Shanghai is a great place to teach English.
It's a cosmopolitan city with delicious food and pleasant weather most of the year.
It's also home to reputable schools and eager students.
But there are some important things you need to know about teaching in one of China's richest cities.
Check out these six tips on teaching in Shanghai. They could save you time, money and effort!
1. Bring enough money
Shanghai can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be.
The average monthly salary in the city is now almost 10,000 yuan (approximately US$1,400) according to the China Daily. It’s second only to Beijing.
You could spend 60 yuan a day on meals or spend 300 yuan per meal.
Chances are you won’t really know how much you will have to spend until you arrive.
That’s why it makes sense to have a comfortable buffer of cash to see you through until you receive your first pay.
Want to teach English in Shanghai? Make sure you bring enough money.
If you teach in a public school, teacher housing will be included in your contract so you won't need to worry about rent money.
However, if you teach in a private language institute – and there are hundreds in Shanghai – accommodation generally won’t be included.
This means you will need to rent your own place (the school will help you).
The initial rent payment can be quite high. This is largely because rent is typically paid every three months.
To get an apartment in Shanghai you’ll also have to pay a damage deposit equal to one month’s rent.
SEE ALSO: TYPES OF SCHOOLS IN CHINA
And, on top of that, if you use an agent there will be an agency fee of around 35%.
So, to rent a 6,000-yuan-per-month apartment, you may have to shell out:
- 18,000 yuan in rent
- 6,000 yuan in damage deposit, and
- 2,100 yuan in agency fees.
This totals 26,100 yuan just to move in. That’s US$3,770.
If this seems a bit steep, don’t worry – you have options.
You could move into a shared flat, instead of renting your own. This would avoid these big initial expenses.
Alternatively, if you teach in the public sector in Shanghai you won’t need to worry about rent payments at all.
2. Bring your credit card
If you think you might need to use a credit card while teaching in Shanghai, don’t cancel the one you have now thinking you can get a new one in China.
Getting a credit card without your company co-signing the credit application is nearly impossible if you’re not Chinese.
Bring your credit card with you.
If you do happen to get one, the best you would get is one that must be prepaid. This isn’t really ‘credit’ at all.
Once you've settled in, your school will help you set up a Chinese bank account.
This means you can then set up WeChat Pay and AliPay and use your phone to pay for practically anything.
You can also use cash – there are ATMs everywhere in Shanghai.
3. Arrive on the right visa
To teach in Shanghai legally you must arrive with a Z visa in your passport. You should not enter on any other visa.
Getting a Z visa to teach in China can take time, so it’s important to start it early. Leaving it to the last minute shouldn’t be an excuse to enter China on a tourist visa!
Rest assured that Hello Teacher! can help you get the right visa.
Make sure you're on the right visa before you teach English in Shanghai.
4. Learn about Shanghai before arriving
The best way to prepare yourself for being immersed in Shanghai culture is to learn all you can before arriving.
I'm a bit old-fashioned and tend to read books and watch documentaries before I go somewhere.
But it's quicker to check out the countless YouTube videos (like the one below) on the kinds of cool things you can get up to.
SEE ALSO: 89 TIPS FOR TEACHING IN CHINA
And, if you know anyone who has been to Shanghai before, ask them all about it!
When you arrive, you’ll at least have some expectation of what you might encounter.
And you'll be better prepared to start your new life teaching in Shanghai.
5. Get a VPN
Major foreign websites and apps, including Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook are blocked in China.
Other sites may be accessible but you have to wait minutes for pages to load.
That’s why you need a virtual private network (VPN) if you're moving to Shanghai.
Using Instagram on Wi-Fi in China requires a VPN.
Leading VPNs that work in China include:
(You can see my review of the best VPN for China here.)
Make sure you download the app on all your devices before you arrive, otherwise you'll be stuck.
6. Teach near a Metro station
Shanghai has an awesome underground train network, known as the Metro.
Most schools are close to a station, making it convenient to get around on the weekend. However, some schools are located on the outskirts.
Check with your recruiter that your Shanghai school is near the Metro. It just makes things so much easier!
I hope you liked these tips about teaching in Shanghai. Leave a comment if you have any questions. I've also written a guide on the typical teach English in China salary. Check it out!
