KINDERGARTEN PROJECT IN YANGZHOU, CHINA

If you have a passion for the energy of little ones, join us at the Lucky Kids Kindergarten and you use games to teach the children English in an informal, interactive setting. If you have skills in Arts & Crafts or Music you can use these very effectively on this project.

PROJECT OVERVIEW
The name says it all really… you’ll be working at the Yangzhou Lucky Kids Kindergarten with young Chinese children. Lucky Kids Kindergarten is located in a large and colourful building and you can feel the fun atmosphere as soon as you walk into the entrance hall. Whether you want to work in early years education, or if you'd just rather teach English at a more basic level, this project is the one for you. You'll be teaching and caring for younger children from ages 3-6, so bring a big smile and your creativity...

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:

• An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into the Orient and Chinese culture.

• The enormous satisfaction of helping children and knowing that you made a difference to them.

• New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional development.

• An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head and shoulders above most others in the job market

• And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!

ABOUT YOUR WORK
Your work will mostly focus around teaching the children some basic English through games, songs, stories and other fun activities. You may also be asked to help out in caring for the children (ie accompanying them to the toilet, helping them get ready for nap time etc) and playing with the children when they do sports, games and activities such as colouring or playing in the ball pit. However, your main role is that of an English teacher. For more details about this project, please see below.

This is a lovely project which you'll thoroughly enjoy. The walls at the Kindergarten are covered in drawings, paintings and murals done by and for the children and each room is filled with equipment to assist the children’s learning.

“I was in China last Sept teaching Kindergarten Children. I really loved this project and the country and I hope to revisit this year. I have done 2 of your projects now, and I can’t get enough of them. Maybe you will see me again soon!!!”  Victoria Allen

The Kindergarten requires volunteers to assist 5 hours a day for 2-3 days a week. So, you will need to combine your work at the Kindergarten with teaching at a school to fill up your hours. We can arrange for you to work with the very youngest children at a primary school if your preference is to work with very young children.

You'll usually teach lessons of your own design, giving you lots of freedom although you’ll usually have a Chinese teacher present in the classroom with you to assist you. The Kindergarten has stressed that playing games is the most important thing to do, although you do need to be careful with safety as the children are so young and get over-excited very easily! If you play an instrument and wish to bring it with you to play to the children, please do so. The Kindergarten is also interested in having volunteers who can work on arts & crafts with the kids.

The Kindergarten opens from 8am – 5pm every day, but you will only work 5 of these hours. Approximately 50 children attend, and there will be around 12 children in each group. The children are aged between 3-6 but you will mostly be working with the older age ranges. There are already 2 English teachers at the school so your lessons will compliment theirs.

You don’t need any language skills to take part in the project, but as the children are so young and don’t have very good command of English yet, it would be of benefit to you to know as much as possible. Take lessons or use a tape and book before you leave, or speak to your Project Co-Ordinator if you’d like to take some Mandarin Lessons before or during your project.

Holidays are as follows:

	January 16th-31st
	The whole of August
	May Holiday Week : 1-7th May
	October Holiday Week : 1-7th October
	New Year: The date for Chinese New Year changes every year, and there will usually be a 2 week holiday around this time.

You are welcome to take part in a project over these periods and spend the holiday travelling.

Your weekends and evenings will be free and this will allow some time for relaxing, travelling and sightseeing. If you would like more time to travel during or after your teaching, either let Travellers know before you leave, or speak to Tim, our Yangzhou Organiser, and she will try to arrange it with the Kindergarten; we cannot guarantee that this will be possible, but we will be as flexible as circumstances allow.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

OPTIONAL ADD-ONS

a single room at the hostel

the lounge at the hostel

Your accommodation will either be on school campus or in a local hostel.

On School Campus: You will usually share a building with other volunteers and Chinese teachers. You will usually have your own room and bathroom, although sometimes you may have to share a room with another volunteer. All rooms are clean and comfortable and some may have air conditioning, internet access, a washing machine and a TV!

In a local Hostel: If you stay in a hotel or hostel, you will most likely share your room with another Travellers volunteer. You'll usually have access to all the modern facilities you'd expect: internet access, a kitchen, TV, common room with DVDs, a security locker and a bar & restaurant on premises. The hostel and hotel that we use are both located in lively areas, where you will have the chance to meet other backpackers and travellers.

All your food is provided, and you'll be given a budget to eat out in the many delicious local eateries around the hotel! Tim, our Yangzhou Organiser, often takes volunteers out for group dinners to introduce them to the best local cuisine in the area!

the bar & communal area at the hostel

the bathroom at one of the schools