Description

South Africa is a country of dramatic change and optimism, which is reflected in the schools in which we work. Though they are often over-crowded, understaffed and under-funded, a real enthusiasm and a hope for the future seem to permeate through the students. It is going to be hard to maintain this as more and more private schools continue to appear, luring the most skilled teachers away with lucrative contracts. Teaching English as a volunteer in Africa is one way in which you can begin to help address this imbalance.

South Africa has a highly varied population; 41% of Cape Town residents speak Afrikaans at home, 29% speak Xhosa, 28% speak English, with smaller percentages speaking any one of the eight national tribal languages. Due to this cultural diversity, English is emerging as the language of communication in many public walks of life, so having a native English speaker is particularly helpful.

You can volunteer as an English teacher in South Africa during your gap year, career break or during an extended vacation. You can gain this work experience without any previous teaching experience, and we do not require you to have a TEFL qualification. Our volunteer teaching projects in South Africa not only benefit the people in the schools where we work but also the wider communities.

It is also possible to teach French in South Africa. Please let us know if you're interested in this option when you apply.

Volunteers who are teaching in South Africa are based in the poorer suburbs of Cape Town and the surrounding Cape Flats townships of Grassy Park, Lavender Hill, and Vrygrond.

You can work with primary or secondary school children so let us know your preference. You can teach English to children of any age, and are also likely to be asked to help local teachers brush up on their own language skills.

Schools in the townships might have classes with up to 70 students with just a single teacher. By helping a local teacher or even taking a class on your own, you will be greatly relieving the workload while providing the students with an added dimension to their education. Each volunteer is expected to teach for at least four hours per day.

Our volunteers teach conversational English in schools to a range of ages and abilities. While you'll have the basics of a blackboard and chalk, classrooms often lack other resources. Your most important resource is yourself, so try to draw on all your experiences and interests to really bring the lessons alive. Bringing items from home such as photos, stamps and magazines can be great for building lessons around, and our Teaching booklet will also give you plenty of ideas.

Highlights

Volunteer teaching in schools in South Africa doesn't have to be just about teaching English. In South Africa, there is the opportunity to teach other subjects according to your interests and skills, and you are encouraged to help with extra-curricular activities such as sports, music, art, drama, singing and even practical skills such as carpentry, metalwork and construction, if you have relevant experience. With the school day usually finishing by 2:30pm in South Africa, there are lots of opportunities for extra-curricular lessons, and staff is eager for you to help with all aspects of the school.

If you want to teach in a more holistic, informal environment, you could also choose to work as a mentor with more vulnerable -at risk' groups of youths. This placement would see you teaching functional literacy and numbers, English, basic computer skills and general life skills to children between the ages of 8 and 16, many of whom are living on the streets. Please let us know when you apply if this interests you.

All volunteers taking part in any of the Cape Town based projects in South Africa have the opportunity to add a 7-Day Conservation Project to the end of their main placement. For more information visit our Conservation in South Africa project page.

Qualifications

No qualifications, experience or languages required.

Languages

• English
• Afrikaans
• Xhosa

Languages Used as a Medium of Teaching

• English

Cost in US$:

Please go to our website for prices.

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Medical insurance
• Medical services
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Academic Reinforcement
• Education
• English Teaching
• Primary Education
• Secondary Education
• Teaching

Typical Volunteer

Open-minded with a desire to travel.

Age Range

16-70

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat
• Group living

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

10 days

Post Services Include

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement

As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded

1992