FAQ
1. Is it safe?
ELIC takes the personal safety and well being of its teachers, families and staff very seriously. Campus officials also take special care to see that our teachers are well cared for and secure. We have maintained consistently high standards in responding to special needs that may arise. Our offices throughout Asia provide hospitality for teachers when necessary; additionally, our Hong Kong and Thailand offices serve teachers and staff who may need additional help.
ELIC has knowledgeable staff placed regionally across Asia who are experienced in working through a variety of circumstances on behalf of our teachers. In addition, for all of our teachers, we have contracted with an emergency health referral and evacuation service.
2. Do I get paid?
Teachers in China receive a monthly salary in domestic currency from their host institution, which is more than sufficient to cover basic living expenses. Teachers in Laos, Mongolia and Vietnam receive a monthly stipend through their raised support to cover the cost of living expenses.
3. Do I have to raise support?
Yes, support raising is a vital component of the Teaching Fellowship experience. It allows you to stay connected with a dedicated support team who, through you, will also invest in the students, country and culture in which you serve. We will provide you with the tools you’ll need to raise adequate support. Each of our candidate counselors have previously served on the field, have successfully raised the necessary support, and are prepared to help you in this process.
4. What about my student loans?
We understand that for most recent college graduates, student loan debt is a reality. We work with candidates to find a repayment option that works for you, either through deferring loans for a year, or helping to equip you to raise the extra financial support to cover the loan payments during your time in Asia.
5. What’s covered in the program costs?
ELIC’s all-inclusive financial profile includes the following provisions: housing and utilities, international airfare, medical care, medical evacuation insurance, life insurance, ongoing Asia support, North American support services, complete training, annual Thailand conference, team placement, and curriculum resources. Basically everything you need from the time you leave home until you return from Asia.
6. Will I receive training?
The training that you will receive is very thorough and fun! Hosted by our China, Vietnam and Laos teams, our training will prepare you well to adjust to a new culture, to grow with your team, and to learn what will take place during this phenomenal year overseas. An additional highlight of the training experience is the classroom training provided by the graduate school of Wheaton College. This will provide you with the tools you need to be well prepared to walk into your class on day one. Other components of the training cover classroom discipline, classroom management, cultural relations, etc., with lots of breaks, games, and time allocated to spend with your new team. There also are opportunities to mingle with participants in our longer-term University Teaching Program.
7. Do I need to have teaching experience?
No. While experience is desirable, ELIC is committed to providing the best possible pre-field orientation/training for our new teachers – as outlined above. In addition, your team leader will provide ongoing support in lesson planning and observe your progress in the classroom throughout the year.
8. What does ELIC do to help me prepare to go?
It is ELIC’s desire that you have a completely memorable and successful 11 months, and we recognize that preparation is key to your success. Once you commit to going, we will help you with your support raising efforts by providing you with a complete support raising workshop and coaching. All of our candidate counselors have raised support to live and serve in Asia. You will be given brochures that introduce your supporters to ELIC and envelopes that your supporters can use to send in contributions. ELIC will also provide books and resources as pre-read materials to the thorough training provided once you reach Asia. You will be provided information on what to pack, how to prepare and what to expect when you get to your destination. ELIC has negotiated with the Asian schools to provide you with adequate accommodations and even some sightseeing opportunities. Additionally, ELIC will purchase your domestic and international tickets and acquire your visas. The training will acquaint you with all aspects of the Teaching Fellowship Program and will fully prepare you to step into your classroom once you arrive. Working together with your team, you will have everything you’ll need to provide a truly excellent learning experience for your students.
9. Do I need to get shots?
No immunizations are required, either by China, Vietnam, Laos, Canada or the United States. We always recommend that you consult with your doctor and consider recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov.)
10. What if I get sick or hurt?
Your host institution in Asia will provide basic medical care, and ELIC provides additional medical insurance that includes options for emergency medical evacuation and care outside of your host country if required.
11. What if there’s an emergency at home?
It is our expectation that everyone who commits to the eleven month Teaching Fellowship Program will complete it. However, we recognize that a death in the family or a life-threatening emergency may make it necessary for you to return home for a time. In such cases, we will help make arrangements for you to do so.
12. Can family and friends visit me while I am in Asia?
We want you to be able to stay connected to family and friends while you are in Asia. We ask that no one have family or friends visit them for the first or last 6 weeks in Asia as both are intense times of transition. The prime time to have visitors is during the semester break, either before or after the Annual Thailand Conference (ATC). Before you have any visitors it needs to be approved by your Teaching Fellowship Program director and your team leader. The nature of the Teaching Fellowship Program makes it difficult to have someone ‘drop in’ at any time.
13. What is the weather like?
Like the United States, Asia has a variety of climates and temperatures. Since you will be there for eleven months, you will experience all four seasons. You will want a full range of clothing weights. While the climate in Vietnam and Laos are more temperate, in China, even areas far from the south can feel on the cool side since there is often no central heating in public buildings located in cities south of the Yellow River. So, in winter, the temperature inside buildings in China may equal the outside temperature.
In China north of the Yellow River, classrooms and apartments are heated. You may well experience some chilly days indoors prior to the municipal government’s official turning on and off of the heat, but most of the time your apartments and classrooms will be comfortably heated. Most Chinese people dress in layers of clothing so that as the day progresses, they can remove or add layers to remain comfortable. Conversely, summer days can be very warm depending upon the specific region in which you are located.
14. When will I know if I’m accepted?
Once we receive your completed application with all references and transcripts, we will schedule a telephone interview with you as soon as possible. This generally occurs within a week after receiving your completed application. Once the telephone interview is complete, our Teaching Fellowship staff will reach a decision regarding your acceptance and in most cases will communicate that decision to you within a week.
15. Where will I live?
In China and Vietnam, each school provides housing for its team. Housing is usually in a foreign guesthouse on campus like an apartment, comprised of individual bedrooms, but a shared bathroom with Western-style toilet, kitchen, and living room. Housing in Laos and Mongolia is typically off campus and arranged by local ELIC staff to fit the needs of the team.
16. What am I going to eat?
You will eat some of the best food ever – recipes perfected over thousands of years! But, you will also enjoy a lot of familiar food. It is not too difficult to find bread, butter, eggs, peanut butter, cereal, coffee, etc. Often you’ll eat lunch on or near campus, and dinner out with students or friends or your team. Team dinners are common, and you’ll get to know the inexpensive, amazing local cuisine well.
17. Will I need to speak the language?
You don’t need to know the local language to teach effectively, but you’ll pick up the language if you’re willing and open. Tonal Asian languages are challenging to learn at first, but during your Teaching Fellowship year you’ll have the chance to meet with a language tutor and have countless opportunities to immerse yourself in the culture around you. There’s no better place to learn than at a local restaurant or bus stop, and by the end of your eleven months you’ll be surprised how much you understand and are able to speak yourself.
18. Will I be able to travel?
Train and bus travel in Asia is inexpensive, mostly quick and very convenient! Weekend trips are easily doable, and you’ll have time to travel during school holidays, especially during the Lunar New Year. Make the most of it… when else are you going to be in such close proximity to so many different and wonderful places? As a team, you’ll visit one of our University Teaching Program teams to catch a glimpse of what life is like for our longer-term teachers.
19. Will I be on a team?
Yes, you will serve on a team of 3-8 North Americans, all recent college grads. An experienced team leader will provide a structured team environment offering a strong mentoring component. It’s as a team that you’ll live and work on your campus, serving as one body, united in purpose. Your teammates will be your friends and family, your dinner buddies and your support as they also serve as agents of growth and change in your life and the lives of your students and colleagues.
20. How will I communicate with the outside world?
Each country has several options for internet access on campus, in your home or in your city. Between calling cards, email, Facebook and Skype, contact with “the outside world” can be as frequent as you like. Packages and letters from home are welcome and encouraged. We also provide a complete newsletter service, including designing, formatting, printing and mailing of your newsletter to each of your supporters on a monthly basis. In China, each apartment comes with a telephone with a long-distance calling account.
21. What are my options once I complete the 11 months of service?
More than half of our Teaching Fellowship Program participants opt to continue longer-term with ELIC. Some will move to a different country of service, some have an interest in earning one of our offered Master’s degrees and others will pursue language study. Your team leader will work closely with you to make these options clear and accessible.
22. How will this benefit me as a recent college grad?
Serving for a year overseas will always be attractive on your resume no matter what career you hope to pursue. Eleven rewarding months in Asia will clearly set you apart from other applicants in educational institutions and globally minded businesses. On a smaller scale, the Teaching Fellowship Program emphasis on team and growth provides great experience and enhances skills that you will need at any job back in North America. In addition to acquiring lifelong friendships and building a new and valuable perspective, the Teaching Fellowship Experience will provide an additional year for you to ponder a future career and decide what path your life will take.
23. I’m getting a security certificate error when I try opening one of your forms. What should I do?
If you feel comfortable, go ahead and proceed, bypassing the warning. Our site wants to direct you to a secure form so your information is kept safe, and some browsers (specifically we’ve found it in Safari for Mac) aren’t willing to recognize our forms as what they are: secure. We assure you that it’s safe, and the problem is a bug in communication with the browser rather than a bug in our security. If you’re still not sure, try opening the form in another web browser (we suggest Firefox), or feel free to email info@elic.org.