FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is the trip?

  • June 28th:    Teachers depart North America for Hong Kong or Ulaanbaatar!
  • July 9th:       Conversational English camps begin!*
  • July 27th:     Final day of English camps
  • July 31st: Camp teams return to North America
  • August 6th:  Engage teams return to North America

* Camp Mongolia’s teaching start date may be adjusted due to Mongolia’s Independence Holiday, July 11-13.  During this time Camp Mongolia participants can expect to take in this memorable event.

2. How much does it cost?

Camp China: $3,380 USD/CAD

Camp Vietnam & Camp Mongolia: $3,580 USD/CAD

Engage Teams (all countries): $3,580 USD/CAD

ELIC strives to take excellent care of you by arranging the many details for your trip.  Your financial profile covers the following items:

  • International travel from Los Angeles
  • Support development materials
  • Medical and evacuation insurance
  • Orientation & debriefing
  • Visas
  • Donor receipting
  • Teaching curriculum designed by our professional teachers
  • Screening, team placement, contracts with individual host schools

We are very experienced in how to raise funds and will work with you on a one-on-one basis in finding the most effective way for you. The school where you teach will provide food, housing, and local transportation.  All funds given to ELIC are tax-deductible.

*Other expenses:

  • Domestic airfare to/from Los Angeles
  • Domestic baggage fees
  • Postage & preparation of three newsletters
  • Optional spending money ($200-400 suggested)
  • Obtaining or renewing a passport (visit www.usps.com/passport for current costs)

* ELIC allows participants to raise additional funds and to be reimbursed for the actual costs of domestic airfare and up to $250 toward these additional expenses.  Additional details are provided in your Travel Guide.

3. How will I be prepared?

Upon arrival in Asia, you’ll spend several days with your team in a time of preparation. This orientation time will focus on your own development, team building, curriculum, and cross-cultural training. The goal of orientation is to provide you with the confidence and training you will need for the most memorable and rewarding summer ever.

4. Do you provide help with raising support?

Of course!  ELIC successfully prepares and sends hundreds of volunteer participants to Asia each year.  We’ll get you a great handbook with practical ideas and suggestions on how to build a strong support team.  We’ll be there for you to assist you in this process.  Our team has previously served in the program and knows how to get you there.

5. When is the application deadline?

Our final application deadline is March 1st.  Early application is highly recommended and allows for a greater likelihood of serving in your location of preference.

6. Do I need a passport before I can apply?

Feel free to apply even if you don’t yet have a passport. You are encouraged to apply for your passport as soon as possible. Once you have been accepted, you will be required to send your passport to us so we can secure your visa. Those who wait too long will need to pay the additional fees to expedite a passport application.

7. How do I get a visa?

Visa forms will be provided for you to complete and return to ELIC by a specified date.  Our staff will then work with the appropriate consulate to secure your visa.

8. Will I have to take vaccination shots?

Vaccination shots are not required for participation in ELIC’s Camp & Engage Programs. It is recommended that you consult your physician and the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) for specific information related to the area where you will be traveling.

9. How much luggage can I take with me?

Each participant is limited to one check-in piece of luggage weighing no more than 40 lbs.  In addition, carry-on pieces are limited to one bag weighing no more than 20 lbs. and a smaller bag (such as a purse or laptop bag) weighing no more than 7 lbs.

10. Where will I stay?

You will room with team members in a furnished hotel or dormitory.  Camp Mongolia participants may stay in a ger (yurt) camp!

11. Is it safe?

Over the thirty years in which we have been successfully sending volunteers to Asia, the safety of our teachers and staff has been an extremely high priority.  Our host schools share this priority and take measures to ensure the safety of our teachers.  In addition, we maintain offices and have resident staff in each of the countries where we serve.  We monitor events closely and are committed to adjusting plans if necessary.

12. Do I have to speak their language?

No. The students you’ll be teaching and the administration and faculty on the school campus are already able to speak at least basic English.

13. Can my friends and I go on the same team?

Yes! We encourage team participation and will work with you to place friends and students from your college campus on the same team according to your preference.  Our staff will be glad to talk with you about how to find more students from your school to serve with you this summer.

14. When will I know if I have been accepted?

Our staff will follow up with you after we receive your completed application. About one week following your phone interview you will be contacted regarding your acceptance, assuming any outstanding questions or issues have been addressed.

15. I’m getting a security certificate error when I try opening one of your forms. What should I do?

If you feel comfortable, go ahead and proceed, bypassing the warning. Our site wants to direct you to a secure form so your information is kept safe, and some browsers (specifically we’ve found it in Safari for Mac) aren’t willing to recognize our forms as what they are: secure. We assure you that it’s safe to proceed. If you’re still not sure, try opening the form in another web browser (we suggest Firefox for Mac and Internet Explorer for PC), or feel free to email info@elic.org