Teaching English near to the jungle

Product Details

The Location:

Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in South America yet it has an enormous biodiversity. Many people believe it is one of the easiest and most pleasant countries to travel in. The Andes form the backbone of the country whose borders are Colombia to the north, Peru on the south and east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The country has a fabulous coastline but also has tropical jungle, snow capped mountains and volcanoes; quite a feast for volunteers keen on outdoor opportunities!

The people are warm and friendly, with many tribal and ethnic differences. The Spanish influence is still present, both in culture and architecture.

This is a relatively poor country, especially in the rural areas. Schools are basic and often have few resources. English teaching is much in demand as a means to improve the lives of both young people and adults. Tourism is one of the main sources of livelihood and opportunities for work are enhanced when English is spoken.

The Project:

All projects are community based, meaning you live and work with local people. Contributing to a relatively poor community is very satisfying, but as with all our projects, you will gain enormously by just appreciating the simplicity of life and values of the people.

Mornings tend to be spent teaching at school, after which there are a variety of other development opportunities in which to involve yourself, from gardening and painting programmes, to eco-tourism projects and adult teaching. Projects involve teaching 5-12 year olds in public primary schools, for those who like the remoteness of small villages in the rolling foothills of the Andes, and some for those wanting townships next to the coast.

The children are responsive and welcoming and the need is for enthusiasm and commitment from our volunteers, rather than formal qualifications. We offer an optional weekend short course in Oxford for those who feel they need extra teaching support. Qualified teachers are also welcome as they can assist with local teacher training.

In each country we have a local manager; we are very careful over security and health issues, and upon arrival you will be met at the airport by our manager and taken through an induction and to your placement to settle in.

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Our users say...

"The most valuable thing about the project is having the opportunity to live and work in a community and to become integrated into the life of that community and to form part of it! In Peñaherrera I really felt that my work as an English teacher was valued because they want to develop tourism as an alternative source of income to mining and people want to learn English so they can communicate with tourists who don’t speak Spanish" - Genevieve Coombe.