Development of Language Courses through Songs

  Argentina

Esquel

Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks

Description: One of the Education and Culture projects promoted by MAPU Association is the teaching of foreign languages (particularly English and German) using songs as an alternative learning method. The language courses will be targeted to youngsters and adults who are reluctant to study using traditional foreign-language teaching methods, whether it is due to a poor experience at school or to the lack of contact with other languages, and as a result feel shy towards the different sound of another language.

Volunteering Placement Description: The idea of offering foreign language courses (especially in English and German) which base each lesson on a song was developed as a teaching alternative for youngsters and adults who dont react well to traditional teaching methods and find them difficult or boring. Songs usually have authentic language and informal vocabulary, and as a result students can learn a language´s grammatical and cultural aspects in a more natural and entertaining way. Furthermore, songs provide valuable pronunciation and oral comprehension practice.

As a volunteer for the Development of English and German Courses through Songs project, you will be responsible for: teaching using songs; developing a class plan for different proficiency levels; analyzing and working with specific songs; developing grammar, vocabulary, and role play exercises for each song; and in general making the most of every language aspect each song can offer. You will also be responsible for using traditional methods to teach students who have a very basic language level and therefore may have a hard time learning through songs.

Highlights: The objective of this volunteering placement is that by developing learning material and teaching language through songs you help local people from Patagonia learn foreign languages and feel comfortable communicating with them.

Qualifications: For this volunteering placement you need studies and/or experience in the teaching of your mother tongue (English or German) as a foreign language. You also need to be flexible, proactive, creative and able to work in a systematic and organized way.

Languages: Intermediate level of Spanish, and English and/or German as mother tongue.

Cost in US$: 360 USD

This amount includes your annual membership fee to MAPU Association and your one time volunteer placement organization fee. Through your annual membership fee, which you will decide whether you renew the following year, and the payment of the organization of your volunteer placement, you will not only contribute to finance the MAPU Association projects, but you will also be able to keep volunteering, as a member of MAPU, in every available project in Patagonia which fits your profile without having to pay the volunteer fee again.

Also, this cost includes...
* Before your trip to Patagonia:
- Organization of your volunteer work placement with clearly defined activities and objectives, according to your profile and preferences and to the needs of your host organization.
- If necessary, translation and/or edition of your Letter of Intent and Curriculum Vitae so that the host organizations can decide whether your profile is suitable to their projects and needs.
- Regular communication with the Patagonia Volunteer's Coordinators, who will answer your doubts, give you advice, tell you about their own experience as volunteers, and help you with the practical aspects of the organization of your trip.
- Access to orientation material which will help you have clear and realistic expectations about your Patagonia experience, and will provide you with some tools to get ready to give your best during your volunteer placement.

* During your volunteer work in Patagonia:
- Volunteers' orientation and preparation workshop: analysis of the different local realities and tools to interpret them, role and position of the international volunteer, information and preparation for the specific projects, etc.
- Guidance and supervision during your volunteer work from the Patagonia Volunteer's Coordinators and from your host organization coordinator.
- Contacts to find a local partner for practicing Spanish and making a language exchange.
- Organization of your accommodation with a local family (for about 150 EUR to 200 EUR monthly).

* After your volunteer work in Patagonia
- Possibility of keeping involved with the MAPU Association's projects through virtual volunteering.
- Opportunities to return to Patagonia to perform another volunteer work project in Patagonia, as often as you want or as often as you can, without having to pay again the volunteer organization placement fee.
- A network of friends with experiences and objectives in common who walk towards the same direction, sharing both interests and differences.

Experience Required: yes

For this volunteering placement you need studies and/or experience in the teaching of your mother tongue (English or German) as a foreign language.

This Program is open to World Wide Participants.

Participants Travel to Argentina Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

MAPU Association's Mission Statement: MAPU Association is a young non-profit, founded in Madrid, Spain, in April 2006. The main objective of MAPU Association is to encourage and promote cooperation and development projects within the communities of Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia in order to foster local self-sufficiency, augment the locals' resources, and improve their capabilities for positive and sustainable development. Patagonia Volunteer is a program developed by MAPU Association as a community, social and environmental development tool in the frame of International Cooperation. Its goal is to offer solutions to the locals' needs, problems and social interests, while contributing to fostering fairer relations between this southern region and the developed countries of the north.

Year Founded: 2006