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 1. Do I need to speak Chinese? No. Chinese language proficiency is required. English teaching jobs require only English and the school officials charged with managing expatriate teachers speak English. Most essential services can be conducted in English as well if need be. Most teachers arrive in China without much Chinese language ability. Most do, however, plan to learn while in China; indeed, you’ll never have a better opportunity to study it! Fortunately, finding a tutor and language classes is easy and cheap. We provide more information about how to do so in our program guide, the Foreign Experts Program Guide. 2. Do I need teaching experience? No, although having some is helpful and will expand your options. Teaching experience is not officially required of “foreign experts” (the official job title of expatriate teachers) in China. Having experience will, however, increase your attractiveness to Chinese schools and can lead to higher salary. The majority of foreign experts do not have any teaching experience prior to beginning their assignments in China though. If you’d like to prepare for a teaching position, there are often many opportunities to gain teaching experience in your local community. Check with adult education centers, public and private schools, universities, or private ESL/language institutes. Many of these have volunteer programs that can help you gain familiarity with teaching and become comfortable in the classroom. If you’re in the Boston area you can contact Foreign Experts at info@foreignexperts.org for more information about how to do so. 3. Do I need a TEFL/TESOL/DELTA certificate to teach English in China? No. Some countries require teaching certification in order to become a foreign teacher. While this may change in the future, China does not currently require any of these. 4. Why should I use a job placement agency? If you’re looking to work in Australia, all you need do is hop on a plane. If you want to teach in Chile, book a hotel room in Santiago and begin your job search. For many countries, this is the only preparation you need. If you want to live and teach in China, however, you’re going to want help with everything from job selection to contract negotiation. This is because of the vast language and cultural differences between China and America, the fast-changing nature of China and the unfortunate reality that many teachers who go it alone end up in less than ideal positions upon arriving in the country. Job placement agencies such as Foreign Experts LLC are experienced in helping you do this and make sure that your work and living conditions upon arrival live up to your expectations. 5. Why Foreign Experts? If you google “teach in China’ you’ll find a variety of job placement agencies and Chinese schools advertising jobs online. The difference between these and Foreign Experts, though, is clear. Foreign Experts currently works with Chinese international schools. This means you'll have a higher than average salary and the chance to teach a variety of subjects in addition to EFL/ESL. A typical teaching job in China pays about $500 a month; through Foreign Experts yours will likely be much higher. By participating in our Teach in China program, you’ll also be following in the footsteps of foreign experts before you. We’ve mapped out the path you’ll take during the year and we know that your living and teaching conditions match those described in your job contract. We partner with established schools, meaning that we’re confident your visa won’t be “unavailable” when it comes time to travel and your paycheck will arrive on time. Visit the Foreign Experts Advantage for more! 6. Can I apply if I haven’t graduated yet? All expatriate teachers must have at least an undergraduate degree by the time they begin teaching in China. Undergraduate students can apply to the program prior to obtaining their degree, but simply have to finish it by August 2007. You should also have a letter from your university (usually obtained from the registrar) sent to Foreign Experts stating your expected date of graduation. 7. Who are we looking for? Foreign Experts is looking for people interested in teaching, travel and China. While those with teaching experience are preferred, many applicants are recent college graduates. Foreign Experts seeks those with an open-mind, cultural sensitivity and a desire to learn about China. Requirements also include a university degree, English fluency and the ability to make a 10-month commitment beginning in August or September. 8. Is China safe? While everyone should use common sense when traveling and adhere to travel advisories, in general China is an extremely safe place to live. Violent crime against foreigners is extremely rare, and altercations are almost always settled amicably. In fact most expatriates rate China, and most of Asia, as far safer than cities in the United States or Europe. Check out the State Department’s travel advisory page to make sure you have the most current information. 9. Why Does Foreign Experts charge a program fee? In a quick web search you’ll find both placement agencies that charge you a fee and those that don’t. When an agency doesn’t charge you a fee up front it’s because they instead earn money from the schools you’ll be placed at, which means they’ll get a portion of the money you would otherwise receive each month. So while Foreign Experts does charge a program fee in order to support our Chinese and American operations, we don’t charge the school. This leads to a higher than average monthly salary for you. In the end this works out in your favor, to the tune of several thousand dollars per year. 10. When should I apply? The application deadline is April 30th for participation in the 2007 - 2008 program, which begins in August. Please see our application page for details. 11. What is the health care like? China is a country of paradoxes; indeed, the health care you’ll find in the cities is far different from that in the countryside. Even within a city the health care is usually varied. These differences are important to note, especially when you travel beyond your city of residence as health care can be unreliable or non-existent in some rural areas. In Beijing, Shanghai, and other developed cities, however, you can often find Western-style hospitals, some of which cater exclusively to expatriates. A listing of generally reliable hospitals and clinics can be found on the State Department’s Consular Information page. Of course, the best preparation for travel in a foreign country is to take safety precautions and make sure that you’re healthy before beginning your trip. Visit your primary care physician for information about required vaccines and detailed health information. 12. Will I have health insurance? The school you work for will provide you with health insurance (details vary with host institution) during the terms of your employment. Included in the program fee, Foreign Experts also helps you acquire travel and emergency insurance. |
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