Location:

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Program Type:

Volunteer Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Work Types:

Education

Duration:

1-3 months

Program Overview

Program Description:

Volunteer in Cambodia and teach English as a foreign language. Volunteers are needed to work as English language teachers in a school project which provides affordable conversational English language courses for Cambodian students. The aim of this project is to provide regular funding for a local NGO working to improve the situation of rural communities in Northern Cambodia. Initiatives focus on poverty reduction, sanitation, agriculture, and environmental conservation. Students attending the classes pay a small fee, and these funds are channelled back to the NGO. You can join for 3 months year round. We have places all throughout 2015 & 2016 available. Individuals, groups, students and couples all welcome. Cost includes lodging in comfortable volunteer house, 3 meals/day, airport pickup, orientation & training, internet & bicycle use; £750

Courses are part-time and each group of students takes a one-hour class each day from Monday to Friday for 10 weeks. You may also teach one-to-one conversational tutoring classes, depending on the schedule. Students range from 13 to about 40 years of age, but are typically existing secondary school and university students. All students and teachers have books, from which to learn and teach - support and lessons plans are provided by the school and support teachers, which makes it easier for volunteers. You will teach up to five hours per day from Monday to Friday. Most volunteers also spend time preparing their classes. You will most likely teach from 6:00am to 8:00am, then have a break during the day before teaching two hours between 4:00pm and 8:00pm. These hours reflect that students like to study English before and after going to work or high school/university. All students have at least a basic understanding of English, but all lack practice in speaking and listening with foreigners.

Your experience a a teaching volunteer in Cambodia begins when we meet you on arrival, usually at Phnom Penh Airport. A 10-day relaxed orientation period will be followed by 11 weeks of teaching, including a one-week break which will generally coincide with a Cambodian festival. For the benefit of the school and the students, we accept teaching volunteers for three months and on our specific group starting dates only. Volunteers will teach conversational English courses designed to create an informal learning environment with small groups (maximum of 12 students) and fun topics.

Setting Description:

Cambodia is a Southeast Asian nation bordered by Vietnam to the east, Laos to the north, Thailand to the northwest, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. It lies completely within the tropics, and has a coastline of 435 km and extensive mangrove stands. The dominant features of the Cambodian landscape are the large Sap (Great Lake) and the Bassac River Systems and the Mekong River, which crosses the country from North to South. The capital is Phnom Penh, located on the banks of the Mekong River. The city was once known as the ‘Pearl of Asia’. The total population of Cambodia is 15 million, with a 74% literacy rate. 90% of the population are Buddhist. During the Angkor period (9th – 14th century) Cambodia’s achievements in art, architecture, music and dance flourished and influenced many of its neighbours such as Thailand and Laos. During this time, many iconic temples were built such as Bayon and Angkor Wat. Cambodia has a wealth of traditional and international festival

Cost:

The total cost to join this programme for 3 months is £750. This covers your rental for the full 3 months in the volunteer house, all meals (except on weekends and school holidays), in addition to the costs of house maintenance charges, all training and orientation, organised 1 week trip, plus project backup and support. In addition, some of the monies go towards the Cambodian NGO that the school is supporting to improve the welfare of rural communities in the country. If you choose to live an