Our Program
Teach for China's program model is grounded in the belief that educational inequity in China must be fought simultaneously in the classroom and through a movement of leaders across sectors.
The components of Teach for China are:
Recruitment and Selection
Teach for China aggressively recruits the most outstanding college graduates and young professionals from top-tier Chinese and American universities. After undergoing a rigorous application process, a select group of applicants are offered positions as Teach For China Fellows.
Placement
Teach for China places teaching teams of several American and Chinese Fellows at each of our partner schools. Fellows in the 2011-2012 school year are currently placed at elementary and middle schools in Yunnan Province and Guangdong Province.
Training
Teach for China’s intensive six-week Summer Institute is conducted before Fellows enter the classroom. During Institute, Fellows receive instruction on best teaching practices from both China and the US and teach sample classes to local students. Following the Institute, Fellows work closely with the ongoing field support team to improve classroom achievement, build strong cross-cultural communication skills, and become integrated members of their placement communities.
Teaching
Because students in the Chinese education system must pass difficult entrance exams to advance to high school and then college, it is imperative that all students receive excellent instruction in subjects such as English, Chinese, math, and the sciences. Teach For China Fellows concentrate on these critical subjects and are held accountable for student performance in these areas.
Support
Fellows are overseen by Training and Support staff who provide individually tailored evaluative feedback and lead regular professional development conferences. Training and support staff set ambitious goals for Fellows and manage them in partnership with local school administrators and teachers.
Local Engagement
Teach For China works closely with government partners on program design and implementation, ensuring that all of its work is tailored to the specific needs of low-income schools. Each stage of Teach For China’s model – teacher recruiting, training, placement, support, and evaluation – is sanctioned by provincial authorities and aligned with the needs of local school systems.
Alumni Support
Teach for China is building partnerships with employers and graduate schools while developing a strong alumni network to offer Fellows mentorship opportunities and a clear path to career growth following their two-year commitments. As a partner in Teach For All, Teach For China is able to offer Fellows access to several graduate school partnership opportunities.
