People who want to make a real difference, want first-hand experience of Oriental Chinese culture and who have initiative. Someone who wants to contribute to the running of the Kindergarten, learn about early years childcare or simply just bond with the children. In exchange you’ll get lots of fun - plus a thoroughly enjoyable, exciting and authentic experience. You can also learn Mandarin while you're there. No qualifications or previous experience are necessary, just a good dose of enthusiasm!

If you can't get enough of the energy and zest for life of little ones, join us at Shanghai Happy Kindergarten!

This placement requires no qualifications and would suit anyone who has a lot of energy and enjoys the company of younger children.

The name says it all really... you’ll be working at the Shanghai Happy Kindergarten, which is located in the South of Shanghai. Whether you want to work in early years education, or if you'd just rather teach English at a more basic level, this project is the one for you.

You'll be teaching and caring for younger children from ages 0-6 - bring a big smile and your creativity...

Your work will mostly focus around teaching the children some basic English through games, songs, stories and other fun activities. You may also be asked to help out in caring for the children (ie accompanying them to the toilet, helping them get ready for nap time etc) and playing with the children when they do sports, games and activities such as colouring or playing in the ball pit. However, your main role is that of an English teacher.

The walls at the Kindergarten are covered in drawings, paintings and murals done by and for the children and each room is filled with equipment to assist the children’s learning. There’s a large indoor playground, 2 music rooms, a science room, a dressing up room, lots of classrooms and bedrooms for nap time.

The usual structure of your work will be as follows: During your first week or so, you’ll watch lessons and assist a little. After this, you’ll teach lessons of your own design. A teacher will usually give you a task for the lesson, and then assist you in planning a lesson which fits around this topic. For example, you may be asked to teach a song, play a game, or teach the children about Christmas in England. You’ll usually have a Chinese teacher present in the classroom with you o assist you.

The Kindergarten has stressed that playing games is the most important thing to do, although you do need to be careful with safety as the children are so young and get over-excited very easily!

If you play an instrument and wish to bring it with you to play to the children, please do so. There’s also a dance room, so if you are any good at any kind of dance, you may be able to take a lesson or demonstrate your dancing to the children.

The Kindergarten opens from 7.45am - 4.30pm every day, and you’ll work for 8 hours of this time. Your lunch break will take place while the children are napping at lunchtime. Approximately 250 children attend, and there will be around 20-25 children in each group. The children are aged between 0-6 but you will mostly be working with the older age ranges. There are already 2 English teachers at the school - 1 foreign and 1 local, so your lessons will compliment theirs.

You don’t need any language skills to take part in the project, but as the children are so young and don’t have very good command of English yet, it would be of benefit to you to know as much as possible. Take lessons or use a tape and book before you leave, or speak to us if you’d like to take some Mandarin Lessons before or during your project.

The Kindergarten has internet, tape, video and VCD facilities.

Holidays are as follows:

May Holiday Week : 1-7th May
October Holiday Week : 1-7th October
New Year: The date for Chinese New Year changes every year, and there will usually be a 2 week holiday around this time.

You are welcome to take part in a project over these periods and spend the holiday travelling.

Your weekends and evenings will be free and this will allow some time for relaxing, travelling and sightseeing. If you would like more time to travel during or after your teaching, either let Travellers know before you leave, or speak to Jessie, our Shanghai Organiser, and she will try to arrange it with the Kindergarten; we cannot guarantee that this will be possible, but we will be as flexible as circumstances allow.

0845 344 7585

YOUR ADVENTURE STARTS HERE! Help children, animals and conservation around the world. Gain valuable work experience and new skills. All ages & nationalities welcome. EXPLORE a new culture from the inside on worthwhile, well-structured projects. FLEXIBLE: From two weeks to one year - you choose your dates and duration.