Description

The English Language and Cultural Exchange Program offer participants the chance to immerse themselves in the Ecuadorian culture and explore the entire country, while teaching conversational English to their host families. Participants will be teaching spoken English to their host families 15 hours a week and use their downtime to travel and to get to know the Amazon Jungle, the Andes highlands, the beaches of the Coast and more! This program helps the Ecuadorian families to develop their English skills, a basic requirement for today's worldwide employment market. It also provides the participant with a broader view of the world and an opportunity to be part of the daily life of a typical Latin American family. Teaching at your home, traveling, enjoying the local cuisine and establishing life-lasting friendships is something you should not miss out on!

The host family will provide room and board at no cost in exchange of your 15 hours teaching!

Highlights

Volunteer Role:

The volunteer will be in charge of teaching conversational English to the members of the family, based on TEFL methods. The volunteer will first identify the level of conversational English that each students has, based on this the volunteer will focus on using a method that best applies for each level: beginner, intermediate and advanced. The TEFL method for conversational English includes exercises to perfect pronunciation, improve comprehension and understanding, increase vocabulary and more. The TEFL method helps students achieve fluency without memorizing, but rather through practicing.

The volunteer will be teaching 15 hours a week (Monday through Friday) to the members of the family that will be part of the program. The times of the classes will depend on the family's schedule. The volunteer is required to build a schedule around the families activities: school, university, work etc. The classes must take place during the weekdays, Monday through Friday. Volunteers will have the weekends free to travel and explore other parts of the country.

Location:

The placements are in Quito and Galapagos Islands.

Accommodations and Meals:

Volunteers will stay at home stays. Home stays have been selected after an application process to make sure they have everything participants need. Families who participate in this program have been screened from a bigger group of families, who have the need to learn conversational English. All families have a great interest in being a part of the program.

In your free time you can enjoy the following activities:

Quito:
* Enjoy the Old Town-churches, government, squares and shopping. The historic old town of Colonial Quito is the jewel in Ecuador's crown. The city was designated the first UNESCO World Heritage City in 1978 in recognition of the importance of its colonial architecture (ahead of cities like Bath and Venice).

* Visit the "Middle of the World City" where the monument that divides the Northern Hemisphere from the Southern is located. It was built during the XVII century when a French Expedition defined the precise location of the equatorial line. The Ethnographic Museum can also be visited.

Galapagos:
* Island Hop! Start at Espanola Island and enjoy natural wonder after natural wonder, from the immense blowhole, to the thousands of nesting blue-footed boobies, to the world's largest waved albatross colony. Continue to Floreana Island and see flamingos! Enjoy Black Tortuga Bay on Santa Cruz and witness a mangrove maze chock full of sharks, rays and sea turtles.

* If you are a diving fan, The Galapagos is a unique, world-class diving location. This underwater world is still private, pristine, and relatively unexplored. It is not the coral reefs that are the main attraction, but rather the unique mixture of marine animals and their fearlessness of intruders into their watery world. You will be diving next to sea turtles, manta rays, penguins, sea lions, dolphins, and numerous species of sharks, including hammerheads and whale sharks. There are also hundreds of species of tropical reef fish, many of which are particular to this fantastic underwater sanctuary.

Qualifications

TEFL Certification or prove at least one year relevant experience.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

One time placement fee 690 (Quito) and 890 (Galapagos)

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support

Program Fees Include:

* Food - Three meals a day
* Transfer to and from the airport
* 24-hour staff support
* Comprehensive orientation
* Accommodations in a home stay

Experience Required

yes

Participants should have a TEFL Certificate or prove at least one year English teaching experience.

Volunteer Types

• Culture
• English Teaching
• Volunteering

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Application Process Involves

• Resume

Lead Adventures South America's Mission Statement

Since its creation in 2004 LEAD Adventures has been extremely successful launching programs in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands and establishing mutually beneficial partnerships abroad. Our programs are targeted to young minded people from all over the world that want to experience the great destinations Ecuador and South America have to offer.

Year Founded

2004