Program Profile
The China Hunan Summer program was started in 2003 when WorldTeach was approached by the Hunan Department of Education. The Department of Education wanted to give its students the opportunity to learn English from native speakers. After a few years off for the Olympics, at the request of the Department of Education, WorldTeach is excited to be in the second year of our improved Summer program!
volunteer role
WorldTeach volunteers work as English teachers at two or three summer camps hosted by public middle schools in Hunan, China. Volunteers will likely teach in teams of two or three and plan at least one lesson a day. They will teach a few English classes each day and participate in camp activities such as sports and English choir. Most campers will be 7th to 10th graders.
After camp, the host school will provide cultural events such as banquets and trips to local landmarks. These events allow the volunteers to experience Chinese culture outside of the school setting. Outside of these events, volunteers are encouraged to go out into the local community. There are always new discoveries just outside the school gates.
Please note that volunteers participating in WorldTeach summer programs are not eligible to receive WorldTeach TEFL certification.
placements & housing
Summer volunteers will live and work together at each camp placement. Placements are chosen in late spring by the Department of Education and WorldTeach. Usually WorldTeach works with two schools a year, often a rural school and an urban one. Volunteers get to experience the different lives of Chinese people across the urban/rural divide.
During the camp, volunteers will live on school grounds in the dorms that house boarding students over the academic year. These dorms vary in layout you should expect to share a room with one or more other volunteers, and possibly a shared bathroom. Volunteers will also be provided food by the school, but have the option to eat out on their own dime if they wish.
financial information
The cost of the China Summer program is $4,490. This covers pre-departure information and preparation, round-trip international airfare from a US departure city to Changsha, overseas medical and emergency evacuation insurance, one week in-country orientation as well as a mid-service and end-of-service conference, 24-hour field staff support, room and board, and alumni support. Many volunteers successfully fundraise all or a significant portion of their volunteer commitment. Please refer to our fundraising webpage for more information about fundraising possibilities.
Read more about our costs and services.
requirements
Volunteers in the China Summer program must be:
- native-level English speakers
- between the ages of 18 and 65
- highly flexible, mature, able to function without much down time, and has a genuine interest in teaching