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China - FAQ
Tell me more about China ------ Tell me more about China?China, a land of beauty and fascination, tempts adventurous travelers all over the world. It is a massive country, covering 6,000,000 square miles and spanning 60 longitudinal degrees. It has a infinite variety of people, enchanting natural landscape, brilliant history and culture and fascinating destinations that a visitor tends to be as bewildered as bewitched. For more information I suggest you purchase the Lonely Planet's guide to China. What is the climate like in China? China, being such a large land area does have slightly varying climatic differences in the many regions. In Shandong the winters are cold. Temperatures can drop to 2 C. With the contrast of summer, being long and hot, boasting 25 C plus temperatures. Rain is fairly constant throughout the year. Summer runs from June to August; Winter begins from December and ends in February; Spring starts from March till May and Autumn from September to November. What kind of volunteer work is available? Volunteers have the opportunity to teach English at a primary or secondary level in the Shandong Province. The focus is on improving confidence in the students' ability to speak English as well as their comprehension of the language. When will I know specific details on my placement? Placements are typically finalized on arrival due to the changing plans of volunteers already taking part in the program. Where will I be located? Schools are located in Yantai and surrounding areas. Yantai is on the eastern coast of Northern China, in the Shandong province. What are we required to teach? The volunteers will focus on conversational English classes namely speaking, talking and practicing the listening of the students. All schools in China have Chinese teachers of English to teach intensive English courses, while English volunteers come as a supplement. Please note that no teaching certificates and experience is required, however it will be a great advantage to your program if you have some certification. We have more information here. Is there any time of the year when I can't volunteer? In January/February, the program is closed for Chinese New Year Celebrations. There is no teaching available at the following school holiday times: Mid December to late February (Winter school break), May 1st to 7th (Labour Holiday), mid July to late August (Summer holidays), and October 1st to 7th (Chinese National Holiday). Tell me more about flying into Yantai You will fly into Beijing, and after you check out from the passport control and luggage claims, you should go to the Bank of China in the airport (just beside the exit gate) and change some Chinese money (RMB).Then you need to move to the domestic departure lobby in the airport and if you do not have a ticket then choose one of the most suitable flights and purchase the Beijing-Yantai airticket. There are 4 or 5 flights from Beijing to Yantai each day. The flight time is one hour.The oneway airfare is about USD $70.00 - and some discounts apply from time to time. The China domestic departure tax is RMB50.-(USD $6.00 -) and the international departure tax is RMB90.-(about USD $11.00 -). Please note: 1 USD equals 8 RMB yuan. When you arrive in Yantai you will be met by Jack Liu, our China partner, or one of his staff. From the airport you'll be taken to your school and introduced to your hosts. When do I need to arrive in China? The start date is flexible however it is encouraged that volunteers arrive at the beginning of the semester. How do I get to the project? Our partner will meet you at Yantai airport after your domestic flight in order to take you to the placement. The program is located in the vicinity of Yantai City in the Shandong province. Tell me more about the accommodation? Your accommodation will most likely be on campus or near to your school in a basic room of 15-20 square meters. All the rooms are clean and comfortable, and some rooms have air-conditioning and TV. All rooms have a table and chair and bed and you will have access to either a private or a shared bathroom with shower, etc. You will be able to have your meals in the dining hall or you can cook for yourself if you are located in an apartment off campus. You may be required to purchase your own meals; the school has a set budget to reimburse you for these. Can you accommodate specific dietary requirements? Please indicate if you are vegetarian on your application and we will attempt to place you in a school where you have a level of control over your diet. The diet is fairly restricted and special dishes will not be prepared for vegetarians. You may need to purchase supplementary food items which will be at your own expense. What age do you have to be to volunteer? You must be 18 years old and above. The upper age limit is 65. What immunisations/vaccines will I need? We advise that you consult your doctor about this. No vaccinations are legally required as you are traveling in a developed area of China however Hep A and B are recommended. Do I need to speak English to become a volunteer? Yes, you need to have been born in Australia, Canada, UK, USA, New Zealand or Singapore. You must have English as your first language. Can I learn Chinese during my teaching period? We strongly advise that you try to learn a few basic Chinese words before starting your program. This will help you to get involved in the daily life of the local people. Some of the Chinese English teachers may be able to act as interpreters to help your understanding of things while you're there. Chinese lessons are not available through the program at this time. Could I also bring my spouse and kids to China? Couples may be placed together if they are both volunteering. It is not possible to bring children. What is the criterion for volunteers to be accepted into the program? Each applicant is considered by the information they provide on the application. If further information is required applicants will be emailed to request this. Please refer to the program requirements listed on the program page which outlines the minimum expectations of what is required for volunteering in this specific program. We also look further at your application as to skills and experience specifically related to the program you have applied to. We look at volunteer experiences, travel experience and also your particular interest in the program to make our decision. Are we able to do any sightseeing while volunteering? You are free to do this in your spare time, but will need to organise it yourself at your own expense. School staff may be able to assist you to help organise trips. Are there more expenses once I arrive? If you arrive early or intend on staying on in China for longer than you are volunteering then you will need to have spare money for this time. Also some money may be required for your days off. Other costs include your flights (International and a domestic flight to Yantai City), Visa, shots, travel insurance, departure tax and any shopping you will do personally. How safe is it to volunteer in China? China is considered one of the safest countries in the world for personal security. Serious crime against foreigners is relatively rare. But petty crime has increased in recent years, especially in and around the major cities and particularly in crowded areas such as transport stations, markets, shopping areas and sightseeing destinations. It is wise to be cautious with your personal possessions in public places. As in many countries, foreigners are perceived as wealthy in China. Although the people are generally warm and friendly towards foreigners, as well as appreciative of the work done by volunteers, not every individual is the same. We work extremely hard to ensure you are placed in safe environments while volunteering and security policies are in place to achieve this. However, as in any situation at home or abroad, there is no way to remove all potential threats. How many volunteers are there on site at the same time? This depends on how many people volunteer at any one time. Usually there are between 4 and 10 volunteers at any one time, however these may not be at the same school. If you wish to be located with other volunteers, you should mention this before arrival in China. What is the course content of the training? Orientation will be provided 'on the job' by the staff at your school. What hours am I expected to take part in the program? Each school program and timetable will vary. You should talk to staff on arrival about your timetable and the number of hours you will be teaching each week. There are some classes on the weekends and during the evening and these may replace some daytime schedules for some volunteers. Is there the opportunity to take classes such as language or more cultural activities while on the program? We strongly advise that you try to learn a few basic Chinese words before starting your program. This will help you to get involved in the daily life of the local people. Some of the Chinese English teachers may be able to act as interpreters to help your understanding of things while you're there. Chinese lessons are not available at this time. What clothing is appropriate for the program? Clothing in the classroom should be of a 'smart casual' standard. Keep shoulders covered and skirts should be below the knee. Shoes should have covered toes. For summer placements: Take light cotton clothes that are easily washed and not too delicate. Many temples in China will not allow women wearing skirts to enter so trousers are often the most practical option when you're sightseeing. A raincoat and umbrella are vital for travel during the rainy season from May until August. For winter placements you should wear layers. What resources are available for teaching when I'm volunteering? Do I need to bring my own? Teaching resources are limited in China. if you would like to use particular teaching tools we would suggest you bring selected items from home. Limited photocopying facilities will be available. In preparation for your teaching placement you may like to take a look the following book available (via Amazon) in the GVN bookshop. It comes highly recommended by past volunteers: Lessons from Nothing : Activities for Language Teaching with Limited Time and Resources (Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers) by Bruce Marsland ISBN: 0-521-62765-6. Can you tell me more about your partner in China? Sinoculture Exchange and director, Mr. Jack Liu, have been in partnership with GVN for a number of years. Our partner organization is an independent network operating in China with extensive contacts nationwide. Mr. Liu coordinates the placement of volunteers and native speakers of English to teach English as a foreign language in various educational institutions throughout the Shandong province. Who organizes my visa for my volunteer placement? You do. Our program guide has links to Chinese Embassies throughout the world. You will need to obtain your visa before leaving home from a China embassy in your own country. Do I need travel insurance? Travel insurance is required for this program. You can arrange this personally or choose to purchase it though GVN. We have arranged a comprehensive travel insurance package specially designed for volunteering. It includes excellent medical and accident coverage as well as a 'loss of deposits' cover which covers fees paid to GVN, airlines etc (up to US$8,000). If you would like to learn more just follow this link: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/insurance/. How do I pay my fees? Your application fee secures your place on the program (remember this is fully refundable if you decide not to take part in the program). Your program fee is payable to Global Volunteer Network 8 weeks prior to the 1st of the month you wish to volunteer. Please note that all charges incurred by the payment of the program fee are at the volunteer's expense, e.g. if a bank transfer incurs a bank fee at the point of origin, that is at the expense of the volunteer. Eighty percent (80%) of your program fee is refundable until one calendar month before the 1st of the month you are due to begin your program. Where does my in-country fee go? The in-country fee that is paid to cover your time while taking part in the China volunteer program pays for a variety of aspects of the program. The in-country fee covers expenses incurred to Jack Liu, the program manager, for the work he does while you are volunteering. He meets you at the airport and transports you to the placement. Jack will also be available to you while in country either by phone, email or in person. He is there as a support for you if required. There are costs involved in the work that Jack does that is important culturally such as dinners for staff and volunteers as well as the occasional tour offered for volunteers. Urban schools are government funded and subsidize the costs associated with hosting an international volunteer. Costs incurred to the schools range from accommodation ( if living off campus) and meals as well as power and internet usage. ------ Question not covered here? Please check the generic FAQ, and if still unanswered, please submit your question here. (We aim to answer all email within 48 hours).
Click here to apply for the China program. |
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Machu Picchu Trek 2009
Between 16 August and 24 August 2009, GVN is offering a hike to fundraise to build new facilities for a feeding program which feeds and distributes vitamins to 400 needy children daily outside of Cuzco, Peru. > Read More
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