Frequently Asked Questions

China  

Participants do not need to be U.S. citizens. However, in order for our partner schools in China to secure work visas for our teachers they must be native speakers of English or have developed near-native proficiency in English AND hold a passport from a country where English is widely considered a dominant language. For non-U.S. citizen applicants, there also may be additional visa regulations, costs, and paperwork associated that the applicant will be responsible for.  

It is important to note that while nearly all of the placements made through the program have been for English teachers (some of whom have come from countries other than the U.S., such as India, Trinidad and the Philippines) we have had a few teachers from other countries teach their native language that also taught at our partner schools (such as Japanese, Russian and Spanish). 

Kosovo 

Participants do not need to be U.S. citizens. However, for non-U.S. citizen applicants, there may be additional visa regulations, costs, and paperwork associated that the applicant will be responsible for obtaining. While our office can provide general assistance, the applicant is ultimately responsible for their visa and other work-related requirements as outlined by the Kosovo government. Additionally, participants need to be native speakers of English or have developed near-native proficiency in English. Many of our partner organizations rely on participants’ English language fluency, and thus participants need to demonstrate near-native proficiency in English. 

Please visit our How to Apply page for detailed instructions on the application. Working Worldwide places participants in 3 cities in China (Guilin, Chongqing, and Shijiazhuang) and in various cities in Kosovo (Prishtina, Vshturri, among others). Maintaining such a variety of relationships allows for diverse placement options for program participants.

Applicants are asked to consider their desired size of city and proximity to other program participants. Additionally, for Working Worldwide: China placements, applicants are asked to consider the level of students they prefer to teach (middle school, high school, or college). For Working Worldwide: Kosovo placements, applicants are asked to consider their preferred industry or professional interests (marketing, public relations, data analytics, etc.). 

Applicants sharing more details about their goals in participating in the program allows program staff to determine which placement is most appropriate for each applicant. While individual participants' preferences guide the placement process, the needs of the entire group of participants, as well as those of our partner institutions, are also taken into consideration. Those applicants with previous experience directly pertaining to the placement specifications will be given priority. 

Click here to see the Program Calendar. Additionally, please be aware that the TEFL Training does begin in April, prior to the end of the semester in order to accomplish the 120-hour training by early June. Please check the calendar to ensure that you are able to attend ALL sessions.

Fees listed below are approximate based on previous years and are subject to change. Finalized prices for 2021-22 will be available early 2021.

China: $1,995

Kosovo: $1,695 (omits fees for document processing and in-country orientation)

This fee includes:

• Placement and negotiation of participants' teaching contracts
• Ongoing in-country and Drake-based support throughout the placement process and program year.
• Fees involved with document processing for Chinese work permits
• China placements (optional for Kosovo placements): 120-hour Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Training. The training will be a combination of online, on-campus, and practical instruction hours that will begin in May. This fulfills not only the Chinese government's requirement for Foreign Experts (English teachers) for Working Worldwide China placements, but will also serve you in other countries should you wish to continue teaching.
• China placements: A four - to five-day orientation in Guilin in August prior to the beginning of your teaching assignment hosted by the Chinese Language Institute.  The orientation includes basic Chinese language instruction, an orientation to the culture and history of China, experiential learning exercises, and a home-stay to help teachers adjust to living in China. Orientation will provide accommodations, group outings, breakfast and lunch during the orientation, as well as transportation to your placement location.
• Kosovo placements: A brief cultural orientation will be organized with the Kosovo Consulate in Des Moines as appropriate.
• Enrollment in the US Embassy's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

There are some additional expenses participants should plan to cover prior to receiving their first paycheck, following their first month of employment. There is also a slight variation in which (if any) of the post-arrival expenses are reimbursed by a participant's placement institution, and a range of how much participants spend on household and daily expenses.

Apart from the program fee, participants should be prepared to cover the following expenses prior to departure:

• Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations Background Check--$15
• Passport, if needed—$110
• Visa—$140
• One-way airline ticket to China/Kosovo—Approx. $1,000 (Working Worldwide: China - reimbursed by school)
• Medical exams, pre- and post-departure—$50
• Vaccinations, if needed—Approx. $100
• Residency permit—$80 (Working Worldwide: China - may be reimbursed by school)
• Excess baggage fee—$50 (Working Worldwide: China - may be reimbursed by school)
• Initial household expenses—Approximately $250
• First month’s expenses—Approximately $250

Total—Approximately $2,000

Program participants are provided all necessary materials required to apply for their entry visas as well as instruction on the application during the program training and they themselves work with the Program Coordinator to apply for their visas.  Program participants are then responsible for arranging their own travel to the specified location once a visa has been secured.

China

In 2019-20, in return for teaching an average of 15-17 hours per week, program teachers largely received:

• A salary of 4,000-5,000 RMB per month (approximately $575-$725)

• Private, furnished housing

• Emergency medical insurance

• Reimbursement for airfare to and from China

• An additional travel allowance of 1,100 RMB (approximately $160)
• 4-6 week paid vacation between semesters

Kosovo

In 2019-20, for 30 hours a week of work, our partner offered:

• 500 Euro monthly living stipend
• Increased level of insurance through ISIC (Drake program)

*Future China and Kosovo placements are expected to have similar terms.

China

Participants placed in China are provided individual housing by their host institution as part of their compensation. While the quality of accommodations vary slightly between institutions, all housing includes private bathrooms, telephone, and television. Accommodations are comparable to those provided to foreign students or university faculty.

Kosovo

Participants placed in Kosovo are responsible for securing their own housing. Participants’ on-site employers will likely assist participants in finding housing, yet individuals are ultimately responsible for housing and all associated fees. Monthly rent can range from 150 to 500 Euros. We provide this broad range as monthly rent costs vary widely depending on location, apartment size, amenities, and number of roommates (if any).

China

Partner institutions provide emergency medical coverage for program participants and often do not cover expenses associated with routine illness.  Since specific terms of the medical coverage provided by our partner institutions varies slightly, Working Worldwide purchases on behalf of participants the International Student Identity Card for major medical emergency coverage. 

Partner institutions will provide an insurance policy to program participants. Program applicants are asked to provide information about special medical needs during the application process so that proper arrangements can be made with partner institutions to ensure medical care can be correctly administered in case of an emergency.

Kosovo

Working Worldwide purchases on behalf of Kosovo participants the International Student Identity Card for major medical emergency coverage. Because our Kosovo partner institutions do not provide emergency medical coverage for participants, Working Worldwide: Kosovo participants are given a more comprehensive ISIC plan that has a higher level of emergency medical coverage for participants.

China

Program participants placed in China who teach for a year at a partner institution are provided a stipend (approximately $160) for travel during the interim Spring Festival break between semesters (mid-January to mid-February). Teachers are also often allowed to travel during national holidays in October and May.

Kosovo

Program participants placed in Kosovo must adhere to the time off benefits as outlined in their contract with their partner institution. Drake University will work directly with the partner institution on this contract to determine fair and reasonable employment conditions and benefits. When taking any allotted time off, participants will need to work directly with their partner institution and receive approval prior to taking time off.

China

While crime rates in China are very low, and most foreigners report feeling physically very safe, depending on your location it is not uncommon for foreigners to be the target of pickpockets and other petty criminals when out in public (especially at tourists sites and markets). While some program participants live within the grounds of their host institutions, which are enclosed and guarded, or in dormitories or apartments that have additional guards, others are provided apartments outside of the school grounds. Much care is taken on behalf of the Foreign Affairs Offices of partner institutions to protect the safety of foreign teachers.
 
For more information on safety in China, see the Department of State’s Consular Information Sheet on P.R. China.

Kosovo

Though Kosovo has been an area of conflict in recent memory, it has since become a safe and stable country. The capital city, Pristina, maintains low crime rates, though petty theft is reported. As in any major city, foreigners are encouraged to exercise caution when out at night. 

For more information on safety in Kosovo, see the Departmen of State's Consular Information Sheet on Kosovo.

All federally-guaranteed loans can be paid back on an income-based scale. Given the amount of compensation received through the Working Worldwide program, participants can most often either qualify for very low or no monthly payments, or apply to receive an economic hardship deferment from their lending institutions. This allows graduates to defer paying their student loans until after they return from the Working Worldwide program. However, applicants are encouraged to check the terms of their loan agreements and call their lending institutions to ensure they can receive such a payment schedule or deferment. Such deferment is rarely given for private loans.

Find more information about loan repayment options at the Federal Student Aid webpage.

Please visit the IRS website for more information.

If you have further questions or would like clarification about information found here, please email Nathan Jacobson at nathan.jacobson@drake.edu or call Drake International at (515) 271-2084. Please note that at this time, Drake International staff are working remotely and encourage communication via email whenever possible.