Rural China Education Foundation

Teaching Book

Beyond the Textbook: A Handbook for Short-term Teaching in Rural China

RCEF has published a "Handbook for Short-Term Teaching in Rural China". This 292-page paperback serves as a handbook for short-term teaching projects in rural areas of China. It was compiled on the basis of first-hand experiences from RCEF's annual volunteer teaching program. The handbook is meant for anyone interested in quality education, but in particular for volunteers in China who are interested in teaching for short periods of time in rural areas. Both an English and a Chinese version are available. Click to see the table of contents

Ordering information

The cost of the book is USD 10 (shipping and handling included). RCEF accepts checks and PayPal payments. Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to place an order and indicate your preferred language.

Download the Book for Free

The Teaching Handbook can be downloaded for free from here: [English] [Chinese]

"After RCEF came to our school, I felt happier and more confident to really try things. Before when I had ideas, I would usually stay quiet because I was afraid no one would understand. Now I have RCEF to talk to and discuss things with and it feels really good."

– Sun Huimiao, Fourth Grade Teacher, Guan Ai Primary School, Shanxi Province

"When I’m older, I would also like to become a volunteer and teach at a rural school. The volunteers showed me the outside world and passed on their knowledge to us; I would also like to pass on my knowledge to other children in rural areas."

- 6th grade student, Dayang Primary School, Henan Province

"After the summer camp, my relationships with my friends got stronger. Through all the group activities,, I became closer with my classmates and started to understand them better. I now know that two are better than one."

- Summer Camp student, Dayang Primary School, Henan Province

"The reason I joined RCEF is that I believe everybody deserves a chance."

- Xuejing Chen, interviewed in World Journal Magazine 2006