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TEACH CHILDREN IN EXOTIC MALAYSIAN BORNEO!

Your teaching placement takes place in Sabah on the Malaysian island of Borneo. You'll teach in rural primary or secondary schools, located in rural village environments in the northern part of the state. This is an excellent project where you get to be immersed in the local way of life and at the same time gain some very valuable experience:

"I really had the best time out there, I achieved all the things I wanted to, and feel a better person because of it. I would definitely do it again, despite the fact I got bitten on my legs more than any volunteer on record!  So tell them to bring a mossie net if they ever want to be able to wear a skirt in public again! Thanks for all your help, I had the best time ever!"  Paula Cullen

PROJECT OVERVIEW
Teaching placements are available in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. You will teach in rural primary or secondary schools, located in rural village environments in the northern part of the state. Travellers work with two schools in particular, one located close to the capital city, Kota Kinabalu, and one which is further north, towards Kota Marudu.

English is taught in all schools, but in rural areas the children have no need or opportunity to speak the language outside the classroom, so they get very little practice in pronunciation and speech. Thus having exposure to you as a native English speaker is very beneficial to them and helps them raise their grades, which is a big plus given that in the rural areas, the passing rate of English is only 60%.

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:

• An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into South East Asia and the fascinating Malaysian culture.

• The enormous satisfaction of helping disadvantaged women and 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:
The two main schools that Travellers volunteers attend are from the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Christian group, and each school holds around 350 pupils. They comprise Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary Schools and teaching can be arranged within any one of these areas. You will usually work about 10 – 15 lessons per week, and you'll be in demand wherever you go! The children at these schools are not used to seeing westerners and so you may find that people stare at you at first, but they will welcome you into their school and you will soon find that Malaysia feels like a second home.

You'll be given a timetable of lessons and will have the freedom to plan and take your own classes (with assistance, if required). Your main focus is on assisting with conversational English but you may also be asked to help within other areas, such as sport, drama and music, if you have an interest in these.

Both Science and Maths are taught in English, and as such assistance with these subjects at basic level is really appreciated. Some of the classes will be conversation based and some tuition based to groups or individuals formally and informally outside the classrooms. You will be given plenty of assistance from the principal and teachers until such time as you have gained confidence in your own abilities. 

Outside the classroom you can assist the pupils in language group work, debating, public and choral-speaking, pronunciation practice, reading aloud, discussions, games – e.g. board games for language practice, broadcasts on the school radio, drama productions and presentations, and quizzes and general knowledge competitions. You may also help with English ‘camps’, supervising study periods, assisting in the library and helping during tests and examinations.

Paula Cullen on her placement in Malaysia: "I really had the best time out there, think I achieved all the things I wanted to, and feel a better person because of it. I would definitely do it again, despite the fact I got bitten on my legs more than any volunteer on record!  So tell them to bring a mossie net if they ever want to be able to wear a skirt in public again! Thanks for all your help, I had the best time ever!"

If you have additional skills, such as Football and Music (or in any other subjects), these would be very much appreciated and the children would love some additional after school coaching. Tim Reese volunteered at Sabah Adventist Secondary School (SASS) and said of his placement: "Borneo is fantastic, if not a little hot! We started teaching yesterday and are involved in the house football competition, but we are all in different houses so as you can imagine there's a bit of competitive tension in the air!"  

The academic year runs from January through to November. The dates in 2008 are as follows;

Term 1: 3rd January to 7th March
Term 2: 17th March to 23rd May
Term 3: 9th June to 15th August
Term 4: 25th August to 14th November

Please compare the above dates to your teaching placement as teaching is not available during School Holidays. If you do not want to teach in a conventional school we also have some placements in other centres and institutions. For example, we could arrange for you to work with children who have mental disabilities such as down syndrome, or if you have practical skills you could teach vocational subjects such as woodwork to young male adults who have not successfully completed conventional schooling, or who have severely underachieved. Please speak to us for more information if you would be interested in either of these options.

Before you go - you can enroll in a 1-day intensive open teacher training day (optional) to help you teach if you have no previous experience

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Alice with her students



Volunteers Shareen and Alice outside one of the school classrooms,

Click for MAP

Shareen in the volunteer house

Accommodation will either be on site in school accommodation or you will live with a local family - it depends which school you're placed in.  If you have a preference for one or the other we can ensure this is arranged for you.

If you live in school accommodation, you will usually be with other volunteers and will also socialise with the teachers in the evening - you won't be left on your own! Because English is taught in all schools, all the teachers have good spoken English and so communication won't be a problem. 

If you're living with a family, you'll participate in their way of life. In both these types of accommodation, because you'll be in a rural village environment, you'll become involved in the local life. Very often this is one of the most attractive aspects of our placements in different cultures because you get to experience the country in a way that you would never be able to do as a tourist.

You may have your own room or you may share a room with one or two others. If you live with a family, you'll probably share a room with another Travellers volunteer.

There is a surprising amount of action in the evenings in Malaysian villages, including coffee shops, karaoke bars, and bustling open-air markets that are fascinating!

ARRIVAL: YOUR INTRODUCTION TO THE COUNTRY
When you arrive you will be welcomed at the airport by Albert, our Malaysia Manager. He will take you to your accommodation in Kota Kinabalu where you will spend the first few days of your trip. Albert will give you an induction during this time, so that you can learn about the country and its culture, as well as useful information like how to use the phones, transport system etc.

You will then be taken to your school and accommodation and introduced to everyone concerned. You will be made to feel very welcome by all! 

Our projects in Malaysia are very popular and you are sure to have a wonderful time during your stay in Sabah.