Local English Teaching Supporter

The project

This project takes place in a beautiful Kuching setting and provides an opportunity to interact with the local children who enjoy immensely the contact with foreigners. If you love children and would like to make a difference in their lives, you can help them improve their English skills and develop various new interests through teaching a variety of English-based subjects.

Introductory week

Monday
Start this action-packed off well with a filling breakfast, after which you will receive and introduction to the week ahead. After lunch, we’ll take you on a walking tour around Kuching, exploring all the sights, sounds and colours that make this town come alive. The evening will be full of fun with a welcome party!

Tuesday
Today you’ll explore Kuching by bike, followed by a boat trip along the river before ending the day with an authentic Malay dinner.

Wednesday
What would a culture week be without learning the local lingo? Today you will be given a short lesson in Bahasa Malaysia, as well as learn about traditional culture and local customs, all of which will come in very handy once you start your volunteer projects.

Thursday
Your cultural education continues as we visit a local village taking in the architecture and the food. After lunch we head to gorgeous Damal Beach to watch the sun set.

Friday
Malaysia and Borneo are world famous for it’s many natural wonders and endemic wildlife. Today we’ll visit the beautiful Semonggoh Wildlife Park and Fairy caves, before returning to the volunteer house in the evening for dinner.

The location

Malaysia is a beautiful country filled with contrasts - culturally and geographically diverse, with dynamic cities and peaceful beaches, authentic small villages and pristine rainforests. Essentially split between the mainland peninsula and the island of Borneo, Malaysia is incredibly ethnically and spiritually diverse with a combination of Malays, Chinese and Indians and indigenous groups practising many religions from Buddhism, Islam and Christianity to Hinduism and Taoism.

The core aims and objectives of this project are to help school children build their confidence and improve their level of English, which will help them in many ways in the future. A standard week will consist of preparing lesson plans and teaching children at a local school. You will also be able to teach a whole class either on your own or with other participants at the local school, while at the same time experiencing a uniquely different lifestyle.

Specific tasks in the program may include:

• Creating lesson plans
  
• Managing English conversation and grammar exercises
  
• Teaching informal English classes
  
• Engaging in activities such as music, songs and games
  

A typical day: You will leave the centre between 7 - 8 am in the morning or 1 - 2 pm in the afternoon depending on the schedule and you will be teaching at the kindergarten/school for approximately 2-4 hours.

You will be expected to work five days a week, and will have the weekends off, giving you plenty of time to go on excursions around the country or to relax and unwind.

All information about the project and various sites will be provided to you by our local coordinator on arrival. You will not be allowed to select projects and are required to join ongoing projects or carry out work as required by the local community.

***The schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.***

Project is on-going, and you can join at any time, depending upon availability. Placements start each Monday.