China Program Fees and Information

Read how your fees are spent or compare our prices with other volunteer organisations.

View our prices in other volunteer locations's or combine your stay in China with stays in other locations as part of a combination stay.

What you receive

• Orientation upon arrival (see below)
• 24 hour support
• Accommodation
• Airport Pickup
• Regular follow-up meetings
• Chinese cultural introduction
• Transportation between projects
• Food (Monday to Friday)
• Teaching introduction
• Chinese cultural course (Shanghai) or Chinese farm painting course (Feng Jing)

Apart from our fees, you must pay for:

• Your travel to China
• Vaccinations and Visas
• Airfares and all transportation to your project location
• Health insurance
• Food at weekends and other personal expenses

Application Process

Our application process typically takes two or three weeks, but can be speeded up if there is a need for that. When we get the "Initial application" from you, we will send you and Application Form.

(1) Complete the Initial Application Form:
The first stage of the application process is to fill out the brief initial application form. Upon receiving this we will send you the full application form.

(2) Complete the Full Application Form:
Fill out the application form. After receiving this we will assess your suitability and place you on one of our programs.

(3) Placement info:
We will return detailed Placement Information and an Invoice. If you accept the placement you should pay the invoice and send us receipt of payment by email or fax.

(4) Program Fee:
The program fee needs to be paid to us at least 2 months before you are due to start your placement. However beware that we have a limited amount of placements, so placements will only be secured when we receive by email or fax a receipt of payment.

(5) Communication:
Once you have made your traveling arrangements you should mail your time of arrival and the means of transportation and we will confirm pickup.

Introduction

Our China program includes a standard 2 day introduction period. This includes an introduction to China and Chinese culture, teacher training, general program information and safety advice. Volunteers also receive one Chinese culture course and can choose from any one of the below list. Extra courses can be added for 8 euros an hour.

1. Chinese Paining
2. Chinese Calligraphy
3. Chinese paper cuts
4. Embroidery
5. Making Kites
6. Introduction of Chinese Folk, Chinese Musical Instruments and Chinese musical composition
7. Introduction of Chinese Opera, Folk art forms and traditional plays
8. Explore China history, Geography and politics
9. Explore 5000 years history- China myth, fairy tale, and Chinese Literary
10. Culture in China minority nationalities
11. Religious in China
12. Story about famous person in China
13. Famous people of China (historical and modern)
14. Tea Culture and Wine culture in China
15. Chinese cooking
16. Chinese folk custom and traditional festivals
17. Introduction of Chinese traditional martial arts (Tai Chi)

Extended Introduction

For an 100 euro we offer volunteers an extended 5 day introduction. As well as the standard teacher training, cultural introduction and program and safety information volunteers receive 6 hours of Mandarin teaching and a tour of Shanghai.

Project Duration and Arrival Dates

You can join our Chinese programs for any amount of time between 4 weeks and 6 months. We recommend a trip of 3-6 months since it offers the best value. Regardless of the length of your stay, you will have time to get to know a new culture, come to know its people, and form relationships that will outlast the duration of your stay.

Dates of arrival:

Dates for the Year 2008:
Mon 12 May, Mon 19 May, Mon 26 May, Mon 02 June, Mon 09 June, Mon 16 June, Mon 23 June, Mon 30 June, Mon 07 July, Mon 14 July, Mon 21 July, Mon 28 July, Mon 04 August, Mon 11 August, Mon 18 August, Mon 25 August, Mon 01 September, Mon 08 September, Mon 15 September, Mon 22 September, Mon 29 September, Mon 06 October, Mon 13 October, Mon 20 October, Mon 27 October, Mon 03 November, Mon 10 November, Mon 17 November, Mon 24 November, Mon 01 December, Mon 08 December, Mon 15 December, Mon 22 December, Mon 29 December

Dates for the Year 2009:
Mon 05 January, Mon 12 January, Mon 19 January, Mon 26 January, Mon 02 February, Mon 09 February, Mon 16 February, Mon 23 February, Mon 02 March, Mon 09 March, Mon 16 March, Mon 23 March, Mon 30 March, Mon 06 April, Mon 13 April, Mon 20 April, Mon 27 April, Mon 04 May, Mon 11 May, Mon 18 May, Mon 25 May, Mon 01 June, Mon 08 June, Mon 15 June, Mon 22 June, Mon 29 June, Mon 06 July, Mon 13 July, Mon 20 July, Mon 27 July, Mon 03 August, Mon 10 August, Mon 17 August, Mon 24 August, Mon 31 August, Mon 07 September, Mon 14 September, Mon 21 September, Mon 28 September, Mon 05 October, Mon 12 October, Mon 19 October, Mon 26 October, Mon 02 November, Mon 09 November, Mon 16 November, Mon 23 November, Mon 30 November, Mon 07 December, Mon 14 December, Mon 21 December, Mon 28 December

Getting Here

Travel to Teach will advise and support you with all your travel arrangements. All volunteers should initially arrive in Shanghai, whether volunteering in Shanghai or Feng Jing. Please purchase your ticket and confirm your date and time of arrival with Travel to Teach and we will arrange to meet you at the airport. Depending on the time of arrival Feng Jing volunteers will either spend their first at our accomodation in Shanghai or we will accompany you directly to Feng Jing.

Reception

You will be met by T2T staff member at the Pu Dong International Airport in Shanghai. We will then accompany you to your accomodation and placement.

Food

Volunteers will receive three meals per day from Monday through Friday from their school placement. Volunteers will be responsible for their own food and food expenses over the weekend.

Volunteer Work

You will either be an assistant in the kindergarten or a teacher in one of the primary, secondary, or high schools in which we work. Most schools are in session from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, T2T volunteers work Monday to Friday and have weekends off. Volunteers teach between 11-15 lessons per week, each lesson approximately 35 minutes long. All of our volunteers receive a curriculum introduction, will learn how to write a lesson plan, and will observe local teachers prior to conducting their own class. Volunteers can also take part in various other school and projects such as Western Festival Activities and English School Plays.

Living

You will live in a shared room in our flat or the school accommodation. The flats have amenities such as air conditioning, washing machine, shower, and TV; expect nice and clean but not luxurious accommodation. School accommodation in Shanghai usually has a curfew on weekdays at around 10 or 11pm which all teachers and volunteers should follow. It is of utmost importance if staying in the school accommodation that the curfews are respected. The curfew does not apply to volunteer staying in the T2T flat or volunteers in Feng Jing.

Vaccinations

Courses or boosters usually advised: hepatitis A and B, typhoid; tetanus-diptheria.

Vaccines sometimes advised:Japanese B encephalitis (if visiting rural farming areas), rabies, malaria.

There are no required vaccinations needed to enter the country but please consult your doctor before traveling. More information is available from the WHO's (World Health Organization) travelers health information site or CDC.gov traveler’s health information.

Insurance

Please purchase health and travel insurance independently. You need health insurance that will cover medical treatment and repatriation in case of accident or illness.

Visas

You should obtain a 90 Day (3 Month) Class L Tourist Visa in order to enter the country. On arrival in Shanghai, we will help you to transfer your visa into a one to three Month Class F Business Visa. At the time of writing these visas cost approximately 21USD/74USD respectively. You will need to pay this cost yourself, and you should give this money in RMB to us when we go to extend your visa. We will confirm the exact cost at the time of upgrade.

For more information contact the nearest Chinese embassy in your country.
List of Chinese Embassies & Consulates

Certification

You will get a Travel to Teach certificate stating the time and place you have been teaching.