kmg’s journey to disney english – shanghai, china

….its a lot of words yall…. a whole lot of words

The Process – Disney English

If you consider moving abroad to work in another country it is definitely a process. I will be going to China soon so here is a detailed step by step process of what I had to do:

 

Disney English is a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide’s Disney Learning division that specializes in English language training for young learners, ages 2 to 12, in China using Disney characters. Wikipedia

Headquarters: Shanghai, China

Founded: October 2008

Number of locations: 6

Parent organizations: The Walt Disney Company,

 

KMG’s JOURNEY to DISNEY ENGLISH

 

1. The Application Process:
2. Apply Online – The easy part! After researching teaching abroad online, I used teachaway.com – I decided to apply for DISNEY ENGLISH. I knew this would be different, amazing, a one of a kind opportunity, – and its China!

There are many lists for ‘7 Wonders of the World’ but “THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA” is one of the most recent lists. Why not live in a country where you can find one of the 7 Wonders ?!?! Im going for it!

2. Follow Disney English on FB/Linked In/Social Media – Follow online for updates and information.
3. Be sure you have a Passport– that is up to date- In 2004 I got my first passport. I decided to get it so that if an opportunity was presented to me I would have nothing holding me back. I didn’t have a plan, or a place to visit. In 2006- I went to Central America and absolutely loved it. I love travel and I have kept an up to date passport ever since 2004.

IF YOU STAY READY YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET READY.

4. Research life in China – When moving anywhere it is important to research. Life will be different. Everything about life will be different. The land, geography, people, language, weather, food, – EVERY-THING!!! Research is vital.
5. Online/Virtual Interview- Skype– I did an “Online” interview where I answered a series of questions and my answers were submitted right to Disney – after my initial application process. These questions were randomized about you as a person and how you deal with people, life, and various situations. +/- 72 Hours later I received a response and had a SKYPE interview! Whew. Era of technology. My first SKYPE interview – ever- and I was to have a mini lesson prepared. It went well. (Clearly)
6. Receive Offer – if all of the above goes well – you will receive an offer letter. I don’t remember how much time I was given to respond but you have about 2 weeks I believe to think it all over and respond to the offer letter. If you decided, yes, you will have a longer SKYPE interview where you can ask more in depth questions.

 

 

IF you make it through steps 1–6 AMAZING – keep going on the journey!

 

 

1. Prepare for the Journey

1.Gather Documentation– There is lots of documentation. More than you may ever think. The moment you decide YES- begin your documentation process.

Documents/Required Items:

 

IMPORTANT: The Chinese Labor Bureau has very strict requirements regarding all document submitted. Please review the attached Document Requirements Guide-Shanghai and Sample Employment Verification Letter carefully to ensure that your documents meet the very strict standards for obtaining your Invitation Letter(IL) and Employment License(EL).

 

I had to keep reminding myself of this when I would have issues with documents/processing

 

COLOR SCAN EVERYTHING! – Keep a copy of everything in a folder, on a drive, in a safe place 😊

 

Digital Photo

– Photo requirements: Head and neck image (A passport style photograph)

–1 inch x 1 ¼ inches ( 3.3 centimeters x 3.3 centimeters) against medium blue or gray background.

 

Updated (Most Recent) CV/Resume- Keep it up to date. Upload your most recent CV/Resume

 

Copy of Passport/Bio Page- Color Scan and upload. Be sure this passport page is up to date.

 

Copy of Degree- Color Scan and upload.

 

Degree Legalization-

• Notary (Notary office/Personal Notary)
• Certification (Secretary of State)
• Authentication (Chinese Consulate)

Step 1: Notarization (There is a fee: Free- $10 – $10 at the most) This step is rather inexpensive – I used UPS

Location: Any location or individual who notarized documents

You can get a document notarized in several ways:

A: Individual notary that you may know or that someone recommends

B: At your local bank

C: UPS Store – Very convenient with all of their locations

D: Notary office in your city/town

E: Funeral home (I found one in Duncanville, Texas that will notarize your documents for free- just ask nicely with a smile).

 

Step 2: Certification of your document(s) $15.00

Location: Secretary of State’s Office- Austin, Texas

This is to be done at the Secretary of State’s Office in Austin, Texas. You can mail this form in and wait about 5-14 days for it to be mailed back to you. I learned that Texas can only certify documents from Texas.

You can do this in person. Wait is usually short. You will get your document right away.

Step 3: Authentication ($25.00)

Location: Chinese Consulate- Houston, Texas

Your documents are “Authenticated”/” Legalized” at the Chinese Consulates office in Houston, Texas. This must be done in person. You can’t mail this document in.

To have your document “Authenticated” you have to HAVE COMPLETED steps 1 and 2. You will also need to have copies of your documents that are being authenticated, each page, a copy of your passport, and the Authentication application.

If you have not completed steps 1 and 2 there is a chance that you won’t even be let in the building. I was stopped at the door and asked to see if I completed Step 2.

IF you are let in the building, you will proceed to your specific window for assistance. The employee will check all your documents. Hopefully you have everything you need. If you don’t there is a coin copy machine that you can use, and they have some blank applications. I was a little frustrated that the applications were behind the window. I had to wait in line to ask for the application, but they let me fill it out at a seat then come back to the front of the line, so that was nice.

You will turn this document in and it will be ready in 4 days. When you return to pick it up be sure to return with the slip that they gave you so that they can easily find what you gave them a few days before. You document will have a colored seal on the back of your certified document. Now you have a legalized document. There will be a certified form, stapled to your original document, with a Chinese colored seal on the back of the certified document. (If that doesn’t make sense you can always ask me about it later). Don’t remove the staple at all.

Police Clearance– Visit the police station of the county that you live in. Ask for a background check. This is a simple form to prove that you are not a criminal. They should notarize it there. This was $3.00 at my local police station – Downtown Dallas.

 

Medical Check– Disney will email you the proper form to use. Your doctor can give you a full physical and fill the form out for you. You doctor will need to sign the form in the signature box, where it says “suggestion” – you doctor will make the suggestion that you are “Fit to work” “Okay to work” “Healthy and well to work” – a statement of sorts that’s suggests you are healthy enough to travel to another country and work there.

I missed this. My doctor signed my form but I was unsure of this box. It is important. The hospital/doctor’s office will also need to stamp your form with a stamp from their office. The stamp should have the hospitals name/address. – This stamp should also be next to your doctor’s signature!!!  The location of the stamp is vital.

The STAMP is so IMPORTANT.

 

Employment Verification – This is a letter from your employer verifying that you were/are a teacher – and specifically (NOW) that you teach English. Be sure to have your employer print this for you on colored letterhead and sign it.

 

Everything that you upload to your HR site should be in color – and on official letterhead if available.

 

There are fees- and fees- and more fees – Keep all your receipts. Keep copies of everything in your email, on a drive, and a hard copy!

 

2.Sign Up for TEFL Courses– Disney set up my TEFL course – Teaching English as a Foreign Language. 1 Course- 20 units. All online. Comes with deadlines. Get it done!

3.English applies for your documents– If you have completed 1 and 2 Disney will apply for your documents for a Work Permit/Invitation Letter/Employment License. You will need this before you can apply for your Work Visa (Z-Visa)

 

4.Invitation Letter & Employment License– You will mail documents (specific documents- originals-Diploma (this hurt- eeeeeeeeek!!!! my original diploma)- legalized degree- legalized police report– medical report) to China. Once received- Disney will apply for your Invitation Letter/Employment License. Once you receive this you can apply for your Z-Visa in America – where you live. The Invitation Letter & Employment License gives you permission to work in China.

 

5.Apply for Work Visa – If you have steps 1-4 completed you are no ready to apply for your Visa. This isn’t so bad. Depended on where you live – VISA office is only in certain cities. Here in Texas, where I live, it is only in Houston. The fee -currently is $140.00, it takes about  days to process your Visa and it has to be done in person. You do not have to be the person to do it, but it has to be done in person. You can have a Visa service do this for you, or a friend/family member can do this for you.

 

6.Book Your Flight – DISNEY will book your fight! YAY! STEPS 1-5 MUST be completed before you can have your flight booked.

 

7.Pack Your Bags – This is different for everyone. I created a very detailed list of what I would need to pack as I prepare to move overseas for a little over a year! If you ever want to see this list I have it saved. The amount of bags you take may vary. Be sure to check airlines – baggage fees, weight requirements (it may change when you are in a different country- and the unit of measurement may change to- be ready to covert numbers).

If you are at this step– it is really happening 😊

 

1. Arrival to Day 1 (So clearly I don’t know this yet—but this is what is to come. I have asked lots of questions).
2. Arrive in China – whoa baby! If you are arriving in China you just finished a super long flight. The flight is anywhere from 13-15 hours! That’s a lot of sitting. I hope I get a flight that takes off at night so I can sleep through a percentage of it and later watch fun movies, read, snack, journal, talk, and hang!
3. GO to assigned hotel– DISNEY will have a hotel assigned to me. DISNEY team will meet at airport and assist with travel to hotel. – Enjoy 21 days in a hotel while connected with a realtor to find your housing while you are in China.
4. Meet Your team– Get Excited. The journey is really beginning. You will meet the individuals that you will be working with. Be open. Be open. Be kind. Be flexible. Be patient.
5. Training and Onboarding begins– Get Ready! Time for onsite training and onboarding. Lots of information.
6. Assigned MUSHU Mentor– Ask your mentor lots of questions! Its happening sooner than you think.
7. 1 – Get ready for your first day as a Disney English Foreign Language Trainer! Disney Journey is upon you …..

 

 

Whatever documents are needed from you keep a copy of everything. Some will be easier than others. Some will take longer than others. Upload to your individual HR site as soon as you have something needed. Email it also just to have a backup with a date. Degree legalization took me the longest- doesn’t mean that it will take someone just as long. COLOR SCAN EVERYTHING!!! Keep all of your receipts. Be prepared for fees upfront and you will be reimbursed later. Yes. You will spend a lot… but the payoff will be worth it… hopefully!

 

Start your process – the moment you say YES!

 

I have had a headache working on all of this. I look forward to it all being behind me! Friends who are abroad remind me of this- once you are there- you will forget about what it took for you to get to that place. Getting your Visa is tough. I am close! So Close.

 

Having the opportunity to live and work abroad is one of a kind …. I am so glad that I am able to take this opportunity.

 

O! I’m learning Mandarin Yall!

 

 

?????? Questions ??????   —— respond to this post!

 

She Believed She Could >>>So She Did …. this is me. I believe I can so I am

________________________________________________

I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY! 

I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’

(one of my favorites is–Psalms 98:4) — Did you know that there are over 800 Glad Texts in the Bible?!?! More than one for each day of the year for me to live by.

 

#FearlessinShanghai #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJOy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden

“life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”  – Hellen Keller

*I choose ADVENTURE* 

…..until next time yall….

PAZ!