Teaching Volunteer Stories, India

Teaching in India - Kevin Emery Ok, now before I start I have to say that I am not a teacher. Not in any sense am I or could I be a teacher. I think people who teach are some of the most patient and hardworking people on the planet but I could never be one of them. Now, with that in mind let me tell you about teaching in India. It is amazing!!!!

Teaching in India - Fiona Campbell The experience of teaching gave me so much confidence and taught me new skills but I also found that learning about the Indian culture and customs was just as an important and valuable part of my trip. We would wear churidas, the traditional dress for Indian girls, eat curry for breakfast, eat with only our right hand and go to Indian religious services and I loved the chance to become so enveloped in the culture of a country so different to my own.

Teaching in India - Jessica Hills When I first arrived I wondered what sort of difference I could really make. I taught all the age groups during my time in Theni, which meant I taught each class for only one or two periods a week. However, I was amazed at how quickly their English improved. For the first day or two I had problems understanding their strong accents and they had trouble understanding me, but by the end of my placement their listening and speaking skills were so much better, and it was easy to hold a proper conversation, especially with the older kids.

Teaching in India - Jonathan Galton Tamil film music has been blaring out from across the road since about 5.30 in my semi-conscious state I am aware that Kovilpatti is waking up. Loud Tamil conversations, the roar of motorbikes, the sound of the milkman visiting and other assorted noises waft up to my comfortable rooftop "bedroom", and at 7.30 I wake up properly. A cold bucket shower followed by a cup of sweet coffee from Sanker's stall over the road complete the job.

Teaching in India - Philip Radlinski There are a lot of funny incidents - too many to list them all. Anyway, my time in India was exciting; getting in touch with a totally different culture, living at the King's and the Queen's palace, travelling alone or with other volunteers, trying to teach a class on my own and so on.

Teaching in India - Theodora Fisher I was sitting with my class, about a month in, and feeling unimaginably relaxed, happy, useful and alive. We'd had a successful lesson on pronouncing the sound 'th' and were chatting about building a bridge from India to England where we could all meet up. As we were talking a wedding procession passed the road by the school, they all looked at me for permission to go and watch.

Teaching in India - Vasmi Botla My experience was wonderful. I became very attached to the town, the students, the teachers, and the local families and people. I know I have made some life-long friends in the process. I did things I never did before (riding an elephant), saw one of the seven wonders of the world (Taj Mahal), and was touched by so many people at the school and in the town.