First off, you need to make sure you\u2019re ready. 95% of schools are going to require at least a 1 year commitment. Everyone is relying on you to fulfill this obligation. The school\u2019s reputation with the parents is based on the quality of their teachers. The parents don\u2019t want to see their kids changing teachers every 3 months. It\u2019s not effective for learning. So, you have to go into it with the right expectations. If you spent extended time traveling abroad in the past, then you have probably already developed the right mindset and will be ready to face the challenges that come with living in a foreign country. If you haven\u2019t traveled long term, then just expect a period of adjustment. Part of the commitment of Teaching Nomad is to set you up with schools that have quality programs designed to make this transition time easier.<\/p>\n
Not to mention, you\u2019ll be working with many other expats that are typically very friendly people. When you\u2019re an expat in China, it\u2019s like you\u2019re automatically inducted into the expat friend club. Everyone is welcome. In addition, you will have bi-lingual staff at your school that can help you with day-to-day tasks that require speaking the language. Speaking the language is the other big key to making you feel more comfortable in your new home. In some big cities like Shanghai, it\u2019s not completely necessary to learn Chinese. Although, I do recommend you try and learn it ASAP unless you want to spend all your time at Malone\u2019s, the American Caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n
Ok, enough mindset, now for some practical info. If you\u2019re working with a Teaching Nomad recruiter then you probably already know what information is required to get hired. You need to provide the following: resume\/CV, recent photo, copy of your college degree (Bachelor\u2019s or equivalent), copy of your passport and a reference letter regarding teaching experience. These documents are required for two major reasons. First, they verify you as a qualified teacher and second, they will be used to obtain your residence VISA and work permit.<\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t already have a passport, you will need to secure one of these. Unless you pay for rush processing, it\u2019s going to take a few weeks so don\u2019t put this off! If you don\u2019t know where to obtain your passport, just do a web search for passports in your country and I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll find it.<\/p>\n
Next up, you\u2019re going to need your temporary Z-VISA. This will grant you entry to the People\u2019s Republic of China. Depending on your country, you need to apply for this VISA with the Chinese embassy that presides over the territory\/state\/province where you live. In many cases this means that the nearest embassy may be far away. Rather than traveling across the country you can use a VISA processing service like the one Teaching Nomad recommends, VISA HQ. Of course, the processing company needs to give your passport to the embassy, so you have to actually send them your passport (not a copy). It always seems scary to me to send away my passport, so only use companies you can trust. Depending on the service you select, you will receive your passport back within a few days up to a week later with a beautiful Chinese VISA inside. The cost for your VISA is determined by the country you live in and how quickly you need it processed. This 30 day, temporary VISA will get you into China. After you arrive, your school will start the process to secure your residence permit. Click here to learn more about VISA HQ services.<\/p>\n