CHINA TEFL

INTERNSHIP
AUGUST 2016

Picture the scene: you leave your apartment in the morning, stopping at your local
street vendor for some congee and fried pastries for breakfast. You head on to
your school, taking in the smells and sounds of China, with everyone smiling and
calling out 'hello' to you as you pass by.
You walk into your new classroom where you're greeted by 30 smiling faces, excited
to learn English. You spend the day teaching, then after a warm goodbye and some
preparation for tomorrow's lessons, it's time to head out and explore what China has
to offer.

WHAT OUR TEACHERS SAY...

It has been such a great experience! China cant be
captured by just a holiday with a tour-group living in a
country is the best way to fully immerse oneself in its
culture and lifestyle" - Stephanie

I have met some truly wonderful people and they have

made this experience what it is - Rozel

"Chinese hospitality is second to none, in the school

where I am currently teaching we live in a building with
other teaching staff. We have home-made food brought
to us, we get invited to their homes" - Laura

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Read on for...
Your life-changing opportunity in China awaits!
What life is like as a China intern
What's included?
Is the China internship right for me?
What fun stuff awaits me over the next 5 months?
Where could I be calling home?
What can I do after the internship?
How will I prepare for teaching?
Who will support me in China?
Where will I be living?
How much should I budget?
Please can I have some answers to my questions?
Right, where do I sign up?!

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Your life-changing opportunity in China

awaits!
This five month, fully-supported teaching internship is
perfect for discovering all that China has to offer, whilst
gaining invaluable teaching experience. Our in-country
partners ImmerQi are experts when it comes to China,
and will help you to integrate into local life - whether
you have a question about your placement, or
something as simple as where you can
buy Western food, ImmerQi will be there to help you
every step of the way!

5 reasons why YOU should

go on the China internship!

By the end of the five months, youll have SO many

doors open to you whether you want to carry on
teaching, go travelling or start a career back home!
The China TEFL internship is an amazing experience,
and one youll never forget.

Ive had lots of adventures in China:

my trip to Mongolia for instance, with
real-life yurts and desert as far as
you could see. What's impressed
me the most though is living (and
surviving) day-to-day life in China"
- Aisling, from Ireland, taught in
Changsha

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"China has proven to be an exciting and

adventurous journey, and I was glad to
have ImmerQi there to give me an
introduction to Chinese culture. China
is a great place to travel, and a great
starting point for anyone who wishes to
experience teaching English abroad
Niles, from the USA, taught in
Hangzhou

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Experience China like a local snack on street feasts and sip

on Tsingtao beer
Give something back - feel great
knowing you've made a difference
to others' futures
Experience traditional celebrations
like the Lantern Festival and the
Dragon Boat Festival!
Peace of mind going to China with
a reputable and longestablished company
Make friends for life with other
interns

I wanted a change of scenery, and a

chance to teach in a different way in a
country Id never been to. I achieved all
of this. Teaching in China has given
me valuable tools which I can use when
I come back to teach in the UK, as well
as valuable life-skills adjusting to life in
a non-western country! Jozanda,
from the UK, taught in Shanghai

Watch the video and find out...

What life is like as a China intern

Rozel teaches here!

Zhongshan, China

Life as a China intern: Kelsey in Changsha

Living in Changsha is so vastly different to my small town in England. I
have never lived in a city - there are 2.1 million people living here, and
its considered small by Chinese standards. Literally everyone lives in
a high rise block as its the only way that everyone will fit into the city!
One day as I was walking into my grade 1 class, one of the children
passed me a plastic heart, and another, a carton of milk it was so
sweet! At the start of class I came up with a clapping pattern to drill
prepositions with them - they really had to concentrate, but they had a
lot of fun. I got them to perform a song at the end, which I'm so glad I
did as they were all so proud of themselves!
I met my friend Beth (shes another intern) in Hangzhou one weekend,
and we went to West Lake, a famous lake in China. We went on a boat
ride with a man "paddling" in the back, a nice Chinese lady joined us
and the "shifu" started singing... it was all so cultural and so much fun!

Read more stories from China interns here!

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What's included?
140 hour Professional TEFL certificate
Amazing 5 month teaching placement with our reputable, longestablished partners ImmerQi
In-country support from ImmerQi, and network of interns
Monthly allowance of 2,000 RMB
Free accommodation, with bills of up to 150 RMB included
End of contract bonus of 2,500 RMB many of our interns use
this to fund their travels in South East Asia!
3 free meals a day, 5 days a week at your school, or
alternatively, a meal allowance
Comprehensive 7 day orientation in Beijing includes practical
training, tour of Beijing and a welcome dinner
Airport pick up and transfers to your school
Help with visa paperwork. Please note, youll need to
budget 190 for your visa, payable to ImmerQi
A network of new friends
Post-internship opportunities many of our interns continue
teaching or go travelling!

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Is the China internship right for me?

Do you want to explore
China through the eyes
of a local?

Do you want the comfort of

a great support group incountry?

Do you want to make a

difference to peoples'
futures?

Do you want to gain

invaluable teaching
experience?

If you answered 'yes' to these, then the China TEFL internship could be
PERFECT for you!

WHAT YOU NEED

WHAT YOU DON'T NEED

The ability to speak Mandarin youll be
encouraged to speak only English in the
TEFL classroom, although ImmerQi will
provide you with Mandarin lessons to help
you outside of work

140 hour Professional TEFL certificate

from i-to-i
To be a fluent English speaker aged
between 18-45
To have a UK, USA, Australian, Irish, New
Zealand or Canadian passport

Previous teaching experience this

programme is designed for total TEFL
beginners!

To have completed high school/ secondary

school

University/College degree all we ask

is you are high school educated

Valid police check from your home country

The ability to arrive in China on the 20th

August 2016 and to stay until the 15th
January 2017
A sense of adventure and an open mind!

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What fun stuff awaits me over the next 5

months?

BEFORE YOU GO
How exciting, you're about to start a new life in
China! Once you've booked your space,
you'll send off your documents to your ImmerQi
contact. Then you can find out more about the
internship and they can get to know you!
Now it's time to tell your family and friends, quit
your job and get ready for an adventure of a
lifetime!

ORIENTATION
Alongside your 20 hour practical training to
get you confident teaching; you'll get the
opportunity to meet ImmerQi and your fellow
interns! Experience Chinese culture by
learning calligraphy and tai chi, before
exploring Beijing... the Great Wall, Forbidden
City and Tiananmen Square are all at the top
of the list of places to go!
Experience traditional Chinese cuisine (none
of that takeaway stuff) at the welcome meal,
before finding out where in the country you'll
be teaching... it'll be time to head off and
start your placement!

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What fun stuff awaits me over the next 5

months?

PLACEMENT
Alongside your 15 teaching hours a week,
you'll play an active part in your local
community. Whether you decide to host a
Christmas party in the classroom or stage
a play with your students, you can really
take the opportunity to make the China
internship a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

AFTER YOUR
INTERNSHIP
By the end of the internship, youll be an
extremely confident teacher with 5 months of
experience and so many doors open to you!
Our partners will help you secure teaching
jobs overseas - previous interns now work in
Malaysian Universities, South America, and
one has even worked in Afghanistan!
Teaching isn't the only option available - lots of
interns choose to travel, using their end-ofcontract bonus as funds... there is quite
literally a world of opportunity out there for you!

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Where could I be calling home?

Please note: these are just SOME of the places you could be teaching in on the
China internship!
China has something for everyone: from bustling metropolises to authentic
rural villages and everything in between. Although we can't guarantee
where you'll be placed in China, you can preference where you teach.
These are a few places where our interns taught last year - so here's a
taster of just some of the cities you could be teaching in on the internship!

HARBIN

KAIFENG
CHENGDU

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Where could I be calling home?

Please note: these are just SOME of the places you could be teaching in on the
China internship!

HARBIN, HEILONGJIANG
Despite being famous for its annual international Ice and Snow Festival, this ChineseRussian fusion of a city has so much more to offer. Catch a well-loved shadow play, or
visit the Volga Manor on the Ashi River for the beautiful Russian-style architecture. One
more thing to check out on your days off from teaching is the Siberian Tiger Park at
1.4million square meters, its the largest in the world; with over 700 tigers roaming free
there, protected. On your evenings off, make like the locals do and stroll down Central
Street the longest pedestrian street in Asia, its lined with shops and street vendors,
making it perfect for a wander.

KAIFENG, HENAN
7 hours South-West of Beijing, Kaifeng is one of the 7 ancient capitals of China. Spend
your days off exploring the many temples and pagodas (like the Iron Pagoda). The
Millennium City Park is also a beautiful place for a walk on your time off from teaching
laid out to resemble the Song Dynasty era (an era in imperial Chinese history), the park is
home to a city gate tower, rainbow bridge, docks with a ship and a range of shops. Finally,
for a traditional Chinese meal, head to the night fair for delicacies like Mayuxing bucketshaped chicken, fried cold jelly and almond tea delicious!

CHENGDU, SICHUAN
Located in the province famous for Sichuan cuisine (think garlic and chilli peppers),
Chengdu offers a traditional Chinese experience during your internship. Wander round the
Wangjianglou Park, where you can play Mah-Jong and drink tea with the locals; or enjoy
a show from the Sichuan opera, where they perform in brightly coloured masks. Be sure
to visit Tiantai Mountain on a day off from teaching located approximately 120km away,
this natural beauty boasts 7 waterfalls and over 80 species of flowers, so its perfect for a
relaxing stroll!

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What could I do after the internship?

With so many traditional celebrations at the end of the internship, you're sure to want to
stay a while longer and travel!

Feb: Celebrate Chinese New Year

It's the perfect opportunity at the end of your
internship to experience a traditional
Chinese celebration. Watch the firework
displays, and wish your new friends
"gongxi" (good wishes).

Mar: Lantern Festival

Taking place after CNY, celebrate by
watching the lit lanterns in the night sky,
eating tangyuan (ball dumplings in soup)
and enjoying the lion dances. Why not
celebrate it with your students by making
paper lanterns?

Jun: Dragon Boat Festival

Originating from when the Chinese
worshipped dragons, the main event of this
festival is the dragon boat racing - grab a
few of your fellow interns and head to Hong
Kong for the biggest celebrations.

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How will I prepare for teaching?

PRE-ARRIVAL TRAINING
While you're waiting to head out on your China TEFL adventure, you can get started
on the 120 hour online course. If you're concerned it's going to be a bit boring as it's
all online, then you couldn't be more wrong: the range of videos, classroom-based
scenarios and quizzes used are all designed to keep you engaged and interested!
Test what you've learnt on the checkpoints - forget about writing essays though; you'll
be designing lesson plans and creating board games - all in preparation for when
you're actually teaching in China!

TRAINING IN CHINA
The 20 hour practical element will be held in
Beijing, and it's designed to give you the
confidence to teach an English class, without
speaking a word of Mandarin. You'll enjoy
extensive teaching practice, as you learn the
common difficulties Chinese students face
when learning English. You'll also gain an
understanding of the cultural norms in the
classroom, meaning you'll be able to walk into
school on your first day with confidence!

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Who will support me in China?

We work with ImmerQi, our expert in-country partners who
are there to support you every step of the way. Not only
do they understand the ins-and-outs of the Chinese school
systems, but they also know everything there is to know
about China itself! Heres why we work with ImmerQi:
They have a proven track record of delivering an excellent experience for all of
their interns for over 22 years theyve won numerous awards, including the
prestigious ASEAN Outstanding Business Award!
Theyre experts in educational experiences in China they have excellent
relationships with schools all over China, so if a problem arises within a school,
theyre able to fix it quickly
They offer unrivalled support for our TEFL teachers many ImmerQi
employers have been on the China TEFL internship, so they completely
understand the types of questions and concerns you may have!
They have great connections and standing in China theyre able to offer
interns additional career opportunities upon completing the internship. Previous
interns have taught in universities, secured lucrative jobs in the Middle East, and
one ex-intern taught in Afghanistan!
Their programme and benefits are all unique to us you wont be able to
experience this amazing internship with anyone else!

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Where will I be living?

Your free accommodation is where you'll

get to hang out on the evenings and
weekends, spending time with your fellow
interns. Whether you cook Chinese food in
the shared kitchen, or bond over a few
beers, you'll be sharing a flat with likeminded people that you'll probably find
become your best friends... and who you'll
get to explore China with, and all of the
amazing sights it has to offer!

Funny things you'll discover

about your Chinese
apartment
You may find your bathroom is more of a
wet room, which means you can use the
toilet and the shower at the same time! It
makes it very easy for cleaning
Apartment blocks of less than 8 floors
dont tend to have elevators but it does
mean youll get lots of exercise!
It's quite common to not have an oven in
your apartment - make like the Chinese
and get your meals from a street vendor
instead!

Take a tour of China interns' Claire

and Anthony's apartment in Wuxi,
Jiangsu Province!

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How much should I budget?

Your monthly living allowance on the China TEFL internship is 2,000RMB, but what
does that cover...?

5 RMB

150 RMB

270 RMB

20km metro
journey in Beijing

Drinks and dim sum for

two with a view at Tian
Bar, on the 99th floor of
the Four Seasons Hotel,
Guangzhou

Return train from

Shanghai to West Lake,
Hangzhou, overnight
stay and boat trip

Anything else I need to budget before getting there?

FLIGHTS
Vary - we recommend
skyscanner.net

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VISAS, Paperwork,
Embassy Fees
Approx. 290*

SPENDING MONEY
2,000 RMB for your
first month in China

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*Please note that visa fees, currency exchange rates and embassy charges are subject to change. Correct at time of writing

Please can I have some answers to my

questions?
Find out everything you could possibly
need to know about teaching in China (if we
haven't answered your questions already)!
How many hours will I be teaching each
week?
You'll be teaching for approximately 15 hours a
week, but will work for 35 hours in total at your
school, preparing lessons, attending meetings
and partaking in fun activities like the annual
school play.
What age students will I be teaching?
If youre teaching in a public school, your
students will be aged between 3 and 16.
Alternatively, if youre placed in a training centre, your students could be any age,
from small children to adults.
Can I get a discount if I've already taken a TEFL course?
If youve already taken a TEFL course, speak to a member of our team on 0800 093
3148 for more information.
Can I be placed with a friend?
ImmerQi will certainly do their best to place you together, but wed recommend
applying as early as possible to give yourself the best possible chance. You can
specify who you would like to be placed with during your Skype interview.
What are the exact dates of the China TEFL internship?
The dates for the next internship are 20th August 2016 15th January 2017.
Why should I choose the internship over a TEFL job?
The internship is perfect if you are apprehensive about moving abroad by yourself
as you will be offered so much support. On the internship, our in-country partner
ImmerQi will be there to support you in any way you need. Additionally, ImmerQis

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Please can I have some answers to my

questions?
internship programme has been developed
especially for teachers who are new to TEFL,
with specific inclusions in the programme that
differ to standard TEFL jobs in China, including
shorter contracts, a tailored orientation, prearranged accommodation, and the fact you
dont need a university degree or teaching
experience (something many jobs in China can
ask for). In contrast, when travelling and
teaching abroad independently, if you find you
encounter any problems, you will have to deal
with them yourself.
What is the deadline to complete the
Professional TEFL course?
You are required to complete all online elements of your Professional TEFL course
(120 hours) before you arrive in China. You will complete the 20 hour practical
element once you arrive in Beijing. Please note, if you do not complete your training
before flying to China, you may be rejected from the programme.
What kind of school will I be placed in?
Like all education systems, schools in China vary greatly. Schools are usually large
with 2,000-5,000 students, with a mixture of private and government schools. Schools
are open Monday to Friday, and are well-equipped with resources, although English
resources may be limited. However, your TEFL course will train you to deal with
limited resources, and will provide you with plenty of ideas for your lessons.
How many students will there be in my class?
You will typically teach 25-50 students depending on their age the younger your
students are, the smaller the class will be.

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Please can I have some answers to my

questions?
Do interns have a point of contact at the
school?
Yes, there will be an English-speaking staff
member at the school to assist with your
integration. This is usually one of the
Chinese English teachers.
How many semesters do the schools
have?
Most schools have two semesters in each
academic year, spanning between 4.5 5
months. The first semester starts in early
September, and the second starts at the
end of February, depending on the timing of
Chinese New Year. Some interns have the
opportunity to continue teaching for the following semester so its definitely
something worth thinking about!
Will interns have to pay tax?
No, you will not have to pay income tax on this programme.
Will I have any spare time during the internship to explore?
You can arrange travel on your days off (these may not be consecutive days), and
on public holidays. There are two main public holidays a year, which last a week
each. You will also have time around your teaching timetable to explore the city
which youre in, and spend time with your new friends.

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Right, where do I sign up?!

Request a call
back here!

Give us a call on
0800 093 3148

Take a look at what China TEFL

interns are doing RIGHT now!

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