Community Volunteer Projects in China
You are a valuable resource as a volunteer in China. Global Volunteers' unique philosophy of service ensures your work projects help advance the host community's current development vision and goals. Always serving at the invitation and under the direction of host community partners, each Global Volunteers team member works alongside local people. Our long-term commitment to work in partnership on sustained community development projects enables you, in just a short time, to serve as a critical link in a chain of lasting community enhancements. Global Volunteers' Chinese partners have asked for assistance in three primary areas:- Teaching conversational English to students of all ages
- Teaching English skills to teachers
- Caring for mentally challenged students
View a volunteer video on China community projects.
English Teaching: In Xi'an, you'll teach conversational English skills to eager students in elementary, secondary and university classrooms. You'll often teach alongside a Chinese Enlish teacher, but you may also be asked to tutor small groups of students and explain English lessons. This is an opportunity to use your creativity in new ways! You don't need prior teaching experience to be a useful resource in the classroom. Chinese students especially enjoy lessons from native English-speaking teens and young adults!
In Kunming, you can teach Chinese teachers of English the "fine points" of the language. While they are skilled in the rules of grammar and sentence structure, their ability to pronounce English correctly varies. The teachers come from elementary, middle and high schools in Kunming and the surrounding prefectures. They range from young new teachers to experienced teachers who have taught for many years. For many of these teachers the conversations they have with us are their first extended experience with native speakers of English. Traditional Chinese teaching of English concentrates on grammar and writing needed to pass examinations. The conversation groups meet in the mornings, mostly, with the afternoons used for special activities with the teachers and preparation. (Please note our host in Kunming has set an age limit of 80 for volunteers on this program.)
"The community hosts in Kunming are exceptional in their support of Global Volunteers and the volunteers. Bao Li is a wonderful team leader. The teachers that we teach are eager, cooperative and charming. The province of Yunnan is fascinating with its ethnic minorities, its mountains and rain forests and rice paddies. The hotel is comfortable and tries hard to please — its location makes it easy to explore Kunming. There’s always something new to see or experience every time you walk out the door. I think I can guarantee that volunteering in Kunming will be an experience not to be forgotten."
~Esther Schak, 3-time China volunteer
Child Care: You're also needed to care for children with autism, cerebral palsy, and Downs Syndrome at a privately funded special needs children's school. You can work as an assistant to the local teachers in the school activities and training,and help the staff learn conversational English. Read on about the La La Shou Education Center.