Job Discussion Forums

[nolefan]

Volunteering is alive and well in China. There are plenty of schools that cannot afford to have a teacher for various reasons. There are also many people that decide to come to China for just 3 or 4 months so they cannot have a full time contract and they end up being volunteers. While they don't get a salary, they do get an allowance that covers their expenses and more.

There are also a few people who don't mind taking some of their free time to go out and help some of their students off the clock or help some of their fellow teachers improve their own language skills.

those guys do a great job and should be hailed for their unselfishness.

[Roger]

I believe you deserve encouragement - the disheartening reali9ty will bite soon enough!
I would ask: what kind of student is 29 years old and "a beginner or intermediate-level English" speaker? How long did they have English before they left school?
Why do they get free English lessons?

My first point is that those who get freebies won't show gratitude. It's been very obvious to me in China that English lessons for adults are a waste of efforts and energy so long as someone else than the students pays. They won't feel obliged to make any effort or take the initiative, and they will complain most of the time "I don't understand HIM" or "he speaks too fAST", while their own mediocre production never gets an assessment. And, you have to entertain them rather than "educating" them.

But who knows? Maybe your classes take off well. Try to show you mean BUSINESS - you will quickly find their grammar less than up to scratch, hence you can perhaps give them an occasional introdcution to a grammar point (Subject-Verb-Agrement for example, tenses, the proper use of the definite article 'the', etc., mispronunciation of long and short syllables as in 'this'versus 'these').
Yes, make it fun, but require them TO TAKE NOTES IN ENGLISH. Check their notes! You will soon discover that only what they actually wrote down by themselves has made it into their memory!

Don't prpeare too much in terms of photocopies - make them work by taking down notes (give them dictations of the rules!).

Since you are a total newcomer to China, try to get a copy of PRACTICE AND PROGRESSS, from the New Concept of English series; this book has all the relevant grammar problems nicely dealt with in chapters. Thus, if you feel they need a little exercise in handling past tenses, you will easily find an appropriate unit in the book.

[sojourner]

Migno,

I have a few queries about World Vision:

- are you required to pay for your return flight ?

- are you required to pay a "service fee" to World Vision in order to find you a volunteering position ?

- will you be paid a living allowance, as well as be provided with free accommodation ?

- will World Vision foot the bill should you become sick or have an accident ?

Also, will you be teaching at a school that is actually being run by World Vision ? Possibly, World Vision is merely acting as a recruiter for private schools.You mentioned that your students will not be charged fees - are you absolutely sure ? They may be regular teachers at the school - but they could be required to pay fees in order to be taught by a native English speaker.

Where will the job be ? (in the relatively prosperous SE, or in some remote, impoverished province ?). How long will you be in China for ? When will you be arriving ? If you only want to stay for a short period (say, 2-3 months), apart from the volunteering option, you might be interested in summer camps/schools. You would probably be required to pay for your return airfare, but you would be paid a proper salary.Consider volunteering only as a last resort.

Regards,

Peter

[Talkdoc]

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[mignonettemanda]

[millie]

While I am sure no-one wishes the OP anything but the best of luck, many posters have also warned of possible pitfalls.
I have not noticed any of the “abuse” that you have referred to.
Disbelief and astonishment, yes - but not “abuse”.

I don’t think anyone is threatened by volunteers either – perhaps just concerned you are being taken for a ride.
To state the obvious, China is a very large place and seems to accommodate all sorts of ‘foreigners’.

Just one more question: I assume your employer will be providing a Z visa.

I would be inclined to see your task as simply providing a patient and interested western face to talk to and thus you should not take it all too seriously or get too worried about it either.

Why would your employers realistically or fairly expect anything more of you?
That doesn’t mean you should not try your best of course but do keep your shirt on.

In fact, if your employers were serious about improving the English abilities of your colleagues, they would have looked at other possibilities.

Basically all you need do is to do is engage with your Ss at their level. Keep your ears and mind open.

Finally, the idea of getting a whole stack of lessons pre-prepared is simply untenable and unrealistic because you have no real idea of the levels or needs of your students.

Ask them what they want to do or talk about. Leave it at that.
Facilitate (sorry about the jargon) rather than cast yourself in the role of guru and spare yourself a lot of unnecessary stress.

Happy travels.
M

[Talkdoc]

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[mignonettemanda]

no i dont need a Z visa

[ChinaMovieMagic]

1st, I agree w/the folks who say: "Follow your inner wisdom."
I just had written a somewhat lengthy piece about WV...and an experience I had w/them as a Volunteer Researcher at their headquarters in LA area...but my playful kitten touched a key and ESLCafe asked me for my password...all LOST

2nd, don't be dismayed by the acid words from some in our multi-cultural multi-conscious community. If you decide to come to China w/WV, it can be a valuable research experience.

Wondering if you know much about WV.
Some Qs...if no time/interest in answering, no need to explain, or get offended, OK?
Are you a Christian who feels that Volunteer service to WV is part of your Christian service? (PS:I just re-read...saw the link between your church and the manager in China.)
Are you aware that WV is a very well-funded NGO? That the US govt. (especially US Agency for International Development) funds many of its programs? In Mongolia, WV manages the US Dept. of Ag. food distribution program. Many of the smaller NGOs/Quakers refuse to accept US govt. $.

Relevant to this "Volunteer English Teacher" program (and the bus-driver metaphor ) is BELOW from the Mission Statement:
We demand of ourselves high standards of professional competence and financial accountability.

It seems that for the Volunteer English Teacher Training program, because there are no finances involved, there's no felt need to demand " high standards of professional competence." Volunteers are not expected to have professional competence, but it seems that:
(1)the OP sincerely wants to do a good job
(2)while WV has had many such English-training programs over the years, around the world, there seems to be some serious lack in its Training Program if a Volunteer asks this Forum for advice/leads on teaching.

WV has 2 key traditions:
(1)the international development folks, who influence WV policy. For example, the WV positions on Global Economics are quite in the mainstream of international development circles. But in the US, such positions would be considered "radical." See http://www.wvi.org/wvi/global/global_economics.htm

World Vision remains concerned by the lack of fairness in the international trading system. Problems include: massive market-distorting EU and US agricultural subsidies; high rich-country tariffs on developing country textiles, clothing and footwear; escalating tariffs which lock developing countries into low value-added exports; innumerable non-tariff barriers and patents such as those on HIV/AIDS drugs under the TRIPS (Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights) Agreement which make them unaffordable for most poor countries.

World Vision believes that trade is not an end in itself; it must be pursued for the common good.

(2)the evangelical traditionals
from http://www.wvi.org/wvi/about_us/who_we_are.htm
from the Mission Statement

World Vision is an international partnership of Christians whose mission is to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God.

WV emphasizes that it doesn't prosletyze, and that it respects all religions. But consider:
*nearly 50% of its funds come from individual donors, Christian churches(Protestant mostly, I'm sure, as the Catholics have their own CRS), who generally, I believe, feel that their money will bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God and will spead Protestantism in 3rd World countries, including Catholic Latin America.

*if one believes that no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they "accept Jesus Christ as their Personal Savior" (washed in the Blood)...then there can be a natural desire to "help save unsaved souls"--including devout Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus.

Actually, all the (in-house)Program Descriptions--whether well-drilling or food distribution etc.--which I saw, included at the very bottom a phrase somewhat like..."to bring souls to God through Our Lord Jesus Christ."

To me, however spiritual/religious are the intentions, WV is practicing deception...either/or to the evangelical donors, or to the 3rd World governments. But China is not unaware of such duplicity. Their on-going undersupply of FTs leads them to accept teachers from Mormon Brigham Young U., where youth are required/expected to do 2 years of missionary service.

Just to balance things:

"I love World Vision. You are doing a great job."
Former President Bill Clinton speaking with a World Vision tsunami-relief worker in Thailand

"World Vision is great. They are doing great work."
Bono
Lead singer of the band, U2

"God waits on human partners to work with God to achieve his purposes. World Vision has been one of God's best partners, helping to bring peace and reconciliation to so many parts of God's hurting world."
Desmond Tutu
Winner of the 1984 Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

[millie]

Holy Smoke

A most intriguing post, CMM.
You are onto something there.

M

[Talkdoc]

[Volodiya]

I was surprised to see this much of CMM in the post. Because of that, I read it.

I guessed he was trying to get her to check her motives for volunteering; then, to question whether WV, by their stated goals, their methods and mixed-source funding, was an appropriate organization for her to give her time, and a large chunk of money to-

[joe greene]

[Talkdoc]

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[lagerlout2006]

Help me!

Talkdoc has a pic a pic of Freud so he knowa what he's talkin' aboot!

OK OK OK