Teaching Volunteer Stories, India

Teaching in India - Anne Bate St Thomas’ School in Kerala, where I was placed for a month to teach English, is still in the process of being built. Half finished, work had halted for the time being while the owners waited for enough money to complete it. Meanwhile, the upper floor was sketched out, optimistically, by a forest of steel poles just waiting for the concrete to be poured. In fact the whole school had a sense of having been hastily thrown together, but not quite completed.

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.