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hmmmmm...
Joined: 12 May 2006
Posts: 9
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 Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 1:12 am Post subject: China Summer Adventure (TEFL Intl.) |
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Does anyone know more about this or is thinking about doing it? I think I saw this program advertised here on Dave's, but I'm not sure. Anyway, I applied and was offered a position within a couple days. These are the details listed on the site:
| Quote: |
Dates: 19 June to 17 August
Included:
* Round-trip airfare from USA to Wenzhou, China.
* All food and housing
* Health Insurance
* Full TESOL Certificate training from TEFL International
* 60-hours Mandarin training
Cost: FREE
What�s the catch? During your 2 months in China you will be expected to teach English for five weeks at an English camp for Chinese students.
Terms: A $500 refundable deposit. |
It seems like a nice deal for someone in my situation--I'm a recent college graduate with an English degree, and I'd like to see if teaching in general (and ESL in particular) is something I'd like to do as a career. Currently, I'm an alternate on the JET program, so I'm trying to find some back-ups in the very possible scenario that I won't get the chance to participate.
Yesterday morning, I called the company to get more details because the acceptance letter just restated what I posted above. The person I spoke with told me to e-mail my questions to an address that I couldn't get to work. Instead, I sent my questions to the e-mail address given in my acceptance letter, but haven't heard anything yet. I'll try to call again tomorrow, but I just wanted to post and see if anyone here had any information. I know that TEFL International is mostly well-respected, but I'm not sure how exactly they are connected to this program (that was one of my questions).
It sounds like a good opportunity to me, but they'd like me to make a decision soon, and I don't think I have enough information to do so. And on the superstitious side, I did have an ominous fortune cookie that warned me not to make any hasty decisions. 
Any thoughts or suggestions? And for those in China, what do you think or know about Wenzhou? |
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saint57
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 1221
Location: Beyond the Dune Sea
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 1:26 am Post subject: |
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If you want to find out whether or not you like teaching, don't start at a camp.
Last edited by saint57 on Wed May 24, 2006 3:36 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Russell123
Joined: 22 Sep 2005
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 3:28 am Post subject: |
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Don't do it!
Put that $500 towards TESOL certification, or a plane ticket to a summer camp where you can make some money (maybe one in Korea). Once you've got either do your homework by trolling through Dave's, pick a school/city that suits you and sign a 6-month contract if you're not sure about staying a full year. |
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WordUp
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 131
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 4:00 am Post subject: |
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| Fascinating.. My parents taught me early in life, you get what you pay for.. In Zhejiang as in many places, they're just looking for teachers already in China firstly, no one is paying attention to teachers from abroad until they are aboslutely desperate, and many schools only seem to offer a pettance of a salary for the long hours.. |
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hmmmmm...
Joined: 12 May 2006
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 4:50 am Post subject: |
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| saint57 wrote: |
| If you want to find out whether or not you like teaching, don't start at a camp. |
Can you give me examples why? I have no idea what a "camp" like this consists of, which was one of many reasons I tried to contact the company.
I'm glad for the quick criticism and info, as I have serious doubts myself. But still, does anyone think there's something to be gained here? I wouldn't be out any money (except spending), and it would take only two months out of my life. The major problem I had regarded how they would integrate the full cert. course and five weeks teaching in a program that consists of only seven weeks. Has anyone else participated in a similar program? I'm really curious as to how the workload and learning time is divided....
And although I agree with the likelihood of the statement "you get what you pay for," from my experience, it isn't a universal truth. Sometimes, things do work in your (financially impoverished) favor. But not usually. Mainly, I would do this for the teaching experience/training. And if it doesn't actually offer those components, I won't go.
All the opinions and advice I can get are welcome.... |
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Super Frank
Joined: 03 Feb 2006
Posts: 365
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 5:10 am Post subject: |
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The TEFL international course can easily be cut down to three weeks, and the teaching experience would be a large part of that anyway.
I'd do it, probably.
The only thing that I would worry about is the deposit, but Tefl international usually charge around $1500 i think.
I'm sure the time will pass pretty quickly, the important thing is if you want to come to China or not in the first place. |
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casson
Joined: 08 Apr 2005
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:37 am Post subject: |
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As far as being on the JET alternate program, there's no need to worry about going with JET. in '97 I packed up and moved to Tokyo on my own, no job prospects, just a recently earned bachelor's. I had three job offers in five days, no problem. I worked under the table for a couple weeks until I could get to Korea and get my real visa.
Basically, I recommend waiting tables or something for a couple weeks/months and saving some cash, then book a room in a gaijin house where you can pay monthly. There'll be plenty of people there to network with, and you won't get stuck on the JET contract. This gives you a lot more freedom and movement, and ultimately a lot more money.
Good luck.
Cass |
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