China's full of surprises, that's for sure. You're young, you might like it as it's going to be a totally new experience to you. Though prepare for next to no-one speaking your language, i.e English. I spent almost two years in China, with a 6-month break in between. A bit of a nightmarish personal experience to share: my SO and I arrived in Beijing 2 years ago at midnight. It was promised to us we'd be picked up by someone and taken to a hotel (it wasn't a Beijing-based company) - there was no-one to meet us. We waited for an hour, then tried to ask for help someone from the staff - asked to get us a cab - they barely understood us, called some place, then they were gone with no taxi looming on the horizon. So we ended up getting a cab outside - and the cabby was looking aghast at our luggage (just two suitcases and two duffel bags), as his trunk was half-full of his shit - so, prepare for that too, that's quite common a thing. We were taken to some hotel near the airport - the address we showed him resulted in a blank expression on his face. Such was our first night in China, in its capital. A bit of exploration next day - the Forbidden City, the cashier didn't speak a lick of English. So, basically that's the modus operandi for the Chinese. They can't read maps, so always have an address jotted down in both English and Chinese to show. 12 k is an ok salary for someone without any teaching experience, could probably push for 14 k but, yeah, on condition they pay for the accommodation. Brace yourself up for the absence of hygiene, people spitting everywhere - that's disgusting - the more phlegm out the better. Burping and farting men and women in streets is a norm. Same applies to children, naturally. As to pollution - we were flying via Beijing this summer, just had to quickly get off the plane and into the airport. The city was invisible till the plane was real low. My SO was wearing a white shirt, after that quick run and a night at the airport it was yellow, so were my teeth. So, yeah, some conclusions to be drawn. You gonna be their foreign monkey in the kindergarten - they aren't gonna learn jack - well, maybe some words if you manage to draw their attention - likely, there'll be 30 or more kids in one group. Salarywise, it all depends, of course, on the number of hours - for 12 k, I wouldn't agree to anything more than 15, without any office hours. If you're a yes man, China will probably turn you into a no-man if you're shrewd and not self-effacing. People are nice to you because you're a white face, and they like to hobnob with laowai (Chinese for foreigner), but you'll always be an outsider for them. Anyway, lots of young people grow fond of China having spent some time here - but, honestly, in the majority of cases, it's just being flattered that they like and being looked up to - on the face of it - they actually don't really think foreigners are better then they are. Will be tons of girls swooning over you no matter how slim/fat/slobby/hairy etc you are - if you're into Asian girls. Lots of upsides and downsides, you have to experience it in order to be able to pick your side.