Teaching English to Chinese ‘may kick-start career’

The programme has been created by a new on-line teaching business which is planning to send its first cohort of teachers to schools in the world’s fastest growing major economy in August.

LoveTEFL, based in Harrogate, has already recruited 50 people who are now teaching in Thailand and plans to expand its operation in China and beyond.

Teachers who take part in the programme are given a salary of around £600 a month, accommodation on school premises and three meals a day during week days.

The placements will range from kindergarten to primary, middle and high schools.

Ian O’Sullivan, the firm’s recruitment manager said: “LoveTEFL has been set up by three of us who all have experience of having worked in TEFL training.

“We have decided to flip the model around.

“Instead of people paying to train at a TEFL school and then finding themselves a job afterwards we are providing on-line training free of charge and then finding people jobs in schools in China.”

He told the Yorkshire Post that LoveTEFL would welcome applications from experienced TEFL teachers or people considering moving into the field for the first time.

Mr O’Sullivan added that the one of the most important things a candidate should have is a firm commitment to want to work and live in China.

Successful candidates will also be emotionally stable, with a great sense of humour and a wilingness to cope with challenging times.

“At a time when one in five university-leavers are unemployed we believe our China programme will really help graduates in Yorkshire gain the skills and experience necessary to kick-start their careers.

“Our programme is unique – it’s free and provides ongoing support for all our candidates.

“We make sure all our students are settled and offer support and social events throughout the programme to give them the opportunity to connect up with other students who started their new life at the same time,” Mr O’ Sullivan said.

“I’d urge anyone looking to take the first step to a new career, a new life and a new network of friends from all over the world to consider this programme.”

Successful candidates will fly out to Beijing in August this year where they will be given a three- day orientation course before being taken to their schools in the Beijing and Zheijang provinces.

Teachers can expect to work around 35 hours a week of which up to 25 will be direct teaching time.

Learning Mandarin is not seen as essential to take part in the programme but LoveTEFL do advise people to attempt to start learning the language to help them get more out of their experience in China. Training for the job is provided in advance through a 120-hour TEFL course which is delivered remotely over the internet.

Once teachers are out in China Love TEFL arranges for a social events to be held to bring the group together once every couple of months.

Accommodation will be provided in the schools which graduates teach at. They include a private room, shared facilities and are classed as “basic” by Western standards.

Love TEFL plans to expand the numbers of schools and TEFL teachers it is working with in Thailand, China and other countries.

Mr O’Sullivan said: “In two years I would hope we would be working between 800 and 1,000 teachers.”

He told the Yorkshire Post that TEFL teachers could use the programme to experience the world and do one-year placements in different countries year after year as their business expands.

“What we want to be able to do is to create a network of like-minded TEFL teachers who can learn from one another.”

Mr O’Sullivan said that because LoveTEFL staff have worked overseas they had an insight into the support people would need.

He added: “TEFL is a great way to see the world. One of the main benefits of our programme is that you will be going as part of a group.

“There will be a Facebook group created so that people can get to know each other beforehand and there will be social events organised while people are out there.”

Mr O’Sullivan added: “The free LoveTEFL teacher recruitment programmes differ from most teaching programmes as they take responsibility for support and service for their candidates from start to finish.

“This one-stop service creates a sense of community for the teachers and for social and professional development to ensure applicants are given the best support, skills and experience possible to benefit them and their future careers.”