WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
All those who:
- have a bachelor’s or advanced degree
- are available for a full year
- are flexible and patient
- are willing to go where accepted by a Chinese university
- are under sixty-five years of age
- are in good health
- are free from heavy financial obligations
- are active Church members in good standing
- do not have dependents who would accompany them to China
- Note: Chinese-language skills are not required for placement.
WHAT TO EXPECT
New Experiences
China is a unique, beautiful, rapidly changing country. Teachers are likely to encounter unexpected challenges during placement and their first months of teaching. They must be flexible and patient as they learn to work in a new culture. They should also relish their new experiences. Teachers are clustered in selected cities to provide common support.
Teaching Duties
Most teachers are assigned to teach English, including writing, conversation, and literature. Occasionally, a teacher will be asked to consult or teach in a content area or in his or her professional specialty. Teaching assignments, which are individually negotiated with the university, may include teaching (approximately fourteen-sixteen hours per week), judging debates and speech contests, presenting on American culture, advising the English Club, and conducting conversation practice sessions.
Workshop
The Kennedy Center provides an intensive two-week workshop in Provo, Utah, before teachers depart for China. Each teacher is required to attend. The workshop focuses on teaching English as a second language, the culture and history of China, survival Chinese language, and adaptation skills. The workshop is taught by experienced BYU faculty, program administrators, and former program participants.
Living Conditions
Chinese universities provide modest, but adequate, housing for foreign teachers. Each apartment includes a bedroom, a sitting area, a Western-style bathroom, and limited kitchen facilities. Generally, these apartments are on campus where cafeterias are available.
Income
Host universities provide a modest monthly salary designed to cover basic food and living expenses. Most teachers “break even” with income and expenses. There are two “ranks” given to foreign teachers at Chinese universities. These determine the pay scale given to foreign teachers. Advanced degrees may warrant the status of “foreign expert.” Other degrees will usually receive a “foreign teacher” status. Although there are many benefits associated with the program, teaching in China is not a moneymaking proposition.
Travel
Most travel expenses are provided by the Kennedy Center or Chinese host institution. Teachers use the most direct route at the lowest fare when traveling to China, although they may choose other flight options if they pay the price difference. Extra trips are at the teacher’s expense. Tour opportunities are available for teachers while in China.
Health and Medical Care
The quality of medical care in China is rapidly approaching Western standards in most urban areas. Teachers are required to maintain their own personal health insurance. Senior Service Medical Plan (SSMP) insurance may be purchased from Deseret Mutual Benefit Association (DMBA) through the China Teachers Program.
Kennedy Center Support
Kennedy Center staff support teachers through the two-week, pre-departure workshop, by answering personal correspondence via e-mail, and by hosting a mid-year conference in Hong Kong. Program facilitators make an annual site trip to visit each teacher. Although every effort is made to give assistance, teachers must be capable of working independently.
WHAT IS AN ASSIGNMENT?
Teaching in China is a paid academic service activity. The typical assignment is for one academic year that runs from late August through early July. CTP and the Chinese university determine university placements and positions based on applicant’s academic qualifications and teaching experience, as well as university needs.
Teachers are expected to exemplify high moral values, professionalism, and integrity. They are not missionaries and must not represent themselves as such.
HOW ASSIGNMENTS ARE MADE
- Applicants return a completed application to the Kennedy Center. To receive priority acceptance, applications should be received by 31 January for the following academic year. However, slots are sometimes available after this date, so we encourage all who are interested to contact us about openings.
- All applicants are interviewed either at BYU or via a conference call.
- CTP matches applicants’ qualifications with a Chinese university’s needs and nominates applicants to the universities around 1 March. CTP informs nominees once they have been accepted by a host university.
- When a nominee is accepted, the Chinese university informs them in writing, and then prepares and forwards to the Kennedy Center the paperwork necessary to obtain a Z visa (a Letter of Invitation and a Work Permit).
- The Chinese university sends the nominee the general terms of a teaching contract. The nominee will eventually sign a contract, but that may not happen until they are in China.
- All teaching decisions and assignments are made by the Chinese universities. CTP has a limited role in this process.
- CTP acts as a broker in helping nominees obtain their visas and make travel arrangements.
- All applicants who have been accepted to teach by a Chinese university must attend the August workshop at the Kennedy Center before they depart for China.
Applications sometimes get bogged down in the decision processes of Chinese institutions. The Kennedy Center attempts to move the process along but has no control over what happens after an application is submitted. Applicants should be prepared to wait as late as midsummer for an appointment decision.
