GENERAL QUESTIONS

What is CTLC?

The Center for Teaching and Learning in China is a non-profit corporation registered in Tennessee that recruits, interviews and trains teachers and other professionals for working in China. It has collaborated with the Shenzhen government Bureau of Education to recruit teachers of English in the Shenzhen public schools since 1997. The Center is North American representative of CAIEP (China Association for International Exchange of Personnel) of the Chinese national Bureau of Foreign Experts. The Center also holds memberships in NAFSA Association of International Educators and in the College of Teachers, Institute of Education, University of London.

What is different about this program from other opportunities to teach in China?

Several things. First, it does not require either previous teaching experience or TEFL certification. We provide the training to enable you to do the job. Second, we provide "survival" training in Mandarin (and higher levels if you have previous knowledge of Chinese) which helps make your experience in China more rewarding. Third, we provide On-site Coordinators to provide support while you are in China. In addition, you will be associated with a sizable group of other English teachers working in Shenzhen so that you can establish fruitful professional and social relationships.

Furthermore, the Shenzhen program is a Chinese government (Shenzhen Education Bureau) program, with salaries paid by the schools (with support from the Shenzhen Education Bureau). There are lots of private, for-profit schools and colleges in China, and it is advisable to be wary of some of them. There are private, for-profit outfits in the USA and elsewhere that sell recruiting services to Chinese schools and offer no support in China. The Shenzhen program is completely unique in being a government program that includes teaching training (and a certificate), Chinese language courses, and full-time on-site support. The more you learn about other programs, the clearer the uniqueness and the considerable advantages of the Shenzhen program will become.

I do not have a Bachelor’s Degree, but do have teaching experience. Can I participate in the program?

No. The Shenzhen Education Bureau requires a Bachelor’s Degree for all participants.

For whom will I be working?

For the individual school to which you are assigned in Shenzhen. Contracts are subject to the rules and regulations that are established by the Shenzhen government, which pays for the program, and that are negotiated annually by CTLC to ensure the best possible working and living conditions.

If don't know anything about teaching, how can I be expect to be able to handle a classroom of Chinese students?

You will attend an intensive training and orientation program in China before beginning your job. Previous participants have found this training to be quite adequate for preparing them to teaching in Shenzhen.

What levels might I be teaching?

It depends on the school to which you are assigned. The level can vary from high school to elementary. Most of the schools are junior-senior high schools.

How are school assignments made?

The Shenzhen municipal Education Bureau provides CTLC with a list of schools participating in the program in August, before the start of the fall term. CTLC takes individual preferences into account and tries to match them to available openings.

Will I be teaching with other foreign teachers, or alone?

The program usually has 100+ teachers in some 70 schools. So you will most likely, though not necessarily, be alone.

I prefer to teach elementary students. Can that be arranged?

Yes, in most cases, elementary classes can be assigned to those who prefer them.

I don't want to teach elementary students. Can I be assured that I will teach secondary school level students?

We make every effort to assign teachers to the levels they prefer, but it cannot be absolutely guaranteed in every instance.

Are couples welcome in the program?

Yes. Couples can be placed in the same school or nearby schools and then share housing.

COSTS AND FEES

What is the $150 program fee deposit and when is it payable? Is it refundable?

The $150 program fee deposit covers the advance processing for the initial entry visa and work permit/residence card. The deposit is payable after you receive an acceptance letter; your place in the program is guaranteed when that payment has been made. The deposit is 50% refundable until March 31st. If you withdraw after paying the deposit and wish to re-apply the following year, any unrefunded portion of the deposit will be credited toward your program fee for the following year.

What does the program fee cover? When is it payable? Is it refundable?

The program fee ($150 deposit+$1,340 = $1,490) covers your initial entry visa, airport pickup on arrival in China, training tuition and housing, tours in China, housing in Shenzhen during orientation, the national medical screening examination, work permit/residence card, and one-year, multiple-entry work visa. In addition, you receive a Shenzhen salary, Shenzhen housing and utilities, travel bonus, and airline ticket reimbursement. Those are equivalent to over $15,000. The $1,340 balance of the program fee is payable July 18th. The $1,340 balance is refundable (less any costs that are nonrecoverable by CTLC at that date, such as Chinese visa fee and/or prepayment of August housing) if you withdraw from the program prior to August 18th.

During the training period in China, what is not covered in the program fee?

Meals (with some exceptions), phone calls, incidentals, and internet fees are not covered.

When do I have to commit to the program, if I am accepted?

You will need to make a firm decision to participate in the program by the time you pay the travel agent for your airline ticket to China, usually in May. But earlier than that you will need to have paid the deposit and sent the documents needed for the advance processing of your initial entry visa and work permit/residence card.

How much cash should I bring with me to get started?

It depends on your needs and preferences. You will receive your first monthly Shenzhen salary payment at the end of September, so plan to bring enough to cover all expenses except lodging and transportation until then. Remember, China is still a cash economy; credit cards are generally not used.

Can I use foreign ATM cards in China?

It is becoming increasingly easy to access foreign bank accounts in China through ATM cards. However, we cannot guarantee you access. It often depends on your bank, the ATM you are using in China, and pure luck. Some participants have found no problems accessing foreign accounts while others have spent hours going from ATM to ATM until they found one that accepted their foreign ATM card. The second scenario, however, is becoming less and less frequent. If you cannot use your ATM card in mainland China, you will most likely be able to use it in Hong Kong.

If I return for another year, what are the costs?

As a returning teacher you would not need to attend the training, so your only cost would be the $150 deposit, which includes your visa, physical examination in Shenzhen, and work permit/residence card. You would travel directly to Shenzhen in late August.

TRAVEL QUESTIONS

Will I be getting a roundtrip ticket?

The airline tickets should be roundtrip rather than one-way. This has several advantages for you despite the higher initial outlay. Notably it protects you from the risk of a substantial fare increase for the return flight if the Chinese currency increases in value relative to the US dollar. With the roundtrip ticket, the return date is left open, but the return flight has been purchased. Last year the roundtrip ticket price was around US$1,400 to US$1,600, even though it is in high season.

Is the airline ticket I purchase refundable?

No. This is because of the airline policy of giving very large discounts for non-refundable tickets. A standard full-fare economy ticket can cost more than three times as much as the discounted, nonrefundable ticket.

Can I make my own travel arrangements to China?

You can. But we strongly recommend that you use the travel agency specified by the program. Bear in mind that (1.) you will need to arrive in China at the same day and time as the rest of the group in order to be met at the airport, and (2.) the airline ticket reimbursement is capped at the amount of the standard group ticket roundtrip fare.

What if some unexpected event prevents me from going to China after I've purchased my ticket?

Some airlines, if you make a special case on these grounds, may refund a part of the ticket price. This is strictly up to the airline.

When will I be reimbursed for my ticket?

You will be reimbursed for half the ticket in February 2009, after you begin the Spring semester, and the other half at the end of your contract in June 2009.

What if I were to leave the program before the February reimbursement?

You would not be reimbursed. The Shenzhen government (which pays for the travel) requires that you be in compliance with your contract in order to qualify to receive the February reimbursement or the June reimbursement.

What if I want to stay on in China to travel for a while?

When the teaching contracts end on June 15, many participants choose to take some time for additional travel. You may choose your departure date from China (up to one year from your flight to China), consistent with your visa. If you want to stay longer than the expiration date of your work visa you can purchase a new tourist visa on your own, either in Hong Kong or in Shenzhen (depending on current visa regulations).

VISAS

What kind of visa do I need?

Prior to your departure to China, you will receive a Chinese entry visa. This visa will be valid for 2-3 months, depending on when you will arrive in China for training. Your work visas will be processed in Shenzhen in September. Please anticipate receiving your new visa at the end of September or beginning of October. This work visa will be valid until the end of your contract (June) and is multiple-entry. You can exit and return to China as many times as you want until the visa expires.

LIVING AND WORKING IN SHENZEN

What makes Shenzhen attractive as a place to work in China?

Shenzhen is the first and most successful of the Special Economic Zones in China. It is a prosperous, modern city, offering state-of-the art infrastructure and facilities, as well as a highly motivated and educated population. It is adjacent to Hong Kong, with easy travel between the two cities. Hong Kong provides a bi-lingual culture break whenever you need it. Hong Kong is also very convenient as a starting point for vacation travel.

Shenzhen is located in Guangdong Province, one of the most southern provinces in China. It is right across the border from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The official population of Shenzhen is around 5 million. Unofficial guesses hover around 10 million. The government controls the population of Shenzhen and you need an official residence card to live here. Only about 2 million people are permanent residents, the rest are temporary residents who have come there to work. However, because the money is so good, many people come illegally. Hence, the unofficial population count.

Shenzhen is composed of 6 districts ­ Luogu, Futian, Longgang, Nanshan, Bao'an, and Yantian. Futian and Luohu make up the city center. Longgang lies to the north, Nanshan and Bao'an to the west, and Yantian to the east. CTLC works with about 70 schools spread out over the 6 districts.

Will I have an apartment to myself or share one with other teachers?

Your exact living arrangement is dependent on the school you are assigned to. Most schools provide on-campus housing; some provide off-campus housing. Most schools provide studio apartment-style housing, a few provide multi-room apartments, and a few provide dorm-suite style housing (private bedroom with a shared living room, cooking area, and bathroom). Every teacher is guaranteed his or her own private bedroom; however you might share apartment-style housing with other foreign teachers at your school. We attempt to match assignments to housing preferences; however each school's housing arrangement can vary from year to year.

Your contract stipulates a Western-style toilet, air-conditioning, phone, furnishings (bed, etc.), TV, hot-water heater for the shower, and a washing machine. Some apartments have a kitchen while others have a small area that has all the kitchen stuff. It really depends on the apartment design. There are no stoves in China, just hot-plate-type appliances. This is standard in most Chinese apartments as well as the foreigner apartments.

Your apartment will be either within school grounds or very near to school grounds. Most of our apartments are inside the schools. If the apartment is not within walking distance of your school, they will provide transportation.

What is the climate like?

Shenzhen's climate resembles that of Miami, Florida, with a mild winter and a tropical summer.

Can I live on RMB 5,000 per month?

Yes, quite comfortably. Your housing and utilities are provided free. If you are reasonably prudent, you should have enough income to cover your living expenses and also to travel during vacation periods.

How do I get around the city?

You can get everywhere in Shenzhen by public transportation. The On-Site Coordinators and your Contact Teacher will help you with the bus routes. Nearly all the buses are air-conditioned and quite comfortable. Learning the bus routes will take a little effort, but once you've done that you can go anywhere in the city. An extensive subway system opened in 2005 and is convenient for traveling around the central parts of the city. Over the next few years, the subway system will continue to expand to the outlying districts.

How do I get to Hong Kong?

It's an easy trip from Shenzhen to Hong Kong (34 minutes by commuter train from downtown Shenzhen to central Hong Kong). You can also get there by bus and by ferry. Hong Kong provides a bi-lingual culture break whenever you need it. Hong Kong is also very convenient as a starting point for vacation travel.

What kind of health care is available in Shenzhen?

Most teachers will have access to a school clinic that can handle your minor medical needs for free or at very low cost. You can also visit doctors at the many hospitals in Shenzhen. Most of these hospitals have English-speaking doctors. Doctor and hospital costs are quite reasonable compared to the U.S.

Do you offer health insurance?

Yes. The program offers basic medical reimbursement insurance for while you are in China. The Chinese government recently has made it a national requirement for all foreign teachers to have this standard insurance (or their own alternative insurance). The cost is $250 (estimated) for one year, regardless of age or medical condition. The exact amount of the cost will be known in the early Spring 2008. This cost is not included in the program fee. The insurance provides a 24/7 English language telephone assistance number, available throughout China. The coverage applies only while you are in the People's Republic of China (excluding Hong Kong and Macao).

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?

Where can I get additional details about the program?

In June participants accepted in the program are invited to join a Yahoo discussion group including the on-site coordinators. The discussion group will answer detailed questions (e.g., what to bring with you, luggage, shopping, availability of various items in China, etc.) before you depart and will become the listserve for announcements and information during your stay in China. It will be important for all applicants to have a web-based e-mail address, such as Yahoo or Gmail, for this purpose.

Can I contact previous and current participants for more information?

A contact list will be sent to you upon request.

I would like to be better prepared for my stay in China. Is there a book you can recommend?