Summer English Program
How it works
If you are looking for more information about the Summer English Program, you will find answers to basic questions below, as well as how to contact us for more information if you are interested in participating in this program.
What kind of students and locations does Amity aim for with the SEP?
Will all the students be middle school English teachers?
If I'm not a professional teacher, can I still apply?
Would I be teaching alone or on a team?
What are the requirements?
How much does it cost?
What are the dates for the program?
How do I apply?
Are there any opportunities for sight-seeing in China?
If I have further questions, whom should I contact?
What kind of students and locations does Amity aim for with the SEP?
Amity aims to promote better education for students in rural and minority areas by providing English training for rural middle school teachers.
At this point in history, English skills are necessary for social and economic development, and this is reflected in nearly every level of China's educational system. Developed urban areas attract skilled teachers and offer better educational resources, so urban students often out-perform their rural counter-parts in many important subjects, including English.
Through the SEP, Chinese middle school teachers in rural and minority areas are given a valuable chance to improve their listening and speaking skills with fluent English speakers, and these benefits are passed on to their students.
(Back to the top)
Will all the students be middle school English teachers?
Amity encourages local education bureaus and host schools to recruit middle school English teachers, and most SEP students will fall into this category. A recent trend toward beginning English education in primary schools has prompted some primary school teachers to apply, but since the SEP is not currently designed for their specific needs, Amity will continue to recommend that the number of primary school teachers be limited. Amity discourages the participation of local middle school students or private individuals, but realistically, there are likely to be a few instances of this at each location.
(Back to the top)
If I'm not a professional teacher, can I still apply?
Teaching experience - especially English teaching experience - is always helpful, but it is not necessary. Many of our volunteers are not teachers by profession. What the Chinese participants need most is practice in listening and speaking; as a fluent speaker of English you already have the basic skills necessary to provide that practice. We do require applicants to have a college level education, but teaching credentials are not required.* For the benefit of those who don't have a teaching background, Amity provides some basic teacher training during the orientation prior to the start of the Summer English Programs.
* For possible exceptions related to college degrees, see "What are the requirements?"
(Back to the top)
Would I be teaching alone or on a team?
Volunteers work with a team, and teams are usually made up of 4-6 members.
If you are affiliated with a church, it is usually best to apply through your denominational sending agency and that agency will be responsible for screening applications and grouping team members. It simplifies the process if you and a group of friends can apply as a team, but if you apply individually, the sending agency will help to place you on a team with other interested volunteers.
If you are more comfortable with an independent approach, you may apply to Amity directly - either as a group or individually. In the case of independent applications, Amity will facilitate the process of team formation.
(Back to the top)
What are the requirements?
There are five basic requirements for team members:
- You must be willing to observe the laws and ordinances of the Chinese government and refrain from any activity of a proselytizing nature.
- You need a college degree. If most members of a team are experienced teachers, the team can include someone that has not completed a degree.
- You need to be in good health and be willing to work in tough, hot conditions. The summer in China can be very demanding and the temperature is often between 36 and 40 Centigrade (95-105 F). Take careful note of the following: (A) The classrooms are not air-conditioned. (B) Volunteers are expected to teach 4-6 hours a day. And (C), the ability to climb 4-6 flights of steps and walk long distances is essential. A Physical Self-Assessment form is a required part of our standard application. Sending agencies need to be aware of the physical capability of their applicants during the recruitment process.
- Each individual teacher must make sure that his/her trip to China is properly covered by medical insurance.
- If you are new to Amity's Summer Programs, you must be 68 years old or younger for service on a summer team. Veteran SEP volunteers may apply up to the age of 73.
** As most schools in China are not able to accommodate teachers accompanied by children, volunteers should not plan to bring children when they come.
(Back to the top)
How much does it cost?
Either the volunteer or the sending agency is responsible for arranging and paying for the following:
- transportation from your home country to Nanjing before the program begins.
- your China visa (Amity secures an official Letter of Invitation from the host school, and then the volunteer applies for the visa through the local embassy or consulate.)
- transportation from Shanghai back to your home country after the program has finished.
In addition, each volunteer pays a block grant of US $1200 to cover orientation costs, domestic travel, and other program costs. The breakdown is as follows:
| 1 |
Nanjing Orientation |
$290 |
| 2 |
Travel ( Nanjing - teaching sites - Shanghai) |
$300 |
| 3 |
Subsidy for Chinese host schools
(Covers volunteers' room/board) |
$320 |
| 4 |
Teaching Materials |
$40 |
| 5 |
Debriefing in Shanghai |
$130 |
| 6 |
Administration Fees |
$120 |
The payment should be made to Amity before or during the Nanjing orientation.
This all tends to total roughly US $2,700, but a great deal depends on the cost of the airline tickets.
(Back to the top)
What are the dates for the program?
The exact dates for the program change from year to year, but generally speaking, the program runs from the beginning to the end of July. There is a 3-day orientation in Nanjing during the first week of July. Teams then travel to their sites and teach 15 days of the following 3 weeks. Finally, there is a 1-day debriefing in Shanghai.
Exact program dates for any given year should be available on the Amity website before January of that year.
(Back to the top)
How do I apply?
See the web-page entitled, "How to apply"
(Back to the top)
Are there any opportunities for sight-seeing in China?
Amity facilitates limited opportunities for sight-seeing during the orientation in Nanjing orientation and the debriefing in Shanghai. Many schools also host a weekend visit to some local attraction in their area. If volunteers wish to see more of China before or after the SEP, they are encouraged to make these arrangements through independent travel services.
Amity needs prior notification of any extra travel plans in China as these can affect the status of a volunteer's entry visa.
(Back to the top)
If I have further questions, whom should I contact?
The specifics of the SEP are explained in greater detail in our SEP Handbook, and this is available on our website under "Teaching Resources"
For certain questions, you may want to contact the designated representative from your sending agency, but to contact us directly, use the information provided below:
