How to Pick up everything and move to China? (Shanghai)?

I have been teaching English and placing teachers in China for over ten years now, here are some important items

1 - All teachers are supposed to have a college degree now, there are ways around it, but, it is only getting more and more strict, so, in two years time when you come, you are going to need one

2 - To teach English here Chinese is not necessary, it is good to know for your daily life and getting around, but, not necessary for teaching

3 - You should get your TESOL cert. it will be a plus and teaching experience as well, another qualification for big cities like Shanghai (they are starting to require two years teaching experience)

4 - Teaching at a college or Univ. here is a lot of fun and a great experience, but, along with requiring a college degree to teach English, Chinese Univ. are starting to require Foreign College English teachers to have a Master's degree

Sounds to me like you know exactly what to do. I think if you follow your own advice you'll do just fine. Without a BA and an English Teaching Certificate you'll never be able to advance very far and be stuck in the lower echelon of teaching jobs. Good luck.

If your looking for jobs in China you can look here:

www.51job.com
www.Chinasplash.com
www.zhaopin.com

for teaching jobs:
www.daveseslcafe.com

For gen info:
www.gochinasites.com
www.asiaxpat.com

Also, to the girl up top, a guy like you, if he worked hard as a teacher could make up to about 20k RMB per month max (6000RMB plus share apt more likely), the real teachers at int'l schools make 35k RMB minimum with a ton of perks.

I don't know what the pay is but I do see many foreigners working in hotels here. My best suggestion is apply to a relocation company. Not much pay off the start and long hours, but a good worker only needs a couple years before he's moving up. The other good reason is you end up meeting all the richest foreigners in town this way and one might offer you a cushy job at his company!

For these jobs look at companies like - Santa Fe, Asian Tigers, Crowne Relocation, Links, Bridge etc...

Good luck

Yes your plan sounds good...but, think about it.
If you cant make it in your own country, what makes you think you can make it in China.??
Its a different way of life...good in some ways but hard for many.
So you think it will be better for you?
I suggest that you prove your self in your own country first, then you can try another.
There are plenty of English teachers there, most not even qualified. I done it on holiday, so their not desperate for your service.
I suggest that you try it out first... and if you can stick at it, go for it. but remember, if you get into problems there, life is tougher.

Good luck

most english teachers in china are not ''real'' or professional teachers. they dont have degree or certificate. they are just native english speakers. and they can make decent money too(up to several grand us dollars) which i think that's about professional foreign teachers make in china. shanghai is ok to live. local people have dialect but they all speak mandarin--standard chinese. shanghai is big so it has a lot to offer, western enough if u want night life. chinese enough to get to know the chinese part. the 2 things i hate the most is the pollution and very crowded, which is the same as beijing or guangzhou and other large cities in china. if u just go there and get to know some schools and people and connection, you can already make several thousand dollars with probably more than 1 job. most jobs are not full time or 40 hours a week. so 3 jobs maybe equal to 1 job, depending on the hours you will work. cost of living is cheaper than US there. Some schools even pay your rent. this way you can save money and pay off your loan. good luck!!

I have been working at my job for almost ten years. I've been going to school part time for the last four. When I finally graduate, I am so gone. Even though the job provides a sense of certainty and stability, it interferes with my dream to teach. I live in South Dakota, the lowest paid educators in the country and am looking at a $5000 pay cut but life is more. If you don't pursue your dream, you will regret it for the rest of your life. If it doesn't work, that job or similar ones will always be there if you need to come back.

Just do a TEFL man.

Having no degree is a problem, but you can find something, and then once you've got a year or two of teaching experience it won't even matter.

It's an easy way to get to China; you could probably find a deal where they pay for your flights, but Shanghai will be more competitive; maybe consider somewhere less popular first.

Have you considered working in the service sector in China, ie. hotel management? Because you are a native English speaker, you have service experience and you can speak Mandarin (assuming you do learn within the next 2 years). You might want to look into hotel management positions in China and courses you can take here for the time being to give you the credentials. You can also see if you can get any strong service industry experience with big name companies, that would make your resume more impressive.

You seemed to have a solid plan already. Chinese love white people so I believe you will be able to fit in quickly. Shanghai though is quite an expensive city to live in. Have you considered other City in China?

Anyways , even if you don't get accepted as a school teacher you can always do private tutoring. A friend of mine earn 10,000 usd per month as a private tutor (they love native speakers)

Also Have you considered distance learning (on catching up for the degree? )

what makes you want to come to China?...
you know, inside it looks totally different from outside...
knowing no roots of your decision i can give you no advice...
--ADDED

Hmm Chinese in Frisco... that was Cantonese probably... as for culture... hmm... many foreigners imagine China the way they see it in the movies... yet it's different... try a tourism visa first... just to look around... and then you'll see what you can do here... Kongfu and ancient philosophy is not what this place is about nowadays... it's a dynamic, swiftly developing country and foreigners are only needed here as far as they can make their personal contibutions to that constsnt process... at least this is what i see from inside...