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Q: Is it possible for a non-native speaker to teach in China?
I'm an ESL Teacher from Philippines. I have worked for two companies (S&A Language School and Tutoring Club) since 2012 - 2014. I resigned from work last month to enter a contract of marriage with a Chinese national. Now, my husband continues to work in Shanghai while I am left here in Xi'an. He doesn't want me to go back to Philippines. At first, I thought it was okay to be a full-time housewife but later I realized it's very boring to be staying at home only. I'm not familiar with the place, I only know a lil about Chinese language, and I don't have friends here too. So, I would like to get a part-time job as an English teacher. I haven't applied in any schools yet, however I have read that schools only hire NATIVE SPEAKERS (based on their ads). If there are teaching opportunities you can recommend, please contact me. Xiexie 
10 years 4 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - Xi'an
As I understand from your question, you were working in Philippines and quit to get married in China. If that's the case, the you can look for a job here in China. Non natives will have a harder time but since you are here already, it makes the search easier. You can look for jobs in Xi'an, part time or full time is available. Since you already have the experience, getting a teaching job shouldn't pose a problem. However, do note that they do prefer native speakers but there are many cases where non natives are employed. Just be patient and continue looking. Good luck on your job hunt!
louischuahm:
Btw, if you didn't choose to be anonymous, people here tend to help you a lot more.
jandii090692:
Yeah, I am hesitant to submit an application online because schools prefer native speakers. I'll try walk-in application one of these days. 
I'm a newbie here, I don't know how to change my anonymity. Could you please teach me? Thanks a lot!
louischuahm:
When you post a question, there is a box on the bottom left hand if you want to remain anonymous, untick it. That's it.
louischuahm:
Btw, icnif and sorrel are right. Send out as many online applications as possible. I sent out close to a thousand, many of them repeats because they are for different locations. I have a blog on this.
http://space.echinacities.com/275675/blog/detail/2021
This summarizes what I went through before I landed a job. Don't give up!
jandii090692:
Oh, your blog is a good motivation. 
Thank you! I'm gonna put those in mind ~
As I understand from your question, you were working in Philippines and quit to get married in China. If that's the case, the you can look for a job here in China. Non natives will have a harder time but since you are here already, it makes the search easier. You can look for jobs in Xi'an, part time or full time is available. Since you already have the experience, getting a teaching job shouldn't pose a problem. However, do note that they do prefer native speakers but there are many cases where non natives are employed. Just be patient and continue looking. Good luck on your job hunt!
louischuahm:
Btw, if you didn't choose to be anonymous, people here tend to help you a lot more.
jandii090692:
Yeah, I am hesitant to submit an application online because schools prefer native speakers. I'll try walk-in application one of these days.
I'm a newbie here, I don't know how to change my anonymity. Could you please teach me? Thanks a lot!
louischuahm:
When you post a question, there is a box on the bottom left hand if you want to remain anonymous, untick it. That's it.
louischuahm:
Btw, icnif and sorrel are right. Send out as many online applications as possible. I sent out close to a thousand, many of them repeats because they are for different locations. I have a blog on this.
http://space.echinacities.com/275675/blog/detail/2021
This summarizes what I went through before I landed a job. Don't give up!
jandii090692:
Oh, your blog is a good motivation. Thank you! I'm gonna put those in mind ~
Don't worry, what you read on adverts about 'Native English teacher required'.
Make ready your Resume, with all required documents, and send it EVERYWHERE!
Chinese won't reply, if they're not interested. Don't worry! Never stop sending your Resume. It's two hours every day's job.
Good luck!
continue submitting online AND in person
your persistance will pay off
where i work, most of the FT's are non-native speakers
good luck 
side-note - remove your email address from the original posting, for your own safety !
You can probably get an ESL job in Chine, but I would attach a few caveats.First, you may not be able to get the sort of visa that would make everything official for work (a Z visa). What that would mean is working on you Q visa, which isn't exactly legal, and that limits the type of schools that you can work for. My advice there would be to either find the largest chain school you can--it helps if you can plausibly claim to be from one of the big 7--one which can convince the government officials tasked with assuring that everything is kosher to look the other way when its time to review the paper work. If you can't find one of those, look for a smaller "black" school which is going to be off the radar of the authorities. Avoid mid market schools at all costs. At a smaller school expect to be paid a little less than you would be otherwise, and not always on time. Also, there is a good chance your boss will be slightly bigger scumbag than usual.
Shining_brow:
IGNORE this!
Firstly, ONLY get a job at a place that offers a Z/full work permit! If you don't, you'll find things tougher... and a higher likelihood of you getting screwed over! Police raid some place regularly, and they target the non-Big5 countries' peoples! Also, given the relationship between China and the Philippines, you'd just be marking yourself a bigger target if you were working illegally!
Go for the bigger language schools - they tend to go by English ability, not nationality. Pay can often be better than many other places, but much worse if you don't have qualifications!
jandii090692:
I'm in an L visa now which was issued by the Chinese embassy in Philippines. They only give me 30 days- L visa (to process our marriage license) which will expire on April 11. I supposed to return to Philippines on April 9 but my husband doesn't want me to stay there while he is here in China. So my husband and I went to the exit and entry bureau last week to change my visa to a Q visa. However, the officer suggested that it would be better to apply for a Q visa 7 days before my L visa expires. If I will be able to change my visa to a Q visa, do you I need to get a Z visa as well in order to work legally in China?
mattsm84:
LOL. "Disagree" with me but then agree in principle with my content. Same old Shining Bow...
The thing to remember about schools getting raided is that the police are after something in particular. The first is a bribe (which is why up market and middle market schools get raided and which is why "black" schools which can't afford proper certification tend not to be). The second is a news story, which does present danger to you. You wouldn't want to be one of 11 illegal immigrants pick up when ever they decide to have another crack down. It might be in your best interest to stick to smaller municipalities outside of the city proper. Obviously, there are risks for you on a couple of sides. And working illegally does mean going without the protection of the law, such as it is in China.
Anyway, the Z visa, and by all means get it if you can, needs to be obtained before arrival, but to get one, you need a job. He's right saying you shouldn't work on an L visa (or a Q) but then these exist to get you into the country. Both the Q and the Z are replaced with a residence permit after arrive, but it still won't be able to work legal. Whether you can or should are frankly, your business. Anyway, getting the Z is unlikely for you. Not only because you aren't from the US, Canada, Ireland, the UK, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand (he's omitting Ireland and South Africa) but also because you can't, to the average Chinese, credibly claim to be from any of these countries. I know that that's incredibly racist, but it something that a lot of people in situations a lot like your have to deal with and you should be warned ahead of time. Its sucks, but better you find out now.
Shining_brow:
Yeah - I'm capable of splitting arguments apart, and responding to each point individually!
Well, Matts, you were advocating she work illegally! So, yes, I do say to ignore it! And for reasons you know well!
True, I did leave out a few nations where English is a native language, but the perception is the "Big-5".... we've also left out India, Kenya, etc (where English is an official language), which includes the Philippines (and Singapore!!)
She's married to a Chinese national - I wouldn't risk doing it without the visa (esp since she's a Philippino!)
Another thing to remember about getting raided - if you annoy the wrong person, you're in trouble! If, as an FT, she gets paid much more than the locals, it's going to cause tensions - so it'd be possible to get raided cos of a simple phonecall from an annoyed co-worker!
mattsm84:
I wasn't advocating anything. I simply let her know that it was an option, and was up front about the risks. Give the girl some credit, man. She may very well have an understanding of what a grey market in the developing world might look like and is fully capable of making a choice on her own once she's been given the information, which is all I ever tried to do. We aren't really helping her in assuming we know better and selectively giving her the information we think is appropriate. After all what if she gets there, realizes that she can't work legal but can illegally, and goes forward without understanding how to go about it or without being aware of what could happen if she makes a mistake? No, better to tell her everything than just a little bit of something.
Shining_brow:
"My advice is either... ...If you can't find one of those, look for a smaller "black" school which is going to be off the radar of the authorities"
I'd call that 'advocating'. (I can only take what you write, dude... I can't interpret it a different way unless you write it differently)
But, yeah, I'll agree with you about giving all information, rather than just our bits and pieces. Perhaps between the two of us, we've covered it :p
mattsm84:
Sigh...read what I wrote again and then apologize for misquoting me. I'm sure you know how conditionals work.
Depends on your qualifications... if you have none, it's not looking good for you! If you have some, make it VERY clear on your resumes (which don't mention your nationality! Much better to get bites first (ie, replies) and then let them decide to take you or not based on your English!)
DO NOT send copies of your passport! A) it might get used for identity theft, B) one look, and they can just ignore you.
If you don't have qualifications, look into getting some! And make them good qualifications! Cheap online TEFL courses are a waste of money, and won't help you much at all. CELTA and Trinity are your best bets (but know that many/most schools here don't know anything about them). Bachelor/Master degrees are good!
If you've got other marketable skills - highlight it! Lots of people here want Business English, and in Xi'an, I'd imagine a bit of call for Tourism English.
jandii090692:
Yes, I agree. I do believe in my skills in teaching, I have experienced handling Chinese students and other nationalities of different levels and age. I'm a licensed Secondary English teacher in Philippines, but I worked in a Language School (i think it's a good point..?)So if I'll be hired in one of the schools here (small or big), will they give me a working visa?
icnif77:
@yandi: 'You shouldn't accept work in China if not correct visa (only Z ---->Residence permit).
If you do accept work on any other visa, your employer will most likely take advantage of you, because they know, you can't seek protection of SAFEA, Chinese Gov. agency. Somebody wrote that in reply above.
Several years ago I was a student of a Philippine girl, who had a lot of students in Beijing. But if she had applied to school jobs she probably had also be refused. So try recruit students on your own. Once when a brilliant chef told me that he was constantly refused by 5-star or 4-star hotels, I told him that as long as these hotels were located still in downtown and China has, or at least was thought to have, so many brilliant chefs who were longing for 5-star jobs it was not surprising that the arrogant owners gave little appreciation on a unfamous job-seeker.
Its possible for I am a non-native teacher but I have Masters Degree in English Linguistics and Literature with 149 TEFL.A plus of three years teaching experience. I just got one chance of an interview after hundreds of applications over various sites. Dave ESL Cafe worked for me. I clicked in the interview and its my 6th month here as a legal English Language Teacher with no less facilities than natives. Z visa and FEC depend upon the respective administration as in my case I had no problem with getting it.
Shanghai is Big city.
Why dont you shift to shanghai with your husband ?
Yes it is Possible just find the school and they all only need you ability and experience of teaching....
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