Volunteer China | Shanghai
Shanghai is a dynamic, diverse and stimulating city – the very epitome of modern China. Although Shanghai cannot rival Beijing in scenery or cultural heritage, its varied architectural styles and cosmopolitan feel give it a charm of its own. A walk through this booming city reveals many glimpses of its colorful past. Hidden amongst the skyscrapers and express ways are remains of the original Shanghai, important memorials to the founding of New China and many remainders of early 20th century Western influences. There are also examples of how the city has managed to transform some of its older building into elegant structures serving the needs of an increasingly cosmopolitan city.
Shanghai has developed faster than almost any city in the world in the last 15 years, with its population rising to over 21 million. Migrant laborers have flooded in from the surrounding countryside and as people have sought more space and the city government has rushed to develop surrounding areas the city has expanded to a total area of over 2,400 square miles.
The city is an ideal destination for metropolitan tours. It has always been known as a thriving metropolis, convenient in communications, intermingled in Chinese and Western cities. There is also a great desire and need for English Teachers in this city and many schools which cannot afford native speaking English teachers.
We work with 20 schools throughout Shanghai City including the below:
Kindergarten Assistant
The children in our kindergarten are aged from 4 to 7 years old. There are about 450 children in the kindergarten. Volunteers here assist the regular teacher in the classroom in different areas such as Music, Drawing, Dancing, PE and craft.
Primary School, English teaching, Summer camps
The Primary school students are aged 7 to 12 years old. Volunteers teaching in the primary schools will teach 11-15 lessons each week, with each lesson lasting 35 minutes. However for those volunteers that need help with classroom management an assistant can be arranged to help take care of the classroom. Volunteers will learn how to teach and write lesson plans from their school supervisor and will usually follow the school curriculum. Volunteers may also have the opportunity to be take charge of an English play or western festival activities at the school.
Secondary School, English teaching
Secondary school students are aged 12-15 years old and there are typically 30 to 40 students per class. In addition to teaching English volunteers will also have the chance to teach music, art, football or basketball. Volunteers may also have the opportunity to be in charge of the school play, western festival activities or the English corner at the school.
High Schools, English teaching
The high school students are aged from 16 to 19 years old. We teach English 11 to 15 lessons in the school. Volunteers will conduct the lessons on their own after a 1-2 week induction. The English level is relatively high in the high schools. Volunteers will have the opportunity to assist in extracurricular activities with the school as well.
Summer Camps
Chinese schools are closed in July and August for summer holiday. During this time volunteers help out at the English Summer Camp in Jing Feng Town. Every semester we try and improve the structure and quality of these camps. A typical day teaching at a camp involves two/three hours of English lessons followed by an afternoon of games and activities. The aim of these camps is to allow students to practice their English skills in a fun and interesting way.
During the summer period there will be lots of teaching activities however we do require that volunteers be flexible. This applies especially at the start and end of the holiday period when many schools and students are reluctant to have lessons.
Read how your fees are spent or compare our
prices with other volunteer organisations.
View our prices in other volunteer locations's or
combine your stay in China with stays in other locations as part of a
combination
stay.
What you receive
- 24 hour support
- Accommodation
- Airport Pickup
- Regular follow-up meetings
- Chinese cultural introduction
- Transportation between projects
- Food (Monday to Friday)
- Teaching introduction
- Chinese cultural course (Shanghai) or Chinese farm painting course (Feng Jing)
Apart from our fees, you must pay for:
- Vaccinations and Visas
- Airfares and all transportation to your project location
- Health insurance
- Food at weekends and other personal expenses
Our application process typically takes two or three weeks, but can
be speeded up if there is a need for that. When we receive the initial
application from you, we will send you our full application form.
(1) Complete the Initial Application Form:
The first stage of the application process is to fill out the brief initial application form. Upon
receiving this we will send you the full application form.
(2) Complete the Full Application Form:
Fill out the application form. After receiving this we will assess your
suitability and place you on one of our programs.
(3) Placement info:
We will return detailed placement information and an invoice. If you
accept the placement you should pay the invoice and send us receipt of
payment by email or fax.
(4) Program Fee:
The program fee should be paid to us at least 2 months before you are
due to start your placement. However please be aware that we have a limited
amount of placements, so placements will only be secured when we
have received your payment.
(5) Communication:
Once you have made your traveling arrangements you should mail your time
of arrival and the means of transportation and we will confirm pickup.
You can join our Chinese programs for any amount of time between 4 weeks and 6 months. We recommend a trip of 3-6 months since it offers the best value. Regardless of the length of your stay, you will have time to get to know a new culture, come to know its people, and form relationships that will outlast the duration of your stay.
Dates for the Year 2010:
|
September: Mon 6, Mon 13, Mon 20, Mon 27 October: Mon 4, Mon 11, Mon 18, Mon 25 November: Mon 1, Mon 8, Mon 15, Mon 22, Mon 29 December: Mon 6, Mon 13, Mon 20, Mon 27 |
| January: Mon 3, Mon 10, Mon 17, Mon 24, Mon 31 February: Mon 7, Mon 14, Mon 21, Mon 28 March: Mon 7, Mon 14, Mon 21, Mon 28 April: Mon 4, Mon 11, Mon 18, Mon 25 May: Mon 2, Mon 9, Mon 16, Mon 23, Mon 30 June: Mon 6, Mon 13, Mon 20, Mon 27 |
July: Mon 4, Mon 11, Mon 18, Mon 25 August: Mon 1, Mon 8, Mon 15, Mon 22, Mon 29 September: Mon 5, Mon 12, Mon 19, Mon 26 October: Mon 3, Mon 10, Mon 17, Mon 24, Mon 31 November: Mon 7, Mon 14, Mon 21, Mon 28 December: Mon 5, Mon 12, Mon 19, Mon 26 |
Volunteers either live in a shared room at T2T's flat or at school accommodation. The flat has air conditioning, washing machine, shower, TV, computer, and water dispenser.
There are endless activities to take part in and around Shanghai. Volunteers can use their weekends to explore the many wonders and sights of Shanghai City and the surrounding villages. There are numerous museums, temples, botanical gardens, and famous shopping districts to explore. A few of the highlights of Shanghai are the numerous ancient and modern tea houses which remain an important part of Chinese culture, and the Huju Opera which is an authentic piece of Shanghai folk culture. Shanghai is a great place to explore culinary delights with Chinese food available from all regions of China, not to mention the rest of the world. Volunteers can also take a variety of classes in their free time from Martial Arts to Chinese Calligraphy, and many more.
During the week volunteers will eat in the School cafeteria. Volunteers will receive 3 meals per day in the schools from Monday to Friday. Over the weekend volunteers must purchase their own food. Because Shanghai is an international city there is every type of food and restaurant available from all types of Chinese food to all types of Western food ranging from the inexpensive (but delicious!) street stalls to fine dining restaurants.
Shanghai has a subtropical maritime monsoon climate, with four distinct seasons. The weather can mostly be described as moderate with a warm spring, hot summer, cool autumn, and cold winter with temperatures almost never getting into the extremes. The rainy/summer season runs from June through September. Light rains fall from June through July, a time which is known in China as the “Plum Flower Rain” season while torrential rains occur later in the summer. The average temperature is around 18 degree Celsius and the annual precipitation 1,240 millimeters.
Shanghai Weather Chart
Shanghai is the largest city in China and one of the biggest metropolitan cities in the world.
There are many airlines which fly direct or with connections to Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport such as British Airways, Shanghai Airlines, Air India, American United Airlines, American Airlines, Qantas, Quatar, Thai Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic amongst many others.
Volunteers are met at arrivals by our in-country coordinator.
Jessie Duanmu is the Director of Travel to Teach China. She obtained her Master's Degree in Education in the UK and has been teaching English and Mandarin in primary and secondary schools for 9 years. She has a great love for travel and has been to France, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Canada, US, South Africa, Norway, Ireland, UK, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia. In her spare time, she loves cooking, dancing, Chinese instrument, golf, table tennis and swimming.
You MUST obtain a 90 Day (3 Month) Class L Tourist Visa in order to enter the country.
Courses or boosters usually advised: hepatitis A and B, typhoid; tetanus-diptheria.
Vaccines sometimes advised:Japanese B encephalitis (if visiting rural farming areas), rabies, malaria.
There are no required vaccinations needed to enter the country but please consult your doctor before traveling. More information is available from the WHO's (World Health Organization) travelers health information site or CDC.gov traveler’s health information.
One of the conditions of entry onto our programs is that volunteers have travel insurance. Most importantly the insurance needs to include medical treatment and repatriation in case of unforeseen accidents or illnesses. Volunteers should purchase insurance independently and bring a copy of their insurance certificate with them for their local co-ordinator to check before starting their program. Read our terms and conditions.
Read our Terms & Conditions
Download our Teach Terms and Conditions as a PDF File
Henry, Chinese Canadian"How do I even begin to describe an amazing once in a lifetime experience? It all started with the first words I spoke in Shanghai..."
Read Henry’s Volunteer Story
Frida, Sweden"It is funny, sitting here and trying to give a decent account of our experiences, because it seems that the things that have left the strongest impression are the seemingly unimportant...... "
Read Frida’s Volunteer Story