With the application deadline for the China Internship rapidly approaching (November 30th!) here are seven reasons to drop everything and make sure you’re on that plane to Beijing this coming January!
1. New friends from around the world!
When you arrive in Beijing this January, it won’t just be you and your Lonely Planet guide exploring the sights! You’ll get to know your fellow interns as you explore Beijing during your orientation. With more than 150 interns (that’s a LOT of interns!), you’re sure to make a few new friendships that will stay with you forever!
Just check out this video clip from TEFL intern, Sophie Roberts to see what the experience is all about!
Click here: http://www.tefl-chalkboard.com/roberts121/videos/87
2. How about…China itself?
The Great Wall, Terracotta warriors, the Forbidden City, Peking Duck… what more could you want?
Well, if you do want more… take your pick! China has it all… making it one of the best destinations for eager travellers. As one of the oldest civilisations in the world, you’ll have the opportunity to climb the Great Wall (footwear permitting!), explore the Ming Tombs or even visit the Terracotta warriors (over 8,000 unique soldiers still standing guard over their beloved emperor!).
But hey, not everyone wants to take a time machine back thousands of years… some people are happy with just a few years back! If you’re a fan of the contemporary, you can always check out the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium and catch an acrobatic show too.
Let’s not forget, the China Internship is about teaching English, so a lot of your time will be spent in the schools with your eager students BUT your holidays and the weekends are all about travelling!
Take a look at what TEFL intern, Zoe Hollingsworth, and her friend got up to in Xi’an during their mini-break from teaching!
Click here: http://www.tefl-chalkboard.com/zoeholl111/posts/1131-tandems-tuk-tuks-and-terracotta-warriors
3. Rock up, rock out!
While many travellers might only scratch the surface of China, you’ll get the full-on experience living and working in China. The teaching internship is backed up by the Beijing Education Bureau so you can be sure that you’re taking part in a reputable programme that gives you true support and an incredible experience!
On top of the TEFL training you’ll receive before your departure, you’ll also get 10 – 15 hours of true face-to-face teaching every week in China. This means you’ll get to know true locals – whether it be your students or other teachers in the school.
The teaching internship package gives you loads of confidence before you travel and once you’re abroad!
4. 24-hr support, free food & accommodation, generous spending allowance and more!
It’s always nice to have a little bit of support in life… with the China internship you’ll get way more than a little support! You’ll have 24-hour local in-country support, free food (Mon – Fri) & accommodation, plus a spending allowance to help you along the way.
This means that when you touchdown in Beijing this January, the only things you’ll have to worry about will be taking loads of pictures, planning a few lessons and getting to know your new friends!
You’ll receive your spending allowance every month and in reality, your personal expenses can be quite low! The cost of living in China is significantly lower than back home, so your only expenses will depend on the snacks you choose to buy, the mini trips you choose to make and any other shopping you wish to do!
The biggest benefit of the China Internship is that your in-country team is always there to give you support should you need them.
5. Get your CV in the Spotlight!
How would you make your CV stand out and/appeal to future employers? Hmm? With the China Teaching Internship, you’ll actually get that dream adventure abroad while adding valuable experience to your CV – experiences applicable to ANY future career.
On top of the obvious character-building (blah blah blah) aspect of teaching English abroad, you’ll also develop top-level communication skills, cope with challenging (and sometimes stressful!) situations and learn how to effectively present in front of a large audience. Your experience Teaching English in China won’t just be a holiday to remember, it will truly prepare you for ANY career in your future. So there!
6. Top TEFL training
Before you say sayonara to your friends and family back home, you’ll need to put in the hours at your computer! Part of the China Teaching Internship experience is completing the 140 Hour Combined TEFL Course before setting off on that long haul flight to Beijing.
The 140 Hour Combined TEFL Course provides you with 100 hours of distance learning right online – it’s the digital age, ay?! During the 20 classroom course, which takes place in Beijing, you’ll learn how to organise classroom activities, manage your students and do a bit of teaching practice yourself!
The online aspect consists of 100 hours of grammar awareness (20 hours), 4 specialist certification modules (5 hours each) & core TEFL training essentials (60 hours). Scared a few robots will be marking your work and determining your fate? Don’t fear… your online tutors are here! During your 100 hours of online TEFL training, you’ll receive personalised tutor feedback from REAL tutors!
7. From China to…?
For many TEFL interns, the China Teaching Internship is a huge stepping stone to their onward travels around the world. If you’re eager to see the world, it doesn’t need to end after the internship. The China Teaching Internship is the perfect way to start networking and dipping your toes in the TEFL and travel waters! Don’t rush to come back home afterwards!
You can chat with past, present and future interns right here in the Teach in China Internship group on Chalkboard. It’s a great way to get ideas for your TEFL travels and find out if the China Teaching Internship is right for you!
Cheers indeed!
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To answer Hayley’s question. As with any course, the results you get will depend upon how much you put in to it. It is possible to complete the course before the deadline, if you are prepared to do the work. I know I struggled to complete the course in the given time, due to having three jobs and completing another study course at college. Without all these I know I could have finished it earlier than I did. Word to the wise though – when you think you have completed every section, go back and double check. I had a really scary moment when I thought I had successfully completed all the optional sections, only to realise that I had only finished the quizzes. I still had all the final assessments to do for each section – and only two days in which to do them! Luckily for me i-to-I were really supportive. That’s the thing you see – they want you to succeed and will do as much as they can to help you. I finally managed to get through it and now here I am! 2012 could be your year! Go for it!
Hope this helps!
Kind regards
Denise
In answer to Deerai’s question, I would wait until you get the interview and are accepted before applying for a visa. I think I only had to wait about 10 days for mine to come through so you have plenty of time. As long as you have it before you fly! You will find that TTC will have to process your application with the Chinese authorities anyway and then send you the information you need to apply for the visa. As for how much money, well, how long is a piece of string? If you can manage it, I would say definitely aim to try to bring £1000. That would definitely cover you for any extras over the 5 months. The money you get paid during the internship will more than cover basic living expenses but if you are planning to do a lot of travelling you will need more in your pocket. And if you don’t feel safe about having a lot of cash on you, it is possible to open a bank account here – with some help from your school.
I have the same concern as Hayley. Also, I have yet to get an interview and sort out my visa. I also wanted to know how much money I should bring with my. I know we get paid but I dont want to have cards with me when I go. I wouldn't be going shopping all the time or out drinking either, how much do you suggest I should bring for the 5 months (minus the visa costs on arrival).
Thanks!
Hello!
The 120hr part of the course would need to be completed by the 16th December, which, depending on your schedule, is definitely possible to do, but it would need to be done strategically with a master plan!
For example, we'd advise concentrating on the Online TEFL Course first, then as you are working through that and waiting for feedback from the tutors or for your modules to be marked, moving across to the specialist certificates and the grammar part of the course.
It'll be a lot of work and time involved, but it's do-able! Do you think you'd be able to work through the course in this way with the time you have in your own schedule Hayley? We can help you through it all and this Chalkboard site is great with plenty of support and other China interns beavering away with their own courses to keep you on track too :)
Give us a shout if you need any info or help at all!
Katie :)
hey surely by starting the cousre now there wouldnt be enough time to complete the course by the deadline of 16th od december? i would love to be on the january intership but i dont think that would leave enough time to complete the cousre?
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