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REWARDING TEACHING PROJECTS IN BEIJING OR YANGZHOU

CHINA

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Teaching in 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 2 weeks up to 12 months+, subject to visa requirements
Requirements No qualifications or knowledge of Mandarin necessary, but a little basic Mandarin will make your placement much more enjoyable.
Price In Yangzhou, from £795 / US$1,195 for 2 weeks ranging to £2,395 / US $3,595 for 12 weeks.
In  Beijing,
from £995 / US $1,495 for 2 weeks ranging to £2,595 / US $3,895 for 12 weeks.
Full Price List and other Currencies
What's included Accommodation Food  (Yangzhou only)Meeting you at Beijing or Shanghai Airport Transfer to your accommodation Transport to and from your project (Yangzhou Only) Full pre-departure support Local in-country team support and backup 24-hr emergency support 2 free T-Shirts.
What's not included Flights, Insurance, Cost of Visas (if a visa is required, but we'll provide necessary documents and assistance), Food (Beijing only), Transport to and from your project (Beijing only), 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+

"Everything is fantastic! Love it here!" - Click here to read Abielle Trainor's feedback

PROJECT OVERVIEW
During your project, you will work at one or several schools or language centres in Beijing or Yangzhou (depending on your choice of location). Usually, you will have one main school, where you will work for most of the week. You will then often take two or three lessons at other schools on pre planned days.

"I would definitely recommend this placement to everyone - anyone with any interest in teaching English abroad, to anyone who wants to visit China and learn about the Chinese way of life. I am very glad that I decided to do this placement  - it has really been worthwhile" - Suhrid Joshi

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!

WORK CONTENT
In Beijing the working hours are is 1-8pm, 5 days a week including one weekend. You can arrange less teaching time on request, if you would like more time to see the city etc, although we find most volunteers prefer to work fuller hours to have the most interesting program.

Your lessons will usually be a combination of teaching from the standard text book and teaching lessons of your own design (although some schools prefer one or other predominantly, and it will always depend on the age range you're working with). Your personal lesson plans can include anything from your hobbies and interests to current affairs and local news as subject matter. Language games always go down extremely well too. The students absolutely adore hearing about your life in England, so make sure to bring photographs of your family and friends to show them.

With slight alterations depending on which age group you're teaching, the vast majority of your teaching will usually concentrate on improving the students' conversational English; familiarising them with proper pronunciation and increasing their confidence. They’re often exemplary at English grammar but have had so little practice with spoken English that they make many mistakes... This is where you come in!

Sometimes you will be teaching classes on your own, sometimes and sometimes with a Chinese English teacher present – it differs depending on the particular school or centre you are placed at. Usually, you will at least spend the first couple of weeks of your placement assisting a Chinese teacher. Also, there will usually be a classroom assistant present who will assist you with translations.

If you are confident in any other subjects, then you can integrate these into your lessons – discussions about the environment and European history are especially popular. It is amazing how facts that we know and take for granted can be fascinating to others. While you may be amazed by the magnitude of the Great Wall or the Forbidden City, your pupils will be equally fascinated by stories of English Kings and Queens - although David Beckham will probably be even more popular!

You may also have the chance to help out with “English Activity Time” at some schools – which can include mask making, playing monopoly and other fun activities! ‘English Corner’ is always fun too – students fire all manner of questions at you in order to practice their English!

In some schools, you may also have the opportunity to teach science, music, PE, art or drama. If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please let us know when you complete your questionnaires. These are all secondary options and must be taken with an English teaching placement, not instead of.

You are not expected to be an expert on grammar or literature; the important thing is to help the students speak better English.  If you feel that you are able to give more advanced lessons where appropriate then, of course, please do so

We provide you with a Teaching Suggestions Booklet which has ideas for teaching English, but will also help structuring lessons in other subjects. Video facilities are available in some schools and audio equipment is quite commonplace. Please note that if you are teaching for 1 month or less, you will be paired with another volunteer instead of taking your own classes.

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"

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' 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 and there will be lots of smiles and yells of excitement when you produce photographs of your family or friends or even an English coin!

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.

 

 


 

 

Teach Children in China


 

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

Mandarin Language Courses

Tai Chi & Chinese Painting Courses


Volunteer Feedback


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

 

ACCOMMODATION, FOOD & TRAVEL


A shared room at the Beijing hostel


A bedroom at one of the Beijing homestays


A single room at the Yangzhou hostel


The flat kitchen


The flat living room

BEIJING
For volunteers who teaching in Beijing, there are two accommodation options to choose from:

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. Residents may use the heath center and other entertainment facilities at the next-door 5-star Great Dragon Hotel.

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

Homestay: Stay with a Chinese family in Beijing for that complete Chinese experience! You will stay with one of four families in the area around your school, and we will choose a family for you that most suits your needs. Homestay accommodation is of a very high standard - you will have your own room with a bed and sometimes even a desk and TV. You will be welcomed into the family you are staying with and therefore be expected to respect their wishes and keep up a very high standard of behavior and cleanliness.

Many of our volunteers remain friends with their host families long after they leave their project and in some cases they return to the country later especially to visit their family. Sometimes members of their host family have even gone to visit them in their home country. So this is a great opportunity to create a link with China that will last forever!

Please let us know on booking which accommodation option you would prefer.

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

YANGZHOU
Your accommodation will either be on school campus or in a local hostel. This will depend on the project you are placed at so you will usually not have a choice, however if you have a particular preference please let us know.

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.

In a rented flat: If you stay at the flat, you will usually share the flat with other volunteers and you usually have your own room, although sometimes you may have to share a room with another volunteer. The accommodation is comfortable, fully furnished with a ‘western-style’ bathroom, and has all the modern facilities you'll need. There are cooking facilities for you to use if you want to eat in the flat. The flat is close to the city centre and supermarkets, cinemas and other entertainment facilities are within a 10 minute walk.

Food: Eating out in Yangzhou is cheap, easy and delicious! 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!

"Thanks so much for arranging a safe and fabulous journey in Yangzhou, China" Alex Yea

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

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Last modified: July 12, 2011