Assist with English classes at Primary, Secondary and High Schools in Shanghai

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Program Overview
Life on the Program
Project Details
Volunteer Testimonials

Program Overview

Joining our dynamic team in Shanghai, a city bursting with people, culture and tradition, offers an amazing opportunity to explore and learn about this fascinating country while making a valuable contribution to English language education. In Shanghai you will undergo a 5 day orientation which includes an introduction to the incredible history and culture of China, basic Mandarin lessons and a tour of the city. Shanghai’s famous sites will be yours to explore in your free time.

After this orientation period you will be transferred to your teaching placement which could be a primary, secondary or high school in the city.

Alongside local teachers you will help provide students with insight into western cultures while they improve their spoken English. Lessons are fun and interactive, with lots of games and activities to develop the children’s confidence and fluency.

Life on the Program

On your arrival, the Head of English at your assigned school will give you an introduction to teaching methods and the level of English you can expect from your students. At the beginning of your placement you will be able to observe the local teachers’ lessons to give you a feel for the Chinese teaching style. The local teachers will help you to plan and prepare for your lessons.

Class sizes can be large, with up to 70 students, but you will be assisted by a local teacher. In smaller classes of 30-40 students, volunteers may teach on their own rather than assisting other teachers. You will be teaching several lessons throughout the day and you lunch will be provided in the school canteen.

Accommodation varies between different placements and in most cases you will be sharing an apartment, but you should be prepared for variations on this setup.

Project Details

The lessons you will lead are aimed at helping students improve their spoken English and to introduce them to western culture. Your lessons will focus on basic literacy, vocabulary and pronunciation and will use games and activities to keep the classes interactive and exciting.

The specific placements for this project can vary in a number of ways. In some schools you will be given a theme for each week such as the weather, animals or festivals. On some placements, you may also be involved with the English Club at the school either during lunch or after class where students discuss a range of different topics.

Some volunteers may also wish to help with ideas on how to make lessons more interesting and exciting for the students, as well as helping teachers to improve their English grammar and punctuation.

How this project makes a difference:

The education system has recently introduced teaching English and Western Culture to the curriculum. Volunteers will be helping students improve their spoken English through playing games, singing, reading western stories and organising performances by the students. The students are enjoying this new and different style of teaching and are becoming more productive and making greater advances.

Volunteer Testimonials

Chris Brown, USA

I am teaching students whose English is very good. We have had dialogues about food, sports, and the differences between China and the US. All of the students are curious and fun to teach. They all try a little conversation in English between classes. There is also a lot of support from the other teachers at the school. They keep me on schedule, offer tips and feedback, teach me a little Chinese, and provide great company in the evenings after school.

Lorraine Lee, Malaysia

The students were awed by my past experience studying in a foreign country and living in so many places, and it was a fun way for them to learn. I tried my best to explain several times in English, while giving more vivid facial expressions and actions, and failing that I rephrased the sentences to simpler structures and used easier words so students understood by the second or third time.

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