Retired couples volunteer in China

Retired couples volunteer in China
By Scott Christofferson- Tue, 08/18/2009 - 21:04

Every year, the Kennedy Center for International Studies sends more than 70 senior citizens to China as English teaching volunteers.

Kirk and Midge Evans are the program facilitators of the China Teachers Program designed to recruit and train retired couples to teach English in Chinese universities.

“This isn’t a mission but it is a great opportunity for service,” Midge Evans said. “We spent a year and a half in China and we absolutely loved it.”

The Evans said they are excited for all of those who will begin their experience this year and hope that many other couples will take this opportunity to do so as well.

The 35-40 couples that are chosen for the 10-month program go through a four-part application: a resume, self health evaluation, insurance information and ecclesiastical endorsement.

Applications are due every January and after being selected they go through 100 hours of training at the beginning of August before they start the program at the end of August.

During training, volunteers are taught Chinese culture, language and religion, but most of the training is focused on teaching written and oral English. Once each couple arrives in China they are provided an apartment and a monthly stipend by the university to which they are assigned.

Brian and Lugene West of South Jordan were serving in the Salt Lake Inner City Mission when they decided to apply for the English teaching program. They said they want to continue serving in a different capacity.

“In 2006 we took a three-week tour of China which calmed a lot of our fears about moving there,” said Brian West. “It’s an opportunity to teach those that we learned to love and to help teach them what they love.”

The Wests said they are excited for the time they will spend in China and to show the people their love.

“We hope to be ambassadors of the U.S. and we hope that we can give them a positive perception of our country and people,” Lugene West said.

As the Wests and many other couples begin their experience, others are asked to prepare their applications by January to teach during the 2010-2011 school year. For more information contact the Kennedy Center at (801) 422-5321 or china_teachers@byu.edu.