What's up! Here's how I saved 42 large in a year purely from my teaching salary. Keep in mind that you don't need to be a certified teacher to make this much, I just wanted to be transparent with my personal situation. If you have any questions, please leave them as comments below and I'll do my best to answer!

I bought Ben's book in 2017, moved to China in 2018, paid off my mortgage in 2021, and I'm planning on buying a second property in 2024 when I get my bonus. If you're discontent in the West and want to teach and travel, then it's a no-brainer.

Free accommodation is such a help .. I note in better places to live like Thailand there is never free accommodation on offer...

4-bedroom place? As my Irish friends would say, "That's grand." I used to have small apartments in Shanghai and Shenzhen. The Shenzhen one was new and clean, but it was TINY, and back in 2016, I paid 3,800. Now, I live in Guiyang, and for 3,800, I get a massive three-bedroom apartment with two bathrooms, a walk-in closet, a utility room, and a balcony. Sure, the decorations are over-the-top granny style, but it's still an amazing place. (And my school pays 2,200 of that rent + all utilities).

I feel relieved when Ben's videos find me well.

Nice to hear from you again my man. I am teaching in Thailand now. Thanks for all the advices.

Bredda bredda, I would hope you still remember me but that is probably only wishful. Glad to see you're still up and at it teaching and making the most of life. Loved the video.

Glad to see you back buddy it has been a long time since you posted. Much love from this online teacher in PV Mexico.

As usual, amigo Ben, you are so right! I teach French and Spanish at a university in China. During the academic year 2022-2023 I managed to save a similar amount. 4 more years to attain early retirement extreme Jacob Lund Fisker´s style. Keep loading your videos, people who are English-native speakers and are willing to work abroad come become wealthy as you have. 🤑

As of 2024 this offer does not exist anymore. If it does it's not for everyone.

Funnily enough, I have followed you for years and ended up working at the same school you last worked at in China. Greetings from Wuhan!

You motivated me to go back home and get my B. Ed (+licence) here in Ontario. 7 1/2 months to go and hoping to put the extra savings in ETFs after I finish.

I am absolutely certain that TEFL in China is dying at this point. The 2024 intake has been one of the most competitive years I have seen in my 12 years in the country. After COVID 0 ended salaries dropped about 10k, which was to be expected but what I didn't expect was how many people would struggle to find a job. The double reduction policy has wiped out about 85% of the market and people do not seem to be deterred from coming here either. Recruiters get many, many applicants and have resorted to good old racism (whites only), sexism (female preferred) and ageist (under 35 please). I'm seeing a lot of people being offered 10-20k (private school K9) salaries and some people even accepting those offers. NATIVES. A lot of international schools have had their licenses limited, are not allowed to expand their operations and fees have been capped. Pretty much impossible to get a license for a new school at this point. I would not recommend coming here to teach, the market is unstable right now and it is likely to deteriorate further.

I've been thinking about getting the cert a lot recently. The 4-day work weeks and 20 weeks of paid vacations at the uni are hard to beat, but the salary can't compare to the international school scene with the other fringe benefits. My ex was smashing close to $80K in Schenzhen for a couple of years, but man the stories of what she went through during the pandemic! Another friend of mine works for DoDEA....now there's nice gig. So many opportunities open up with certification. How'd you get yours? Did you teach back at home?

Working in China can definitely be a hit and miss i know people who've worked there and had an awful time and others, an amazing time. I was struck though, when i worked there, as to how much money can be made. I was living life. Tempted to go back

I don't have the credentials to teach in my own country, but I have taught English overseas for the past seven years. I wish you would do a video on the process toward getting those teaching credentials and the test involved.

Hi Ben i'm a native English speaker with a degree and tefl. Where should I find my first position teaching English in China? and what age group do you recommend. I'm thinking middle-high school.

Ben, id like some good advice. I am needing to take a break to complete my PGCE - to become ceritfied but might need to give my school a break to finish. Thus needing to apply maybe afterwards (i.e February)...would International Schools still take in at that time. Would it be wise to risk loosing the visa over it

There are also countries that allow a TEFL and a sub teaching license to teach in public.

How long do you think that these jobs will be available in China for ? I'm a certified math teacher, came back to the US to work and I'm doing fine, I teach high school math, but I want to go back to China . Your videos and "discovering" investing have opened my eyes ( I paid off all my student loans and credit card debt while in China , brought back some savings and got my teaching license while working there ). I was in China from 2018 to 2022 and I feel like teaching overseas is more fun and interesting. Thanks.

Ben, I really loved the thumbnail. I know that may sound superficial in relation to the knowledge you shared but it deserves to be commended. It shows you're paying attention to trends on here for videos designed to help people plus get traction regarding views and keeping your viewers engaged. Thanks for the suggestion/idea of getting a teacher's certificate. I currently only possess a TEFL. It has served me well and I have been teaching a few years with only this and a somewhat loose informal education at an arts conservatory. Now I'm finishing my bachelor's online and looking for more prospects. Your videos and content have always been a kind of mentor for me albeit on a parasocial scale. Regardless, thank you for your tenacity and work sir.

"NATIVE"

Long time no see! What do you think about the situation in China right now? My friends seem to be doing well, but I'm skeptical about going back with all of the political drama, and I know the system all too well, suddenly having all of my accounts frozen because of some stupid ID/registration verification requirement. I can only imagine that regulations are tighter than ever!

Hi Ben I’m a little late seeing this video 9/16/23… but anyway I am a nurse with a masters in holistic health nursing science which I’m developing and it takes time. I also have a TESL and have taught for a few companies from China.. do you have a video or info to get someone started on this? I would love to take recommendations and start this process . Please and thank you!

First? c:

Was your 32,000/month base salary pre or post tax? When I was in China for 3 years I had problems wiring money on consecutive years, let alone consecutive months. That was a Chinese bank to American bank transfer. Does ICBC avoid those problems? Or were you having them deposit your salary directly into an American account?

Hai Ben.I'm in South Africa having 4 years teaching experience, with Barchelors degree. Honours degree and PGCE. Which salary range can I expect now in 2024 for August intake as a Business & Economics teacher?

Nice! Commenting mainly to assist with the algorithm!! 😀

What do you think the saving potentials are for a non-certified teacher?

I have no expedrience but have a bachelors degree. i spoke to a company called echo education that gave me a deal for 14k a month rmb in hangzhou. am i getting lowballed? or should i work and find something bettter after my contract.

32k rmb after tax??

I have seen threads on reddit calling you out and your dodgy practices. Have you seen them, and what do you have to say about that?

Ben do they let you bring your wife and kid to China while you teach? My kid is home schooled and it would certainly help me save money to have them with me.

How to contact you Ben? Im intrigued.

You sent money home every month? How? SWIFT transfer is like $50 a piece.

Are you living in Paraguay or Argentina? Where are you considering teaching again? I am seriously considering the PR and citizenship investment program in Paraguay. I am really glad you are back on youtube. I have really missed your videos!

People drastically underestimate how low the costs of overseas living is.

Was that not teaching private students too?

End of foreign language education to AI. DISCUSS!

Where are you now, Ben?

Shave your beard, would make you look like 10 years younger.

you cant cant teach anymore without two years of real teacher experience... this is in the last 5 monjths change, so be careful .. youc ant just come and work for a kindergarten

I save about 35k a year in Vietnam. Ielts government classes 3k a month. Then in rich area with international schools, and some of those government students, for privates. I saved up enough money in 24 months to build a house in cash during covid. 2020 to 2022. Now I have really no Bill's just high interest accounts, and a wife who loves paper.

Hi Ben! Great to see you back 😃 I was wondering when were you able to save this money? (before or after the pandemic?) As always, enjoy & appreciate your transparency and sharing your experiences with us. 🫡👍