The summer program seems too good to be true. Are there any hidden expenses?
No there are no hidden fees or costs, other than the visa fee should you choose to attain your visa through the ACT Center. The program provides a salary of $400 to $600 USD, transportation within China , local touring, shared room, and meals. You should plan on bringing some spending money for personal activities, going out at night, shopping, and buying souvenirs.
How is the summer program funded on such a minimal fee?
Keep in mind that your participation in ACT is in a sense, employment. You will be teaching up to 60 students during your stay for about 5 hours a day, 5 or 6 days a week. The summer camp charges the participating Chinese students a fee that in turn covers most of the airfare. The ACT program fee supplements the remaining airfare and administrative costs both in China and the US.
Can I do extra teaching work in China or America in order to get a higher salary?
There have been cases where extra salary has been earned for extra hours. This has to be worked out with your particular school.
Is it possible to get paid half the salary in the middle of the program?
Keep in mind that ACT does not pay your salary, your school does, and the tradition is that most schools only pay salary at the end of the teaching period. It is therefore unlikely that we could help by paying part of your salary during the teaching period.

When does the summer program start and finish exactly?
We can only give you an estimate at this during the early stages of the application period. Only around late May we should know the exact schedule. This is due to the student enrollment in China which is ongoing until just a few weeks before the start of the program. Last summer we departed America on July 6th and departed China on August 8th for the 4 week program. You should expect to leave within the first week of July and return in early to mid August depending on your program.
Is it possible to arrive in China earlier then the rest of the group?
Unfortunately not, we can't provide up front airfare and set you up with an early arrival date. This is because we place a high investment on your participation. Since we are busy with preparations prior to arrival of the group, we would not be able to meet or accommodate you during this time and we don't want anything to happen to you if you plan on independent travel prior to teaching.
Can I start the program after it officially starts?
No. Even if it is still before teaching officially starts. It will be inconvenient for us to make a special trip to the airport to pick you up and drive you to the location that the other teachers are in.
Can I leave earlier then when it officially ends?
No, you cannot leave your teachings responsibilities before the teaching period has officially concluded. If you choose to skip the touring section and leave independently we cannot refund the touring section of the program and we cannot provide transportation to the airport.
What is the difference between 4 week and 6 week program?
The difference is two weeks of additional teaching and stay in China. Those requesting the Touring Option will stay an additional three days to complete the touring.
What happens if I have to leave my teaching position early due to an emergency?
If you have to leave early we unfortunately have to charge you for any expenses lost. We know there are legitimate reasons for needing to leave early, but in order for us to make our program sustainable we need to ask you for reimbursement. The amount will depend on length of time you have taught and the quality of your performance. All of this will be outlined in the contract we will need you to sign so you will know in advance the penalties involved. To prevent this we ask to make sure you do not have any personal conditions that make your early departure likely. Please check the contract for more details.
Can we change our location or length of program after we've been accepted for the summer program?
Not after the airline tickets have been purchased or teaching starts. If it is before teaching starts then you can request to change and we will try to accommodate you but fitting teachers into each of the schools is a bit like putting the pieces together for a puzzle. We need a certain number of teachers in each school with a good ratio of genders and backgrounds. After we have set the schedule it is only possible to change your school if a person from another school with similar conditions to you also wishes to change schools to your location.

Will there be an English speaking Chinese person at each school during the summer program?
Yes. Each school has a number of Chinese English teachers with proficient English speaking skills. Each school will also have a designated teacher host to oversee your living arrangements and help you with translations.
Will there be American representative from ACT at our school in China ?
At some schools there will be former teachers and ACT staff teaching along with you. In addition to this, ACT staff will make visits to the schools on a regular basis. They will also be available by phone and email any time of the day to assist you with any issues you have. If there is an emergency an America representative will come to assist you.

If I have not taught English before can I still go?
Although preferred, teaching experience is not required. The demand for English in China is much greater then the supply of foreign teachers, so there is still space for flexibility regarding qualifications. Since this position mainly focuses on speaking and activity based teaching, most inexperienced teachers assume the role without difficulty. We also provide textbooks and teaching materials to accompany your lessons and to relieve pressure. Those with a passion for teaching or working with children will find the teaching fairly easy to accomplish.
If I have regular days and I cannot work due to religious reasons can I still participate?
No. We will have a set schedule during the summer that all teachers must follow, we can't make exceptions to this schedule.

Will I have free time on my own to be able to travel during the summer program?
If you would like to plan some independent travel, it is possible to do only after the teaching period. During the teaching time it will be highly difficult to arrange since you will get at most a two-day break. That is only enough for local sightseeing and spending time with your fellow teachers. If you wish to travel extensively you should plan to have a later return date on your return ticket and travel after the program finishes.

Can I go in the summer program if I do not have medical insurance or travelers insurance?
If you go without health or travel insurance you must know that we will not cover any medical costs or lost or stolen property expenses. We don't want to be in the position where you get sick without insurance and no one to help pay for it or lose something valuable with no support, that is why we strongly urge that you bring health and travel insurance with you.
What happens if I get sick or injured?
We will take you to the school clinic if you have a minor illness or injury or we will take you to the nearest western style hospital if you have major illness or injury. If you get sick or injured we can arrange a substitute teacher if you really cannot teach, but because of the brevity of the program, you are only allowed one sick day without penalty. Beyond that, we will ask you teach extra when you recover to make up for the lost time or we may need to replace you with another foreign teacher and ask you to reimburse us the expenses.

If I go, can I stay with my boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife?
Yes. You can live together, but you will need to teach your own individual classes and your relationship should stay relatively discreet when around the school. If your partner does not want to teach, he/she will have to cover all personal living and travel expenses.
If I have a child, can she come with me?
It may depend on which schools are available and the age of your child. If conditions are right, you would need to cover all of their living and travel expenses during their stay in China. If this is what you want, contact us to discuss the options.