Your Role as a Foreign Teacher in a Chinese School

Teaching English in China is a rewarding experience, but understanding how you fit in is essential to success.
Here we will help you navigate the structure, student expectations, and your role as a EFL teacher, in kindergartens or primary/middle schools and suggest some tips to help things go smoothly.

– Richard Edwell, Teach TEFL in China, 25 April 2025

Our teachers will typically be placed working with one of the following institutions.

Structure

  • Kindergarten (幼儿园 yòu’éryuán): Ages 3–5, typically three years—small, middle, and large class.
  • Primary / Middle School (小学 xiǎoxué): Grades 1–6, ages 5–11. Students begin formal schooling here.
 
 

Navigating the System

Understanding the structure and inner workings of your school can make your teaching life smoother and help you fit in professionally.

School Hierarchies

Chinese schools tend to have clear hierarchies and chains of command and interactions will always be respectful:

  • Principal (校长 xiàozhǎng): Oversees the entire school.
  • Vice Principals: Often handle academics, discipline, or foreign affairs.
  • Department Heads (教研组长 jiàoyán zǔzhǎng): Manage subject areas like English.
  • Homeroom Teachers (班主任 bānzhǔrèn): Assigned to each class, they’re responsible for students’ overall performance and behavior and are highly respected.
  • Your school may also have a Foreign Teacher Coordinator who acts as a liaison between foreign teachers and the schools senior leadership team where there are more than 10 Foreign Teachers in a school.

 

Your Position

  • You’re usually seen as a specialist and colleagues in your department may ask your advice.
 

Assessment and Observation

  • Some schools conduct formal evaluations—this might include class observations by department heads or principals.
  • You may also receive feedback from co-teachers or student surveys.

TEFL Teachers in the Chinese Education System

To avoid feeling like a fifth wheel during your first few days in school you should understand where you fit in as a foreign teacher.

Remember, you’re not just teaching a subject—you’re exposing students to pronunciation, and real-world language use that Chinese teachers do not specialize in.

Where You Fit In

  • Kindergarten: Focuses on social and physical development, and basic learning habits. Your focus as a teacher is on exposure—songs, basic words, storytelling, and interaction.
  • Primary: Literacy and numeracy, moral education. You will build vocabulary and simple sentence structures. Your job is to help students develop their speaking and listening skills.

Teaching in Kindergarten (幼儿园 yòu’éryuán)

Kindergartens in China are not part of the formal compulsory education system, but they play a major role in child development and early exposure to English—especially in cities and private schools.

Curriculum Focus

The emphasis at this level is on:

  • Play-based learning
  • Social skills (sharing, following instructions, interacting)
  • Basic English exposure through fun and repetition

English is not formally assessed, so your classes should be engaging and centered on participation and enjoyment.

Your Role as a Foreign Teacher

You’re expected to:

  • Use songs, chants, and games to teach simple vocabulary (colors, numbers, animals, greetings).
  • Tell stories using pictures and gestures to develop listening skills.
  • Encourage speaking through routine phrases (“Hello”, “How are you?”, “My name is…”).

 

At this stage, your role is mainly to facilitate language exposure, so think of yourself as a language role model who makes learning fun and memorable.

 

Classroom Environment

  • Class sizes can range from 15 to 20+.
  • You may teach multiple classes a day (e.g., 20–30 minutes per class, 4–6 groups), or if you are working in an international class setting you may work with 1-2 classes for the whole day. 

 

Parental Involvement

  • Parents may attend school events or open classes.
  • You may be asked to record videos, take photos, or participate in performances.
  • Schools may collect feedback from parents about your lessons—keeping things fun, safe, and engaging is key.

Teaching in Primary School (小学 xiǎoxué)

Primary school marks the beginning of formal education in China. Students start to develop core academic skills and habits. English becomes a required subject—often from Grade 3 onward in public schools (earlier in private ones).

Curriculum Focus

  • Reading and writing become more structured.
  • Emphasis on phonics, sentence patterns, and basic grammar.
  • Introduction to standardized tests, though less pressure than in later years.

Students are often energetic, curious, and eager to please—but may also be shy using English, especially with a foreigner.

Your Role as an Foreign Teacher

At this level, your main goals are to:

  • Build vocabulary and simple sentence fluency beyond (“This is a cat”, “I like apples”). As students progress through the grades there will be more emphasis on longer and more dynamic sentences and conversational English.
  • Reinforce listening and speaking through drilling repetition, visuals, and interactive activities.
  • Introduce classroom English routines: greetings, instructions, question forms.

Your lessons should be:

  • High-energy and visually engaging
  • Repetitive, using scaffolding to build confidence
  • Simple and clear, avoiding complex grammar explanations

Classroom Environment

  • Class sizes are often 35–50 students, especially in public schools.
  • You may teach each class once or twice a week, unless you are in an international class, in which case you will generally work with 1-2 groups of students for the whole year. 

Use visual aids, flashcards, props, and clear modeling. Many foreign teachers use PowerPoint slides to keep students moving and engaged.

Games can be used to encourage participation and to assess what students have learned but they should be short and meaningful – “hangman” should be avoided.

Assessments

You’re typically not responsible for grading students—but you might be asked to give informal oral assessments, judge contests, or help prepare students for school events.

Tips for Success

To make the most of your time teaching in China and ensure a fulfilling experience, here are some practical tips:

 

1. Be Adaptable

  • China’s educational culture can be quite different from what you’re used to—be flexible and patient.
  • Students may be shy or reserved; they might not volunteer answers, so you’ll need to actively engage them.
  • Be ready to adjust your teaching methods and classroom management strategies to fit the needs of your students.

 

2. Build Rapport

  • Establish a strong connection with your students. They’re likely curious about your culture and background, so share stories, traditions, and experiences.
  • Get to know their interests. Understanding what excites them can help make lessons more engaging.
  • Smile, encourage, and be patient—even small progress is valuable in China’s education system.

 

3. Collaborate with Other Teachers

  • Your local co-teachers will be your greatest allies. Work with them to plan lessons, share feedback, and align teaching methods.
  • Learn from them: Chinese teachers have a lot of wisdom about managing large classrooms and dealing with different student behaviors.
  • They can also help you navigate the cultural nuances that might affect student behavior or classroom dynamics.

 

4. Be Professional and Reliable

  • Show up on time, prepare well for lessons, and demonstrate a solid understanding of your subject.
  • Punctuality is highly valued in Chinese schools, so being dependable will help build your reputation.
  • Keep a positive attitude and maintain professional decorum at all times.

 

5. Embrace the Culture

  • Learn basic Chinese phrases—it shows respect for the local culture and can help in day-to-day interactions.
  • Participate in school activities, especially around Chinese holidays like Chinese New Year or Mid-Autumn Festival. These experiences will enrich your time in China and help you connect with students and colleagues.
  • Take time to explore the local area and get to know the community. The more you embrace the culture, the richer your experience will be.

During your first few days it can feel awkward being in a class but understanding how you fit in at your school and what is expected of you by your colleagues and students will help you to seize initiative and avoid feeling like a fifth wheel, giving you the confidence in your interactions to overall make the best impression in those important early days.

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