Frequently Asked QuestionsDo I need to have any teaching qualifications to take part in TEIC?No. The only requirements are as follows:
Should I have any knowledge of the local language?No, you will be teaching in English. You can, however, choose to study Mandarin while you are living in China. Will my students have any English language skills prior to my teaching?Yes, all students will have basic conversational English skills. When will I get holidays?There is a four/five week holiday for the Chinese New Year in January/February. There is also a week’s holiday in the mid fall and spring semesters. In addition there are a number of national public holidays. What kind of social life can I expect?The social life really depends on you. There are numerous places to eat, do sports, learn a language and go out with other expatriates and locals. Are there any extra/hidden costs?It is strongly recommended that you purchase medical insurance. CEAIE has a low cost, full cover policy for its teachers. The Schools have health centres for minor ailments. Other than the visa and registration fee, there are no further costs. You will pay for your flights in the first instance, but provided you complete the programme, you will have these refunded in two stages across the 9 months. In order to obtain a Z visa (work visa) you will need to complete a medical test. This will involve a check up with your GP and the completion by the doctor of a medical form from China. Some doctors charge for this service, others do not. In addition, you are required to take a HIV test. An HIV test may cost around £60. Can I come home early?If you find you cannot complete the programme, you may return home. However, you will not get your airfare reimbursed. For this reason, it is essential that you really consider the implications of going to China before you go. It is a work experience, and there will be ups and downs, make sure you are ready to face them. What do I do about medical treatment?It is strongly recommended that you purchase medical insurance for the event of serious medical problems. CEAIE has a low cost, full cover policy for its teachers. The Schools have health centres for minor ailments. You are advised to bring a small supply of common medications with you, such as painkiller, cold and flu treatments, diarrhoea tablets. English speaking medical services are available. See http://www.unitedfamilyhospitals.com What is the accommodation like? The accommodation is basic but functional. You will either have
your own apartment or share a two-bedroom apartment with one other
Teaching Assistant on the programme. How many hours will I be teaching?You will teach for approximately 18 hours per week. When will I hear if I have been accepted on to the programme?You will know by the end of July of the year of entry to the programme, whether you have been accepted. What happens if I want to withdraw from the programme?If you withdraw from the programme during the 9 month contract, you will not receive the full cost of your return ticket. Can I bring my family/partner with me?You may be able to bring your partner and/or children with depending on your circumstances. This will incur extra costs. If you wish to discuss your personal circumstances, please get in touch with Professor Phil Thomas. How much will I be paid?You will be paid approx £75 a week, which in China is worth around £280. It is equivalent to a local teacher’s salary. As you do not pay for your apartment, this is yours to spend as you wish. You will not be required to pay tax on this. How will I be paid?Most likely, your salary will be paid monthly either by cash or bank deposit. Depending on the individual school, you will either be paid at the beginning, middle or end of the month. It is suggested that you bring between £100-£300 to see you through until your first payment. What support will I have?You will be assigned an English speaking ‘buddy’ on arrival who will be able to help with any queries you have and assist you if you have any problems. The CEAIE provide full local support so you will never feel you are on your own. They are quick to respond to and deal with any problems you may have. What will I need to do about a visa?You will need to obtain an 'Z' visa which allows you to work in China. Once you have been accepted onto the TEIC programme, a teaching post has been identified and your medical form completed, then you will receive a letter to send to the Chinese Embassy as part of your visa application, to confirm your employment. Alternatively, we recommend that you use our approved visa agent based in London. If you do they will handle all the paperwork. This will save you time, energy and avoid possible errors. Our agent has worked for us previously and proved to be reliable. The cost of the visa and the fee is £52 (in 2007). When will I find out whether I have been accepted on to the programme?After paying your administration fee, talked with Professor Thomas, and sent your documents to him he will inform you immediately of the outcome of your application. If successful your set of documents are sent to Beijing and a teaching position is identified by CEAIE. This normally takes a couple of weeks. Do I have any choice about which city I am placed in to work?You can certainly list a preference. We cannot guarantee to meet your first choice, although we will seek to do so. What happens when I arrive in Beijing?You will be greeted at the airport by a representative from CEAIE. You will then be taken to your accommodation in Beijing. Alternatively, you will have an onward flight to your final destination where you will be met at the local airport by a representative of the school or university. If you are to work close to Beijing it might involve a car journey. In all circumstances, you will have someone at the airport to meet you. In addition, you will be provided with local telephone numbers should a problem arise. How many students will I be expected to teach?The classes are not large and the students are well behaved and anxious to learn. What happens if I have problems in my job/with my students?Initially, should difficulties arise, we suggest you seek to solve them locally. You will have a Chinese school 'buddy' to talk with and there will be at least one other English language teaching assistant from this programme with you. However, the CEAIE are also on hand to deal with problems you may encounter. You will have a contact telephone number in Beijing. They will respond quickly and efficiently to solve any matters that may arise. Our current teaching assistants have been extremely grateful for this local support. Do not worry, you will not be abandoned! Will I have to prepare my own lessons?Some schools will give you a more detailed syllabus and text books to follow than others. Often you will be responsible for planning your lessons. There is a great deal of local support to help with this, along with websites. See ‘Support and links’ for more information. You can also bring photos, postcards and objects from home to use as teaching aids. What will I need to wear?The dress code in schools is not very formal; jeans and t-shirts are acceptable. However you should avoid clothing that is too revealing during teaching time. As the climate varies so much throughout China, you will need to bring clothes for both hot and cold seasons. However, clothing is very cheap in China - unless you are a "giant" size. When will I need to arrive in China?Most schools expect you to arrive on August 25th; some, a few days later. You will be informed of the exact date once your position of placement is known. Why TEIC?
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