Teach in China! Pay, Free Flights & Housing with The Fewer Things

Moving to China to teach has been a really rewarding experience, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone considering taking the leap, especially those who are new to teaching abroad. There is always a learning curve when moving to a new country, but having the right support, resources, and placement makes a huge difference. Overall, my experience has been very positive, and I am glad I decided to take this opportunity.

I currently teach Montessori, and one of the things I have appreciated most about my placement is the quality of the teaching materials and resources available. Having access to great materials makes planning lessons much easier and allows me to create engaging, hands-on learning experiences for the children. Montessori teaching is all about encouraging independence, exploration, and learning through practical activities, so having the right resources is especially important. I have felt well-equipped to deliver lessons and develop my teaching skills in this environment.

Another major positive has been the support I have received. Moving overseas can feel overwhelming at first, particularly when you are unfamiliar with the language, culture, and everyday processes. Having an agency that helps you prepare before arriving makes the transition considerably easier. They guide you through the preparation process, help you understand what to expect, and make settling into your new role less stressful. I have also appreciated the support available once I arrived. Knowing that you have people you can turn to when questions or challenges arise is incredibly reassuring, especially during your first experience living and working in China.

My placement in Shenzhen has also been a great experience. It is a modern, international city with plenty of conveniences and a welcoming environment for foreigners. There is a lot to explore, and it is relatively easy to find familiar comforts while also experiencing Chinese culture. I think Shenzhen is a particularly good choice for someone moving to China for the first time because it offers a nice balance between experiencing life in China and having access to an international community.

However, one thing I would definitely advise future teachers to prepare for is the weather! Shenzhen gets incredibly hot and humid, particularly during the summer months. If you are not used to tropical or subtropical climates, it can take some time to adjust. Bring lightweight clothing, stay hydrated, and be prepared for plenty of humidity. It is something I wish I had been even more prepared for before arriving!

Overall, I think this placement is an excellent opportunity for teachers who are just starting their journey in China. The agency does a great job helping you prepare, the placement provides good resources and support, and Shenzhen is a fantastic city to begin experiencing life abroad. Of course, moving to another country always comes with challenges, but having a supportive team and a good working environment makes those challenges much easier to navigate.

If you are considering teaching in China but feel a little nervous about taking that first step, I would encourage you to give it a chance. It has been a valuable experience both professionally and personally, and I am looking forward to continuing to grow as a teacher while making the most of my time here.l

This was one of the best decisions I have made. TFT have been really supportive right from the initial application process to arriving at my destination, the team provided excellent support and guidance throughout. The schools training and TEFL qualification was informative and gave me the confidence and practical skills needed to succeed in the classroom. I have loved getting experience a new culture, meet amazing people and discover new things about myself. I would highly recommend this programme to anyone looking for an exciting and meaningful adventure abroad!

If you're anything like me, you might think that moving country is a thing that other people do. As appealing as it sounds, it couldn't possibly be me, right? This doesn't have to be the case! On a whim, I applied through TFT, in hopes of experiencing a whole new way of life in China. Needless to say, TFT made the process happen. Was it all sunshine and rainbows? Not necessarily. But was it absolutely achievable? YES!
So here I am in China, with no plans to move back to the UK. Take that risk!

TFT has been amazing with their support of finding credible jobs and helping to navigate a system that can be really intimidating for first timers in China.
I got placed with CIPTC in Shenzhen and although I hadn't considered Shenzhen to start with, I'm really glad I ended up here because of the large group of fellow TFT travellers that have made it easy to meet new people and start to build a good social life out here.
Jamie sent loads of information and info on everything from the visa process to interview tips and helped place me with a company that has an amazing support system. The pay is a little lower than you might get if you did everything yourself rather than going through an agency, but the stability and job protection is more than worth it.
If you're looking to start teaching in China and want someone to help do all the tricky bits up front, this is for sure the way go go.

In my last year of university I made the exciting decision to move from Canada to China to become an English teacher! I first heard about TFT through a fellow Canadian friend who had moved to China the year before. She connected me with Jaemi, and the rest is history!

From the very beginning, Jaemi was incredibly supportive and helpful. Moving across the world can feel overwhelming, but TFT made the experience feel so much easier.

These past few months have been filled with some of the most incredible and memorable experiences of my life. The transition to living in China has been very smooth, from finding an apartment and getting my visa sorted to settling into my new school.

Since arriving, I've had the opportunity to teach English to some wonderful kindergarten students, try incredible new foods, explore different places, visit Hong Kong, and make friendships that I know I'll cherish for years to come.

Moving to China has pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best possible way. I’m so excited to see where the rest of this year takes me.

What started off as a 10 month journey is now going to be over 3 years. I started off in Guangzhou in 2023 in a private school, which really fast tracked my experience in general, as I was fairly new to teaching, the school was quite high standard. I got plenty of training so was well prepared in that sense, but it was definitely pretty full on to begin with. Once you get into it, it gets easier and you can start to get out and explore a bit more. I have loved China, and it's been getting better ever year I've been here. I moved to into another school this year, mainly to get more pay since I am quite experienced now. TFT still reaches out to me now even after all these years and I could not have started this whole thing without them. They have everything laid out for you in the run up to moving to China and it was nice to be part of a group, some of which I am still friends with now

It is a tough move coming to China, but if you power through the first couple of months, you'll have an amazing time

With lots of help from my Chinese agency, the teaching has been lots of fun. I think the biggest challenge has been the weather (specifically the humidity) and just getting used to how things work in China, which isn't too hard. Traveling is very easy, especially within China. Everything is affordable for everyone, not just foreigners. There's a really nice atmosphere pretty much everywhere because restaurants, shopping centers (which there are a lot of) are always busy. I've also never paid more than 70p for the metro and it's very easy to navigate.

Very good program. Settled in China with ease. Really enjoying myself. The school i’m working at is full of friendly people helping you out along the way. I’ve met some good friends. There’s a lot of opportunities to save money. Good work life balance. I had a lot of nerves coming into this job and moving abroad but ultimately it’s been well worth it and i’d do it all over again. Jaemi is a very good lad who will make sure you are fine and if you have any issues he’s readily available to talk to.