Health and Safety
Q: When does the program start and end?
A: The year-long China program usually departs in August, although a late July departure date is possible depending on orientation training dates. After orientation, volunteers will teach for the academic year from early September through early July.
Q: What special requirements are there?
A: Our partners in China, the Hunan Provincial Education Department, require that our volunteers be native speakers of English, under the age of 65, and free of sexually transmitted infections.
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 (Mandarin Chinese) during your orientation training. Many volunteers enjoy improving their language skills during the course of their service. You will teach your classes in English.
After spending one year with WorldTeach in China, you will surely know enough Mandarin to introduce yourself, hold a simple conversation, travel around China, order foods, and give classroom instructions. If you are very diligent with your studies, it is possible for you to finish your year being able to write about 1,000 Chinese characters.
Q: Will I receive training?
A: Yes. Your first few weeks 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: What type of school will I be teaching at?
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. The schools will vary in their resources and facilities. Some of the top schools are fee-paying and may be relatively well resourced. While the need may not be financial, the schools do have a great need for native English speaking teachers to help students develop their oral English skills.
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 communicative 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.
Chinese schools are typically very large, with several thousand students. The hardest part of the year will be teaching 16 classes of 60+ students. You'll have to speak loudly enough to reach the back of the classroom, learn most of your students' names, and get each student to speak at least once per week. These are not easy tasks. Keep in mind that the education system in China must accommodate for 1.4 billion people, and most middle / high schools in China have campuses larger than some small colleges in the US. The classrooms are big, the students are worked hard, and a lot will be expected of you as a foreign teacher.
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. As a member of the teaching staff, you will be expected to participate fully in the life of the school and observe the regulations and procedures of your host school.
Q: Where will I live?
A: You will live in an apartment provided by your host school. The apartment is likely to be on or near the school campus, and may be shared with another volunteer (if there are two volunteers at the same site). The apartment will be equipped with essential furniture, a bathroom with hot water, air conditioning, and access to cooking and clothes washing facilities. Some apartments may be equipped with a telephone and computer. You will be responsible for purchasing your own food. You may opt to buy lunches from the school dining hall, eat at local restaurants, or cook your own meals. You are likely to have Internet access at school or at one of the many "Internet bars" springing up in the cities.
The food in Hunan is incredible, the Hunanese people are wonderful, and the province is in need of good people from abroad. Most foreigners will only see Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong when they got to China. You'll be living in real China if you stay in Hunan. Living in Hunan is the best part about the program.
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. You will need to collect various documents and have a health exam, while WorldTeach obtains official letters of invitation from the hosting authorities in China. 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: Can I make my own travel arrangements?
A: Yes, 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: Will there be a chance to travel to other places?
A: Yes. China is an extremely interesting, geographically diverse, and culturally rich country. We encourage volunteers to travel. However, any travel must be done during school vacations or after the end of your teaching commitment. As a volunteer you are a full time teacher and cannot take time off during regular school hours. You will have weekends free and the same vacations as other teachers. The main vacation is during Chinese New Year (usually in January or early February). You will also have the American holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Independence Day free from teaching.
It is recommended that you save some money up before you leave if you plan to visit other countries. If you live outside of Changsha, the provincial capital city, you should be able to save enough to comfortably travel within China during breaks. Most volunteers like to spend their breaks by going to their student's home in the rural countryside. Other vols like to have "luxurious" breaks in Shanghai or Hong Kong. Few volunteers leave the country as it is expensive; many go on southeast Asia trips when the year of volunteering is over.
Q: Can I come home during the year?
A: Yes, however keep in mind that it is both expensive and time-consuming to travel to/from China. You are responsible for teaching full time for the duration of each school term. If you choose to travel home during the year this should be during school vacations only and will be at your own expense. WorldTeach provides one round-trip ticket for each volunteer that completes his or her teaching service. Volunteers who decide to leave the program early without teaching the full year will be responsible for the cost of their flight home.
Q: Can my parents or friends visit me during the year?
A: Yes. Visits from family and friends can help them relate to your experience and provide you with an important connection with home. Try to schedule visits during vacation or weekend time so that you will be able to spend time with your family/friend. WorldTeach has a helpful brochure with tips for those planning to visit volunteers during their service. Call our office to request a copy.
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/austspac.htm. 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 they state your name)
If you plan to travel to rural areas of China you should get the vaccination for Japanese Encephalitis 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 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 our highest priorities and will not place volunteers in Hunan should there be a significant risk of SARS in the area, or if medical evacuations from the province are restricted.
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. You will need to look after yourself, and to ask local people for help. There are doctors and a hospital in Changsha, and both western and traditional Chinese medicines are widely available in the urban areas. As a WorldTeach volunteer you will have health insurance coverage that includes emergency medical evacuation insurance. For medical expenses such as doctor's visits, medicines, etc. you pay up front and then file an insurance claim to get 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: 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 medicines are widely available in the urban areas. The density of population, traffic, and industry results in poor air quality in the cities, and you can expect to get coughs and cold more often. If you suffer from asthma or allergies you should consult your doctor. While petty crimes 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 will be introduced to a doctor and hospital in Changsha.
Q: What is the cost for the year-long China program?
A: Because we have entered into a partnership with the Hunan Provincial Education Department and its schools, we have been able to lower the costs of the program considerably. The Education Department has agreed that host schools will cover most of the costs of recruiting, sending, training, and supporting a volunteer in China. Therefore, we are able to provide all of our China volunteers with a scholarship that covers most of the program costs. The cost to volunteers for a year in China is US$500, plus a $1000 deposit refunded upon completion of the program.
Q: Will I be paid?
A: As a volunteer you will receive a monthly stipend of approximately US$300 for each full month of teaching (10 months). The stipend is provided by your host school and is intended to cover your basic daily living expenses. You will need to bring your own spending money for treats and travel.
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. Volunteers receive a monthly stipend that covers their basic costs. However, it is a modest stipend and will not be enough if you plan on purchasing a lot of souvenirs, traveling extensively, or treating yourself to fine dining and luxuries. Past volunteers generally recommend bringing (or having access to) $1000-$1500 in spending money for the year, depending on your lifestyle choices.
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.
Q: What else will 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. You will need to find somewhere to gain at least 25 hours of experience teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). You will need to make an appointment with your doctor for a medical exam and to get your immunizations. WorldTeach recommends you allow yourself at least 3 - 4 months for pre-departure preparations.
Q: Can I talk to a volunteer who has been to China?
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 insights.
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