7 Alternative Places To Volunteer Teach English As A Foreign Language
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If you are thinking of teaching English as a foreign language for an extended period of time, to support yourself or to work and travel, finances will obviously play a part in your decision as to where you will teach. You will want to look at countries like South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan for a job that will satisfy your salary demands if you are worried about saving money or paying back debt.
However, if you are just starting out as an EFL teacher, are looking for a change of pace for a short time or are more interested in having an epic experience than earning the big bucks, then you should look into volunteer teaching. Volunteer teaching is the perfect way to truly experience a culture and see a country like you never could when travelling. It will open your eyes to the realities of this world and it will give you an opportunity to play a small part in making this world a better place.
Interested? Here are our top 7 out-of-the-way places to volunteer teach in 2018:
South Africa
South Africa is often in the news, but usually for the wrong reasons. Don’t let this put you off the idea of volunteer teaching here because it’s one of the most diverse and culturally interesting places you can visit. Interestingly, even though English is widely spoken in the country, the literacy levels are really low in certain areas. As a volunteer teacher you can be an assistant teacher or work on a literacy programme.
Costa Rica
In Costa Rica you can teach in schools, community centres and after-school programmes. The education system in Costa Rica leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to teaching English, which means there are plenty of opportunities for teachers like you to support the local teachers.
Fiji
You probably don’t need many reasons to go to this beautiful island nation, but Fiji is definitely a country where you can make a big difference to the local communities. As a volunteer teacher you will help teachers prepare lessons as well as assist in the classroom.
Cambodia
There are loads of volunteering opportunities in Cambodia. Cambodia has a turbulent history and it is changing at a rapid rate. Their education system is slowly improving but they still have the lowest literacy rates in Asia. The students are hungry to learn English and don’t have the resources so the teaching may be challenging but it’ll definitely be rewarding.
Ethiopia
Ever thought of visiting the ancient country of Ethiopia? Well, here’s your chance. English is the language of instruction for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths in schools and universities. With a national focus on these subjects, there is a definite interest in learning English to be able to study these subjects and pursue careers in these fields.
Madagascar
In Madagascar you can volunteer not only as a teacher but also a teacher trainer. In Madagascar the teachers are not exposed to much on-the-job training so there is a great need for teacher development.
Nepal
Nepal may be appealing to adventure-seekers but it’s also a magnet for teachers looking for volunteer positions. In Nepal you can volunteer to teach Buddhist nuns from as young as four years old. Besides teaching, you will also be asked to help around the monastery.
Teaching English as a foreign language does not have to be for the rest of your life and you are highly likely to teach in more than one country during your TEFL career. If you are looking for a placement that is short and sweet and will help make a difference in this world, consider these 7 volunteering destinations.
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