Gap Tutors’ Experiences
Gap Tutor Experiences 2016-17
The Gap Tutor programme at Harrow International School Hong Kong is a unique opportunity to live and work for one year in one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Most Gap Tutors arrive at the School having finished their own secondary education, and the programme is a fantastic opportunity to develop both personally and professionally before university, whilst also being able to immerse oneself in the culture and lifeways of Hong Kong and wider South East Asia. Gap Tutors are allocated to a Prep School House that accommodates both day and boarding students between the ages of 10 and 13. They live in the House, with excellent facilities and meals provided, and are fully integrated in to the School’s life, following the same routines and expectations of members of teaching staff and being given their own timetables, roles and responsibilities. With the School now in its 5th year, Gap Tutors have become an integral part of life at Harrow Hong Kong. They build strong relationships with students, staff and one another, as they experience the busy but incredibly rewarding world of Harrow Hong Kong, and forge their own legacy as members of the community. In this document are some comments from our current cohort of Gap Tutors about how they have found their time here, and what it has meant to them to be an integral part of the School community.
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Constance Howell from Benenden School, England
Harrow Hong Kong is a big school but living in a boarding House scales it down to a smaller and cosier level. The girls in my House have really grown on me, and I have come to care for them very much. I also got to know other students through helping in French, Sport, Chemistry and extra curricular activities, too; I found that a huge part of feeling at home here has been down to the relationships I have had with the students. Hong Kong is an electric city to live in. It is one of the few that feels equally as vibrant at night as in the day. However, it surprised me as being a place with so many skyscrapers so close to huge country parks; at weekends I enjoyed hiking and camping on the beaches as much as viewing the lit up skyline from rooftop bars. Its location is ideal for venturing further afield, and over the course of the year I have travelled to Australia, Cambodia, Mainland Chain, South Korea and Vietnam, all places I never imagined I would visit in such quick succession. From lying on Bondi beach to visiting the DMZ, I love the variety of places, friendships and experiences I have had.
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When I came out to Hong Kong I thought I would get two things out of this year: a chance to work with children and a chance to travel. But the biggest thing I have taken away is something I didn’t expect: lifelong friendships with the other Gap Tutors. The School and Hong Kong both have a lot to offer and I feel they have both made my gap year a successful and unforgettable one.
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Nick Kill from Woodbridge School, England
Before moving to Hong Kong for my gap year, I had never really experienced boarding life. I had lived at home with my family throughout my school years, so working at Harrow Hong Kong has really pushed me outside my comfort zone. I think that this initial challenge, plus moving to a new city, has made the year that much more exciting. As a Gap Tutor, I assisted in a broad range of activities for the students, whether this be academic or pastoral. It allowed me not only to hone my skills in my strongest subjects through tutoring, but also learned to coach a variety of sports. I personally enjoyed coaching some of the basketball teams as I got to see huge individual development in both training and fixtures. The highlight of my weeks was the boarding aspect of the job. In this time, I helped the students get ready for school, complete their and joined them in an evening activity. With only 19 Prep boarders in my House, I have built a strong rapport with each individual and therefore assisted them with any issues they might be having at the time.
My gap year in Hong Kong has made travelling around Asia much easier. As a teenager, I was lucky enough to have lived in Beijing and see much of the area. However, being able to explore this part of the world by myself has been an amazing experience. Visiting Seoul and the DeMilitarised Zone had to be the most fascinating part of my year as it gave me a glimpse of other people’s lives that were extremely different from my own. Overall, I believe this year at Harrow Hong Kong has been a fantastic experience and one that I can take a lot from to help me in the future.
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Victoria Leigh from King’s School, Canterbury, England
Being a Gap Tutor at Harrow Hong Kong has been an incredibly unique and exciting experience. The duties mainly consist of supporting sports lessons, boarding House duties, extra-curricular activities, sports fixtures and supervising students. Throughout the year I managed to mould my timetable around my strengths, which is very rewarding as you are able to confidently share your knowledge and help students progress. For example, I used my lifeguarding qualification to help students with the practical aspect of their GCSE PE exams. I also became more involved with Lower School teaching, which I really enjoyed because it required you to think creatively in order to find methods and ways of explaining simple concepts to young children. What motivated me personally was developing relationships with the students at the School. This enabled particularly the girls in my boarding House to feel comfortable talking to me about challenges they may have at school or at home. This is extremely important as the pastoral staff can use this information to help form a plan of action to support where this is necessary.
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Additionally, I really enjoyed being part of the Gap Tutor team. We supported each other greatly throughout the year and we developed a great group dynamic; I definitely feel that I have made friends for life. Despite the intensity of the job, a gap year at Harrow Hong Kong really enables you to have the best of both worlds. You are able to experience an overseas professional posting, whilst also being able to travel during the school holidays and explore the diversity of Hong Kong on the weekends. Hong Kong is a superb location for travelling and I would urge future Gap Tutors to really take advantage of the school holidays. This year I have travelled to Cambodia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Vietnam. I think people should apply for the programme because it is a very unique opportunity. Firstly you are able to experience a high level of independence at a very early stage of your life, which is not common, especially as it is an overseas job posting. Secondly you will become a much more capable person, as this job requires you to develop your leadership skills. If you can capture the attention and engage a large group of children, which is actually more challenging than it sounds, it clearly proves that you will be able to lead in your future careers. Lastly the location is incredible as you get to experience Hong Kong but also travel to other nearby locations easily.
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Chris Putman from St. Hugh’s College, Oxford, England As I was completing my final year at university, I knew I wanted to have the gap year of a lifetime, so when the Gap Tutor opportunity at Harrow Hong Kong appeared on my radar, I could not believe my luck. The programme is tailored towards pre-university students, but the School were incredibly accommodating about the possibility of having a graduate, and when they offered me a place on the scheme I was quite frankly over the moon. Being a Gap Tutor at Harrow Hong Kong has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and has set me in great stead as I return to the UK to start my professional career. A day in the life of a Gap Tutor is by no means a walk in the park; but what is life without a challenge? From day one you are thrown in to the boarding House system, looking after over 50 students aged 10-13, and are given a full timetable with a wide range of roles and responsibilities. I went from supervising senior Touch Rugby in one period to running a History quiz competition in the next.
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The job is undoubtedly what you make of it, and all members of staff are very happy to welcome you as part of their team, but it is your prerogative to generate those relationships and offer your support. Through approaching my year here in this way, I can take away some fantastic experiences that I am genuinely proud of. I’ve worked with the School’s Marketing department, coached the 1st XI girl’s football team, run an after-school American football club, and helped out at a number of Ensemble concerts. If you are proactive and enthusiastic about making the School experience an enjoyable one for your students, then the Gap Tutor programme offers ample opportunity to do so.
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Outside school life, I was able to see much of Hong Kong and Asia. By the end of the year I had visited nine different countries, and travelled across southeast Asia. Do remember, though, that with the wondrous diversity of Asia merely a stone’s throw away, one must not dismiss the beauty and vibrancy of Hong Kong itself. The territory is known for being a cosmopolitan haven, yet over 70% of it is ‘green space’, and its rural scenery is some of the most beautiful I have had the pleasure of experiencing. That said, if night life is more what you are after, then the city certainly conjures up more than enough for you to sink your teeth in to. My time at Harrow Hong Kong went unbelievably quickly, and I was genuinely sad to see it end. I could not recommend the programme enough, whether you are a school leaver wanting to try something new, or a university finalist looking to live and work abroad for your own professional development.
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Will Walker from Colfe’s School, England
Having lived in London my whole life, I thought Hong Kong would be vaguely similar as another big and international city. I was wrong. As a city, Hong Kong is busy, vibrant and full of interesting and unique cultures and traditions. Making the decision to move out here was not a difficult one even though it involved moving away from my family for the year, but the staff and students were incredibly welcoming and helped me settle very quickly. Back in the UK, I really enjoyed working with children both at my local cricket club during the School holidays and for a local company on the weekends so the job description was perfect for me. As well as playing to my strengths in rugby and cricket I was also able to try out new sports and activities such as netball with the Year 3 girls as well as making candles with the Prep School students.
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Having been to a day school in the UK, I thought that adapting to life in a boarding environment would be challenging but, in fact, living with the boys for five days a week really helped me understand the routine as well as form strong relationships with them. The role is very much like being a big brother, and the children at school really respect that. Moreover, the opportunity to travel Asia was one I could not pass up. Whilst being in Hong Kong, I managed to travel to many incredible countries, including Vietnam to see Ha Long Bay and Hanoi, Cambodia to see Angkor Wat and South Korea to see Seoul and the De-Militarised Zone. During the year I have made some amazing friends and had some amazing experiences that I would not have anywhere else. Although I cannot wait to go to university next year, I am going to dearly miss the city and Harrow Hong Kong.
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Alice Wright from Stonyhurst School, England
My year as a Gap Tutor at the School has provided me with a fantastic array of experiences. A visit to Hong Kong five years ago completely charmed me, so the Gap Tutor position provided an opportunity to revisit, and to live and work in such an enthralling and exciting place. Upon arrival everyone was very friendly and welcoming, and throughout the year my House Mistress has been terrific to work with. She is always supportive and her energy inspires great team work between all members of the boarding House. A large part of our role involves assisting with the running of the Prep School House and supporting students with practical, educational and pastoral needs. I also enjoyed being heavily involved in the many interHouse sport, drama and music competitions. We had great fun in the girls’ House and developed a really close bond with the students. I have also been involved in a variety of classroom activities in the Lower School and recreational activities such as sport, cookery, music and candle making. A highlight for me was performing alongside some truly excellent Harrow musicians in the Autumn Term music concert where the orchestra played Bizet’s Carmen Suite.
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Being based in Hong Kong means you are ideally situated for travelling around Southeast Asia. During school holidays, I visited many countries, with Australia, Cambodia, Mainland China, and Vietnam being particular highlights for me. My role as a Gap Tutor has been very rewarding. You will find the traditional and modern culture of Hong Kong has so much to offer. It is an experience that has helped me personally to develop in respect of maturity and independence.
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Harrow International School Hong Kong 38 Tsing Ying Road, Tuen Mun New Territories, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2824 9099 Fax: +852 2824 9928 www.harrowschool.hk
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