I am currently looking for an ESL job in China. Should I be...

Initialy going to chna try a public school first until you know which private schools are ok not to say public schools are that good but you have more recourse if things go pear .shaped...................5 years experience in china

Having lived and worked in China for six years now, I would never teach for a language school unless one needs to. They are not always honest and work you to death, even though they do pay more. A public school in China is wonderful with the students appreciating and loving their teachers, as you would come to love them. It is a wonderful experience.

We worked in two different private language centres in China. The pay and conditions were better in the private schools - although we had friends working in public schools who were comfortable and happy. The private schools do not always have the legal status they claim to have. We mostly enjoyed teaching eager adults in the private schools rather than children in the public schools. So to answer your question - consider both.

hello,

having worked in both in china I would say work in a public school if you can get it, then you can work in more school and make more money, but the big plus is the vacation time! sure its usually unpaid but when I was there I saved for the vacations which was 6 weeks summer 6 weeks winter, plus your may and oct. week breaks, it was great!

Hey Jessica
Before you work in a private scholl make sure they can do your paperwork. But go puplic if you can.
Larrie (2.5 years in China)

Go public! They´re more regulated by the state which means better treatment and a more structured work environment. The private schools may pay more, but more often than not, they´re not very structured (or at least not as well-structured as public schools). The downside: public schools are more selective, especially in large cities.

Coastal universities if you have a degree. No inland...to much smog. private schools are not always unsavory, but can be.

I too am looking to start work in China, ideally a public school or university in Beijing. The more horror stories I read of these private ´english factories´ the more I am drawn towards the public side of EFL in China.