Where to, next?
My experience as a volunteer teacher at the MCF Friday Morning Sessions
Inspire and be inspired, is the MCF motto. I personally believe that this short (yet so meaningful) catchphrase truly embodies the very essence of the organisation, and let me explain to you why. My name is Giulia, and 2019 has marked my fourth year living in Beijing. To celebrate this anniversary, over the academic winter break I decided to challenge myself with something different. At the very beginning of my journey as a volunteer with MCF, I thought of this experience mainly in terms of giving: there were children in need of help, and I was ready to offer mine. However, after just a few weeks of interacting with them in class, something in my mind had already changed.
The Friday morning teaching Sessions are held at the MCF Infants South School and, to be honest, it’s all great fun! The very first time I stepped into the class I was assigned to, both the children and the school staff welcomed me and my team mates with great enthusiasm. Indeed, the kids’ enthusiasm for learning is the key for their being a-m-a-z-i-n-g students. I was soon impressed by their fast learning abilities, which exceeded my best expectations by far. When we shared our stories with the other volunteer teachers in our session, everyone seemed to have had the same positive response, and it felt so good to be understood by someone who is literally having such a close experience to yours.
Within one term each class follows a different curriculum, varying according to the kids’ age. Hence, shout-out to the whole MCF team which, under Lorna’s (MCF’s Programme Manager) expert mentoring, has been able to design and put together so many creative and articulate lesson plans!
To give you an idea: in our class, the children are given the chance to improve their English while ‘travelling around the world’ (without physically leaving the school, of course ). Their reaction when exposed to other countries’ cultures, through crafting, coloring, games and other interactive teaching tools – is priceless. Do you know how many stars the Chinese flag has? That Greece is such an ancient country, where people are so dedicated to sports? And that in Mexico, they wear colorful hats called sombreros? Well, just as I thought…:)
We are currently halfway through the semester and I find myself looking forward to my weekly appointment with the kids and the MCF team. It is an experience that I would recommend to anyone who, just like me, is looking for a fresh start. Or for a reason to inspire, and be inspired.
Giulia Interesse