I've overcome the 9-5 habit since leaving the comfort of a paid job! I have discovered my acceptance of working when the client/students need me. I have pretty muted worked 7 days a week since July this year, taking on students when they need my services. Dont get me wrong, I still have plenty of free time in-between classes, but will continue to be uber flexible until I need to maybe find extra teachers!

If it's an online certification, make sure its at least branded as 120 hour, and also try to make sure along with the certificate the company also confirms via an email or email letter that you have completed the course. In my experience the certificate is needed if you have zero experience in teaching, if you have over 2 years of provable experience the TEFL certificate should not be required. Hope that helps.

@Nick Baskett how cheap is cheap Nick?

@Nick Baskett as a homeowner does that give you any tell rights to stay on a more permanent visa?

Looking back over the years I have been in China, the most important aspect for me is keeping an open mind. Knowing that you are in a country that does things very differently than your home country, will keep you from going insane! I have seen a fair share of expat teachers come and go, most are happy to experience life here and return home with stories of adventures. Some on the other hand come here thinking they are going to change the country in doing things the western way! These people tend to get angry and hostile towards their hosts, and ultimately move on quickly and job hop until they realise you can't change anything! I've had moments here, where I have been close to exploding through sheer frustration at the way things are processed, but I soon crash back down once the angst has been replaced with realism! Its easy to get wound up here, be it, the electric scooters (of death) driving on the pavements with no regard to people, taxi drivers who only care that their car horn is the only thing working on their taxis, the mad rush to get on a train or plane even though its all ticketed and your seat is allocated, the lack of privacy when you go to the hospital or dentist with people walking in on your appointment speaking to the doctor! Eventually this all becomes the norm, and no matter how much inner screaming and shouting you do, it isn't going to change, and ultimately its part of the charm of living in a different country. As others have already said, be open minded, respectful and enjoy the difference, I mean that is why we have all left our home countries isn't it, not to find a little Britain in another part of the world, but to discover something new.

@Nick Baskett my wife and I have bought an apartment in Guiyang Guizhou province, maybe 4 hours from Guangzhou by bullet train. Guangzhou is popular due to its location and international airport, a stone’s throw from Hong Kong, too hot and humid for me! I’ve been in China since 2015, I’ve applied for my green card, hopefully get that this year, for me I prefer China to the UK! Much more affordable and a low key way of life! Guangzhou has a busier atmosphere and probably more expats, but a great location to explore China from!

Hey Monica, welcome!