Programme Introduction
This programme provides you with an opportunity to train as an English teacher in China and gain work afterwards. During your 4 weeks of training, you will be armed with all the necessary teaching theories, techniques, and practice, plus you’ll be introduced to the Chinese language (Mandarin) and culture.
After orientation and training, we will assist you in finding work at a school or in a training centre but a job placement is not guaranteed. Where you work and how many hours you work each week will depend on a number of factors like your qualifications, the time you join the program (the schools tends to recruit teachers in the beginning of each semester) and how long you are planning to stay in China for.
Please note: If you are planning to be in China for 3 months you are unlikely to be able to teach in a school. Possible work will be mainly evening and weekend teaching at a training or language centre.
Accommodation and Meals
During the training period, you will be living at a hostel in twin-share accommodation. Food is provided at the Centre canteen. Once the training has been completed, participants are expected to cover their own living expenses, our staff and placement school will assist you in finding accommodation.
The Schools
We work with schools in the area but there are opportunities for you to teach in other parts of China. The schools are usually quite large, varying between 1,000 and 5,000 students with up to 50 students per class and are also a mixture of private and government schools. They have modern buildings and a high standard of recreation facilities that the students can use for lots of after-school activities.
Foreign teachers are not always very common in Chinese schools and there are limited English resources. Therefore the contribution to the school you are placed in will be invaluable to the students and you will be much admired.
The academic year is split into two semesters, with each term being approximately 5 months in duration with the first one starting in early September, and the second starting in February.
This does vary though depending on the time of the Chinese New Year, which is usually from late January to late February. The term breaks are for 6-8 weeks from July to August and 4 weeks from January to February. There is usually a one-week break in October and May.
Project Age Limit
Minimum age of 19 years, maximum age dependent of potential participant’s health.
Visa
You will enter the country on a tourist visa, and then during the programme you will be assisted in your application for an extension of your visa.
