Boomers Abroad

Description

Volunteering in the Si Chuan Province, west China; in the second largest city of Mian Yang, gives volunteers the opportunity to teach in a range of schools from kindergarten to high schools. The main aim of this project is to help local students improve their spoken English and teach them a little about western culture. Be prepared to be an object of interest what ever the situation. Foreigners are very rare in the area so the students and the teachers will want to know everything about you from how you talk to what you do in your spare time.

In 2008 the Si Chuan province was struck by a major earthquake leaving 90,000 dead and many thousands more injured and homeless. A number of schools were also destroyed and a secondary aim of this project is to help the area's students regain confidence and enjoy learning again.

What difference does this project make?

The education system in Mian Yang has comparatively recently introduced teaching English and western culture, as this is a new subject both the teachers and students are often unfamiliar with what is being taught. This project also aims to introduce a new teaching style to help engage the students. Volunteers will be teaching in different educations sectors in schools around the city, they will be helping students improve their spoken English through playing games, singing, reading western stories and organising performances by the students. This style of teaching is different to the local style and students have found the lessons arranged by the volunteers a more interesting way to learn meaning they try harder in those lessons. Volunteers will be helping to improve the teachers' English grammar and punctuation as well as helping with ideas on how to make lessons more interesting.