Experience:
Organisation:
Name: Sophie
Hometown: London
Destination: China
Project type: Teaching English to 6-14 year olds
Organisation: Gap Activity Projects (now called Lattitude)
What were your impressions of your destination?
It was a very industrial, but very vibrant city of approximately 6 million people.
Was the work interesting and challenging?
Yes, it was unlike anything I'd ever done before, and, although terrifying at first, ended up being a very special experience for me.
What was your accommodation like? Did you feel comfortable and welcome at all times?
Me and my project partner both had flats within the school grounds, including kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and lounge with tv; I liked living there, especially since it was in the middle of where all the kids were living.
Were you happy with the organisation and the staff that were responsible for you during your stay?
All the teachers were very helpful and understanding when I made the inevitable mistakes; however, I knew that many of the non-English teachers felt very hostile towards me and my partner and didn't like the way we did things differently to them (including the fact that we spoke English). I suppose it was just a clash of cultures, which is to be expected.
Do you feel that you got value for money on the project?
Yes, definitely - this project didn't cost very much, and we got pocket money from the school when we were out there. Occasionally, I heard stories of GAP acting slightly irresponsibly and unhelpfully, but from my perspective they were always there to support me.
Would you recommend the project to others?
Yes
