Programme options

Training and orientation

Operated in conjunction with the Work and Travel Company China (WTCC), Teach and Travel China is one of only a few programmes to offer an in-country residential TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course.

You will study for the ELC (English Language Company) Certificate in TEFL. This has been designed to prepare those who have never taught English before. It comprises two phases:

1. Theory and Teaching Practice. A full time course of 108 hours over four weeks including teaching methodology and teaching practice;
2. Practical experience. All participants complete a practical assignment and receive a reference from the school. The ELC Certificate is awarded at the conclusion of the practical component.

As part of the programme you will also receive 3 – 5 hours per week of Mandarin lessons whilst teaching. During your orientation you can expect to find out about the following: Chinese customs, behaviour, work, culture, dress, food, history, geography and travel.

The training and orientation period includes meet and greet at the arrival airport, welcome dinner, accommodation, meals, Mandarin lessons, access to school facilities for evening recreation and sports activities, social and cultural activities, and a farewell dinner with graduation and closing ceremony.

On completion of the TEFL training the programme provides a school placement for six or twelve months. A shorter summer programme is also available. BUNAC works with a local partner to arrange training and placements. Your training will be arranged on a group basis with many other international participants also taking part.

Placements

Your role will be that of a trainee teacher intern. Positions exist in quality kindergarten, primary and secondary (high) schools. The majority of schools are located in the south of China. We will ask for your preference of location and type of school and do all we can to meet your requirements. However, due to the number of variables involved, we cannot guarantee your first choice and ask that you remain flexible. All participants will be placed with at least one other person on the programme.

Teachers receive a small allowance whilst working (in addition to accommodation and meals). This is approximately £130 per month, plus a completion bonus of approximately £150 at the end of each term. Schools are spread throughout the country. However, there will be at least one other international teacher working with you at the school.

Accommodation

Accommodation will be provided by the school but can vary from one school 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 to foreign teachers is spacious and of a comparatively high standard. Meals are provided and served in the school dining hall during training and school terms.

Costs

The programme cost includes:

• Visa processing
• Transfers (from the airport and from the training centre to your placement)
• Training
• 4 weeks/108 hours TEFL training and ELC Certificate
• Accommodation and meals
• Mandarin lessons
• Cultural excursions.
• Teacher placement including monthly allowance and completion bonus
• Accommodation for the duration of the placement
• Meals during school term
• On-line teaching materials
• 24/7 support from BUNAC and WTCC.

Eligibility

To apply to Teach & Travel China, you must be:

• A permanent resident of the UK
• Aged at least 19
• 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

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 six month policy costs from £233 and a 12 month policy costs £411.

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 Teach and Travel 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 (which includes a short English test). Please complete and return this as soon as possible. It will be sent across to China to enable WTCC to arrange your teaching 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 during holidays and after the formal programme is completed.

Q. What kind of visa is needed?

A. A special visa will be organised for you by BUNAC. As Teach & Travel China is a cultural exchange program based on the Teacher Intern role, you will enter China with an ‘F’ visa.

Q How to apply for an ‘F’ visa?

A. BUNAC’s partner WTCC will supply a ‘Letter of Invitation’ from China for you to apply for the visa. BUNAC will provide you with the appropriate visa forms and guidelines to complete them. The documents are returned to BUNAC and we will check them before submitting them to the China Embassy on your behalf.

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

A. You will be advised of your placement prior to departure. It is the schools that 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.

Candidates who apply at the end of the application process may not know of their placement until after arrival.

You will have the opportunity to nominate a region of China you would prefer — North East; North; Central East and South, although these cannot be guaranteed. The North-East includes Inner Mongolia, Jilin and Liaojing. The North includes Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi and Shaanxi. Central East includes Shanghai, Nanjing, Huangzhou and Jiangsu Province. The South includes the provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunan and Fujian. Within these there are cities and provinces not listed, but a check of a China map will give an idea of the nature of the locations.

Q. What kind of Teacher Intern positions are available?

A. Generally there are three categories of teacher assistant placement:

• kindergarten
• primary
• high school.

You will be asked to nominate your preference of placement, but these are not guaranteed.

Q. In what kind of school will I be placed?

A. Schools in China will vary greatly as they do in all education systems. Schools are usually large, with between 2,000 and 5,000 students. The schools are a mixture of private schools and government schools. They can be primary only, secondary only, or kindergarten to year 12 schools.

Although many of the schools have foreign teachers and programs, there are schools in China that are new to having foreign teachers in the schools.

You will placed with at least one other Teach & Travel China participant in the school (either through BUNAC or through one of the other international partner organisations).

About the Training Course

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 TEFL Certificate?

A. You will learn the skills required to be confident and successful as a Teacher Intern, including lesson planning, classroom methods and administration procedures.

The ELC Certificate in TEFL is delivered by English Language Company, a school accredited in Sydney, Australia for the purpose of teaching English as a second or foreign language.

The ELC Certificate in TEFL comprises two phases:

1. Theory and Teaching Practice — a full time course over 4 weeks comprising a total of 108 hours of instruction, including both teaching methodology and teaching practice. This is a challenging course that prepares all participants for their role as a Teacher Intern.
2. 2. Practical Experience — this is completed in the schools. All participants complete a practical assignment and receive a reference from the school. The ELC Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language is awarded at the conclusion of the practical component.

In order to successfully complete the training program participants must:

• attend all input sessions;
• attend all teaching practice (unless otherwise advised);
• adequately prepare for teaching practice;
• complete and submit on time all assignments;
• demonstrate a basic understanding of English language teaching methodology;
• demonstrate competence in the use of basic classroom techniques;
• demonstrate good language awareness;
• behave cooperatively and constructively with colleagues and trainers;
• conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times;
• speak only English during core hours of training.

Q. What happens if I do not pass the Training Programme?

A. It is expected that all candidates who make a concerted effort during the Training Program will be able to succeed. However, all must realize that this will require a dedication to the programme as it is a certified qualification.

A participant who fails to meet the assessment criteria for the program will not be awarded a statement of attainment at the course end. He/she will subsequently not be able to take up his/her Teacher intern placement. If a participant does not complete his/her practical experience he/she will not be awarded the ELC Certificate in TEFL.

According to the visa, if this occurs, the participant will be required to return home. However, WTCC may assist, at its discretion, candidates (at their expense) to alter their visa to a one- month tourist visa if the candidate wishes to travel. The capacity and willingness of WTCC to assist with this depends on the circumstances of the candidate.

Depending on the complementary qualifications held, the TEFL certificate and school reference would allow participants to work in other developing countries in the future.

About Teaching

Q. How many semesters does the school have? How long is a semester? And when do they start?

A. There are two semesters in each academic year. Each term is approximately 5 months in duration. The first term starts in early September. The second term starts in February and is dependent on the time of Chinese New Year, which is usually late January to late February

Q. What are the characteristics of a Chinese schools?

A. The schools in which you will work will vary as in all school systems. Generally schools are well equipped, even though there are aspects that are rudimentary by western standards.

• The number of students will vary between 2,000 and 10,000;
• The students are generally weekday boarders;
• Schools offer many after school activities for students;
• Class sizes will vary and may be up to 50 students;
• Schools generally have good equipment and resources, even though English resources are limited;
• Buildings are generally modern;
• Recreation facilities are generally of a high standard;
• Foreign teachers are not common in schools.

Q. What is included in the Teacher Placement Programme?

A. The following are the inclusions for the programme:

• Transfer to school for teacher intern position;
• Meals and shared accommodation during school term;
• Meals supplied through the school canteen;
• Accommodation during holidays (not meals);
• Teacher intern allowance of 2000RMB per month;
• Cultural excursions — one per term (total of 2 for six-month programme; 4 for 12-month program);
• 2 hours of Mandarin instruction per week (formal);
• School holiday breaks as per regulations;
• Completion bonus (RMB2500 for 6-month; RMB 5000 for 12-month programme)
• School Buddy supplied;
• Access to on-line teaching
• 24/7 support through BUNAC UK, WTCC office in Beijing and local support groups.

Q. Do schools have breaks? How long are the breaks between terms?

A. The summer breaks are 8 weeks in length from July to August. The winter breaks are 4 weeks in length from January to February. Some schools offer Summer Schools during the summer break. There are also unique holidays in May and October, usually one week each.

Q. Will I be evaluated after I have started teaching?

A. Your practical experience is included as part of the TEFL Certificate. You will complete an assignment related to your teaching experience and the school will be required to issue a reference in regard to the professionalism you display in the school. Satisfactory completion of these will lead to the granting of the ELC Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certificate.

Q. What happens if there are problems between the school and me?

A. WTCC staff will support you and work with the school to resolve any issues. The Placement Partners also have a key role in assisting you to integrate into the school. Schools have also been asked to provide a ‘buddy’ for each participant to assist with understanding the school and local culture. Generally problems can be resolved easily with effective communication and having all involved willing to assist to ensure there is a satisfactory resolution.

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 hail (you do not need to prepare your own meals). There is usually a separate staff dining hall. 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. Generally a high dress standard is expected, with the minimum standard being smart casual. Body piercing and visible tattoos are not acceptable for the role of Teacher Intern in China.

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. Where will I teach?

A. You may teach in schools all over China. You will be given a choice of locations prior to departure, but these are not guaranteed. Our Placement Partners will work with the schools to allocate you to a school and prepare you for the school.

Q. What is a ‘Placement Partner’?

A. BUNAC and WTCC works very closely with government organizations in China which are responsible for international education and cultural programs and the placement of teachers in schools. These organizations have the contacts to schools throughout China and assist to place you in the schools. They also work with WTCC to organize your visa and you are linked to the school through this visa.

The Placement Partners are also responsible for assisting with the schools in regard to your Teacher Internship, in addition to the support provided through WTCC people. They are a key component of the complete package of support that is offered. They assist to organize the cultural activities that are provided in the Program.

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

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.

Your completion bonus can assist towards travel around China at the conclusion of your programme.

Q. What are my teaching duties?

A. Duties will vary from school to school, but as a general rule you should expect to be in the classroom for 20 hours per week filling the role of teacher or teacher assistant. There will also be preparation time, meetings and assessment as needed.

• The emphasis of teaching is on “conversational English” and the culture of your country. Many teachers may teach English composition, reading and literature;
• Some teachers may assist in courses in subject fields such as music, history, geography, or science courses in some international schools, depending on your background and skill.
• You may be expected to assist to write lesson plans, take attendance, correct homework and even assist in academic counselling if necessary.
• You may assist in the administration of the school and prepare materials for classroom teachers.
• Even though the role is that of “Teacher Intern” you can expect to take lessons by yourself.

Q. How do I guarantee the Teacher Placement conditions?

A. You will sign a contract for the Teacher Intern role. A sample copy is supplied with the Pre-Handbook. The terms and conditions of the programme are also a guarantee of the programme.