Hailed as 'The ‘Paris of the East’, Shanghai embodies the new Chinese
generation. The pulse of the city is tangible and the energy and vibe of
the people is electric! It is a dynamic and diverse city where
skyscrapers compete for space with traditional Buddhist temples, and
tiny noodle stalls peer out from beside some of the most cosmopolitan
clubs and bars in China...
If you tire of city life, the peaceful lakeshores of Hangzhou and
traditional gardens of Suzhou are right on your doorstep.
Many remnants of early 20th century Western influences still remain in
Shanghai, such as the grandiose architecture of the famous Bund, and the
old French Quarter. Just down the road is the Yu Gardens Bazaar; a
traditionally Chinese market now crammed with stalls selling every kind
of trinket imaginable.
You can also travel over (or under!) the river to Pudong and climb the
oriental pearl tower for a phenomenal view of the whole city. Shanghai
really is an amazing place in which to live and work… You couldn’t
possibly be bored here!
Due to a big governmental push to increase the level of
spoken English amongst the new generation Chinese, there are many schools in
Shanghai who are very keen for volunteer teachers and very accommodating and
welcoming! You will be well looked after and highly appreciated by the staff
and the children alike.
We work with primary and secondary schools in Shanghai, and
so you can teach children from aged 4 to age 18. Jessie, our Shanghai
Manager, will allocate you to a school based on your interests and skills
and the needs of the various schools. If you would particularly like to work
with primary school children (4-12) or secondary school children (12-18)
just let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your preferences!
The Kindergarten we work with, for example, has a little more focus on care
of the children and playtime, while most of the Senior Schools are very
exam-focused. Some schools teach also in English, so if you would like, we
can arrange for you to teach other subjects (such as maths, science, drama
or sports) alongside a Chinese Teacher. Please be as specific as you can,
and although we can not guarantee to meet all your preferences, we will do
our very best!
You will be placed at one school, where you
will work and live. The Chinese are very family and community based, so once
integrated into your school you'll feel as though you're a member of the
school community. It's really special feeling to be welcomed into a Chinese
school with open arms, and you'll never forget the feeling of being greeted
by all your fellow teachers and students as you walk around campus every
day. You'll also eat your meals at the canteen with other students and
teachers, so start practicing with those chopsticks!
"On a personal level, this Shanghai placement has proven to be one of the
best things I have ever done. Being removed from the comfort zone of the UK
and placed into a foreign, often alien culture has excelled my confidence
and re-shaped my perception of life and my career goals" - Steven
McCumaskey, Teaching in Shanghai 2006
ABOUT YOUR LESSONS
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 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.
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!
►Additional Weekend Sports Options Information
sheet about sports you can play or coach at the weekends while on any project in
Shanghai!
YOUR ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD
Your
accommodation will most likely be on school campus, and you will usually
share a building with other volunteers or 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, but are basic rather than luxurious,
although some may have air conditioning, internet access and a
TV!
Sometimes you will share a room with another Travellers volunteer, or
you might have your own room – if you have a particular
preference please let us know and we can do our best to
accommodate it. You will usually eat all your
meals in the school canteen along with the students and other staff. You
will be provided with a budget for any meals that your school does not
provide, which means that you can sample some of the delicious cuisine
available in the local area!
China is still a developing country in a period of transition. The
living standard falls short of what we are used to in
the West. The Chinese culture and heritage is totally
different to Anglo-Saxon or Western cultures and this must be borne in
mind.
However, the people are
very friendly and will help you all they can, and, of course, our
China
Organiser will look after you during your placement.
Self-reliance and independence are highly
appreciated and required in China and will help you to make the most of this
wonderful opportunity!
China is a non-English speaking environment and
we strongly advise that you try to learn a few basic Chinese words
before starting your programme. This will help you to get involved
in the daily life of the local people. Some of the Chinese English
teachers may be able to act as interpreters to help your understanding
of things while you're there.
To find out more about the One-Week Intensive
Mandarin Course that you can do prior to starting your project, please
click here.
TRAVEL
You have the option to arrange
your own flights or we can assist you with your flight arrangements. If
you would like us to do this for you, we will liaise with you regarding
available flights and dates to suit you. All arrangements for your
flight bookings/payments will be fulfilled by Murray Rogers Travel Ltd.,
ATOL No. 6856. (Read more
about Murray Rogers Travel Ltd.) Where possible, we arrange for two
or more people to travel on the same flight and we will let you have the
names and telephone numbers of other volunteers on your flight, so that
you can chat to each other or even meet up before leaving for your
placement.
VISAS:. We'll send you all the necessary forms and information and make
the process very easy for you.
You will fly into Shanghai, where you'll be
met by our Shanghai Organiser or one of her
staff. From the airport you'll be taken to your school and introduced to
your hosts.
To read about the extensiveSupport & Backup we provide
in our countries,
please click here
Where possible, all flights we arrange for you have changeable
return tickets because many of our volunteers choose to extend their
stay once they are in their destination country. Changeable return
tickets enable you to do so, within the limits of your visa and the
level of your air ticket, of course. If you choose to book your own
flights, you should endeavour to get a changeable ticket.
We can also arrange your flight dates to give you
additional time at the end of your project for travelling around and sightseeing
- this is a fascinating and wondrous country!
"I just want to say what a fantastic impression
Jessie
[Travellers Organiser in Shanghai] has made on me, even in these first few days.
She's so very enthusiastic and if there's anything you want, she'll do
her utmost to meet your need. She seems to reap a genuine delight from
helping, enlightening or amusing you." James Dodd on
his teaching placement in Shanghai
PRICES
To see the Prices of this project and all
our other projects in China, please
click here
Prices
include
Food & accommodation while on your project,
2 T-shirts, if required
for your project
All support and backup
during your programme
Meeting you at the
nearest airport, where appropriate, but exclude international travel.
.
+44 01903 502595
