Teach in China

The Seattle Community Colleges have established an agreement with Buckland International Education Group in China to allow community college students without Bachelor’s degrees or Teaching ESL credentials to have a paid teaching experience in China. The first cohort of teacher trainees began their contract in early February, 2012. Contracts are for 4.5 months (semester). Teaching takes place throughout China in public elementary, junior high and senior high schools. Participants with Bachelor’s degrees may join the program and, if hired, will receive a higher salary.

Beginning in February 2013, students from colleges and universities around Washington State are welcome to participate in the SCCD exchange program. Apply through the online materials.

This is a great opportunity to learn Chinese, gain cross cultural experience, earn a little money, acquire teaching experience and have an incredible adventure!

Teaching Expectations

• 15 hrs week in classroom, Mon-Fri generally 20 teaching periods x 45 min lessons
  (note: these are your “contact hours” with your classes and does not include time to do lesson planning and follow up/correcting of class assignments)
• English Corner, conversation practice for 2 additional hours/week
• Any additional instruction is paid at 100 yuan/hour (approx. $16)

Buckland Provides the Following Compensation

• 4,000 yuan/month ($642); may be higher depending on your degree
  
  • with possible advance on first month's pay upon arrival at Yangshuo orientation
• Paid airfare/travel from Seattle to Guilin
  • Option 2: 4,000 yuan airfare stipend at completion of semester ($632)
• Fully furnished apartment
• 200 yuan ($32) toward utilities
• Paid national holidays
• up to 15 paid sick days with doctor’s letter
• Bicycle usage
• Chinese lessons once/week

Living Situation

• Private apartment or with one roommate (another foreign teacher, same sex)
• 200 yuan stipend toward utilities ($32; usually covers)
• Apartment includes basic furniture, bedding, washing machine, internet access, TV, air conditioner, kitchen basics (fridge, microwave, hot plate, pots/pans, utensils)
• Meals are usually available at school for minimal cost

Initial Expenses
(be prepared to cover these costs up front — optional one way airfare from Seattle to Guilin and
optional 2,000 yuan advance on salary are available in Yangshuo at Orientation)

• Transportation to Guilin from USA
  (unless you select the option of Buckland paying your one way airfare)
• Initial visa fee for entering China
  (you will pay this to the Chinese embassy when applying for the F visa with your invitation letter from Buckland). Fee is $140 payable to China embassy.
• 280 yuan for mandatory physical upon arrival ($44)
• Food /Housing
  (50 yuan/day or $7.90 in Yangshuo, paid from the first day you arrive at Yangshuo until the date you leave for the school site, usually 7-10 days — $50-$80 total
• Transportation to the school site: 200rmb - 1500rmb, depending on the transportation ($30-$235).
  This cost will be reimbursed upon your arrival at the school

Miscellaneous
The Seattle Community Colleges will be providing an initial screening of applications for Buckland Group and sending our top candidates. Buckland Group will make all final decisions about who they wish to hire based on Chinese legal policies, best fit and policies of the various elementary / middle / high schools in their consortium and other factors they may choose to use.

Contracts are signed directly between individual participants and the Buckland Group.

Candidates who are offered positions by Buckland Group to teach begin teaching in February will be notified by the Seattle Community Colleges to come in to receive and sign their contracts. A mandatory $50 application, screening, and orientation fee will be assessed by the Seattle Community Colleges at this time for those who will participate in the program. Pre-departure orientation will be held in early December.

Insurance Requirement
All candidates must purchase major medical/ accident insurance, including medical evacuation and repatriation of remains. The SCCD has negotiated a policy that is good for one calendar year from your initial date of entry to China. Our policy is CIEE’s iNext supplemental policy for study abroad and is only $28/year. Participants will be asked to pay for this policy or provide proof that they have the equivalency which must include medical evacuation or repatriation of remains along with basic medical.

Behavioral Expectations
By joining the program, the participant is serving as an unofficial representative of the SCCD. If designated program leaders (Buckland staff, Foreign Affairs Officer) determine a participant fails to meet the behavioral expectations set out in their contract, that participant may be asked to leave the program and will be subject to Buckland contractual policies.

The SCCD expects that all applicants:

• Act in an appropriate and respectful manner towards the local people, fellow travelers, program participants, and staff in accordance with the customs, laws, regulations, and ordinances of the People’s Republic of China
• Communicate effectively your interests, skills, limitations, and needs to program staff members.

College Credit for Teaching Experience Abroad:
To those who are interested in receiving optional college credits that are available at each of the three colleges in the SCCD contact the representative from your College:

• Mari Acob-Nash — (North Seattle)
• Karen Kato — (Seattle Central) or
• Kathie Kwilinski — (South Seattle)

Students and educators from a variety of educational institutions including K-12 who would like specific EDU-prefixed credit and a specific teaching-focused course –or who need CEU/clock hours for the teaching experience, please contact above.

Need to Brush Up Your Language Skills?
Enroll in Chinese Language Studies at North Seattle Community College to prepare to Teach in China!

APPLY to join the SCCD program.

Students can obtain further information and/or registration through one of the program coordinators: