Robert’s Story of Volunteering at RMC
After many years teaching in China, Robert returned to the UK with lots of experience and a love for helping others learn. Adjusting back to life here was tough, but volunteering at the Refugee and Migrant Centre gave him a fresh start. It helped him find purpose again by doing something he enjoys- supporting people as they build new lives through learning.
In 2023, Robert received unwelcome news that the Chinese authorities would no longer renew his residency permit due to age restrictions, meaning he had to leave China and return to England. Before moving to China, he taught ESOL at South Birmingham College but leaving during a period of funding cuts, Robert had taken up an opportunity in China immediately and never looked back. Over the years, he taught in various schools and cities and found that moving to China became one of the best decisions he had ever made. Returning to England brought with it a sense of loss and disorientation. The culture shock of coming back was, surprisingly, more intense than leaving in the first place. There was a feeling of no longer having a clear role or purpose.
Turning point
It was then that an advertisement for RMC caught Robert’s eye. He applied to volunteer as an English teacher at the Walsall office. It quickly became clear that this experience would be very different from his previous teaching roles. The classes were mixed ability, and student attendance was often inconsistent due to other pressing commitments of their lives. Despite this, the students were eager to learn, just as much as the students he had once taught in schools.
The nature of lesson planning had to shift dramatically. The unpredictability of attendance meant that preparing detailed, structured lessons was no longer viable, adaptability became essential. In response, Robert began designing loosely structured lessons, rich with flexibility to accommodate whoever was present. Although a friendly and informal teaching style had always been part of his approach, it had previously been delivered within a more rigid and consistent framework. Now, spontaneity and flexibility took precedence.
Nevertheless, he found meaning in work and settled into the role quickly. The sense of being lost or without purpose faded away. Once again, he was doing something he loved, something that mattered, not just to him, but to others.
Finding a sense of home
Although the challenges are real, including limited facilities and the wide range of English proficiency level, from beginners to advanced learners, these are also the elements that make student progress more rewarding.
While Robert still misses his time in China, he no longer feels out of place in his own country. Volunteering at RMC has given him the chance to offer support, understanding, and practical help to those learning to navigate a new culture and a new life, something he finds profoundly rewarding.
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