Q What are the requirements to be an eligible applicant?

A Essential

• Age limit - 19 to 45 years are preferred by Chinese schools. Mature 18 year old considered.
• Completed high school with sound grades (post secondary school preferred)
• Good English grades at school*
• Appropriate personal qualities (maturity, flexibility, ability to cope with challenges, good communication skills)
• Travel experience
• A range of hobbies and interests
• Provide copies of academic qualifications
• Good health
• No police record
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity

Preferable

• Some work experience- either paid or voluntary.
• Previous work experience with children looked favourably upon e.g babysitting
• Held a position of responsibility at school
• Independent travel experience or travel to developing countries is a plus

*A high level of written and spoken English is an expectation and all candidates will be interviewed and complete a written application to demonstrate the skills required. Applicants are required to take an English test on application.

There are minimum standards of dress and behavior expected. Body piercing and visible tattoos are not acceptable for the role of a 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 What is the language requirement?

A You need to have either of the following:
- A native speaker of English or
- Sound English levels, especially in oral and spoken English.

All applicants have a written test and are interviewed to assess their level of English to ensure it is at a level that is required for the program.

Q What is the application procedure?

A There are several stages to the application process:

• Complete either an on-line application or submit a written application through your Agent
• Language Assessment
• Supply necessary documents for application review
• Interview, either face to face or via telephone.
• TTC will notify you on whether your application has been successful

Q What is included in the Program with TEFL training?

• A four week Training & Orientation Package which consists of English language teaching methodology; orientation to China and Mandarin lessons. Accommodation and meals are included in the Training Package.
• Access to support and emergency services on a 24 hour basis.
• The ELC Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). This is a certificate that is provided by English Language Company, a registered English training school in Sydney Australia.
• Orientation to China, detailing customs, laws and other essential ‘survival’ information.
• Lessons in basic Mandarin - conversational level Mandarin for everyday usage.
• Placement in schools for work as a Teacher Intern.
• Ongoing academic support & access to teaching ideas and resources
• Accommodation and meals whilst employed at schools. This is generally shared apartments and school canteen meals.
• An allowance of 2000RMB per month when in a school. This is an allowance that will assist the candidate in their stay in China, but will not allow for saving.
• A completion bonus of RMB2500 per semester once the Teacher Intern Placement is completed.
• Internal travel, when moving between schools, will be paid.
• Time to travel other areas of China during school breaks and after your time at school.
• The program is endorsed by Chinese government authorities.
• Option to request school placement for a second semester

Q What is included in the Program without TEFL training?

• Leadership training & an orientation to China and Mandarin lessons. Accommodation and meals are also included in the Training Package
• Experience for completing their practical component for their TEFL certification
• Access to support and emergency services on a 24 hour, 7 days a week
• Orientation to China (introduction to its customs, laws and other essential information)
• Lessons in basic Mandarin – conversational level Mandarin for everyday use
• Placement in schools for work as a Teacher Intern
• Ongoing academic support & access to teaching materials and resources
• Accommodation and meals whilst employed at schools. This is generally shared apartments and school canteen meals
• An allowance of 2000RMB per month when in a school. This is an allowance that will assist the candidate in their stay in China
• A completion bonus of RMB2500 per semester once the Teacher Intern Placement is completed.
• Option to request placement for a second semester
• Internal travel, when moving between schools, will be paid
• Time to travel other areas of China during school breaks and after your time at school
• The TTC program is endorsed by Chinese government authorities

Q What is included in the Program for Childcare Internship?

• Leadership training and an orientation to China and Mandarin lessons. Accommodation and meals are also included in the Training Package.
• Access to support and emergency services on a 24 hour, 7 days a week
• Orientation to China (introduction to its customs, laws and other essential information)
• Lessons in basic Mandarin – conversational level Mandarin for everyday use.
• Placement in Childcare centers as a Childcare Intern.
• Ongoing academic support & access to teaching materials and resources.
• Accommodation and meals whilst employed at schools. This is generally shared apartments and school canteen meals.
• An allowance of 2000RMB per month when in a school. This is an allowance that will assist the candidate in their stay in China.
• A completion bonus of RMB2500 per semester once the Childcare Intern Placement is completed.
• Option to request placement for a second semester
• Internal travel, when moving between schools, will be paid.
• Time to travel other areas of China during school breaks and after your time at school.
• The TTC program is endorsed by Chinese government authorities
• A TTC certification upon completion

Q. What is not included?

A The key things not included in the Program, other than daily expenses are:

• Return Air Ticket - note however, that the Completion Bonus paid can contribute to the air fare or be used to travel China once the formal commitments are completed.
• Visa fees
• Travel Insurance - participants are required to obtain adequate travel insurance - Please ask your TTC Representative for advice
• Travel during holidays and after the formal program is completed.

Q. What are the ages of people on the Program?

A The age of the participants does vary, with people from 18 through to 45 joining the program. However, the majority of participants are between 21 and 30 years old.

Q. What kind of visa is needed?

A The visa will be organized for Teach & Travel China participants, at the participant's expense. As Teach & Travel China is a cultural exchange program based on the Teacher Intern role, you will enter China with a 'F' visa which is the cultural exchange visa.

Q How to apply for a "F" visa?

A To apply for the "F" visa, you must do the following. As visa requirements can vary between countries, please ensure that you understand all the requirements for this visa from your country.

1. TTC will supply a 'Letter of Invitation' from China for you to apply for the visa.
2. Take your passport (valid for a minimum of 6 months after you will leave China), 2 passport photographs; visa application form and your 'Letter of Invitation' to the local China Embassy.
3. You will leave the information at the Embassy and be able to collect the Visa within 3 to 7 working days.
4. You will be responsible for the cost of the visa.
5. There are two steps to the visa process: First, you apply for a F-visa prior to your departure (apply no more than 60 days prior to departure) and this visa is valid for a total duration of 60 days stay within China. Second, once you are in China we will arrange your visa extension to a six months F-visa with multiple entry.
6. In some countries a third party can lodge and collect the visa for you.

Q When will I know where my Teacher Intern placement is?

A You can make a request for a particular region within China prior to your departure that you would prefer - North-east; North; Central East and South, although these cannot be guaranteed. You will be advised of your placement region towards the end of the 4-week TEFL training period.

Placements are based on the Schools selection process combined with the performance of the participant during the training period.

Participants applying together can be placed in the same school.

The North-East includes Inner Mongolia, Jilin and Liaoning. The North includes Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi and Shaanxi. Central East includes Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou 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 is the closing date to apply for the program?

A Click here to view program dates and closing dates to apply for them.

Q What kind of Teacher Intern positions are available?

A Generally, there are three categories of teacher intern placement:
1. kindergarten
2. primary
3. high school

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

Q What kind of school will I be placed in?

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 K-12 schools (Kindergarten to Year 12).

Many of the schools have foreign teachers and programs, but there are schools in China that are new to having foreign teachers in their school.

Teach & Travel China participants are placed with at least one other TTC member, and usually in a city where there are other members of the program which enables you support and the opportunity to further develop friendships.