VIA's Program in China

For decades, Americans have been fascinated by China. Yet they often have difficulty separating fact from fiction as popular percptions of this complex nation shift from year to year. Since 1980, VIA has enabled volunteers to move beyond the superficial impressions by placing them in school communities where they live in close proximity to their colleagues and students. Long Term Program VIA's China program currently has long-term posts in Beijing, Ningxia, Qinghai, Hunan, Guangzhou and Jiangsu. Most of these posts combine English teaching at a school or university with English resource work at a Chinese nonprofit organization. Host institutions provide on-campus accommodations in apartments which tend to be basic, but comfortable. Volunteers receive a monthly stipend in yuan, a travel allowance and three hours of Chinese language tutoring each week. Volunteers normally cook for themselves or try local delicacies at one of the many inexpensive local restaurants and food stalls in their neighborhood. For more information, please visit the long term posts page and testimonials page.

Summer Program
For those still in school at the undergraduate or graduate level, or for those looking for a short-term immersion experience, VIA offers an exciting summer program on Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University in Hangzhou.

For more information, please see Traditional Chinese Medicine Program page.

Why go to China through VIA?

VIA's program in China has continually adapted to the rapid changes occurring in China over the past 25 years in order to maintain its effectiveness and maximize its impact. At the same time, the program has held true to its same core goals of serving underrepresented parts of the population and otherwise going where there's a real need. Due to China's increasingly important role in the world, foreigners from all over the world are coming to China in large numbers to teach English. However, VIA's program in China continues to set itself apart in several ways, providing volunteers with unique opportunities to learn about the culture, serve a need, and have a fulfilling experience.

Posts: One way in which VIA sets itself apart is through posts that allow volunteers to spend time working at a local Chinese nonprofit organization. These English resource positions give volunteers an opportunity to contribute to development work in China and learn more about the growing phenomenon of NGOs in China. Another way VIA sets itself apart in China is by cooperating with schools which otherwise have difficulty finding foreign teachers, due to their remote location or insufficient funds. At some posts, VIA volunteers are the only foreign teachers at their school. As such, their contributions and presence tend to be highly valued and appreciated by their host institutions, their students and the community at large. Some posts are also located in rural areas, giving volunteers a unique and timely opportunity to live in a part of China which many foreigners never get to experience.

Extensive Training: As soon as applicants are accepted in March, VIA begins working to prepare them for their upcoming time abroad. In early April, all new VIA program participants are required to attend a Spring Orientation in the Santa Cruz mountains of California. This weekend allows volunteers and staff to grow acquainted with each other and to begin preparing for their upcoming adventures.

In July, all long-term volunteers travel to Chiang Mai, Thailand for three weeks of continued training, including a two week class on Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) and a China specific orientation on issues such as dealing with culture shock, managing your health while abroad, and understanding Chinese culture. After this, volunteers travel to Nanjing for two weeks of Chinese language classes at Nanjing Normal University. During this time, volunteers are introduced to Chinese language exchange partners and given an in-country orientation on practical issues relating to living in China, such as how to buy train tickets and how to order food. At the end of August, volunteers head to their respective posts.

In-country Network: By the time China volunteers begin working at their posts, they have developed strong bonds with one another and with VIA staff. These bonds have proven to be key as volunteers adjust to their new living arrangements.

Support and Resources: The China program has a full time program director and a part time in country field coordinator. In the fall, the prorgram director visits each post to see how volunteers are settling in. In late January, China volunteers gather together with the program director and the field coordinator for an annual conference. The conference is a fun and valuable opportunity for volunteers to catch up with each other, exchange teaching tips, discuss problems and set program plans and goals for the coming year. Volunteers play an active role in the planning process.

For More Information

Contact VIA's China Program Director, Anjali Mutucumarana, at china@viaprograms.org.
Check out our FAQ page
Financial information can be found on the Program Fees and Fellowships an Financial Assistance pages.

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