If you are curious as to the likelihood of your application being accepted, please fill out a preliminary application form.  You will be contacted within three business days with a recommendation in regards to your application  information.

Process

Please submit the following items as your application to teach in China:

1. Preliminary Application Form.
   • Please submit the above form first. Upon receiving confirmation from a China Horizons representative to continue the application process, proceed to items 2-9. You will be notified of your acceptance to teach within two weeks after items 2-9 are received. Your acceptance letter will also contain additional instructions regarding airfare and visas. Specific location information will be provided to applicants within one month of departure.
2. Cover Letter. This letter should describe your interest in living in China, and what skills and traits you possess that qualify you for the position.  The letter should be directed to “To Whom It May Concern.” This letter should be signed, scanned and e-mailed to China Horizons.
3. Current Resume.  Your resume should contain two current references. In preparing your resume, please phrase any reference to religion, church, or missionary work in a secular format. This item MUST be e-mailed in a Microsoft Word file format.
4. Two Letters of Recommendation. Past employers, teachers, or professors are all acceptable references. These letters should not be written by a relative, or clergy (church) contact.  These letters should be written on professional letterhead and signed.  The letters should then be scanned and e-mailed to China Horizons.
5. Copy of Signed Valid U.S. Passport.  The passport should contain at least six months’ validity from the time you return from China to the U.S.  View the Passport and Visa page for more information.  This should can be scanned and e-mailed.
6. Passport/Visa Photograph. This photo must be a professional 2″ x 2″ passport/visa style photo. It does not need to match the photo on your passport. A convenient place to have this taken is at a Walgreens Photo Lab.  This item should scanned and e-mailed.
7. Copies of College Degrees and/or Teaching Certificates (not required, but welcomed if applicable).  This item should be scanned and e-mailed.
8. Signed  Terms and Conditions Agreement Form.  This item should be printed, signed scanned and e-mailed back to China Horizons.
9. Initial Application Fee.  This initial $150 fee may be mailed to the P.O Box listed below, or use the PayPal option.  View a full fee schedule.

Application Fees

Paid Program Application Fee – Single Applicant $150.00 Paid Program Application Fee – Married Couple $250.00 Summer Program Application Fee- Single Applicant $250.00

Applicant’s Name

 

How to Submit Application Materials

E-mail all scanned materials together in one email to: Applications@ChinaHorizons.org and retain all original hard copies for future reference.

Please Follow These Guidelines

1. All documents should be attached to your e-mail in the form of a Microsoft Word document (.DOC), PDF file, or J-PEG file.  Your application will be sent to China online, so please prepare all documents in a small file size.
2. Please name the file using this format:  ”last name_application item”.  So for example if you are attaching your passport as a PDF file and your last name is Rodgers, the file would be named <Rodgers_Passport.pdf>.  Any spaces should be replaced with an underscore. For example <Rodgers_Cover_Letter.jpg>. Application items may be abbreviated when naming the file.  For example “Terms and Conditions” may be named simply “Terms.”

*If you do not have access to a scanner or e-mail, please contact China Horizons to make arrangements for submitting your application.

Pre-application Considerations for Teaching in China

Particpants should understand that placement through China Horizons constitutes a highly independent experience.  This is not a 6-month tour where you will be living, eating, and socializing with 20 other American teachers.  You will not have a “head” teacher who oversees your work and daily life.  Instead the school will have a foreign director who acts as a liaison between you and the school officials.  Ultimately, you are an employee of the school and subject to their administrative decisions.   However, you are on the top of their priority list, and they treat all foreign teachers with great respect and admiration for coming to teach at their school.  You need to understand that the contract you sign will not be with China Horizons, as you will not be working directly for China Horizons.

Your decision to teach in China is a serious commitment.  Please weigh all the factors and issues surrounding your decision to be certain this is right for you.  Outline a plan for the next year, detailing how a China experience will affect your future.  We are here to answer all your questions and concerns to assist in this important decision.

For the Chinese school, obtaining a foreign teacher is an expensive process, requiring the preparation of various costly government documents allowing you to apply for a visa and a resident card.  These steps ensure that your stay will be legal and secure.  Your apartment most likely will be the nicest in the school, as they spend considerable time and money to make sure that the accommodations are suitable for a foreign teacher.  Your salary will amount to the equivalent of the school principal, if not more.  Foreign teachers make approximately four times the amount of a native Chinese teacher.  You are a critical investment and asset to the school.

Frequently asked application questions

1. Do I have to have a degree to teach?
   • A Bachelors degree is required for paid positions.  No degree is required for the Volunteer program.
2. What are my chances of being accepted as a teacher?
   • Available positions through China Horizons vary each semester.  As long as you have a strong application and submit your application before the deadline, your chances are very good for teaching in China.
3. Are there any age restrictions?
   • All applicants must be 18 at the time of application.  Some schools do require that participants be at least 20 years old while other schools are flexible.
4. How soon after applying will I know that I am accepted?
   • You will be notified within 2 weeks of the application deadline whether you are accepted or not.  However, your exact teaching location may not be known until one month prior to your departure.
5. Can I request to be placed with my friends if they apply.
   • Absolutely!  The volunteer program can often accommodate up to 20 teachers in the same school.  The paid position group sizes tend to be smaller with no more than 3-5 teachers in the same school.
6. Will I receive a refund if I am not accepted?
   • If you are not accepted as a teacher you will receive 100% of all China Horizons fees paid up to that point.  Refunds are not available for teachers who withdraw their applications for any reason.  Fees can however be deferred to a future semester of teaching.