Programme

Training and orientation

Operated in conjunction with the Work and Travel Company China (WTCC), the
Summer School China programme provides in-country residential training followed by a Summer School placement. In your first week you will study Camp Leaderships skills including basic TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) that will prepare you for your work placement. On completion of the training you will be issued with a Camp Leadership Certificate.

Placement

The programme is based in Chinese Schools where they run different types of camps for children of all ages. They are activity based and provide an opportunity for young people to learn, share, explore, develop and have fun together whilst learning from international counselors. Typical activities include games, arts & crafts, songs and personal development. Extra curricular activities may also be available as will the opportunity to teach conversation English to small groups of students.

Teachers receive a small allowance whilst working (in addition to accommodation and meals). This is approximately £130 which is paid in two instalments. Schools are spread throughout the country. However, there will be at least one other international participant working with you at the school.

Accommodation

Accommodation and meals are provided during the Summer School and training period. The standards can vary from one placement to another. You will have a shared room with communal facilities. By Western standards, the accommodation may be considered basic, but by Chinese standards the accommodation provided is spacious and of a comparatively high standard.

Costs

The programme cost includes:

• Visa processing
• Transfers (from the airport and from the training centre to your placements)
• 1 week training & Leadership Certificate
• 2 x 2 week summer camp school placements
• Accommodation and meals for the training period
• Basic Mandarin lessons
• Allowance of 2000RMB (approximately £130)
• Accommodation and meals for the duration of the placements
• 24/7 support from BUNAC and WTCC
• Time to travel other areas of China after programme completion (at own expense)
• Opportunity to meet people from around the world and get an insight into the Chinese country and culture.

The programme is endorsed by Chinese government authorities.

Eligibility

To apply to Summer School China, you must be:

• A permanent resident of the UK
• Aged at least 18
• Educated to A Level standard
• Able to demonstrate excellent command of spoken and written English
• Interested in Asian culture
• Adventurous, flexible, a good communicator and outgoing.

Flights

BUNAC will arrange your group flight to coincide with your arrival orientation. Flexible homeward tickets will allow date changes whilst away (subject to airline availability and an administration fee).

If you would prefer to arrange your travel independently you may do so. You must however arrive in China for the start of the orientation and training programme.

BUNAC flight dates

The 2008 programme has now closed. Specific dates for the 2009 programme will be available later in the year.

Insurance

BUNAC will arrange insurance for all participants. It is a fully comprehensive policy which has been arranged with Endsleigh, one of the UK’s leading insurance companies. Full details will be sent following acceptance on to the programme. Currently a two month policy costs from £87 and a 3 month policy costs £116.

Fundraising

Raising extra funds for your trip needn’t be difficult as there are loads of things you can do to raise money. For further information go to www.bunac.org/fundraising for some ideas to get you started.

Application Process

To apply to the Summer School China programme, please follow these simple steps:

Written application: Download the application form and send your completed form to BUNAC with the following:

1. Programme cost: Please include a deposit of £405 (includes £5 BUNAC membership fee); the balance will be due no less than eight weeks before the departure date. If you are submitting your application within 12 weeks of the departure date, you must send the full programme cost straight away with your initial application. 
2. Your current CV
3. Copy of your passport and birth certificate
4. Four passport photos
5. Terms and conditions

Your documents will be reviewed and suitable applicants will be sent the Work and Travel Company China application pack. Please complete and return this as soon as possible. It will be sent across to China to enable WTCC to arrange your placement.

You will be invited to attend a personal interview and provide a written reference. We will also ask you to complete a Criminal Record's Bureau (CRB) Check. This is arranged through BUNAC and we will provide you with guidelines. Prior to your travel to China, you must visit your GP to discuss your trip. BUNAC will provide you with a medical form to be completed by you and your doctor.

Visa

The visa application will be made by BUNAC on your behalf. We will provide you with the appropriate application forms and completion guidelines. Visas are issued at the discretion of the Chinese Embassy. The cost of the visa varies from between £30 and £90 depending on the proposed length of your stay. Further information will be provided on acceptance to the programme.

Terms and Conditions

About China

China is the 3rd largest country in the world and is the most populated.

As early as the Han dynasty (207 B.C. – 9 A.D.) philosophers believed in a balanced universe of opposite forces yin and yang. It is fitting that this ancient Chinese philosophy manifests itself everywhere in the China of today.

China’s climate varies greatly with the winter temperatures ranging from -30°C in Mohoe in the north to 20°C in Hainan in the south. Summer temperatures can exceed a hot and humid 35°C in Beijing.

The Communist Party of China is the ruling party representing the interests of the entire Chinese nation and serving as the core leading China’s socialist modernisation drive. At the same time, the number of Chinese billionaires has more than doubled in the past year increasing the divide amongst the rich and the poor.

Thousands of years ago the Chinese discovered how to make silk. In an attempt to discover their secret of silk making two European monks were sent to China in the sixth century and made their way home along, what is now called, the Silk Road. Modern Chinese are following a new silk road as the trend for purchasing luxury clothes and cosmetics grows by 20% a year.

In less than 10 years China has gone from an internet newcomer to the country with the world’s second-largest online population of over 100 million users. While the number of users grows by 10,000 per day only 2% of the population have credit cards to make on-line purchases.

Sending a postcard overseas to your family will cost you more than a packet of cigarettes in China!

China is a diverse country combining natural beauty, enchanting historical locations and modern, exciting development. What better way to experience the fastest-growing economy in the world than to live and work in it?

Text courtesy of Work and Travel Company China

Country highlights

• Beijing
• Great Wall of China
• Shanghai
• Terracotta Warriors
• Hong Kong

About the Application

Q. What is not included?

A. The key costs not included in the programme, other than daily expenses are:

• Visa fee
• Criminal Record's Bureau (CRB) application
• Return air ticket
• Travel Insurance — participants are required to obtain travel insurance from BUNAC
• Travel after the formal programme is completed.

Q. What kind of visa is needed?

A. A special visa will be organised for you by BUNAC.

Q. When will I know the location of my placement?

A. The schools determine the placements through selection based on your application. Placements cannot be changed once approved. Participants applying together can be placed in the same school. Our partners aim to provide placement locations prior to departure; exceptions may be candidates who apply at the end of the application process or where any school is slow to confirm details.

Q. What happens when I arrive in China?

A. WTCC, the local partner will pick you up from the airport from a designated place and take you to the training centre. You will then be given accommodation and introduced to fellow students and staff. There will be a two day orientation which will allow you to become familiar with China, get over any jet lag prior to commencing training and join in excursions to local tourist spots and markets.

Q What do I study for the Leadership Certificate?

A. You participate on a comprehensive one week training programme delivered by the Camp Leadership Academy, with an award from the Zhongshan University. The training includes leadership activities, basic TEFL instruction (teaching English as a Foreign Language), camp songs, safety and emergency procedures.

Candidates should have the capacity to be independent; able to adjust to a new environment that is very different to their current experience; demonstrate responsibility and commitment and have the capacity to be flexible and meet challenges.

Q. What kind of schools run summer programmes?

A. There are different styles of summer schools/summer camps conducted in China depending on the school and local needs. They are either residential or day schools. A residential summer school is where the students stay at the school and therefore there are evening activities included in the programme (it is not the role of programme participant to supervise the students in dormitories — there are Chinese staff for that purpose).

With day camps, the students go home each evening and return in the mornings. The duration of the summer school can vary in length from 5 days to 14 days. All programme participants will spend a combined total of 4 weeks working, even though there are variations in the length of the summer schools.

Q. What can I expect regarding the style of accommodation and meals?

A. The accommodation will vary between schools as each has a different format. You can expect to share communal facilities in the school in regards to accommodation. By western standards, the accommodation may be considered basic, but by Chinese standards the accommodation provided to foreign teachers is spacious and comparatively of high standard.

Meals are served in a dining hall or by other arrangement as dictated by the school. Western meals are not served — and you should endeavour to become competent in using chopsticks. Chinese food is fresh, but milk, potatoes, bread and coffee are very rare. Rice and tea are staples, but every meal offers a variety of dishes. Unlike the west, Chinese meals are similar throughout the day. Western food can be purchased in the cities, but the quality may vary and it is relatively expensive. Food will vary in quality, but is usually fresh.

Q. What kind of clothing do I need to wear when teaching?

A. Dress policy may vary between schools and you are required to follow the school policy on these matters. There are minimum standards of dress and behaviour expected. Body piercings and visible tattoos should be taken out and covered as best as possible.

Q. How much money will I spend on the Programme?

A. You should prepare for the cost for international airfare, visa, insurance and the personal expense in China. The Allowance will cover basic costs, but will not provide for savings’ opportunities. It is expected that all participants will require additional savings to draw on, with the amount dependent on the amount of additional travel and entertainment expected.