Summer Institutes FAQ

General

Q: What is TECC?

Technology and Education Connecting Cultures (TECC) is a student-run, non-profit group of social entrepreneurs that leads teams of Chinese and Americans in creating ventures to address the growing educational and technological need in China. In addition to our focus on quantifiable social impact, the collaborative nature of TECC also sets the stage for greater understanding and cultural exchange between China and the U.S. Learn more

Q: What are the TECC Summer Institute projects?

The annual summer institutes are a major part of TECC’s effort. The institutes seek to train elementary/middle/high school teachers from rural districts throughout China to teach English innovatively and incorporate useful technologies into their curriculum. They offer an opportunity for students from the U.S., Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing work together closely in rural Chinese settings where the educational and technological need is greatest. You can learn more about our past summer institutes here.

Q: What are some distinguishing characteristics of TECC Summer Institutes?

TECC Summer Institutes seek to maximize social impact by targeting locations that have potential for long-term relationships with TECC which have a demonstrated need for English and technology training. Volunteers not only participate in forums with younger students, but also heavily invest their time in training teachers, who will then pass their knowledge on to hundreds of students. Also, the student-centered nature of TECC as an organization allows for great flexibility and openness to student contributions and ideas. For one, students are able to exercise creativity in designing their own curriculums.

Q: What is the role of U.S. volunteers in the Summer Institute projects?

While every TECC Summer Institute has a technology-teaching component, U.S. volunteers generally contribute most by teaching English. The challenges that volunteers encounter in adapting to teachers’ needs vary by site. But generally, volunteers are given the flexibility to design their own curriculum to teach both English skills and creative teaching methods that motivate and inspire students to learn English.

Q: Why should you participate in the TECC Summer Institutes?

In surveys completed by previous participants, the average rating for “I would recommend this program to other students” was 9 on a scale from 1(strongly disagree) to 10 (strongly agree). Some reasons given:

1. A great opportunity to practice Chinese while teaching my native language
2. Work with an amazing network of college students from outstanding universities in Beijing (Peking University, Tsinghua University), Shanghai (Fudan University, Shanghai Jiaotong University), and Hong Kong (HKU and CUHK)
3. Sustained contact with students -- Even though the institutes are only two weeks long, students keep in contact in following years and visit.
4. Instead of just Beijing and Shanghai, I got to experience a lesser known part of China.
5. Meet people from all walks of life and gain a better understanding of other cultures.
6. Student-based organization allowed for great flexibility.
7. So many new and unforgettable experiences! (food, transportation, language)

Summer Institute Logistics

Q: Do I need to know Chinese to be a volunteer?

No, you do not need to know Chinese to be a volunteer. In fact, the local teachers and students love to interact with English-speakers and your ability to speak English fluently is a skill in itself. You will be working in a team with Chinese university students who will be able to help you should the need arises.

Q: When and where will the institutes take place?

Each institute lasts two weeks, and each TECC volunteer will attend one institute. Previous institutes have been held at the following provinces: Anhui, Gansu, Yunnan, Sichuan, Ningxia. This year’s institutes will continue to be held at these locations and will take place at various times in July and at the end of August.

UPDATE:
We have 2 confirmed sites for this year
Anhui: July 15 - July 25
Gansu: August 15-August 25

You will be responsible for selecting airfare that allows you to arrive at the institutes at least one day before they start.

Q: How will I get from the airport to the institute?

Teams usually meet in Beijing or Shanghai first to get acquainted with each other and then either take a train or plane (expenses covered) to their institute site.

Q: What happens on a daily basis at an institute?

Although the institutes are only two weeks long, each day is filled with several hours of instruction and activities initiated by the TECC teams for the program participants. In the evening, the U.S. and Chinese TECC teams return to their residences to evaluate what went well during the day and to brainstorm possible improvements for the next day’s program. You can get a glimpse of last year’s institutes through a video made by one of our TECC volunteers last year.

Q: How many TECC volunteers will be at each institute and how many middle school teachers?

At each institute, there will be 4 U.S. TECC volunteers and 10-15 Chinese TECC volunteers from the Hong Kong, Shanghai, or Beijing TECC organizations. There will be approximately 80 middle school teachers participating in the programs at each institute.

Q: Is the trip safe?

We take your safety very seriously. Each institute is the result of extensive planning from both the U.S. and the Chinese sides. The Chinese teams have personally been to each institute’s site to ensure that the living conditions, local neighborhood, and local government resources meet adequate safety criteria.

Q: Two weeks is too short! What else can I do in China?

Many groups take leisure trips with their team and local teachers after completion of the Summer Institute. Another option is to participate in YAPM (Youth Ambassador Program for Minorities), which is another program affiliated with TECC. YAPM is a cultural exploration project in which volunteers travel to villages and gain first-hand experience of Chinese minority cultures.

Applying for the Summer Institutes

Q: What is the application process like?

The application is online and a link to it can be found on our website www.teccultures.org. After you submit your online application by midnight on April 26, 2008, we will contact you to set up a brief interview with a current TECC officer.

Q: What do you look for in your applicants?

We seek high-energy, socially-minded college students from throughout the U.S. that have a passion for creating a positive impact in China. We seek students that are open-minded to diversity, that thrive in a team setting and can think on their feet. We seek students that have a strong interest in Chinese culture and U.S.-China relations in general. There is no language requirement, as there will be enough multilingual TECC volunteers present at each site to facilitate communication. Although a familiarity with Mandarin is useful, a majority of our past volunteers were not proficient in Mandarin.

Q: How do we prepare for the summer institutes?

Selected candidates will be briefed on further trip details and go through a series of meetings as a team to develop planned curriculums for their specific institutes, with guidance from Dr Phil Hubbard, the Director for English for Foreign Students at Stanford, and program alumni.

TECC will provide experience and guidance for the curriculum development, but you and your teammates will take the lead in thinking of innovative ways to connect with the rural Chinese middle school teachers.

Finances

Q: What does the trip cost?

We cover all on-site expenses during the two-week institute including food and housing. We do not cover airfare to China, although we do pay for transportation from the airport to your institute (train, bus, etc). You may choose to stay in China for longer than two-weeks to travel on your own cost.

Thank you

for applying for the 2008 TECC summer institutes. Several of our past volunteers have described the institutes as a fun-filled, life-changing experience and are eager to return as a volunteer this year. If you are from the Stanford area, please join us at our info-session April 17, 2008. If you are from another school or have any further questions, please contact us.tecc@gmail.com