Teach Visually Impaired Children | Beijing, China

.	.
TEACH VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN IN BEIJING	CHINA
.	.

Teach visually impaired children in a special needs comprehensive school that is located in Beijing, near a beautiful river. Your role will be to improve the students' oral English and pronunciation.

China is a real delight... work with children who really want to learn and perhaps you'll learn something from them in return. Living and working as part of a school means you will really become a part of the local community.

"I had a lot of fun teaching and found it really rewarding: one of the best things that I have ever decided to do." Lina Joshi on her teaching placement in China

►SUMMARY FACTFILE

Start Dates All year round, subject to school holidays. You choose your start and finish dates.

Duration From 4 weeks up to 12 months+, subject to visa requirements

Requirements You should have a TEFL qualification** or an education related qualification. No knowledge of Mandarin is necessary, but a little basic Mandarin will make your placement much more enjoyable. You should have a lot of patience and empathy.

Price From £1,495 for 4 weeks ranging to £2,895 for 12 weeks.
Full Price List and other Currencies

What's included ►Accommodation ►Meeting you at Beijing Airport ►Transfer to your accommodation ►Full pre-departure support ►Local in-country team support and backup ►24-hr emergency support ►Free T-Shirt.

What's not included Flights, Insurance, Cost of Visas (if a visa is required, but we'll provide necessary documents and assistance), Food, Return transfer to airport.

Who can do this Project? All projects are open to all nationalities.
Unless otherwise stated, you need to be aged between 17 and 70+

PROJECT OVERVIEW
In working with Chinese blind children the challenge is not just to help them improve their oral English, but also to do so without them feeling as though they are incapable of doing things for themselves. In addition, you should treat them in exactly the same manner as you would a Chinese child whose vision is not impaired. Your assistance as a native English speaker is invaluable to the students as they get very little exposure to proper English pronunciation. The improvements they make under your tutelage will give them lots of confidence, which is so important to them.

There are currently 247 children in the school, most of whom come from families and about 20 who come from orphanages. Your classes will usually have about 8 to 12 children. You may also be asked to help with adults who are visually impaired and who come to the school for career training. The school has lots of advanced equipment and facilities needed for teaching visually impaired students.

Teaching will all be oral and you'll be given text books to guide your lesson plans which you'll prepare for each class. You'll usually be supervised by a local English language teacher. We provide you with a Teaching Suggestions Booklet which has ideas for teaching English and will help you in how to put together your lesson plans.

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 visually impaired 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 THE SCHOOL
Beijing school for the Blind was founded in 1874 and is located near a beautiful river called the Kunyu River. It covers an area of 4 hectares and the building area is 31,000 square meters .It is not only the earliest special educational school in China but also the only special educational school for the visually impaired in Beijing .It has now developed into a comprehensive school for visually impaired students, which includes kindergarten, special-needs classes, primary and secondary schools. It also has a high school section (including senior high, intermediate vocational school for acupuncture and massage and piano tuning vocational high school), as well as a teachers’ training programme.

The school also undertakes the responsibility of guiding those visually impaired children in normal schools, information counselling and early intervention for visually impaired children aged 1 to 3. The school campus is and beautiful and is equipped with modern facilities that meet the needs of visually impaired students. As the school says, it is a paradise both in living and studying for the visually impaired students.

Over the years, the school has highlighted the idea of "scientific development" "people-oriented" and "multiple intelligences". The school art troupe and sports teams have won many awards in international and domestic competitions .It was one of the earliest schools to carry out research on of computer-aided teaching, thus building a bridge for visually impaired students to step into the information society by using modern technology. The school vigorously strengthens ideological and political education and encourages the students to study hard and use their knowledge to improve their future. The students are trained to be eager for knowledge, sensible, caring and strong, aiming to become optimistic and independent .

Nervous about teaching?
As one volunteer recalls, although it is natural to be nervous initially, you will soon begin to find teaching second nature: "The teaching was brilliant, the students were so interested and really funny, and they were always eager and attentive. I was very nervous but then after a few lessons it was a piece of cake and the students helped me to relax,"

Weekends are free and you'll also have spare time during the evenings to experience the many festivals, holidays, cultural events, and not forgetting the unique Chinese cuisine!.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHINESE EDUCATION SYSTEM
The Chinese education system has been described by the Chinese themselves as a ‘rat race’. Students take frequent exams, competing for limited places, and those who don’t measure up are not able to continue their education. This difficult and competitive system results in the students working extremely long hours (often from 5am to 9pm Monday to Saturday! - don't worry, you don't to work all these hours too...) and the students place great importance upon success in all areas. In fact, they will frequently ask you for extra lessons ... and more extra lessons ... and more extra lessons! It’s also very likely that you'll walk into a class to a round of applause and a big grins all round, which is extremely welcome when you’re a little nervous on your first day!

A great deal of the students’ time is spent in very formal class situations, and so your classes, which focus on Spoken English and can include games etc, will be a really welcome break. There is a huge sense of fascination with Western culture.

There has been a major drive by the government in recent years to improve the standard of English around the country, as it is of absolutely immense importance for anyone who wants to build a successful career for themselves. Because of this, your presence will really be appreciated and you will most likely be thoroughly spoilt by your school during your placement!

National Holidays in China
All projects will break for Chinese National Holidays. The main events are:

Chinese New Year - usually sometime in late January or early February. All projects will break for 1 or 2 weeks for New Year

May Holiday – usually the first week of May. Most projects break for 3-7 days

October Holiday – usually the first week of October. Most projects break for 3-7 days

There are also a number of shorter holidays throughout the year where some projects will be closed. You are very welcome to join a project during holiday time, however you will not be able to work if your project is closed.

Teaching Projects run all year round, including during the summer holidays. However they will still close for the holidays mentioned above.

Visually impaired students in class in Beijing

Got any questions? Please email us:
info@travellersworldwide.com

Teach Visually Impaired Children in China

Enhance your trip with exciting activities you can add to your programme:

Got any questions? Please email us:
info@travellersworldwide.com

ACCOMMODATION, FOOD & TRAVEL

A shared room at the Beijing hostel

You will stay in a modern and friendly, central hostel along with the other volunteers. The hostel features air-conditioning, 24-hour hot water, a self-catering dining room, laundry room, general store, game room and a reading room. Internet is available at an hourly rate.

The hostel is located in a lively area, where you will have the chance to meet other backpackers and travellers. There are many shops in the surrounding area if you need to stock up on anything, and the hostel is extremely close to Beijing's famous Sanlitun Lu - or 'Bar Street', where everyone hangs out in the evening for drinks and fun! The Lufthansa Shopping Centre and other tourist hot-spots are within easy walking distance of the hostel

There are 35 rooms in the hostel and you'll share with 3 others of the same sex (you can upgrade to a single room if you prefer, just let us know at time of booking (there will be a supplemental charge for this).

“The hostel is one of the best I have ever stayed in - and I have stayed in a lot! They clean the rooms every day, and change bedding every 3 days (I have never stayed in a hostel that changes bedding!!)” – Jessica Saunders

FOOD:
Past volunteers have regarded eating out as one of the highlights of living in Beijing, and an essential part of Chinese culture! Because of this, the price of your placement does not include food, you’ll get the chance to venture out and sample some of the fabulous food which China is famous for.

The cost of eating out in Beijing can vary from a just a couple of pounds up to a couple of hundred pounds! This is one city where you certainly won’t have any trouble eating well on a tight budget - there are some very inexpensive options available and you'll dine out handsomely on about £4 ($6); although you could be lucky and get away with spending even less and still be eating well.

TRAVEL:
To read about Travel arrangements and what happens when you arrive in your new country, please click here.

Support & Backup: To read about the excellent Support & Backup we provide before you leave and during your programme, please click here.
.

IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN THESE PROJECTS TOO ...
	TEACH IN SCHOOLS AND REFUGEE CENTRES IN PERTH, AUSTRALIA Want to do something really worthwhile? Teach English in Perth in Australia to refugee children from war-torn countries. These children come from countries such as Sudan, Somalia and Afghanistan to begin a new life in safety. Read more...	TEACH UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA: You'll work in a school in Cape Town that has many children from previously disadvantaged backgrounds and poorer parts of the community. Your help and support are appreciated by everyone, but mostly by the children! Read more...
Got any questions? Please email us: info@travellersworldwide.com

Suite 2A, Caravelle House, 17/19 Goring Road, Worthing,
West Sussex, BN12 4AP, England
Tel: +44 (0)1903 502595 Fax: +44 (0)1903 708179
Email:info@travellersworldwide.com