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International Volunteer Work Teaching English in Peru with Projects Abroad
Peru has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Latin America. Its potential for economic prosperity through its exports and tourist industry is doing much to improve the high unemployment and poverty levels there.
At Projects Abroad, we are particularly proud of our Teaching projects in Peru. We are working with the Peruvian Ministry of Education on an eight-year initiative to update the English curriculum for 23 schools in the Sacred Valley between Cusco and Machu Picchu. The standard curriculum, created in the capital city of Lima, is not always relevant to children in the more rural Sacred Valley, and local English speakers who would otherwise be teachers are often more tempted by higher salaries on offer in the local tourist industry. For volunteers looking to teach students over 18, we also run an innovative teacher training program for improving local teachers' Engligh skills during school vacation.
This project is run by our Peru Director, Tim DeWinter - previously an education specialist with UNICEF. If the new curriculum generated and implemented by our volunteers is a success, it will be applied to more rural schools in Peru.
Volunteer Opportunities Teaching English in Schools with Projects Abroad
For the curriculum to succeed we need your help! Volunteer teaching in Peru is a way to help at some of the most poorly resourced schools. You can gain invaluable work experience teaching overseas, and TEFL training is not required.
Whether you want volunteer opportunities teaching English during your gap year, career break, over a vacation or as a trained professional, you will have a role to play on one of our teaching projects. Volunteer teaching in schools in Peru will benefit the many children, teachers and locals within the different communities.
Volunteering on a Teaching Project in Peru
As a volunteer in Peru, your role is built firmly into this scheme and curriculum. You may find that you teach many ages from all five secondary school year groups. With worksheets and teaching resources available in our office in the town of Urubamba, you will be well supported. You'll also be able to see a full history of what has been taught previously in your schools and tips from past volunteers. We recommend that you bring your own resources that you can use as part of your lessons such as postcards, photos, magazines, stickers etc. It is always useful to have authentic material that the students can use to further understand the English language as well as Western culture.
Our teaching supervisor in Peru arranges regular teaching workshops to help all the volunteers through the hurdles of teaching English in such an unusual environment. If you have a successful lesson you can share it with others, and it may even become part of the curriculum. We also promote two local teacher networks, so they receive in-service training regularly.
If you volunteer during Peru's long school holidays (January - March) you'll help at summer schools teaching the teachers and spend some time on local community projects. While this may sound challenging, volunteers have been wonderfully successful and really loved this side of the work!
The teacher training is carried out by volunteers under the close supervision of Tim and the teaching supervisor. You will prepare interactive lessons for small groups that are divided up according to their level of English language knowledge. It is worth noting that most Peruvian teachers will have a very basic level of English.
Our teaching programs will provide an invaluable opportunity for two different cultures to learn from each other. Teaching in Peru is one way to build relationships and have a rewarding international volunteer experience.
All volunteers on Teaching, Care, Culture & Community, Medicine & Healthcare, Sports or Spanish placements in Peru now have the opportunity to add a 7-Day Conservation Project to the end of their main placement. Click here for more information.
I absolutely adored my days teaching. My placement could not have been better. The fact that the pupils were so interested in learning, literally running to write on the board first or being so eager to answer a question made it a very special experience. Read more...