Volunteer to Teach English to Children in Rural China

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 !

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!

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)