Teaching English in Shanghai: The Complete Guide 2020

Shanghai has always been the most cosmopolitan city in mainland China. Given that its port has always been a shipping post that linked China to the rest of the world, Shanghai's economy, financial sector, manufacturing, and many other industries have always been the most modern. As a bridging language, English proficiency is essential to the Shanghai government, making the city even more international and powerful. Aspiring parents are very eager to allow their children to have a competitive job in a multicultural workplace and thus the city offers numerous teaching opportunities.

Shanghai is the first city in mainland China that made English-language education compulsory from the first grade of primary schools. Thus, the quality of English language education has received significant consideration from parents in the past twenty years, and the English curriculum will be the top choice of the future.

According to EF English Proficiency Index, Shanghai tops the highest ranking in English proficiency in China in six years in a row, ahead of Beijing and Hong Kong, the previous leading city in English education among China. That indicates English language education in Shanghai is also in the leading position.

Why Teach English in Shanghai?

Shanghai provides the usual range of English jobs. From Kindergarten to universities, all types of academic levels are taught.  Some jobs work at a public school, some jobs are quasi-public institutions, and many at private businesses.

According to 2019 Shanghai Statistical Yearbook, there are over 1,600 kindergartens in Shanghai, with nearly 200 school districts.

There are 833 secondary schools by 2018 and more than 120 international schools.

With over 60 universities and colleges in the nearby area, there are over half a million undergraduate students and around 200,000 graduate students.

Along with the status-conscious Shanghainese comes their drive to be internationally competitive.  With this, Shanghainese spend considerable amounts of money to have excellent international schools and international education, focusing on international topics, international business, etc.

Shanghai’s students came top of the global class in maths with an average score of 613 (up from 600 in the last PISA tests of 2010), though the scores reported for Shanghai will not be representative of China as a whole.

It is not surprising that Shanghai is the most westernized Chinese city, even compared to other first-tier cities in China. The nightlife is vibrant, and authentic foods from all of the country and the world are available across the city. A large number of expatriate communities and international schools are numerous, and a host of other reasons. If you can afford the high prices of Shanghai, you can live a high quality of life.

Shanghai has ranked first in the "Amazing China - The Most Attractive Chinese Cities for ex-pats" for the past six years.

English Teaching Jobs in Shanghai

In general, in Shanghai, English teaching jobs are considered to be at the most modern schools, break away from the Beijing centralized structure, allow for high pay rates, and be a fun city where to spend money. Even though the system is fragmented, with many private companies doing their methods and with their own goals, there remain a few famous companies and dozens of well-known companies that can bring satisfactory employment and a cosmopolitan lifestyle.

As with other cities in China, there are abundant jobs in the kindergarten market, public schools, and international programs at public schools, international schools, universities, and colleges. You will notice that the pay scales are higher, but the cost of living is also higher. If possible, try to get the school to pay for housing, as housing is expensive and harder to come by in Shanghai than many other cities.

Kindergarten Teaching Jobs in Shanghai

As a Kindergarten teacher, you may very well be the first foreigner and English teacher a young child ever meets.

Your teaching job not only teaches students knowledge, but it can also be a moral compass to students, teach them necessary social skills, and in general, be an enthusiastic example for these students to follow all their lives.

Some international schools in Shanghai provide early childhood education, such as Wellington College International in Shanghai, Hongqiao International School, Dulwich College Shanghai (Pudong), Shanghai Community International School, etc. Because most of the students in international schools are native English speakers, students speak English in class, and teachers will teach them literacy, communication and language mechanics, and other learning areas through games and playing in English.

For students native to China, whose mother tongue is not English, English teachers will need to help them learn English from the basics, including the alphabet, basic phonics, common English learning songs (like "Mary Had a Little Lamb, Old MacDonald Had a Farm, etc.).

Some schools require only English immersion as a policy to give students a fully immersive environment. Other schools exist as hybrids of instruction; for example, Song Qingling Kindergarten is bilingual with 60% Chinese and 40% English teaching and has one English lesson every day. Other examples include Shanghai Shangde kindergarten with the IB PYP curricula with a Chinese teacher, a Chinese assistant teacher, an English foreign teacher, and a life teacher in each class.

Many privately-owned language schools have a high demand for foreign English teachers because many public kindergartens do no focus entirely on English study. Parents do not want their children to lag in English language and culture understanding and will spend considerable amounts on English education.

In China, and especially in Shanghai, Kindergarten jobs pay surprisingly well. For qualified teachers that have proven themselves, it is standard to get a free apartment rent, plus 25,000 RMB a month for a standard 8 am - 5 pm workweek. Star teachers are often asked to work nights, weekends, and holidays, which can effectively double their paycheck. Teachers have been known to save thousands of US dollars per month; contrast that to average wages of 15 - 20 USD per teaching hour in Western countries, and the amount a teacher can make and save in China is drastically higher.

• Kid Castle Bilingual Pre-school Shanghai
• Shanghai Hongwen Montessori 
• Magnolia Kindergarten
• Hundrend Acre Academy
• StarHorizon Pre-school
• Etonkids international kindergarten 
• Shanghai Victoria Kindergarten 

Primary School Teaching Jobs in Shanghai

Primary School in China is considered Grades 1-6.

Some students in Shanghai have already grasped the basic English knowledge and skills when they enter primary schools; some have just started studying English.

As for students holding domestic passports, whether enrolled in private schools or public schools, the curriculum must be in line with government laws. 100% English courses and programs will never be allowed in public schools. Those domestic passport holders, who would not qualify for certified international schools, often take a standard public school course.

Despite this rigid prescription for Chinese language, math, etc. to be taught in public schools, foreign English teachers are an important, valuable supplement for kids. Some work for private management companies that give English lessons at a primary public school. Others work for after school enrichment programs at the school, much like the United States has many enrichment programs at school or after school. Some students go to training centers after school. Other students get tutors to come to their homes and teach them progressively more subjects, often in English.

Middle School Teaching Jobs in Shanghai

Middle school encompasses 7th - 9th grade.

Just as in Beijing and all the other parts of China, there is a standard curriculum that all students must follow in English, Chinese, math, social studies, etc. Like the rest of China, they prepare themselves for the JunKao standardized test, which will determine where they can go to high school. While Shanghai does have some special status as a municipality, and hence some modifications are made to allow Shanghainese to be taught in public schools, etc. the curriculum is still very similar to what a student would experience in a public school in Beijing, Tianjin, Shenzhen, etc.

Just as in Beijing, there are private businesses with close relationships to the government who can give English enrichment lessons. The students' discipline and work ethic are high, and teacher stress is moderate, even though the pay is modest.

During Middle School, a student can opt into an international program (Guojibu), which will be discussed later in this post. 

Should they opt to continue on the public school path, they will need to take the JunKao at the end of middle school. This single test will determine where they can go to high school.

High School Teaching Jobs in Shanghai

Public High School takes place from Grades 9-12.

Public High Schools teach the GaoKao, as public high schools do in the rest of China.

For anyone unfamiliar, the GaoKao is a single university entrance exam. It ties India's National College Entrance Exam for being the most rigorous in the world.

Unless there are exceptional circumstances, all public school students take the same exam on the same day. In this way, the exam is the fairest way to assess academic performance, rather than political affiliation or social status.

To prepare well, students must often study almost all day, practically every day for the entire three years. Those who support such a program praise that it is a fair opportunity for all tens of millions of public school students to have an equal opportunity to perform. Critics say the test relies excessively on memorization, math rules, and other forms of knowledge, but does not teach enough social skills, adaptability, and critical thinking skills, among other fields.

International Programs in Shanghai

A sizable amount of students in middle school and high school are going to an international program housed at their high school, called Guojibu. These international programs use a designated section of the high school, such as a building, library, cafeteria, etc.  

An International program's middle school program provides students with a variety of opportunities for academic exploration, helping to prepare students for the academic challenges of high school and college in the future.

For instance, YK Pao School, a pioneering international Chinese school, adopts Shanghai local lessons in grades 1-8 and uses IGCSE and IBDP curriculum and combined with Chinese culture lessons in grades 9-12.

Some public schools in Shanghai have special models. For example, Ganquan Foreign Language High School has "Multilingual Education." Beicai High School, affiliated with Shanghai Maritime University, attaches great importance to maritime culture education.

High school students in an international school will follow a particular international curriculum, like British IGCSE examination courses, A-Level, AP curricula, or IB curriculum, etc. For example, in Shanghai Yew Was International school, upon completion of the junior secondary program, students can choose to study the four-year OUPP programme at Yew Wah North or Lingang campuses in Shanghai, including the two-year International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the two-year General Certificate of Higher Education (GCE) A-level Programme.

Many universities, such as East China Normal University, maintain a public school near their campus, and an international program to match.  In this case, their affiliated public high school is called East China Normal University Affiliated School (ECUNAS) and has an International Guojibu to match.  

International Schools in Shanghai

Even though actual international schools that meet all certification requirements are hard to find, many of the ones that do exist are in Shanghai. Shanghai's culture has long been the most internationally-minded, open to outside influence, etc.

In genuine international schools, most or all students must hold a foreign passport, and the curriculum must get rigorous assessment and certification from international, impartial non-government bodies, etc.  

For a look at what makes a legitimate international school, versus a school that is merely applying for candidacy, refer to "Teach in China" for more information.

By definition, international schools have a large and diverse student body. All schools have been known to teach in English, but also have in-depth instruction in Chinese, and often other languages that their study body may possess, including Korean, Japanese, etc.

Most international schools have several curriculums, such as AP Curriculum, IGCSE + A-Levels, IB Diploma Programme, and sometimes even links to the French Baccalaureate Program, German system, etc.

• Shanghai Community International School
• Shanghai EtonHouse International School
• Dulwich College
• Wellington College
• Nord Anglia International School
• Britannica International School
• Concordia International School 
• Harrow International School 
• Shanghai Singapore International School
• Shanghai American School

Private Language Centers

In the same way as almost every part of Chinese society has been deregulated, privatized and opened to business enterprise, so has education.

Like every other city in China, Shanghai has many, many private language centers. These language centers range from huge multinational corporations such as Wall Street English, New Oriental, and Elite learning to small one-room centers in apartments, etc., to everything in-between.

In general, pay, quality of co-workers and students can vary significantly from the center to center. For example, Wall Street English in one part of a city may be quite different from another part of a city. However, like any government office or military, being part of a big company allows some standardization of procedures, the huge buying power for necessary items (such as pens, stationery, printing, and other items used for teaching), in house training, HR, and other procedures that are necessary for a big company to run smoothly. No single player has dominated the market and established a hierarchy, as has happened in other industries. Teaching remains largely a craft business based on the teacher's relationship with the students. Sometimes, a teacher finds a good fit and happiness with a big company, a middle-sized company, or a small company, all depending on the usual range of factors that affect the person-environment fit.

However, above all else, the advantage of working at a big firm is getting a work visa easier. A work visa in China is necessary to legally work at a company, pay taxes, get a bank account, have legal standing, and be able to take disputes to court. While many places will hire someone on a tourist visa, business visa, or while possessing a work visa for a different company, both the odds of getting caught and the penalties have gotten higher in the last year and will continue to escalate. Many teachers have reported that it is worth a loss in pay and work flexibility to trade for the security of a legitimate visa, etc.

Pay for language centers also varies wildly. For some training centers out of people's apartments, in back alleys, etc. anyone can get hired, the pay is rather low per hour, and teachers can come and go as they wish, without causing much trouble. At the other extreme, there are expensive high rise buildings, with teachers with sharp suits and high prestige, who teach for the SAT, A-Levels, etc. and offer to give a student his extra edge at top educational options. In this case, teachers can be billed out for over 2000 RMB an hour, but they often receive at most half of that per hour.

In most cases, language centers typically pay 200 - 300 RMB per teaching hour. Generally, a teacher can start with lower pay. If he proves himself a good performer, reliable, and personable, his wage is increased, as the Chinese understand how trust-building, relationships, and payment often work together in a business environment.

Interestingly enough, working at a big language center for teaching children is not that much different from teaching adults. A teacher can be professional and personable to both young learners and established career professionals. Being knowledgeable, on-time, well-dressed, having set lesson plans, etc. is beneficial to any teacher. Often, becoming known as a hard worker, prepared, reliable, trustworthy, etc. can open up much more exciting and well-paid opportunities down the line.  Even in a country as large as China, many people know each other, and word travels fast.  Chinese people wish to modernize their labor force, are working extra hours in their nights, weekends, and holidays to be competitive on the world scale, and appreciate others who go along with their plans.

Colleges and University Teaching Jobs in Shanghai

Shanghai has more than 64 universities and colleges. Most of them belong to public universities; a small proposition of universities or colleges are privately run.

Generally speaking, public universities are better than private ones. The strict government regulation ensures that all facilities meet essential standards; all teachers have had competitive marks to get in, etc. To many Americans' surprise, tuition to these top public universities can be as little as 2000 USD a year, or even free for top performers. While the education and services are surely not comparable to a school like Harvard or Oxford, a tuition price that is 5% or less of a Western school and still high-quality is remarkable.

There always some exceptions, of course. New York University-Shanghai is an excellent US University with a campus in Shanghai, and also has ties to the college in Abu Dhabi.

In general, a foreigner will face considerable competition to get any job as a teacher, researcher, or other faculty position. While the salary is rather modest, the lifestyle, prestige, and academic freedom of being a college teacher is often a worthwhile pursuit that makes many people truly fulfilled.

Most English teaching jobs will fall under a specific division, such as English Studies, English Language and Literature, linguistics, and applied linguistics. Schools of Education will need lecturers of English Education, Educational Technology, Educational Psychology, Comparative and International Education, Instruction and Curriculum Design, etc. Schools of business will require teachers to teach business English, and perhaps lecturers for their international programs.

Because China is so populated, and university-age students have many needs, there are some other positions that an eager and academically-minded foreigner may be able to fill. On occasion, research, formal mentorship programs, administration, student outreach, etc. will arise.

More recently, big cities like Beijing and Shanghai have had international programs. Similar to an international program at a public high school can use their facilities, interact with other students, etc., so can some universities create an international program, teach English, Chinese, and a major of study in English (not Chinese). After three or sometimes four years of study, a student can graduate with a diploma from that school.

In general, communication and applications are more disoriented than a Western system. If a teacher wishes to be a university teacher or faculty member, best to visit the campus in person, form relationships, apply, and slowly work their way into the bureaucratic system.

Despite all the hassle, uncertainty, low pay, etc. being a university teacher is considered very rewarding. Most people are glad they took the job.

Among some well-known universities are:

Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tongji University, East China Normal University, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE), Shanghai International Studies University, Donghua University, Shanghai University

Types of School	Requirements
Public Schools	Bachelor's Degree or above, holding English literature or related degree; At least two years of relevant teaching experienceUnder 55 years old
International Schools	Working experience above three years.  Relevant teaching experience in an international school or foreign language school, and/or extensive experience in an environment with multiple English learning needs. Relevant Certification/qualification from the USA, Canada, UK, Australia or New Zealand
Private Language Schools	Native English speakers (in principle from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and South Africa)  Bachelor's degree or above (degree to be certified by the local Chinese Embassy) Two years of relevant work experience. (Alternatively, a bachelor's degree or higher in a subject such as education/teaching or a bachelor's degree or higher with a valid national or international language teaching license is exempt.) Under 60 years oldNon-criminal record.
College and University Teaching Jobs	Lecturer teachers or assistant professorBachelor degree or above Native English speaker At least two years' full-time teaching experience or possess a TESOL or TEFL certificate Clean criminal record Professional, positive and culturally aware Demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively in a team setting ProfessorPhD holder in related subjects with quality academic papers. Associate Professor or above.

Salary of Teaching English in Shanghai, China

Types of School	Average Teaching Salary
Training centres	¥15,283-¥23,065 ($2,183 - $2,395) per month
International Schools	¥19,088- ¥27,438 ($2,727 - $3,920) per month
Kindergartens	¥18,333 - ¥28,333 ($2,619 - $4,048) per month