Our summer program is a marvelous opportunity to have a taste of the exotic and fascinating culture of China in an extremely affordable package.  With only 4 or 6 weeks in mid summer, you’ll have the freedom to travel to the other side of the world and still be back in time for the fall semester. Our summer program includes local touring, 4 to 6 weeks of teaching, and full accommodations with meals everyday. And for those seeking additional touring, a touring program option is also available. Throughout your time here you’ll be able to see the marvels of China’s natural landscapes, visit famous sites, learn about Chinese history and language, try new and exotic foods, and wind your way through the back streets of cities old and new. And when you settle down for teaching you’ll see the hospitality that the Chinese are renowned for when you make close bonds with students, families, teachers, and the community. You will be placed alongside a group of other American teachers so you can share this rich experience with new friends from home and also kick back with some familiar ambience when needed. Whether you want to enrich your teaching experience, learn another language, make new friends, or have a taste of an adventure you’ll never forget, our summer program is the ideal place to start. Please check our “Extra Services” section for more benefits you can receive from teaching with us.

General Description
Teaching
Living Arrangements
Touring
Schedule
Cost
Requirements

Teaching:
For our 2008 Summer Program the majority of our schools will be in Guangzhou and Zhejiang Provinces, all within a short drive of Hong Kong or Shanghai. Most of the schools are recently built with modern facilities. Classrooms typically have a blackboard with TV sets and air conditioners. There are computers with internet on campus, and office space for teacher meetings. English textbooks and supplies will be provided by the school. The students' ages range from kindergarten up to senior high school. There will be 20-35 students in one class and there are two main classes, one in morning and one in afternoon, for a total of up to 70 students a day. The afternoon class is usually a similar level to the morning class so lesson plans can be repeated. There may also be private tutoring sessions with smaller groups, and older individuals. You can also request to teach in the same school with your friends. The focus of the class curriculum is conversational English and foreign culture, supplemented by many educational games. Teacher’s assistants may also be available to assist the English teacher with translations and class management when necessary.

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Living arrangement:
Teachers will stay in furnished rooms with the minimum of an air conditioner, attached bathroom, bed, desk, chairs and electric outlets. For most locations teachers need to share their room with another American teacher. If you wish for a single room this can be arranged by an additional fee (see extra services section). Each site will have a teacher host that will stay with the teachers during the entire teaching period to take care of their personal needs and organize entertaining group activities. We will eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner together either at a special room designated for us in our hotel or in the school cafeteria. Usually meals are not covered on weekends. The type of food will depend on which region, but generally food may consist of such dishes as beef braised in soy sauce, spinach sautéed in butter and garlic, sweet and sour fish, eggplant with pork strips etc….
Laundry can be taken to local laundromats or in some cases be provided by the school. Local ACT or school staff will also be available if you have any questions or concerns during your stay. -------------------------------top

Touring:
For those choosing the Summer Program without the additional touring option, local touring of a cultural or historical site in the area surrounding the school will be provided. In 2008, we will make a final program touring desitination after hearing the wishes of our participants. Our primary desitination will be an Olympic tour in Beijing which will include visit to one of the competitions as well as visits to the other venues and festivities. Other options will include a tour of Tibet, a tour of Hong Kong and a tour of Shanghai. All tours include 3 days a two nights at their destination. During our touring period we will also stay in quality hotels and have a tour guide with us for the duration of our experience, explaining the history and meaning of the various locations and helping us with our local needs. We will also have the chance to sample famous dishes from specialty restaurants everyday. Most of the touring will take place at the end of the teaching pro gram. For more details feel free to contact us. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------top

Schedule:
Due to the geographical diversity of our participants, an orientation will be held on arrival in either Shanghai or Guangzhou. We will travel to China in early July and teach a day or two after our arrival. The teaching program runs from early July till mid to late August. Each school has a slightly different schedule resulting in different starting and finishing dates. Your schedule is determined by which length of program you decide on. Whether you choose the 4 or 6 week teaching program will also determine your schedule. During the program you will be expected to teach 5 to 6 hours a day, for 5 to 6 days a week. The classroom teaching will consist of roughly two and a half hours in the morning, followed by two and a half in the afternoon. Most classes are in 45 minute periods with breaks in between. See the schedule section for a better idea of how all the dates and times look.

Your return ticket can also be extended for up to six months if you wish to travel independently after the program with no additional cost. This has been a popular option with a lot of our teachers who wish to spend more time exploring China independently. However, the this request must be made before ACT purchases the airline ticket. All departures and arrivals cities must also remain the same. If you would like to stay in China longer after completing the program you will responsible for your own accomodations, travel, visa arrangements and travel to the airport. We may however help set up a guided travel plan for you. See “Extra Services” section for more details.

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Salary or Cost:
In 2008 our program will operate by having participants buy their own plane tickets and at the end of their teaching term, we will provide a salary. The salary will be determined both by length of program and the teacher's own experience.
On a very limited basis we will allow a few participants to pay a program fee and purchase their plane ticket. For these participants, the program fee is determined by a few factors; They include length of program, teaching certification, US departure city, and whether the Touring Option is selected. The program fee is lower for those in the 6 week program because it compensates those completing two additional weeks of teaching. The program fee also encourages those with state teaching certifications to apply, though we welcome all with the desire to teach to apply. The program fee a reflects the cost variation of different departure cities in the US. Those leaving from the East coast have a higher fee than those leaving from the West coast due to the differences in airline tickets. The visa fee is also not included in the program fee. Those choosing to attain their visa through the ACT Center via the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco will need to submit an additional $130 USD. If planning to attain the visa independently you will be responsible for locating the closest Chinese Consulate or visa service company. The ACT Center will provide you with a visa form and instructions on completing it. Copies of both the teaching certification and visa will be required to ensure participation.

2008 Summer Program Salary

2008 Summer Program Cost (available only on very limited basis)

Visa Fee: $130 USD

2008 Summer Program Touring Options:
1. Beijing 2008 Olympics
2. Tibet Tour
3. Hong Kong Tour
4. Shanghai Tour
Note: Final decision will be made after hearing the majority request from our participants. Touring fee can be paid later, even while in China. Estimate on fee is $200 to $300, however, for Olympic Tour, event tickets range from $100 to $300. Olympic tour can only provide 1 event ticket on the lower end. For better tickets or multiple tickets, fee would be higher.

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Requirements:
We are currently looking for upwards of 40 teachers for the the 2008 Summer Program. We cannot accept applicants under 18 years of age, those unable to teach, or those with expired passports. Persons with a teaching degree, college degree, or experience teaching abroad are preferred, though any candidates with a passion for teaching will be considered.

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