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Hi There

I've recently signed up for the China Internship in August 2010. Having read a few of the comments posted on here about the current internship, I was just wondering: On the whole, are people having a positive experience? It seems to be a mixed bag at the moment, judging by the comments. Also, if any of you are going to be on the August internship, it'd be great to hear from you.

Cheers

Ad

Hey Ad.

Come join us August bunch in our own group: http://www.tefl-chalkboard.com/groups/61-China-Internship-August-2-1-

Hi all, i am just about to sign up for the China Internship and would love to meet those of you from Manchester who will be doing the course. I am also planning on going to Thailand after the teaching for a little free travelling time. Add me as a friend or send me a reply. Thanks

Hi guys...I signed up for the China Internship in August about a week ago.  I know it's a little early but does anyone know roughly how long it takes to find out if you've been accepted???  I know it takes quite a while but the not knowing is killing me!  Would love to hear from anyone either signed up for this or currently on it who would like to share their experiences (good or bad!) 

Hello all. im a first semesterer in china.... i applied 5 months before the february intake which was more than enough time. I think the program has gone great so far. i doubt theres any problem with being accepted, they were still asking people to join a month before the deadline while i was doing the online course. out of 150 places about 130 people came to beijing, we stayed in a decent hotel 2 people to a room. a lot of free time. organised trips to the great wall, and restaurants...  final night went to a bar before heading off to our placements (we found these out 2 days earlier) I'm in Harbin city with 10 other interns and its great (11 including an overstayer intern)... others may not like their places but i have no idea. some people spent an extra few weeks in beijing while a placement was being sorted out. i want to do at least another semester in chie but not in harbin.   its an awesome city but it is so cold. summers coming (yeah) but i can't handle another winter. :)

I've been accepted into the August internship and I'm nearly finished the course. Scary! No going back now!!!

hey im going in china anyone leaving from london?

Hey everyone- I just started a group for Canadians going to China in August! If your looking to hook up with people before you go- it's a good place to start!

Hi guys, this is my first post, I've signed up for the internship in August. I am very excited about traveling and experiencing the new culture but apprehensive about the teaching part! Oh well it seems most of us are in the same boat! I'm living near Bristol atm, is anyone else in the Bristol area would be good to meet up before we go! Send me a msg!

Jules

I cant believe it, i'm not going China. This is crazy!!!

Everything is going fine, i'm almost finished my course, I had the phone interview, I meet all their requirements and preferred requirements, and last week I got an email saying I was unsuccessful!!!

Now I am English with a British accent, I have all the experience needed for this job and the education needed, I dont have any crazy look, no piercings mad looking hairstyles, yet I fell into that small percentage of people who do not get a placement, what is it, I dont get it, I met all the requirements, and at the end of this week I would of finished my studies.

Why did they turn me down?

Hi Sharea,

Heard you spoke to Rachel this morning, hope everything works out for you! If you need any more help or have any questions please feel free to get in touch.

Sam

hey Sam, well no not really things have not worked out, it seems like im the only one not being accepted on to this course and I have no idea why, I met all the requirements i feel like i have been pin pointed out, i dont get it at all, and im really upset, when signing up it was made clear to me that the only way i would nbe unsuccesful was if i failed to complete the course or if english was not good enough, and i tick all the right boxes to be accepted on to this course, then i thought maybe its the way i look but my picture was a standard passport photo, no piercings smart looking with a smile on my face, then i thought maybe its cause i am of an ethnic race, most of the poeple sigend up if not all of the people signed up, then it got me thinking is it cause im black, i know how asia can be funny like that, what else can i be led to believe other than that my apperance the way i look.

well anyway im gonna get onto this im gonna investigate and find out why if i can.....

Sharea83 - it maybe that there just wasnt enough places, or others had more experience...it could just be unfortunate bad look...i know that you are upset but making a bold comment that it might be because your blakc and you know how asia can be is not gonna look good.

These comments can be read by all and even people in asia - i should point out that i work in Japan, did my course through i-to-i etc and the company i work for (in asia) does not discriminate against race - My manager is a Black American and is working for a japanese company...i also know people from all over the world working here, including an American who has tatoos and piercings (this is a big no in japan, more so then china)

So i dont think it has anything to do with look, appearance, ethnicity etc etc...if its something you wont to do you will apply again or at least ask to be put on reserve as some people do drop out - this will then show how interested you are and paint a better picture

When I wrote is it cause im black, I was being sacastic, come on if you were in my position, and you see everyone being accepted, and I am apparently the only one who was not accepted and when i asked if there was still places and the response was yes but its too late to enrol, what do you expect me to think.

When I wrote all those messages yesterday I was so upset I am stillw aking up with tears in my eyes, after almost changing my life around to get prepared for this opportunity, yeah you say its unfortunae and a bad look but come on if you were the only person out of hundreds of people to be turned down your gonna start thinking and asking yourself why, and all sorts of answers are going to come up, now im not saying asian people are all racist im just saying whats on my mind and this is a forum the best place to do that, then ill get feed back from other people, here other peoples opinions the same way I have heard yours.

But you have to understand how hard this must all be for me, I fit there requirements to a T, yeah you say I dont have a degree but who cares not them according to there entry requirements, so bringing up level of education is not an issue, the main issues were how you sounded when you spoke english and the way you looked body piercing hair dyed these were the major issues of not getting a placement. I will have cokpleted my TEFL by the end of this week, I am born british which gives me the accent, I have experience working with children.

I see your a film student I have mre experience then you in working with children even though you have a degree, my experience overseas your degree.

I feel pin pointed out, call up I-TO-I yourself, they will tell you a degree is not a requirement, they will tell you that there was still available places on the August Course, and they will tell you only one person got refused and that was me, why, why when there are still places, why when i have the experience, why when i have a certain level of education, why why why!!!

Hi Sharea,

I can understand your frustration and disappointment about not getting a place on the China Internship, but unfortunately we simply can't know why you were unsuccessful - all recruitment decisions are made by TTC - if you'd like feedback you are always welcome to email Cheryl and ask.

If it makes you feel better you certainly aren't alone - around 10% of people who apply for the internship are not accepted.

More importantly there are loads of other opportunities out there for you, especially if you have teaching experience - if you would like to work in China you can find work independently - sites like eslcafe are full of job ads and you might like to chat to these guys who found jobs independently in China: http://www.onlinetefl.com/tefl-chalkboard/rin and http://www.onlinetefl.com/tefl-chalkboard/travelingkayte.

Alternatively, you'd be welcome to apply through i-to-i's free job placement service for work in Indonesia, Ecuador or the Czech Republic: http://www.onlinetefl.com/tefl-placement-service/

Best of luck with it all and if there's anything we can help you with please feel free to get in touch.

thanks for your response, i have emailed Cheryl a couple of times and she has not responded to me, it is really fustrated, but most of those 10% of people were due to english barrier, im curious to know actually this time round how many people were not accepted, including myself how many others were not included, these are the people I would like to be in touch with, maybe there is something we have in common, cause if appy for anything i want to make sure those same things do not occur.

As I already know there were still available places on the August internship, I know for a fact it was not down to the amount of people who signed up, so then I have to look at my entry requirements and my level of education, clearly level of education is not an issue as the entry requirements make that clear, so it has to be down to experience and the about me part.

Anyway I will continue to pursue this issue, but mystep dad was very dissapointed in the outcome and as shocked as I am and he lives in Malaysia so he will be taken the matter further.

Thank you for all your suport, I will stay closesly posted to chalkboard and I would love to know who else never made it onto the internship.

thanks for your response, i have emailed Cheryl a couple of times and she has not responded to me, it is really fustrated, but most of those 10% of people were due to english barrier, im curious to know actually this time round how many people were not accepted, including myself how many others were not included, these are the people I would like to be in touch with, maybe there is something we have in common, cause if appy for anything i want to make sure those same things do not occur.

As I already know there were still available places on the August internship, I know for a fact it was not down to the amount of people who signed up, so then I have to look at my entry requirements and my level of education, clearly level of education is not an issue as the entry requirements make that clear, so it has to be down to experience and the about me part.

Anyway I will continue to pursue this issue, but mystep dad was very dissapointed in the outcome and as shocked as I am and he lives in Malaysia so he will be taken the matter further.

Thank you for all your suport, I will stay closesly posted to chalkboard and I would love to know who else never made it onto the internship.

thanks for your response, i have emailed Cheryl a couple of times and she has not responded to me, it is really fustrated, but most of those 10% of people were due to english barrier, im curious to know actually this time round how many people were not accepted, including myself how many others were not included, these are the people I would like to be in touch with, maybe there is something we have in common, cause if appy for anything i want to make sure those same things do not occur.

As I already know there were still available places on the August internship, I know for a fact it was not down to the amount of people who signed up, so then I have to look at my entry requirements and my level of education, clearly level of education is not an issue as the entry requirements make that clear, so it has to be down to experience and the about me part.

Anyway I will continue to pursue this issue, but mystep dad was very dissapointed in the outcome and as shocked as I am and he lives in Malaysia so he will be taken the matter further.

Thank you for all your suport, I will stay closesly posted to chalkboard and I would love to know who else never made it onto the internship.

yep

Hello everyone, I just recently started looking into teaching in China, I do have a degree and some experience teaching kids and adults, but Im concerned based on a blog I have read that in Asian countries that are not that acceptable to Blacks, for I am from a Caribbean country.  The blog said this is the reason why they ask for a picture, it does'nt matter the experience you have, degree or teaching certificates they will deny on that mere fact.  Does'nt anyone know if this is true? I dont what to get my hopes up. 

Also how long does the process of applying take, its now Sept 1st, is there a chance of me finding a teaching position by Oct/Nov or Im I out of luck till next year?

Thanks