•Set up in 1984 by Hugh and Lyn Homan. •Hugh had visited Lucknow in the 1960s as a VSO and formed a bond with the community.

•Initially it was a Montessori kindergarten• Now it has grown to over 900 pupils with the emphasis on Educating of girls from 11-18.•There is a lower school approx 4-11 and upper school 11-18•Pupils backgrounds:• Most Hindu •but also Sikh and Muslim Pupils

•The head teacher is Sushma Singh•For the last 20 years Gap Year Students have supplemented the curriculum Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)

Apprehensions:•Fitting into -A new family/community -A different culture•Living away from home•Health•Going alone•Teaching especially because I had not studied English beyond GCSE•The responsibility of teaching- wanting to have a positive rather than negative effect•The Language barrier•Seems like a lot to organise

Appeals:•Going alone- Unique Opportunity•Being independent•Getting a true insight into a culture from a safe vantage point•The opportunity to extend my education intellectually and practically•Having a real role and responsibilities to fulfil•Being able to positively contribute•Meeting new people and making new friends•The culture, sights and new opportunities available for me to interact and engage with•The chance to get a new perspective•The hope that I would coming back more critical and aware.

•What it is like:•A real sense of community•Interesting•Charitable•Well Appointed•Successful•Welcoming•They Care About YOU

•The Teachers:•Incredibly Accomplished•Passionate and Dedicated•Engaging•Interested/Curious•Friendly

•The Pupils•Dedicated•Balanced•Family Orientated•Engaging•Interested/Curious•Mischievous•Interesting

•Preparation•TEFL Course•Thinking up games and a curriculum

•Target•Nursery•Cross Section•Occasionally the Teaching Staff

•Nature•Adaptable- the school will adapt your role and responsibilities to your strengths, interests and what you feel most comfortable doing.•Developing original methods, Topics, Ideas•Providing an insight into English Teaching Styles.

•Focus•Fluency•Creativity•Accuracy•Resolving Anomalies•Extending Comprehension•Occasionally technical Grammar

• Other...Helping out and using your skills, education, interests in the array of projects and activities constantly going on at the school e.g. NCVT

Pros•Fulfilling•Interesting/Exciting•Challenging•Educational•Helps develop personal confidence•For me it has made me consider a different direction for my life•Learning to be more adaptable and flexible e.g. recognise when something is not working•Creative

Cons/difficulties•Classroom discipline•Channelling their energy•Developing interesting games•(Occasional Difficulty) Fitting in alongside the Indian Teaching System- But actually gives you a role and something to offer.

•A paradox- Everywhere is chaos but people have a refreshingly laid back attitude.•A strong sense of religious and spiritual life and the benefits this can bring•Family•Physically Challenging•An Assault of the senses•Vibrant•Informative•Different Culture•Fascinating History•The position it holds in today’s interdependent society.

•The Opportunities•Travel•Festivals•Community

•Practical Teaching Experience- learning what works and what does not•Experiencing of being independent and surviving on your own in the face of adversity•Greater sense of empowerment •A new perspective on:•Western Society•My global awareness•The direction my life is taking

•The practical benefits of our education but also the benefit of travel•The need to be more active ‘Every member of the community has a positive social conscience and it is impossible not to let this inspire you to take notice of the world around you and involve yourself as much as possible in its problems and its triumphs’.•I am left with the desire to keep learning and to work as hard as possible so I can go back.

•There are 2 single placements per year•September-December•January-March Gappers live with Sushma and her Family

•Under the British Councils International Link Schools scheme these placements are made available initially to SWGS Leavers taking a Gap Year.

-Following this they are opened to BWS or post graduates.

•Website:www.lawrencehomanschool.org•Facebook: Group ‘SWGS and BWS Gap Year Opportunity Teaching at Lawrence Homan Public School’•SWGS Website: report•Ask Mr Jones