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Volunteer to Teach English to Children in Rural China

Volunteers are needed to teach fun activities to underserved children and youth in rural China. Each class has about 15–30 children in community centres and about 35 students in schools.

Time commitment: A minimum of 3 full weeks during school term (September-December, February-June) or winter/summer holidays (January, July-August).

Requirements: 18 years old+; Speaking English well and confidently (native-level English NOT required); enjoying interacting with children and young adults. Volunteers need to individually arrange and pay for a visa, insurance, meals, any international transport, etc. If teaching time is less than three weeks, volunteers need to cover all or part of the domestic transport and accommodation costs individually.

Location: Schools or community centers outside of Shanghai.

Accommodation costs provided by Stepping Stones for placements of 3 weeks or more only.

Registration process: After registration, all volunteers participate in an interview and complete our online Orientation. Those accepted will complete training and submit the required documents. We will confirm dates and location for placement.

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Stepping Stones China is a not-for-profit organization registered in Shanghai.

We were founded in 2006 to organize volunteers to teach English in the city's primary schools for migrants in response to requests from school principals who struggled to provide a fair standard of English teaching to their students.

English is one of three core subjects in the Chinese school curriculum, and the one that poses the greatest challenge to rural and migrant children. Most of these children do not make it to senior high school, and only a fraction of them are able to make the grade to attend university. We believe improvement of basic education is the key to helping these children through senior high school and university, and to a brighter future.

Over the years we have expanded our selecti...

Stepping Stones China is a not-for-profit organization registered in Shanghai.

We were founded in 2006 to organize volunteers to teach English in the city's primary schools for migrants in response to requests from school principals who struggled to provide a fair standard of English teaching to their students.

English is one of three core subjects in the Chinese school curriculum, and the one that poses the greatest challenge to rural and migrant children. Most of these children do not make it to senior high school, and only a fraction of them are able to make the grade to attend university. We believe improvement of basic education is the key to helping these children through senior high school and university, and to a brighter future.

Over the years we have expanded our selection of activities. We now carry a wide range of programs that focus on education and health of children.

Stepping Stones China is a not-for-profit organization registered in Shanghai.

We were founded in 2006 to organize volunteers to teach English in the city's primary schools for migrants in response to requests from school principals who struggled to provide a fair standard of English teaching to their students.

English is one of three core subjects in the Chinese school curriculum, and the o...

Reviewing and consolidating vocabulary with a "whodunit" activity.

One hundred thousand warm welcomes

Quite a memorable experience

An experience like no other!

China

My three weeks with Stepping Stones China have been an extraordinarily rewarding first experience in China. With 22 years of teaching experience, including extensive work with 8 to 12-year-olds, I was truly delighted to put my expertise at the service of Stepping Stones.
From the very beginning, the welcome from the entire team was exceptional. The staff’s guidance, support, and dedication created a warm, collaborative environment that made the mission a success.
Working alongside my colleague Lisa, a psychologist and social-emotional development specialist, was a highlight. Together, our joint efforts helped the children feel comfortable, build confidence, and make tangible progress toward more natural, interactive English communication. Seeing the children's enthusiasm and growth over the weeks was deeply fulfilling.
Given how positive this experience has been, I would love to join the team again next summer, subject to how the economic and geopolitical situation evolves.
A huge thank you to the whole team for their outstanding work!
"Jiayou!"

During my stay in Xiamen, I greatly appreciated the opportunity to teach English. Most students were excellent: they were eager to learn, took notes carefully, and were willing to practice English conversation. Their enthusiasm made teaching a rewarding experience.

At the same time, some students seemed too young for the class or were not there by their own choice. A few appeared to have joined mainly to pass the time, or because their parents wanted a place where their children would be supervised. While I understand the parents’ perspective, this can make it difficult to maintain a focused and effective English-learning environment.

I would recommend two improvements. First, the admission process should screen students more carefully so that classes are made up primarily of students who genuinely want to learn English. Second, teachers should be allowed to take appropriate disciplinary action against unruly behavior, with clear support from the school. This would help protect the learning experience of motivated students and allow teachers to teach more effectively.

Overall, my experience was positive, and I hope these suggestions help strengthen the program in the

My experience teaching abroad was an unforgettable one. Being able to teach children in rural areas and learning about their culture taught me so much. I would definitely go again when I get the chance!

Would recommend!

The process of becoming a volunteer for Stepping Stones is very straightforward and convenient. I had no prior teaching experience and taught two classes of about 40 children together with another Stepping Stones volunteer near Quanzhou, Fujian. Great amenities and lovely local coordinators. Volunteering through Stepping Stones is a great way to make an impact for children in rural China

Best journey of life and to be continued

I wanted it before it started. And I want more after it finished. The experience is priceless and soul touching. Regardless of lacking comfort, the gains are more satisfying than anything other pleasures. I had the time to devote myself into a life meaning-seeking journey and to enjoy the feedback of it. The place ,the people , the doings during the period uncovered the unseen and hidden side of myself and bring this to the light gives me tremendous amount of pride and peace. I will continue doing this.

My SteppingStones experience !

Working with Stepping Stones as an English volunteer teaching was for me an unforgettable experience. I had the chance to teach in Shanghai but also in Luyi, Henan province for three weeks. It was an incredibly rewarding and enriching experience. Working with young children, I had a genuinely hands-on experience that pushed me toward real professional growth. It was a true cross-cultural exchange, both challenging and satisfying. I enjoyed every moment of it ! 

What a meaningful journey!

It took me a while to find the volunteer work I was hoping for, until I found Stepping Stones. What a find! From the beginning to the end of my experience, everything went smoothly and I must thank Stepping Stones for that. Especially Hao, Tianning, Nova and Sherry. I believe that when you decide to volunteer you want to make the most of your available time. You want to work, you want to experience, you want to exchange. During my days in Guangde, Anhui Province, I did all of that and much more. I was warmly welcomed by everyone and I will greatly miss the kids energy and affection. In the end, I was the one that received the most. What a meaningful journey!

Teaching in Fujian, Stepping Stones 

I taught for about a month near Hongmei in Fujian China. It was an amazing experience, incredibly valuable. I felt I was welcomed into the community and everyone went out of there way to make sure I didn't feel alone as I was the only native English speaker. My mandarin was pretty shaky (HSK 3/4) but enough to understand what was going on and communication for the most part, and there were a few people who could speak English so that was nice. There were definitely some cultural aspects I had to get used to in terms of teaching and communication, but none of my mistakes were held against me. The teaching program was very structured if you wanted it to be (all teaching resources and slide shows where provided) but they also gave you the freedom to not use them and go your own way (more what I chose to do)

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