Hi David. I am Daniel a 26yo guy in Australia.

I am considering this, I am definately planning on traveling in Asia next year, departing in May.

I am still an undergrad so the placement service would be useful as I have no BA degree. However it seems there is little choice in where you end up being sent. The monthly living allowance of the internship is about what I spend on coffee a month here, but it isn't for a long time so could be done using savings and living frugal.

I am currently taking i-to-i's 120hr online TEFL course, and depending on the upgrade price to the internship it might be worth it to go via this route. The 20hr in-person course would probably be useful to me. A two week hotel stay is included with the socialising with a stack of likeminded others. I wouldn't use airport pickup and make my way to Beijing (I'm thinking overland from a former soviet country like Kyrgystan) arriving early. I wouldn't use the included meals either as I refrain from eating meat.

I have been at uni way too long, changing majors and generally procrastinating graduation all the while working in mind-numbing, horrible retail. I want to take a break and do something different for longer than an average holiday. I plan on picking up a minor in Mandarin Chinese next semester and learning the language.

Hiya guys!

My name is Alannah. I'm from Ireland.

I've also been considering the Internship in August 2012. I would love to teach in South Korea but I thought that doing an internship in China would be a really good start to teaching english as a foreign language. One of my friends in uni is also from China so I would be hoping for some help in adjusting to Chinese culture. 

I just started the 140hour course yesterday, which includes the 20hour classroom time here in Ireland. I'm not sure how it will work out when there is 20hours classroom time included in the internship.

I am currently doing a MSc at the minute. Similar to Daniel, I feel I've been in the education system for way too long and it's time for a change. I love mixing with different cultures and I have always wanted to learn a few different languages so I think this is a perfect opportunity. 

I'm only at the thinking stage yet as I am not sure about finances and everything else. I will have to look into the internship more before making a decision. I'm mainly concerned that I will be finished up in China during the school year and may not be able to find a job in South Korea straight away and for financial reasons that wouldn't be good. 

Juddy, I also plan on teaching english for a while if all goes to plan. I think it would be an excellent way of meeting new people and experiencing new things. This is a fantastic way of getting around the world. I'm suprised more people aren't availing of the opportunity.

In summary, my motives for looking into this internship is for experience and to meet new people. I also think it's important for me to experience new things so I can figure out what I want to do and where I want to go in life. Very philisophical indeed! 

Hi Guys,

I'm planning on doing the 140 hour course myself Alannah. Also interested in Korea as a route for teaching, have you checked with the EPIK programme from korea? The next intake is for august. You apply through the site via an application form and TEFL or similar is preferred for entry. You must write a short essay also why you want to apply. I think theres a couple hundred places across Korea, with places assigned first come first served. However the China internship is appealing as it seems you can get a job easier. Though the placement is only 5 months. 

Oh i'm also from Ireland, but Northern Ireland, will be at the session in february in Belfast.

Hi Matthew!

I am very excited to teach in S.Korea. I haven't decided whether I'm applying through the EPIK programme yet. I have been talking to a girl who has been over there for over a year now and she was saying that a lot of teachers in Seoul were sent home because they done away with the EPIK programme there? Not sure. But I would like to go through the EPIK programme because it seems like the safest option. 

At the minute I'm focusing on the China Internship. I'm trying to gather the money up and I'll be applying for it. I think it's a good idea to get experience first and an internship seems like a good start because you get a lot of support. It's from August 15th-January 15th. The S.Korean school year starts in February so I intend to have a job lined up (fingers crossed) in S.K in Feb so I'll fly straight from China then and i'll be able to get some travelling in too, maybe! It's 795euro if you have already bought the 140hour course seperately, which I did. But you will still get the 20hr classroom course over there, that's included. It's a pretty sweet deal. You have to go through an interview though and it all depends on that whether you are selected to go or not. You should look into it. I seen on another post of yours you were interested in Asia in general, me too. I love Asian culture so I'm very excited to get to experience it. I've wanted to go to S.K. for ages now so that's my ultimate destination and I'd ideally like to stay longer than a year but obviously i'll see how things go first.

I'm doing my TEFL course is Donegal. I never thought of Belfast, I'm doing a masters there at the min, but just decided to TEFL closer to home.

How are you getting on with the course? 

Keep intouch anyway and let me know what you end up doing! 

Yeah, the China internship looked very appealing to me also. However, I was put off slightly by having to fork out money for the internship and then also money for flights, which I doubt I could scrape together for august. So i'm feeling the S.Korea option more. Flights paid, great wage, accom paid and massive massive demand for teachers. 

Yeah that's so true! That's why I was unsure about it myself. I decided I needed to do it though for experience because I need to start building up confidence to speak infront of a classroom! I have to get loan to pay for it but sure these things have to be done :P I'll work over the summer to pay it back. That's the plan anyway, things could change! You will be well settled into SK before me. I'll be looking to you for some tips. Where are u hoping to go in S.K?

Hey guys, my name is Dan, I'm from Sydney, Australia, and I'm booked for August '12. I'm pretty excited about this internship! I'm going to get cracking on the TEFL course ASAP. Has anybody else booked and paid yet? :)

I'm so jealous Dan :D When did you book your course? Have you been interviewed yet? I'm waiting for funding to apply. I hope I can apply by next week at the latest. I'm so excited, the nerves are setting in too. I hope I get a place :/ 

Hey guys, My name is Jodie, I'm 27 and I'm from the Central Coast in NSW Australia.  I'm definatley considering the 12th August internship... I've been with my current job for 7 years and just looking for a change up.  Like Alannah I have to sort out my finance cause I have a mortgage so need to save save save before making a final decision.  Plus trying to convince a friend to come with me cause she is in the same boat job wise. 

How much is the internship and course, only started looking the last few days so haven't got that far in yet... Plus trying to do it at my current job makes it a little difficult!

Hi Ya

everyone

my name is Katie i'm 23 and from the UK. I have already completed the course last year. I am thinking of doing this internship in August. the only thing Iam worried about is flying over there by myself it would be useful if I can be in contacted and get to know others who are also thinking about this internship

hope to hear from you all soon

Hiya guys :)

Firstly @Jodie-the internship for me at the minute is 795euro because I already bought the tefl course when it was on special offer and because the internship is on special offer until Jan 31st it's cheaper again so instead of paying 1,195 or there abouts I only need to fork out 795 which isn't bad but still a lot of money when you don't have it. 

@Katie-I live in Ireland and would have to fly out from somewhere in the UK-I was thinking Belfast Intl but I'm not sure if I will have to stop over somewhere else in the UK aswell. Anyway if both of us end up going we can organise to fly out together if that suits? we can get to know each other on here and work it out. It's always good to have a travel companion :) 

@AlannahBoland thanks for replying to my post. have you already applied for this internship - i'm having a long hard think over the weekend. i would love to be able to have a travel companion as i am sooooo BAD at flying. have you thought whether you want to teach in the north or south of china. i was asked this today by a TEFL advisor and i have no idea :)

I haven't applied yet. I had to try and get the money organised so I'm hoping to have that by next week. It gave me a chance to think it over too, whether it was for me etc..but I've definately decided it's time to go out an explore the world. I actually want to go to South Korea. I'm doing the internship to get some experience first so I'm going on to SK after the internship ends in January (perfect timing really because the korean school year starts in feb so i'll have some time to do a bit of travel if i want to). Now that's long term plans so I need to see what happens with this first, I might not even get past the interview for the internship :P

Are you working at the minute, studying or just looking just looking for a new start?

Aww are you? I'm not so bad flying I'm used to it at this stage but it is better having someone to talk to because it makes the journey seem so much shorter. I'm sure there will be a load of people flying from the UK so who knows. I haven't actually considered it either. I have a friend in uni and she's actually from China and she's returning home in September so I would like to be able to travel to see her. She lives in Hubei but she plans on getting a job in Shanghai so somewhere in and around there would be nice :P I'm not familiar with China so I couldn't tell you whether that was north or south tbh :P I think it's southern China :/ 

Hey, my name is Laura, I'm 21, I'm from the South-West of England and I've just finished applying for the August Internship! Got admit the "what the hell am I doing?!?" is chasing me around now... Eeek... Excited though!

My only brother proposed to his gf and is getting married in September so I can't really do the internship in August now, still planning to holiday in Asia mid-year and thinking of a year as a student in Beijing come 2013 so TEFL with still be useful for tutoring for extra cash.

Hey Laura! Nice to 'meet' you! How exciting. What was the application process like? I'm nervous about getting started with the whole process but it'll definately be a great experience and one we just can't pass up :P I'm hoping to apply next week if all goes well. Have you had your interview yet?

Hey Daniel. Aww that's unfortunate but yay for your brother :P You will need to start preparing your speech now...No pressure! What are you going to study in Beijing? There is always the January internship :D 

I booked the course the week before last, I haven't been interviewed yet though. 

Laura, I had those same feelings too, but I'm so exited to go. I'm actually going to Europe for a holidays with some friends in June and I'm probably more excited about China! 

Hi Alannah, so far not too bad... Booked through Rebecca on the phone who answered all of my questions which helped a lot! Finished the online application you have to submit to TTC which is the first one you do online. Now just got to get the application package printed, filled out and upload all the stuff they want to send to them over the next few days. They say when this is sent back you'll hear from them in 28 days so may be a little while before I'll actually know...

Dan, I'm still in the crazy I can't believe I'm actually doing this stage... But got to admit so excited... Where are you headed in Europe? Any where nice?

@AlannahBoland thanks for the friend request Im not working at the minute as I was made redundant a while ago :( no jobs around where i live at the moment. hopefully I will apply by the middle of next week - its alot of money to spend when you actually have no money coming in:( keep me up to date when you apply!

@Laura WOW can't believe you have already applied, was it a long thought process? I would also like to know what the application process is like please keep me up to date with what is happening. if you get through do you know what airport you will be flying from?

China is definitely more exciting than Europe. But I guess I would say that because I live in the EU. But still, CHINA!!!

How did you find the application process-was there anything you had difficulty with? Do they ask for references or anything?

Do any of you have any idea how many interns are taken on the internship?

Sorry to hear that Katie. It's tough at the minute. There is no work here for anyone either. A lot of my friends who have graduated are sitting at home. It's not for lack of trying because they have applied for so many jobs but have had no luck so far! That's why I decided to do something like this. There's just nothing to hang around for. 

I know what you mean about the money situation. I'm in the same position. I'm waiting patiently for my bank to get back to me...my future lies in their hands :P 

We should think about setting up a facebook page for aug 2012 interns. They had a pg for the Jan internship. It would be a good way to get to know everyone that is going or thinking of going. 

Laura: We're going all over Western Europe... England, France, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Croatia, Italy, and maybe Spain and Portugal. Hopefully they'll all be nice! Due to time constraints we won't be able to stay in any place for too long though. 

Alannah: Europe is exciting for me! It's different when you live in Australia, which is literally half a world away and has little recorded history. I have a feeling it will be a big long party anyway... I good way to celebrate graduating from uni haha

P.S. A facebook group is a great idea

Hi all! I'm Emma, 21 and from England. I've booked to do the Intership (ahh!!), just waiting to get called for an interview. I didn't find the actual application too hard... but waiting to hear back is just making me a bit nervous! I hope I get accepted!
I'm currently doing my TEFL course, making slow progress but I'm sure I'll get there eventually :]
@bubbles, I'll be flying from London, most likely Heathrow so if you're about there I'm sure we can meet in the airport :]

Hi all! I'm John 21! from Ireland, most likely gonna book internship during the week,

Does anyone know is it usual for people not to get accepted? also have people thought whereabouts they want to teach in china?