Question and Answers that are commom for Chinese Students

Questions and Answers

Q: If my private classes can be hosted anywhere can they be in my dormitory or hotel room?

A: This is not an option. All classes are held in public areas, offices, or classrooms.

Q: Do I need medical insurance?

A: If you plan to stay in China for 6 months or more you are required to buy medical insurance in China by the Chinese government or show proof of coverage from your home country. We at ENFL are not involved in the monitoring of your coverage, but we can inform you that the cost varies but is normally around $80 USD for6 months of coverage. On arrival our staff can help you with the purchase of insurance if needed.

Q Can I have a private class with my friend? Does that change the price?

A: You may have class with your friends or family members. That does change the price from a private lesson to a group lesson. We do recommend 1-on-1 tutoring, but if you prefer to have class with others that is okay. The cost can be found in the price section of the website.

Q: How do I transfer money to China?

A: There are several ways to transfer money such as: Paypal, Western Union, Moneygram, bank transfers, or just using your ATM card or credit card. Remember that China is a major trading country where money is transferred to and from everyday.

Q What type of identification should I bring?

A Other than Passport, at least one other form of identification such as a driver’s license, but an additional form is also recommended. Also photocopies should be brought. This way substantial personal identification can be on you at all times if something is lost or stolen or your passport is not with you because a new visa is being processed. (When a new visa is being issued your passport may be submitted to the Chinese government for anywhere between one and four weeks depending on the visa type and time of year)

Q: How long does it take to adjust to the time difference between my home country and China?

A: Most people adjust to the time difference in three days, but some faster than others and some slower, try to start to adjust to the time difference before arrival.

Q: Can I buy my medicine in China?

A: There are many western stores such as Wal-Mart here and even some Western Pharmacy’s. Buying your medicine should not be a problem but it is always best to have a substantial amount on you upon arrival.

Q: Is there internet access in China?

A There is, but some western websites such as Youtube and Facebook are normally blocked. So it is best to tell your contacts that you will contact them through email or buy a vpn or torrents service.

Q: Will my phone work in China?

A: Yes and no. Depends on the phone, but phones and calling cards are so cheap in China that it might be best to just buy a phone here for temporary use and then use an online calling service such as Skype or Vontage to make international calls home. (If you take private lesson you and your teacher one class can go and buy a phone or ask a language partner or Chinese friend to help you.)

Q: If the value of my home country currency changes does the cost of my class also change?

A: Yes and No, our prices are set in RMB based on our expenses. If things change for us, price adjustments will be made, but the client will always have substantial warning to be allowed to make a non-pressured decision on anything related to the school.

Q: How long will it take me to be able to read a newspaper in Chinese?

A There are many factors in this. One is your mother language. There are several Asian countries that share many Chinese characters in there writing system. If you are from one of these countries it will take a lot less time in comparison to someone from a Western country. Also it depends how much time you want to spend just on the studying of the written language. Many schools claim with their programs one can read a newspaper in less than a year but the truth is it will take more time than that and many students at other schools only can read and write, not speak or have conversations at all. We want to focus on the complete learning of the Chinese language: Speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Q: Why should I choose your school over another?

A: Several reasons: Others schools have a set lesson plan where the student has to adjust to it. Our school, the classes adjust to the student. Other schools want you to sit in a classroom and look at a picture of a tomato to learn the word and then repeat the word with 5 other students who are also saying the word for the first time (probably most are saying it incorrectly). We want you to go to the store, hold the tomato ask the price and have a conversation with the sale-women surrounded by only native speakers. We want our students to feel 100% of their time is being put to good use.

Q: Is it safe to walk around at night?

A Many people are surprised with how safe they feel in Beijing, but like any big city we recommend at night taking a taxi.

Q: Should I be worried that someone will try to steal my money?

A: If things are stolen it normally occurs on public transportation. Be cautious with your bags and make sure they are closed at all times.

Q: When is the best time to go to Beijing?

A: Anytime of the year have its advantages and disadvantages. Just research a little when it is the best for you and then plan your trip.

Q: If I want to travel outside of Beijing can I? Will you help me in my planning?

A: Yes, you are free to travel and your teacher can help you plan your trip or can recommend a tour company that may help.

Q: How much does food cost per day in Beijing?

A: This depends on each individual. It can cost as little as 20 RMB a day by eating the same as many Chinese people or 200RMB a day going to really nice restaurants and ordering drinks. It really depends of the person. The average person will spend around 10 RMB at the cafeteria or 20 RMB at a restaurant per meal.

Q: What is the night life in Beijing?

A: With the huge amount of tourism and foreigners now living and working in China the night life is the same as any major city. The only problem is at many of the night clubs one will mostly find foreigners as “Clubbing” is not a big part of the Chinese culture.

Q: What are items that I should bring that people commonly forget?

A: The tags on almost all products say “Made in China” so pretty much anything can easily be found here. The one difficulty that some might find is shoes or cloths the properly fit if the individual is, by national standards, rather tall or large.

Q: If I am not happy am I able to get my money refunded?

A: Depending on the contract with the classes (special offers do not apply) those that have not been completed may be refunded. Also, for private classes, if it is known that a class will be missed and ample time is given to the teacher than the time for that class can be changed (We are sorry, but if ample time is not given to the teacher their time must still be paid for so a reimbursement in that situation cannot be given.) Remember, for private classes your teacher’s salary is based on the hours that they work. If the student constantly calls in absent the teacher may request to change students.

Q: How much luggage should I bring?

A: Every individual is different. It is recommended pack-lightly except for medication and personal items that might be difficult to find. Many people have the problem of not being able to take many items back because of all the souvenirs that were purchased in their time in China. Consult your travel company regulations to see how much luggage is allowed.

Q: What is the easiest way to get money while in China?

A: Money can be transferred many ways. Many find using their ATM card is the most convenient. Consult your bank before coming to china to find out about withdrawal charges. Many foreign banks have a sister bank or an agreement with a bank in China where there are no withdrawal fees for ATM use.

Q: Can I use my credit cards to make purchases in China?

A: Yes and No. Many places except credit cards, but China is still largely a cash based society. Any purchase at small restaurants, stores, or to individuals such as a landlord will most likely only be done in Chinese currency RMB.

Q: How much cash should I have on me upon my arrival?

A: Each individual is different. It is recommended to have 3000RMB or so (about 400USD) on you upon arrival distributed in various locations on your body and in your luggage (maybe some in your bag, your wallet, and a money belt) this will be a safe amount to use until you get accustomed to Beijing.