Teaching English in China, Semester Programs

Featured Links

ESLJobsChina.com - ESL Jobs Abroad in China

AllThingsChina.com - China Education Directory

Advertise with us - Click Here

"Travel is Fatal to prejudice, bigotry, narrow-mindedness, all foes to real understanding. Likewise tolerance.. and charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in our little corner of the Earth." -Mark Twain

At what stage of the decision making process are you?

If you are just starting out your research on programs why not call us and talk with one of our experienced consultants for free? After reading our teachers testimonials, may we also suggest you grab yourself a warm cup of hot chocolate, bring your chair close and begin reading our Teach English in China Primer to help you understand the various program types that exist in this market, and the marketing techniques employed that will influence your ability to make a well informed decision.

Journeyeast offers a number of quality, affordable programs that are flexible enough to meet your time demands, (Summer, Winter, 1-Month, 3-Month, 6-Month, 12-Months) Think this out carefully, chose a contract term that you realistically believe you can adhere to. Once you have made a sincere commitment to the young students, it wont be easy for you to back out of your obligation.

The answer to this question largely depends on how organized you are in preparing the required documentation for entry into China and which program are you applying to. Once you have made the decision to Teach English in China, the next step is to download the appropriate forms, print, sign and submit them with the required items for processing your placement and securing the legal working visa. For long term contracts, It takes about 30 days to process the working visa once we have received your information and secured program / job placement. For short term teaching or study assignments, we can process visas in as few as four days.

If you have car payments, mortgage, child support, or large credit card debt, China is not the place you want to work unless you are financially wealthy enough to support your domestic costs while living abroad. People in this situation usually require a power of attorney, a trusted friend or relative to oversea their affairs while abroad. The average salary is low as compared with other countries, 4,000 RMB ($500 / Month) is typical for a recent college graduate having no formal teaching experience.

Once you have Made a Commitment to Teach in China

We are ready to assist you with all the details of transitioning to your new Expat life in China. Journeyeast offers feature rich programs that include Chinese Language and Culture Learning, TEFL Training and Certification, ESL Jobs Placement, Money Wire Service, Chinese Bank and Health Insurance setup, Travel Insurance, Airport Pickup Service, Touring and Travel Services, 24 - 7 Emergency In Country Interpreting Services. We are quite literally as much or as little a part of your experience as you would like us to be.

Communicating with your family

We make it easy for you to communicate with your family and them to reach you. We offer great prices on Online Phone Cards with Pinless access. Take advantage of rates as low as 1.1 cents per minute to China. We also provide you with your own blog space, where you can journalize your travels, post photos, and share stories.

What you can Expect ( Cast Away Delusions of Grandeur )

Teaching in China requires a sincere commitment. Although many steps have been taken to standardize these programs; problems and misunderstanding will occur and are a natural part of residing in a completely different culture and country. As a teacher delegate in our program, you are expected to resolve all issues diplomatically and in a friendly way. The surest prevention of problems is to read carefully and fully understand your contract before you arrive in China and understand that things will go wrong. Chinese view contract differently than other nations, like stop signs in China, contracts are mere, "suggestions" of cooperation rather than strict application of each word. Each contract has been vetted to ensure it meets SAFEA (State Administration of Foreign Experts) standards, and we have designed additional assurances for our teachers into the contracts.

The first three weeks will be the most challenging. Culture Shock will begin to replace the novelty of your new environment and you may start to feel lonely. Be assured, there will be many interesting adventures and you will make many new friends.

Living and working in China requires patience and understanding with not only cultural differences and different ways of thinking, but also overcoming language barriers and common misunderstandings related to basic communication.

Your actions directly impress upon others how they should view your country and the way its people behave. For many of your students, this will be the first time they have ever had an opportunity to talk with a foreigner.

We hope you will take this opportunity to enlighten the children of China and make a positive change. Working only 18 - 22 periods per week, you will find that you have ample time for travel and adventure. If you would like to work more hours to earn extra cash, ask your headmaster. The overtime rates we negotiate for our teachers are some of the highest in the market.

We encourage you to socialize with your students, meet their families, and make as many friends as possible. The key to having a successful experience in China has a lot to do with the number of quality relationships you build. The Chinese put so much emphasis on good relationship building they even have a special name for it. "Guanxi." Without good relationships in China, life can be difficult at best, or impossible. Fortunately, it is quite easy to make friends in China. Chinese are very friendly and eager to share their culture with you.

Some people who arrive in China feel uncomfortable or "undeserving" of the hospitality shown to them, while others thrive on it and come to expect this special treatment all the time. Do what you can to earn this incredible hospitality and the respect of your peers.

You will find that your school hosts will go far out of their way to provide for your comfort. In a country that has had its gate closed for centuries, modern Chinese consider language and culture education an important progression towards improving the worlds perception of China and Chinas view of the world.

It is very expensive for a school to host foreign teachers. Besides requiring a special license to host you and paying "introduction fee's' the school will negotiate a year lease for your residence and pay you a salary that is often equivalent to a Chinese professor / headmasters. You can expect to earn nearly twice what your fellow Chinese English teachers are earning, and you will not be paying rent or utilities. You are quite literally their most prized asset and serious investment in the quality of their education program.

Most problems are mere misunderstandings linked to cultural differences, different ways of thinking and basic communication error. Frustrations will occur, it is a virtual certainty. We have put together a method of resolving issues in the teachers guide we publish. Read this carefully and follow it. Teachers who follow the protocol experience far fewer issues and shorter resolution times.

Keeping this in mind, try to understand and research the Chinese concept of "face." Do not assume that just because you explained something carefully to your Chinese host, that it was understood. The nod you received does not mean your intentions were understood. Often, in order to get anything accomplished in China, your assistants will have to traverse a hierarchy of bureaucracy to get the task done and may rely on the permission and authorization of their boss or immediate supervisor to proceed with the task.

Additionally, Chinese people do not like to give the impression that they are unable to accomplish something. They are often shy about asking you to repeat yourself and do not want to give the impression they did not understand you. Never assume that just because you received a nod, an "okay, that your request was understood or is in the process of being accomplished. Follow up with your request and allow some extra time. You will find that although it appears to take a little longer to get things done, eventually it will get done.

In the end, this is the final question you need to decide for yourself. We are available to help you make a well informed decision and answer any of your questions. Our program is feature rich and offers a number of services that you can choose from. We do not accept every person who applies, and not every school will meet our standards of operation. Program Quality is our highest priority mission and our organization has a long history of turning down financially rewarding offers that compromise the integrity and quality of the program we provide.

We have vetted the schools, school location, profiled the headmaster, measured the proficiencies the Chinese assistants who will be serving you and researched market salaries in each location to ensure a salary that is non-exploitative and gainful.

More ESL companies steal information from our web page than any other, we are the most plagiarized, illegally copied web page on the internet for Teaching in China since 2001.

Semester Teaching China

At what stage of the decision making process are you?

Once you have Made a Commitment to Teach in China

Communicating with your family

What you can Expect ( Cast Away Delusions of Grandeur )