ALLEX 第一階段 - 申請/ Step 1: Application

下定決心之後當然就是開始準備申請了

整個ALLEX的申請流程分成三個階段：
１． 書面審查
２． 拼音筆試以及由美國總部派來的中英文主考官面試
３． 學校配對

基本上ALLEX在台灣是和OH!STUDY合作，並以他們的台北辦公室作為據點進行審核以及面試的地點，因此在申請過程中會接觸到的除了ALLEX的工作人員外，也還會有OH!STUDY的人員協助，純粹是方便語言溝通以及分擔工作量而已，不用擔心。
以魚子醬本身為例，除了與台灣的協辦人員保持好關係之外，與ALLEX的工作人員積極的溝通是非常重要的。雖然他們只有說明會以及面試期間才會到台灣，但是當你正式簽約之後，台灣協辦人員的責任就完成了，反而是ALLEX的工作人員會是之後的兩年期間的協助者，這個關係若是能在一開始就建立好是很重要的。

初期的接洽會是以一位日本人Eriko Akamatsu以及一位美國人David Patt為主，舉辦說明會以及回答任何相關的申請問題，這兩位都非常的專業並且都能在很短的時間提供解答，並且會一路的協助協助參與者到完成ALLEX，非常的重要。

這篇我們就先講第一階段書面審查的部分！

從ALLEX網站上可以得到的資訊可知ALLEX分為兩種專案:

Teaching Associate Program (TAP全額獎學金的學位)

Teaching Fellow Program (FP在美國大學教中文)

報名前要先想看看自己需求的方向！因為報名的文件不同，包含了報名表、自傳、托福成績以及要報名兩年碩士班的GRE成績等。

＊ 報名需繳交的文件也可以參考網站，有詳細的內容可以看。

魚子醬報名的是TAP，因此主要的的經驗分享會以兩年期的ALLEX為主。而既然TAP是以攻讀碩士為出發點，相對的TOEFL以及GRE就是重點了。但必須要強調的是，學校的配對條件很多，是不是你的分數高就一定可以配到好的學校這不是絕對，但是這個基本條件證明了你在美國的學術能力，越高是絕對越有利的。一般來說ALLEX會建議以TOEFL 100以上，以及GRE在300以上為較理想的分數，也建議有興趣的參加者提早準備以拿到好成績。

申請寄出後，會有一個初步審核的階段，並且ALLEX會通知是否通過初審，也就是是否會有面試的機會。

在等待面試通知的期間建議可以開始練習拼音，面試會考拼音筆試，若是有考上一般也是會以拼音作為教學的基礎，所以早點練習是比較好的！最好練到跟注音一樣聽到字馬上能夠拼出來。另外一方面也是要開始估算所需要的費用，即使連面試資格是否俱備都還不知道，建議還是早點開始做資金規劃以免努力考上了卻發現因為資金不足而無法前往，這樣努力就白費了！

So after you made up your mind to participate in ALLEX program. The first step is of course apply for it.

The whole process of application includes

1. Application of credentials (Including TOFEL/GRE score, GPA in college, Statement of purpose, etc...)

2. An oral interview with ALLEX.

3. School matching.

Throughout the process you will be in contact with staff of ALLEX in the US and staff from OH! STUDY in Taiwan. Basically ALLEX cooperate with OH!STUDY to provide better language support locally for the initial stage of promotion and orientation. Also, ALLEX will use their office to conduct orientations and interviews. However, other than keeping good relationship with OH! STUDY staffs who are really helpful, it is strongly recommended to keep good relationship with the staffs of ALLEX. Because they will not only be the main contact windows for the application but will also support you throughout your entire 2 years in the US.

At initial stage you will be in contact with Ms. Eriko Akamatsu and Mr. David Patt. Although they are based in Ithaca NY and will only come to Taiwan for orientations and interviews, they are highly responsive through internet and they always get back to you within 24 hours. And they are all very experienced consultant and very aware of the situations and concerns you might have. So please make sure to have good communication with them and do not hesitate to ask for their help. Caviar still remember the first time meeting Ms. Akamatsu and she immediately recognized my name and the details of my application, even Pineapple Cake's name!

So, let's start with the first stage.

Based on the info on ALLEX official site. The program offers 2 options for teaching Chinese/Japanese in the US. 1 year as FP and 2 years as TAP. Since Caviar applied for TAP so the experience sharing will be based on TAP program. Other than your basic information and resume and why you want to participate, the most important credential will be your score of TOEFL and GRE, since the TAP program is aimed for getting a master degree. However, please note that higher scores in this category is not a guarantee for matching to a better school since there are many other variables in terms of considering school matching. Still, these 2 scores are the foundations towards whether you will succeed in the US academic system and thus you will definitely have better chance if you can provide high scores for these tests. ALLEX recommend to have at least 100 for TOEFL and 300 for GRE. So for those of you who are interested in the program please make sure to start your preparation early so that you have more time to get a higher score.

After you submitted your application, ALLEX will review your credentials and will give you a notice for passing the first stage of evaluation. That means you will be invited to an interview with ALLEX staff.

But during this waiting time, Caviar strongly recommend you to start practicing Pinyin and get very familiar with it. There will be a written test on Pinyin prior to the interview and most important of all, your teaching in the US will be based on Pinyin system instead of Zhuyin. It will save you a lot of time to be familiar with it at this stage, especially for your summer training courses. At the same time, it is a good timing to review your budget and start planning for the years to come. Believe it or not, the times of waiting for the result may seem long and weary but once you got the match you will be very busy and the earlier you start with budget planning the faster you can keep up with this pace.

*related posts 相關文章*

ALLEX 第二階段 - 面試/ Step 2: Interview 

ALLEX 第三階段 - 學校配對 (上)/ Step 3 School Matching Part 1
ALLEX 第三階段 - 學校配對 (中)/ Step 3 School Matching Part 2
ALLEX 第三階段 - 學校配對 (下)/ Step 3 School Matching Part 3 
ALLEX life in Wichita, Kansas