The school usually charges around 600 USD all inclusive—training, food, and a private room. It wouldn’t be the first time they ask for U.S. dollars, but with a credit card you can only withdraw Chinese yuan. Of course, they will also accept yuan if you tell them that you can’t withdraw U.S. dollars. Most foreign wushu students only stay for a few weeks, which is why paying in advance is quite common. However, if you plan to stay for more than one month, paying in advance can be a very bad idea. Click here for more information about wushu training in China.
More: Payment – School Fee etc.
Some people have asked me whether they could find a job in Yun Cheng or work as an English teacher (native speaker) at the school while studying there. The answer is no. Not because nobody would employ you, but because the salary would be far too low to make any real difference. Most teachers earn around 700 yuan per month, and some of the better jobs in the city pay about 1200 yuan.
Unfortunately, wushu schools are very expensive, and even for Chinese students they are hard to afford. Only wealthy parents can send their kids to schools like Song Jiang. Foreigners pay even more, mainly because of the private room and the constant translation they need. In Beijing and Shanghai, you would pay much more for the same service. There are also schools where you can live in cheaper accommodation, but you would still pay around 450 USD.
That said, if you want to ask whether you can teach English at the school or work somewhere in Yun Cheng, feel free to ask Mr. Li Chen. Maybe the situation has changed by now. If you go to Beijing or Shanghai, you might be able to work for someone from your own country who runs a business there. There are many European and American companies, restaurants, and shops in those cities—but that’s a different story.
Advice: Payment – School Fee etc.
Don’t pay too much money in advance. It’s very hard to get your money back if you get sick or can’t train because of an injury. It’s also difficult to get a refund if the Chinese students go on break and your personal instructor never shows up during the vacation. After all, instructors don’t get paid extra for teaching foreigners during breaks—so why should they work if they don’t get paid? This is an internal problem of the school, and I’ve seen the same issue at many Chinese martial arts academies.
Don’t withdraw too much money at once, and keep your cash bundles in a safe place.
Avoid paying in U.S. dollars. You can only withdraw Chinese yuan, and if you want dollars, you’ll have to pay extra exchange fees.
If you speak Chinese, you can ask the school to reconsider your school fee. They might allow you to split the fee into training, accommodation, and food. That way, you could save some money by eating elsewhere, living in a cheaper room, or sharing a room with another student. However, it’s very difficult to convince the headmaster to agree to this.
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