Teach and Make Money in China

Global Crossroad offers native English speakers wonderful paid English teaching opportunities in different areas of China. In our China English Teaching Program—except for the one-time, minimal program fee—volunteers incur almost no expenses. Meals and housing are covered, and even flight costs will be reimbursed at the end of a 10-month commitment. Whether it is a summer vacation or career break, you can explore the vast wonder of China, help others by teaching English, and improve your language skills with other teachers and staff at the school—without worrying about your budget.

What are the benefits of teaching in China?

Do I need any qualifications or training to join the volunteer or paid English Teaching Program in China?

• No special qualifications are needed, though some teaching experience in ANY field is preferred
• Must be a native English speaker
• Minimum commitment of one month is required

How can I apply for the Paid Teaching Program in China?

Please download an application from our website or apply on-line. In either case, Global Crossroad will need a copy of your passport, copies of degree certificates/transcripts, 2 passport-sized photos, and a resume (CV) for office use and visa purposes

Where is my arrival destination? How long will it take to get to my host site?

Our national office is located in Qingdao City, Shandong Province. Paid teachers should fly into Beijing and take a connecting flight to Qingdao for orientation before traveling to their final placement. However, in some cases, the orientation will be arranged at the final destination and accomplished with the help of host schools. Teachers will fly first into Beijing or Hong Kong (depending on their placement), and then continue to their final destination. Please check your placement details carefully for details of orientation venues. Please contact us if you have any questions.

What should I expect in regards to the living conditions of my placement?

The living conditions depend on the area to which you are assigned. In most cases, accommodations for teachers will be in an apartment building with your colleagues and other Chinese as neighbors (Single or shared room). The apartments are usually simply furnished. In most cases, apartments are provided with air conditioning, Internet access, telephone, western beds and toilets, and electricity. (Please note that all of these amenities may not be available because facilities vary with schools/locations). Sometimes, teachers may live in a furnished hostel or with a Chinese host family.

The food of China contains primarily seafood and varieties of meats and vegetables. Rice is a staple of the Chinese diet. If your placement is located in a rural area, you will be placed within a family setting (or host family), and you will have your own room. Our host families are educated, well respected, and the majority are experienced with international students.

What should I remember to bring when I leave for China?

Most things needed for daily activities are easily available in China. Please remember to bring a supply of any medications you may need; Western brands of medicines may not be available in China. Most materials for teaching will be available from the school, but a set of flash cards or colorful picture books (especially for primary school children) may be helpful. Do not forget to bring comfortable footwear, light clothes for summer, and a warm sweater for winter.

If you are in the Paid English Teaching Program, please bring appropriate clothing for your teaching placement: slacks, shirts and ties for men, slacks or knee-length skirts and modest blouses for women. University placements are more formal and require a suit and tie for men. Open-toed shoes and sandals are not appropriate footwear.

Can I schedule my own volunteer service for the dates that interest me?

Volunteer and paid English teaching placements in China is available throughout the year; however, most teaching placements are needed at the beginning of the spring semester (commencing in March) and the start of the fall semester (commencing in September). We do appreciate if volunteers try to arrive in China near the beginning of the two semesters.

Each academic year, China observes 21 days as public holidays: May 1 – 7; Oct. 1 – 7; New Year’s Day; and the Chinese Lunar New Year—5-day holiday around the end of January or middle of February. There can be up to 20 days of no-pay periods from time to time when the schools are on examination schedules during this signed contract period. During these times, the school will organize informal English lessons.

How will I get to headquarters from the airport?

Please send your flight information to Global Crossroad in advance. One of our staff members—either our in-country coordinator or the representative of your school—will be waiting for you at your destination (airport/train/bus terminal). Our representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. In the event of a problem meeting the representative, please either phone him or go directly to our contact hotel. Hotel information will be provided in your pre-departure package. If you fly into Beijing and then continue to your destination, please check in with the in-country coordinator during your layover in Beijing to let him know you have arrived safely in China.

Will I have time to explore China during my program?

You will have ample opportunities to explore the remarkable country of China, its culture, nature, history, and religions during your teaching breaks. Our in-country coordinator will help you make arrangements to ensure that your stay is rewarding. Contact details will be given in your pre-departure package.

How much extra money should I bring?

Carrying extra money depends on your personal spending habits and what you plan to do in your free time. Your daily accommodations will be managed by Global Crossroad from the first to the last day of the program. However, you may need some extra money if you plan to participate in activities outside of the organization, or if you just want to buy some souvenirs. Also, you might need some extra money to buy the ticket for your domestic travel once you are in China (if you decide not to use your travel agency at home). It may be helpful to bring a little money for the first month until you get settled in and receive your first paycheck.

Will I have access to modern communications, such as e-mail, telephone, or a post office?

lobal Crossroad does not guarantee free communication, e-mail, Internet access, or telephones for teachers. However, most of our partner schools provide free access to the Internet to native English teachers either on campus or in apartments. In most placements, the apartment is equipped with a telephone inside, but you must pay for local or long distance calls. The school might direct you as to where you might buy a telephone card to save money.

Can I come with a friend, or can I be placed near other volunteers?

We allow people to come with a friend, as a couple, as a family, or even in a large group. For applicants who submit a request, we always try to place them together in the same placement. However, we cannot always guarantee this, especially with larger groups. Teaching placements in China are located in different areas around the country from north to south, but we will try to place you near another volunteer who is already working in the field.

What else should I know about my teaching placement in China?

Your placement is arranged before you arrive in China. Please note that, due to changing needs at the different schools, your placement may be rearranged if the need arises. However, you will always be given similar benefits and the same nature of work as your originally designed placement.

What vaccinations will I need for my trip to China?

This will depend on what vaccinations you already have and what country you are coming from. We suggest that you consult a travel doctor from your country before you arrive (NOTE: Check early because some vaccinations may require as much as two months before arrival to China). In general, hepatitis A, hepatitis B (if you will be there longer than 6 months), typhoid, tetanus-diphtheria, and Japanese Encephalitis are recommended. Please visit the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov for a complete discussion of potential health risks and recommended vaccinations.

What do I need to know about obtaining a visa?

Volunteers for the orphanage placement should obtain a tourist visa.
Your visa type for teaching will depend on your planned length of stay.
If you are to sign a long-term placement (6-12 months), Global Crossroad will arrange a "Z" type (work) visa for you. The application process takes about one month prior to your actual teaching schedule, so do make early arrangements. We will need the following documents for a work visa:

1) a full resume
2) scanned passport page with photo
3) scanned certificate/degree/diploma, etc.

If you are intending to stay for 2 to 3 months, Global Crossroad will help you apply for an “F” type (business) visa. This will require an official letter of invitation from the potential employer in China.
For those who are to come for only 1 month, please apply for an “L” (tourist) visa from the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate. However, some Chinese embassy/consulates do issue three-month “L” visas, so please check beforehand.

Please note that different schools have varied types of authority to change visas, so you may be asked to apply for a different visa than the guidelines above state. There is a very complex set of regulations by which the Chinese government grants different authorizations to different schools. If in doubt, please call Global Crossroad, and we will make sure that you apply for the correct type of visa.
Important note: China does not issue visas at the international airport. Remember that it is the responsibility of volunteers to arrange for their own tickets and visa.

What is the best time to travel to China?

Given the vastness of China, its seasons and climates vary widely depending on when and where you visit. The months of March and September are usually good times to visit. China is uniformly warm, humid, and rainy in the summer. In contrast, winter weather can vary considerably from city to city. Beijing, for example, is very cold in the winter, with afternoon highs averaging only 34 degrees F. Shunde, however, has warm winters, with low temperatures averaging around 52 degrees and highs around 67 degrees.

How safe is China?

China is one of the safer travel destinations. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't exercise caution. But, if you use some common sense (don't carry all your money in your wallet, don't "show off" shiny gadgets, etc.) and come prepared (bring a money belt, use traveler checks, etc.) you won't have any problems. However, theft does happen, and it is the only real danger, especially in crowded places like trains, buses, and stations. Padlock your backpack, never leave it alone, and use only one or two bags and not half a dozen. Keep your money near your skin and in more than one place.

What should I do in case of an emergency in China?

If you failed to meet our representative at the airport, if your flight changed suddenly, or if you experience some other emergency while you are working at your placement, please contact our national coordinator or other staff (phone numbers will be given in your pre-departure package and on your placement details before your leave for China). Please do not forget to keep the address of the contact hotel handy, and don’t pack it in your checked luggage.

Is there an orientation program?

Orientation about our volunteer program will include information on your project and also on the local climate, people, safety and health issues, and cultural issues of your stay in China. The orientation will be given either in Qingdao or your assigned placement before the start of your volunteer program. Paid teachers will normally attend a 3-day orientation in Quingdao before going to their school to begin teaching, although sometimes this will be arranged at the final project destination.

Will the program include health and liability insurance?

Global Crossroad includes excellent health, accident, and liability insurance as a part of all volunteer placements. This coverage is included in the volunteer program fee. Unfortunately, we cannot include coverage as part of the program fee for the paid English teaching positions, because of the extreme variation in the possible length of those placements. However, we do make this insurance available to the paid teachers for only $3.00 per day. Please contact our U.S. office for details.

How long can I teach in China?

We can provide placements for paid English teachers up to 1 year in China.