Question about returning to Chengdu and teaching

Member since 21 April 2025

laowai24503Member21 April 2025 03:59:11

I am an American interested in finding an English teaching job in Chengdu. My situation is a little unique. I have a bachelor's degree, 120-hour TEFL certification and worked as an English teacher in Taiwan for 3 years. I'm also fluent in Mandarin. I actually lived in Chengdu for 6 years from 1996-2002 where I attended the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I was in the regular medical degree program with the Chinese students and took all of my courses in Chinese alongside the regular students. I was the first Westerner to graduate from the CUTCM with a medical degree specializing in acupuncture. After graduation, I returned to the United States and for the past 23 years I have had a successful acupuncture practice here. But now I am looking to retire and return to Chengdu. Here's the catch. I am now 60 years old. I understand that generally English teachers in China must be under 60. What would be my chances of getting an exemption for the age requirement, and do you have any advice or recommendations? Thanks in advance!

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TruckerMike Member

Member since 14 August 2025

TruckerMikeMember14 August 2025 14:54:00

similar situation here too. But I plan to volunteer my time. I doubt you鈥檙e gonna get paid.

bob5651 New member

Member since 17 December 2024

bob5651New member19 December 2025 09:11:36

It is possible to get employment in China when you are over 60 if you have exeptional skills such as those enjoyed at a professor level and have unusual skills, as a friend of mine has, such as monitoring polution in the wildlife via pathology. He used to get invitations to train students in the subject. These days I understand that you need a university degree to teach English/American English regardless of the age barrier.