WorldTeach - Hunan China Summer Volunteer Program FAQ

Q: When does the program start and end?

A: The summer program usually starts in mid- June and ends in mid- August. Volunteers must commit to the full duration of the program. More information on exact dates will be available about 2 months prior to departure.

Q: Do I need to speak Chinese?

A: No. You do not need to know Chinese to apply for the program. WorldTeach provides some language instruction in Mandarin Chinese during your orientation and while you are teaching. You will teach your classes in English.

Q: Where will I live?

A: During training, you will live in a dormitory or guesthouse provided by the school in Changsha. When you are teaching at camps in other cities, we will try to arrange host families for you to stay with. If this does not work out, the schools will provide rooms in a dormitory or guesthouse. You are likely to have Internet access at school or at one of the many “Internet bars” springing up in the cities.

Q: Will I be paid?

A: No stipends are paid to summer volunteers. However, many volunteers find that they qualify for scholarships and international travel/ internship funds from their university or other funding agencies. Volunteers are encouraged to look into these possibilities.

Q: What type of school will I be teaching in?

A: Volunteers in China will teach at “middle schools” in Changsha and other cities in Hunan Province. The students are aged 11-18, so the schools are the equivalent of US middle and high schools.
Chinese schools are typically very large, with several thousand students. Classrooms are generally equipped with the necessities (desks, paper or notebooks, chalkboard) and may have a TV and VCR. Facilities will vary depending on whether the school has an older campus or a new, spacious campus with modern facilities that may include a language lab. The main challenges for a teacher are large class sizes, varied ability levels, and limited contact time with each student.

Q: What is my role as an English teacher?

A: Your role as an English teacher will be to build students’ confidence in using English. The students will have studied some English already and may be able to read and write, but they may never have had the opportunity to use the language with a native English speaker. You will teach in English so that your classroom becomes an English-only environment for your students. You will need to use creative methods and approaches in the classroom to develop your students’ comprehension and pronunciation in English. You can also share aspects of your culture with the students, who will be curious about life in your home country.

Q: Will I receive training?

A: Yes. Your first week in China will be spent in an intensive orientation training program with your fellow volunteers. This will include orientation to the country and culture, Chinese language classes, and teacher training. Teacher training will focus on TEFL teaching methods, lesson planning, teaching resources, and a teaching practicum. The orientation will encompass an experiential approach, with opportunities for volunteers to learn through experience so that they are prepared to live and teach in China.

Q: Do I need to get a visa?

A: Yes, a visa is required to travel to China. WorldTeach will assist you in the visa process once you are accepted and confirmed in the program. As a first step, make sure you have a passport that is valid for at least six months after the program is due to end.

Q: What else do I need to do before departure?

A: You will receive a checklist of pre-departure preparations when you are accepted for the program. Make sure to follow the timeline and dates that are specified on that checklist.

Q: Can I make my own travel arrangements?

A: WorldTeach arranges travel for each group departing for China from a departure city in the U.S. The group will meet at the departure city airport and then travel to Hunan, China together. You can opt to purchase your own ticket to China if you wish to travel independently of the group. However, you are responsible for making sure you arrive in Changsha in time for the start of orientation. WorldTeach will reimburse you the amount that we paid for our group tickets (not the amount you paid for your ticket).

Q: Can I come home during the summer?

A: As a WorldTeach volunteer in the China summer program, you are responsible for teaching full time for the duration of the program. Because your time in China is short, it is very difficult to schedule any time to go home, though exceptions can be made in emergency situations. Any trips home or other personal travel will be at your own expense.

Q: Will there be a chance to travel?

A: You will spend the week of orientation in Changsha. After orientation, you will teach in two small cities in Hunan Province. There will be a mid-service conference and an end of service debriefing in Changsha. You will have a few extra days to travel after the mid-service conference and before you begin teaching at the second camp. Travel costs to attend program related meetings will be covered. Any travel you choose to do beyond these program activities will be at your own expense.

Q: What immunizations are required?

A: For up-to-date information on immunizations and travel health, consult the Center for Disease Control’s website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/destinationchina.aspx. This provides recommendations for travel to specific regions and detailed information on specific diseases.

As for travel to any developing country, you should:

make sure that your Polio, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), and Tetanus-Diphtheria (TTD) vaccinations are up to date, or get a booster shot if necessary

make sure you have had a recent TB test or chest x-ray (may be required for the Chinese visa).

get immunized against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid.

have an HIV test and bring the test results with you (make sure the results state your name)

If you plan to travel to rural areas of China you should get a Japanese Encephalitis vaccination and obtain pills to protect yourself against Malaria. If you will stay in cities, these are not required. If you plan to travel to western China or Tibet, it is generally recommended to get a Rabies vaccination.

Be sure to consult your doctor or a travel health specialist. WorldTeach is not staffed by medical professionals!

Q: What if I get sick? Are there doctors and hospitals?

A: You should expect some sickness, as your body adjusts to a new environment. There are doctors and a hospital in Changsha. As a WorldTeach volunteer, you will have health insurance coverage that includes emergency medical evacuation insurance. For medical expenses such as doctor’s visits and medicines, you pay up front and then file an insurance claim to be reimbursed. For larger expenses, the insurance company may be able to arrange direct payment to the hospital or medical provider. Your field director can assist you in emergencies.

Q: What about the SARS virus?

A: By July 2003, China was declared free of the SARS virus by the World Health Organization and US Centers for Disease Control. Hunan Province was not one of the areas affected by SARS. Public health specialists caution that there is a chance the virus may reappear in the winter months. The virus is now better-understood and vigilant prevention efforts should allow it to be contained. WorldTeach and Hunan Provincial Education Department agree that the health and safety of volunteers are the highest priority. As a result, volunteers will not be placed in Hunan if there is a significant risk of SARS in the area, or if medical evacuations from the province are restricted.

Q: Is it safe?

A: While you can expect some illness as your body adjusts to a new climate and diet, China is a safe place to live relative to many developing countries. There are doctors and hospitals, and both western and traditional Chinese medicine is widely available in urban areas. The density of population, traffic, and industry result in poor air quality in the cities, and you can expect to develop a cough and colds more often. If you suffer from asthma or allergies, you should consult your doctor. While petty crime such as pick-pocketing can occur in crowded areas, Chinese people are generally very respectful of foreigners and violent crimes against visitors are rare. As in any city or country, you will need to use common sense and be aware of your surroundings. During orientation you will discuss ways to stay safe and healthy and you will be shown where the hospitals are at each of the sites.

Q: What do I need to take with me?

A: A suggested packing list will be included in the guide to Living and Teaching in China (which you should receive with your confirmation packet). Do not take too much baggage – you will need to be able to carry it easily. You will find that most things are available in China. In terms of teaching materials, the WorldTeach office in Changsha has some teaching materials or books that you can borrow or copy. You might want to take your own books, activities, or other materials that you think will be of use to you.

Q: What is the cost for the China Summer program?

A: The volunteer contribution fee is $3,990. This includes pre-departure information and preparation, round-trip airfare from a U.S. departure city, health insurance, in- country transportation, meals and housing during orientation and teaching service, and 24 hour in- country support.

Q: How much money should I take?

A: This will depend on how much you intend to travel and the lifestyle you intend to lead. Most of your meals will be provided for by the schools and WorldTeach will pay for any travel you will be doing for meetings related to the program. Past volunteers generally recommend bringing (or having access to) about $1,000. Traveler’s checks and most ATM cards can be used at big braches of the Bank of China.

Q: Can I talk to a returned volunteer?

A: Yes! We strongly recommend that you speak with a volunteer who has lived and taught in China. Please contact our office and we will be more than happy to put you in contact with a returned WorldTeach China volunteer. Note that since 2004-2005 was the first year of the program in Hunan Province, many of our past China volunteers will have taught in some other part of China. However, they will still be able to provide you with valuable insight. You can contact the office by phone (1-800-483-2240 or 617-495-5527), or send a request by e-mail to info@worldteach.org.

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