The Global Volunteer Network currently has opportunities for teaching English through our partner organization in China. Volunteers are greatly needed to help school students improve their English skills so that they have a much better chance of securing employment in later life. At the same time volunteers will be given the opportunity to immerse themselves in urban Chinese life.

The China program is unique to the programs GVN is associated with as it works with a sector of Chinese society where the need is not to help alleviate poverty but to assist middle class students to become bilingual and address a linguistic need. Global Volunteer Network's objective is to connect communities in need. The need in the China Program is for volunteers to teach Engli

sh as the Chinese nation has an objective to become bilingual in the next decade. These young adults' employment prospects are also greatly improved by their ability to speak English and in turn this will bring a wider variety of opportunities for them in life.

You'll find that the schools are relatively well resourced with modern facilities. This program is ideal for volunteers who wish to experience the Chinese culture and help Chinese students to learn English in a city with a well developed infrastructure.

The type of teaching you'll be expected to do will consist of helping the students practice comprehension and pronunciation. You may be needed to do a little more, but if so, you'll be guided by the teachers and school principal. You are the sole teacher in the classroom. There are Chinese teachers of English in the schools that also take the students for English focussing on other aspects of the language. For this reason your lessons should have a practical approach focusing on comprehension and building confidence in the students' English speaking skills. This program is located in Shandong Province and you can teach conversational English at a primary or secondary level.

Ideally, you will arrive for the beginning of the semester.

* Semester One: Typically, March 1 - late July
* Semester Two: Typically September 1 - late December

It is possible to begin later in each semester, but keep in mind the following:

* You will be required to begin as close to the first day of the month as possible excluding May and October when there are school breaks from the 1st to the 8th.
* The program is limited from mid December as students are preparing for exams and schools are closing for Chinese New Year festivals. You are not able to begin your placement between December 15 and March 1.
* Summer schools run in the second half of July. This consists of teaching English, and extra-curricular activities such as sport and excursions. The summer school is not always an option and may only be available to those volunteering over more than one semester.

The program schedule does vary from school to school, but generally volunteers usually teach between 14 hours and 20 hours per week. The teaching timetable is discussed personally with the school principal or English teaching staff. There may be some evening and weekend classes in your program. School exams take place at both mid term and end of term which will affect your teaching schedule to varying degrees depending on the school you are placed in.