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Itinerary - Africa and Asia Venture

Itinerary

GETTING THERE

You should fly to Chengdu. On arrival at Chengdu International Airport, Robert Liu or Zoe Ren Lirong, AV's representatives in Emei, will meet you. After a short welcome you will continue your journey by bus to Emei, some 90 kilometres southwest of Chengdu.

BRIEFING AND ORIENTATION

During the course you will move into your accommodation, which is close to the University hotel, and have time to settle in. The Orientation will include:

• Learning, or improving, your Chinese (Mandarin).
• Discussing some of the cultural and historical background to the modern Chinese society.
• Learning and rehearsing ideas for teaching and practising English.
• Discussing safety issues.
• Sampling Sichuanese cooking.

YOUR NEW HOME

You will live in the university accommodation in Emei. The buildings are for university staff but are close to the student accommodation. Depending on numbers, you will either have a flat, with six to eight sharing, living space, kitchen and bathroom or, across the road, a single room with kitchen/bathroom attached and with two or more of you on the same floor. All accommodation is within a quiet and secure area.

Most Chinese students cook for themselves. However, there are restaurants within easy walking of your accommodation or you can stay at home and polish your rice cooking skills, too!  The canteen in the university produces astonishingly good food at amazing prices (50p for a meal!)

THE PROJECT

You will teach, or help with teaching, for about 12 weeks either in the university's English Language Department or in one of the local schools.

You and your teaching partner will walk from your house to your university campus or school each day in time for the start of school (around 8.30 am). One or two of you may get to go by bus.

The university's English Language Department is on the Emei Campus, as are some business and tourism departments. Those teaching at the university will provide conversation practice in support of English teachers - usually by splitting the class. In addition, you will be asked to provide informal conversation outside the classroom to both students of English and those of other disciplines wishing to improve their English.

Most schools are middle schools up to aged 16. Schools are a mix of smaller, traditional ones built in the Maoist era, and bigger, new schools of up to 3000 pupils. In either case the classes are normally 50 students, again split in half for conversation practice.

In most schools children are taught in Chinese, but you will teach English in English (though occasional explanations in Chinese help!). There are some foreign teachers in university and occasionally foreign teachers in schools.

The newer schools and the university have good gyms, athletics tracks and football pitches as well as many small pitch sports (basketball, volleyball, table tennis etc). All efforts to help with sports will be greatly appreciated.

The head of English or the English teachers will be your main friends, initially, but some other members of staff will also have enough English to become friends - as will many students! You won't be lonely!

At weekends you may take part in school or university activities or see a bit of Sichuan scenery. Perhaps trek Mount Emeishan, in search of the Golden Halo, or visit the worlds largest Buddha at nearby Leshan. Or even some club and karaoke time in Chengdu....!

INDEPENDENT TRAVEL - 4 weeks

This will be your chance to explore more of China with your fellow volunteers - it's up to you where you go and what you do - we are there for you if you need tips and advice!

• The Great Wall? There is plenty of it!
• Visiting Guilin and the beautiful River Li, where boatmen fish using cormorants (with rings round their necks to stop them swallowing their catch!)?
• Seeing Kunming, its lake and limestone forest?  Fascinating old Lijiang with mountains, glaciers and Tiger Leaping Gorge?
• Viewing the Terracotta Warriors - all of them! - in Xiang?
• Taking the train to Lhasa, seeing the Potala Palace, once home to the Dalai Lama (but you may need oxygen as you cross the highest passes)?
• Or just head for Beijing or Shanghai?

Of course, if you run out of time you can always extend you insurance, change your flight, for a fee, (your ticket should be flexible) and give yourself more time. As long as you keep in touch and travel with someone else, we will do what we can to support you.

HOME

Your ticket home should be booked to fly out from Chengdu. You may want to consider seeing Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam or any number of wonderful destinations in the area whilst you are there.

 

 

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Before departure:
  • Pre-departure information, support and advice
  • A nominated member of the UK volunteer support team
  • One-to-one face to face briefing for UK applicants
  • Telephone briefing for non-UK applicants
  • References taken up
  • Comprehensive online health check
  • Advice on group flight booking or individual flight arrangements
  • Briefing for group departure from London airport
In-country:
  • In-country representative
  • 24/7 in-country backup
  • Meet and greet at airport (if arriving with the group)
  • Airport transfer (if arriving with group)
  • In-country induction course
  • Transfer from induction course to school/project
  • Accommodation (except during independent travel)
  • Food allowance (except during independent travel)
  • Management of emergencies, including lost passport, illness, etc. whilst in-country
Upon returning home:
  • Returning home advice
  • Full telephone debriefing

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED


  • Flights
  • Travel Insurance
  • Country visas
  • Meeting of non-group arrivals
  • Accommodation for early/late arrivals
  • Medical expenses, e.g. inoculations, malaria prophylatics
  • In-country medical expenses
  • Drinks
  • Tips/gratuities - No tips/gratuities for AV staff are necessary or expected
  • Spending money
  • Extra activities that you choose to do
  • Independent travel

 

 

dates and costs

apply

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If you need some help and want to talk about your plans to volunteer, please Get in touch 

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