in western culture, schools usually organize some western festival celebrations.

f. Easy to earn more respect and hospitality from colleagues, students and parents of the students.

g. Free apartments with western facilities are provided (except for first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou).

h. Students are 3-12 years old and taught in small class sizes. The class size usually 8-12 students.

i. Teachers have two days off per week (some schools offering one day and two half-days off).

j. Busier on the weekday’s afternoon or night and in daytime of the weekend.

k. Teachers have paid Chinese official holidays off.

2. Kindergarten
Chinese kindergartens are divided into two types: public and private ones. The only difference is whether there is an annual summer
and winter vacation or not. A few high-level kindergartens offer English classes to help students learn foreign language so they have a need for a certain number of foreign teachers.

Kindergarten’s teaching follows a regular schedule, with a moderate class size, usually no more than 30 children, and teachers have
two days off at the weekend. Compared with training schools, kindergarten’s programs and teacher assignments are closer to public
schools, and usually only a few Chinese teachers speak English.
a. The number of kindergartens and demand for teachers are second only to English training schools.
b. The kindergarten’s location is usually near the community or government departments.
c. Some kindergartens offer pre-job training before teachers going into the class.
d. A small number of Chinese colleagues can speak English.
e. Free apartments with western facilities are provided (except for first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou).
f. Students are 3-7 years old and taught in big class sizes. The Class size usually does not exceed 30 people.
g. Teachers have two days off at the weekend per week.
h. Teachers have paid Chinese official holidays off.
3. English Training school for adults

In bigger cities adult’s English training is needed for some business people or people who are in the high position in the company or some teenagers who want to go further study abroad in the future. Normally such English training schools have higher requirements for
teachers, including no thick accent and some full-time adult teaching experience. Free accommodation is usually not provided, but
housing allowance is each month. But according to China's rental practices, the renter is required to pay at least three months' rent and one month's deposit ahead to rent an apartment.

This kind of training school is also busier on weekends.Students are taught in small classes. The teacher takes responsibility for the
learning output of the students. This type of school is more suitable for experienced, older teachers.
a. The number of kindergartens and demand for teachers are second only to English training schools.
b. The kindergarten’s location is usually near the community or government departments.
c. Some kindergartens offer pre-job training before teachers going into the class.
d. A small number of Chinese colleagues can speak English.
e. Free apartments with western facilities are provided (except for first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou).
f. Students are 3-7 years old and taught in big class sizes. The Class size usually does not exceed 30 people.
g. Teachers have two days off at the weekend per week.
h. Teachers have paid Chinese official holidays off
4. Public school
China has a nine-year compulsory education system with a large number of primary and middle schools and high schools, but only few schools require foreign teachers to teach English, therefore, the vacancies are not easy to find. Public schools have less work than
training schools, but salaries are significantly less than in training schools. Every year teachers have three months of summer and
winter vacations with half pay usually. The class usually does not exceed 60 people. Compared with training schools, public schools
follow a very regular “ 8-5” schedule.

a. Small number and also small demand for foreign teachers.
b. The kindergarten’s location is usually near the community or government departments.
c. No pre-job training.
d. A small number of Chinese colleagues can speak English.
f. Free apartments with western facilities are provided (except for first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou).
g. Students are 7-18 years old and taught in big class sizes.
h. The Class size usually does not exceed 50 people.
i. Teachers have two days off at the weekend per week.
j. Teachers have paid Chinese official holidays off.