For anyone whose ever wanted to teach English in a foreign land, the opportunity is closer than they might think.
Programs such as China Horizons, based in Rexburg, and the International Language Program, or ILP, of Provo, allow students and anyone over the age of 20 to teach children in China.
These programs allow participants to teach Chinese students from elementary level through high school the basic concepts of the English language.
Participants don’t need to be education majors or be able to speak Chinese to go on the programs, but they do need a valid passport and a strong work ethic.
“I just liked the idea of helping the kids and being able to teach English,” said Katrina Knapp, a sophomore from Paonia, Colo., and ILP participant who left this past August to teach.
The China Horizons program was founded by Jacob Harlan in 2003, after he and his wife funded their own teaching trip to China through a contact they had in the country.
While the experience for them was wonderful, they had heard stories of others who had problems when it came to getting all they were promised from the schools and the government.
“[We] saw that there was a definite need to start a program where people could do the same thing [we did] and have more security,” Harlan said. Within a week of his initial posting of fliers, he received 80 e-mails from interested investigators.
China Horizons’ number of participants has grown steadily over the years and they expect to send more than a hundred new teachers throughout 12 cities in 2006. Depending on the school they are assigned to, teachers teach on average 20-22 hours a week and unlike ILP, China Horizon teachers are paid.
The dues required by China Horizons includes housing and airfare, which is reimbursed in half for those who stay one semester and in full to those who stay for two semesters.
China Horizons often places teachers on their own and they live with the Chinese teachers of the same school.
“It is a very independent program,” Jacob Harlan, China Horizons’ founder, said. “Some teachers are not ready for China Horizons.”
Teachers who wish to be with other Americans and possibly with other members of the Church have a greater chance by going through ILP, though less of a chance of really learning the language.
ILP is a voluntary program for most and so the school provides no salary but participants can take classes when they are not teaching and learn more about the Chinese culture and language.
“[Participants] can learn about any thing they want from sports and the culture, and often have time for some shopping and traveling during their programs,” said Mandi Harris, a representative of ILP.
A few paid positions exist within the ILP program for those who have a bachelor’s or associates degree, and are committed to staying for a full six months as compared to the regular four to five months.
ILP has over 500 participants each year in over six cities in china and six more in Japan, Russia, Taiwan and the Ukraine.
Teachers live in groups of 10-25 other American teachers and work about three hours a day. Those who have done the program before can return to become head teachers and handle any problems participants might have.
“It’s the most amazing experience,” said Becky Nelson, a sophomore from Rexburg and a past participant with ILP who returned from Kunming, China, this past December. “It really opens your eyes. You find a love for these children and China.”
More information on both China Horizons and ILP is available at their Web sites at www.chinahorizons.org and www.ilp.org.
Next time bordom sets in, be sure to consider the many options the Outdoor Activities program offers.
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