This program includes a five day Tefl and Cultural Immersion Training at our facilities in Qingdao, China (An Ocean City and Home of the 2008 Sailing Olympics). You will receive you International TEFL Certification at the end of the training session, which are classified into three categories:
20-hour TEFL courses: “How to Teach English in China”, given by TEFL experts who have already been teaching in China for years;
6-hour Culture courses: “Chinese Laws, Cultures and Social Taboos”, given by local Chinese professors.
4-hour Mandarin courses: “Survival Pu-tong-Hua (Mandarin)”, given by our staff
In addition, you will receive “Registration” by America China Education Registry which will qualify you for this Program.

Program Dates:

The program is divided into Three Season -

·Summer (July and August)
·Fall Semester (September through December)
·Spring Program (Late February through June)
·You may participate in as many terms as you like or choose just one.
·Specifics Program Dates are available upon email request.

During the project period, the AAUW Volunteers will live and teach in groups. Main activities will include:
·Teaching English with the local English teachers
·Marking assignments to your students
·Making lesson plans at your own and with assistant
·Taking part in staff meeting once a week (e.g. Wednesday afternoon)
·Organizing English Saloon/Drama/extra curriculum activities
·Taking part in some sport games with the students
·Preparing exam papers
·Making records for mid- or final examinations
·Playing with your students/providing companionship, if applicable
·Visiting families of your students, if applicable

This placement is created based on the assumption that one is wishing to share love, knowledge and friendship with Chinese school students. ?
Due to China’s poorly designed curriculum and partly due to the fact that some westerners are not trained to teach English as a foreign language under China settings, we will offer textbooks, lesson plans and even in-classroom assistant. Very often, we will provide you with a Chinese assistant inside the same classroom who will help with maintaining discipline.

You will find Chinese students are more often shy in classroom when asked to practice – this is partly because their Chinese English teachers at the school are so unaccomplished in proper English pronunciation that they discourage and even intimidate their students from attempting to speak in English in many cases. Thus, your main job is to regain the courage of your students whilst evoking their interests in learning the language. ?

Another major obstacle for your Chinese students to overcome is that of “losing face.” They are afraid to make a mistake and to be laughed at by their peers. It is essential to tell the students that the reason they are students is that they are there to learn. The students are constantly reminded to leave their “face” at home, then they have nothing to lose in class. It takes a while for this concept to sink in but when it does – the personal growth exhibited by each student is heartwarming to the point of tears of joy! ?

Class size is big on average, normally around 40-50 or even more pupils inside one classroom. You need to be VERY patient, flexible, and able to attract the students with games, fun-playing activities, arousing their interest of studying English. Although class size poses serious problems, the atmosphere should be created friendly and conducive to students producing and practicing their oral English with each other under the supervision of a native English speaker. Remember your role is not only a “lecturer” but also one “facilitator” .