"Zhijiao" (支教) Done Differently

For many years, US-based volunteer programs in China, known as “Zhijiao”, brought American-born Chinese high school students to China to teach English to people living in rural communities where English literacy is low to non-existent.

Oftentimes in volunteer work, the desires of the people being helped come in second to the desire of the people doing the helping. American volunteers show up in their Nike shoes with iPhones and iPads chasing cellular signal; while the local Chinese kids struggling with basic necessities. Some schools don’t have computers, and some children never typed on a keyboard. Not only that they don’t get the help they need, but our presence also disturbs their daily order and leaves them unsatisfied with their lives, having questions like “what if I were born somewhere else…” At vPal, we are aware of this issue and decided to give a twist to the program so it truly benefits all parties involved.

At vPal, we focus on teaching urban students whom in fact use this skill in their everyday lives; and put the earnings together to help the financially disadvantaged children get what they need. We strongly believe that our “3-Way Difference” is a method to give support where it is needed in the right ways to the right people.

The Win-Win-Win Model of vPal "Zhijiao"

vPal makes “Zhijiao” from a tradition 2-party-activity to a 3-way-difference. Instead of our Volunteers flying halfway across the world to teach English to people who might never use it; vPal sends our Volunteers to urban communities to spend quality time with local Chinese Student to help them develop interests in learning English through daily communication and classes lead by our US Volunteers. Here is why our way works the best!

Volunteers

Volunteers are the heart of vPal. They will make curriculum according to the local Students age and English speaking ability. Under the supervision of vPal student-teacher trainers, Volunteers will put their organization skills to the test in designing everyday class plans and materials. Every Volunteer will get a chance to practice public speaking skill and gain valuable leadership training throughout their time as teachers. The Volunteers and local Students come from similar financial backgrounds; they play the same games, wear the same clothes, and speak the same languages. Our Volunteers will quickly come to see how much Chinese and American youth have in common —giving both parties more time to enjoy learning about each other’s language and culture.

Students

Many of the local Chinese Students plan to study abroad in the future. One major challenge that young international students face is how to quickly adapt to mainstream American students’ social lives. vPal “Zhijiao” program gives these Chinese Students the opportunity to gain valuable experience interacting with American students of their own age. Not only will they learn English – a must-have skill in today’s globalizing economic environment, but Students will also get to spend nights and days together with the American Volunteers which helps them to gain insight into what it is like studying in U.S. schools.

Underprivileged

We have partnered with Prop Roots Education Center in Yunnan, China. This is what sets vPal apart from other programs like us. Instead of being taught a language that has little use in their environment, the Underprivileged students involved will get what they actually need. vPal Volunteers will come together and decide how to efficiently use the program’s earnings to help financially disadvantaged students at the end of the program. This aid could come in almost any form; from paying off tuition to getting prescription glasses.