Assist with English classes at Primary, Secondary and High Schools in Shanghai

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Program Overview
Life on the Program
Program Details
Volunteer Testimonials

Program Overview

Join our team in Shanghai, a city bursting with people, culture and tradition. Here you will undergo a 5 day orientation which includes an introduction to the fascinating Chinese history and culture, basic Mandarin lessons and a tour of the city. Shanghai’s famous sites will be yours to explore in your free time.

After the orientation you will be transferred to your teaching placement which could be a primary, secondary or high school in the city.

Alongside local teachers you will help students gain an insight into western cultures and improve their spoken English. Lessons are fun and interactive, with lots of games and activities to improve the children’s confidence and fluency.

Life on the Program

The head of English will give you an introduction to teaching methods and the level of English you can expect from your students. During this time you will also be able to observe the others teachers’ lessons to give you a feel for the Chinese teaching style. The local teachers will help you to plan your lessons.

Class sizes can be large with up to 70 students but you will be assisted by a local teacher. In smaller classes of 30-40, volunteers may teach on their own rather than assisting other teachers. You will be teaching throughout the day, taking your lunch break in the school canteen.

The accommodation varies between different placements and in most cases you will be sharing an apartment, but you should be prepared for variations on this setup.

Program Details

The lessons you provide are all aimed at helping the students improve their spoken English and to introduce them to western culture. Lessons focus on basic literacy, vocabulary, pronunciation and we use games and activities to keep the classes interactive and exciting. In some schools you will be given a topic for each week such as the weather, animals or festivals.

On some placements, you will also be involved with the English Club at the school either during lunch or after class where students discuss a range of different topics.

Some volunteers may also wish to help improve the teachers’ English grammar and punctuation as well as helping with ideas on how to make lessons more interesting and exciting for the students.

Volunteer Testimonials

Lorraine Lee, Malaysia

The students were awed by my past experience studying in a foreign country and living in so many places, and it was a fun way for them to learn. I tried my best to explain several times in English, while giving more vivid facial expressions and actions, and failing that I rephrased the sentences to simpler structures and used easier words so students understood by the second or third time.

Chris Brown, USA

I am teaching students whose English is very good. We have had dialogues about food, sports, and the differences between China and the US. All of the students are curious and fun to teach. They all try a little conversation in English between classes. There is also a lot of support from the other teachers at the school. They keep me on schedule, offer tips and feedback, teach me a little Chinese, and provide great company in the evenings after school.

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