On Sunday, May 16th, the AYLUS Roslyn Branch volunteered at the Chinese Cultural Association of Long Island from 1:30-5:00. Our role as volunteers was to become teacher assistants, helping the teachers and students of the Chinese School with various tasks and activities.
Firstly, we started the afternoon off by welcoming children into the classrooms and helping them get unpacked and ready for the class. We then assisted the teacher with various tasks, such as collecting students’ homework, printing materials for later activities, and taking kids to the bathroom. Throughout class time, TAs also worked individually with children who may have been struggling or having difficulty understanding the lesson. By doing this, the teacher was able to continue the lesson efficiently, without worrying about anyone falling behind. Today we did various activities such as practicing writing Chinese characters, creating crafts, and playing a special bingo where students could earn coupons which would later be used at the school snack stand during their break. After their main classes, TA’s helped guide students to their assigned culture class, where they were able to learn and focus on various activities such as calligraphy, dancing, singing, yoga, martial arts, Chinese yoyo, art, and more. Finally, TA’s helped make pick-up an easy process by helping students pack up their belongings and ensuring they get home safely to their parents or guardians, while bidding them a warm farewell.
Overall, being a TA gave us a glimpse into the responsibilities teachers handle every day. While the tasks we were given were easy, they helped ease the burden on the teachers. Volunteering at the school also taught us patience and compassion for young children, and allowed us to help create a welcoming, engaging environment that students enjoyed being part of.
Members who participated include: Sofia Chen (3.5 hours), Lyann Lin (3.5 hours), Jasmine Lin (3.5 hours), Shinree Zhang (3.5 hours), Abigail Zhao (3.5 hours), Ethan Liu (3.5 hours), Kayden Cheng (3.5 hours)
Reporter: Sofia Chen
