MOST FREQUENT QUESTIONS PROSPECTIVE FOREIGN TEACHERS ASK
1. How do I get a visa to come to Hwa Nan to teach?
The first step is to complete and send the application for teaching along with a resume to Hwa Nan Women's College. The Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) will then translate that information into Chinese and submit it to the Provincial Education Commission. They issue a letter of invitation which the FAO sends to you by regular mail. The next step is to get your visa by either going to the nearest Chinese Consulate OR pay a local "visa service" agency (see specifics in Facts About Becoming a Foreign Teacher). The Chinese Consulates no longer accepts mail-in applications. Regardless of your chosen method, you will need to complete a visa application (get it off the Internet, from your local tour agency, or the Chineses Consulate). Accompanying the application must be the letter of invitation, 2 passport pictures, vias fee, and your passport.
2. Is a medical exam required? What inoculations do I need? Should I buy medical insurance? Can I get medication there?
You should be in good health. 1) A medical exam is required but can be obtained after you arrive in China. The FAO will accompany you to the up-to-date medical facility for an exam that includes a urine test, blood pressure, chest x-ray, ultra sound abdomen scan, blood sample, and an EKG. You pay 250 yuan = $31 US 2) There are no required inoculations for coming to China, however, it is wise to take the series for Hepatitis B and a flu shot. 3) Getting overseas medical insurance is up to you. If you happen to sprain your ankle, break a bone, or have stomach problems the college will make sure you are well cared for. If medical care is extensive (hospital stay, medication), you may have to submit the bill to your insurance company. 4) Bring any required medication with you. Some medications are available in China but check with the FAO before arriving.
3. What clothes should I bring? Can I buy personal items in Fuzhou?
1) There is no snow in the winter in Fuzhou but the temperature can drop to 38 degrees F or 8 degrees C. Summers are very hot and humid. Spring and fall weather is just about perfect except for rain. A down jacket/coat is good for the winter – January, February, March. Summer clothes are worn during August, September, October, May, and June. Most people are informally dressed for teaching. It depends on you. You will see a variation of running shoes, long pants, sweatshirts, jeans to skirts, blouses, stockings for women and shirts, no ties for men. 2) There are two huge stores here where you can buy any item you want except deodorant and dental floss: Wal-Mart and METRO. Unless you have special needs, these stores can supply you with any personal item you need, especially METRO.
4. Will the college meet me at the airport when I arrive?
Yes, the college has a school van. The FAO and other foreign teachers always meet newcomers at the newly constructed airport that is 50 minutes away from Hwa Nan. Newcomers must inform the FAO about arrival date, time and airline.
5. Must I bring my own linens?
No, the FAO supplies new white sheets, pillows, blankets, and a warm quilt for the winter. They even have towels, large and small, if you do not want to bring your own. Or you can buy towels here if you wish.
6. What is the Foreign Teachers' House like?
The new International Faculty House is a four story structure. The picture was presented on a previous page. There is a recreation / fitness center (ping pong table mahjong table, treadmill, bicycle, and a multi exercise machine with weights). There is a dining room where Foreign Teachers are served meals by our own cook, a laundry center where a woman is on duty every day to do your wash, a pleasure library (over 400 novels), and a teacher resource center (over 600 books ranging from Business English, short stories, speaking/listening and reading material, songs, drama, poetry, grammar, literature, paper/pencil games, and an encyclopedia set). There are storage facilities and a small fully equipped kitchen on each floor. The house for Foreign Teachers is located on the water with balconies overlooking the sights and sounds of nature.
7. What are our accommodations like?
Each teacher has a suite of rooms which consist of a living room, bedroom and bathroom. A couch, chairs, end tables, lamps, TV, bookcase and a small table make up the living room. In the bedroom there is an oversized single bed (couples have a queen or king sized bed), bookcase, desk, and a closet. The modern bathroom has a shower stall, western toilet, mirror/medicine chest and a sink/cabinet. All rooms are equipped with a private phone, central air/heating plus broad band for internet access. All teachers pay a nominal fee for the use of the phone. Phone cards are easily purchased for overseas calls.
8. What is the teaching schedule like?
Each class lasts one hour and 50 minutes. Foreign Teachers teach either Speaking/Listening or Reading/Writing. Foreign Teachers teach 12 hours per week. Speaking/Listening teachers must add 4 hours for Free Conversation in small groups. Mid-term and final exam schedules are set by you. The English Department must know your schedule and will provide monitors if requested. First year students begin classes by mid September due to military exercises earlier. The 2nd and 3rd year students begin classes by late August or beginning of September. The 3rd year girls have final exams by mid May because their practical work experience is required before graduation (either the third or last Wednesday in June). In essence, 3rd year teachers can go home by the end of May. The college operates on two semesters with a four week break between. The dates of the semester break vary slightly each year depending on the Lunar New Year (usually mid-January to mid-February).
9. What teaching facilities are provided by Hwa Nan?
Each class group has its own classroom that is decorated to its own liking. Each student has her own arm desk chair. The black chalk board is large, there is a table for the teacher, many overhead fans, numerous windows looking out to the mountains and a small lake, and a TV in every room. There are no bulletin boards.
10. What is the student's English level? What do they do with their English once they graduate?
There is no formal testing done to determine the level of English proficiency of our students. However, their reading and writing is usually better than their speaking and listening skills. Grammar is deficient. Generally, it could be said that the level of English ranges from 3rd grade to 10th grade. Students who come from the countryside or village are less proficient than those from the city. When the students graduate from Hwa Nan, those who are skilled in English either go on to receive their BA degree or find jobs in foreign companies using English to interpret, translate, talk to English speaking foreigners on the phone.
11. What teaching materials should I bring?
With the plethora of teaching materials left here by former foreign teachers, it is hard to think that you would need to bring anything with you. Due to the turnover of foreign teachers, a specific curriculum can not be easily followed. However, upon request, the teaching objectives for the subject and class you will be teaching can be sent to you. The objectives are more succinct and to the point.
12. What about the mail service? Can I send boxes to myself?
Mail service is good. Envelopes sent by regular mail usually take about 10 days to reach their destination. Yes, you can send boxes to yourself and the FAO will hold them for you until you arrive. The FAO will pickup your regular mail / packages / boxes from the post office.
13. What airline should I use to get to Fuzhou?
If you make airline reservations with a Chinese Travel Agent or through the internet, it is easy to get your round trip (open ended if desired and allowed by airline) tickets directly to Fuzhou by entering China either through Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, or Hong Kong. Chinese airlines can provide domestic China airline tickets.
14. Is it difficult to change foreign currency?
No, the Bank of China has the facility to change foreign currency as well as traveler's checks. You can also get local currency using your Master or Visa card. When you want to change money ask the FAO about this, they will always help you. At the beginning of each month, each foreign teacher receives a stipend of 3000 yuan from the college. The currency in China is the yuan [also referred to as RMB (Remembi)].
15. When do I sign a contact to teach at Hwa Nan Women's College?
Several weeks after you arrive at Hwa Nan, you will be asked to sign a contract for the Provincial Education Department. It is a government formality.
