English Teacher / Children's Summer Camp Counselor

  Mexico

• Pacific Coast: 
La Manzanilla

Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Dates: Year Round: (6 weeks program) with the possibility of extending program length

Description: Children's English and Arts Summer Camp:

The selected volunteer(s) will be responsible to plan, develop and lead Children's English and Arts Summer Camp activities for four weeks, under the guidance of our Program Director. The summer camp is subsidized by the local community government and La Catalina Educational Foundation with the vision of providing affordable and fun educational opportunities for the Mexican children of La Manzanilla.

Camp Activities Include: English classes, arts, crafts, sports and games.

Estimated Hours: The Summer camp runs for four weeks (July 14th - Aug 8th) Monday through Friday for three hours a day (11:00am 2:00pm). Total Camp hours include 15 hours a week of leading camp activities and an estimated 8 hours a week for planning, preparation, and clean up.

Total Estimated Hours: 23 hours a week.

Community Adult English Classes:

The selected volunteer(s) will be required to plan and teach Adult English Classes for the duration of the volunteer program. La Catalina Educational Foundation offers free English classes to the community of La Manzanilla and surrounding areas with the goal of improving the English language skills of the students in order to help them achieve higher paying jobs or advancement in their current positions.

Estimated Hours: Adult English classes run year round twice a week Monday and Thursday night from 7:10pm 9:10pm. The classes are divided into two different levels; beginners and intermediates. The beginner class runs from 7:10pm- 8:05pm and the intermediate from 8:10pm- 9:10pm. The required teaching hours total 4 hours a week with an estimated 2 hours a week of preparation.

Total Estimated Hours: 6 hours a week.

Other Responsibilities:
* Attend weekly meetings with the Program Director to plan, execute and evaluate program
* Coordinate and integrate high school student volunteers from the U.S. and Canada who will be participating in La Catalina Natural Language School's summer Spanish immersion program, as well as the local Mexican teens to help with camp.
* Monitor and report student's behavioral problems to Program Director.
* Keep classroom facilities clean and orderly
* Keep an inventory of all materials used
* Keep daily attendance and collect registration forms and payments
* Have fun!

Total Estimated Hours for both positions: 29 hours a week Monday - Friday

Highlights: We will be accepting 1 or 2 volunteers who would like to spend the summer of 2008 in the beautiful beach community of La Manzanilla, Mexico, learn or better their Spanish, gain valuable job skills in Education, teaching, ESL (English as a Second Language), International Studies and related fields, and to and give something back to our local Mexican community.

As part of the volunteer program, the participant(s) will be housed with one of our carefully selected and caring Mexican families who will provide a private bedroom in their house and prepare 3 meals a day for the volunteer. For those who would be more comfortable in their own private or shared accommodations, we may be able to provide a modest apartment upon request. Volunteers will also receive 2 weeks (30 hours) of intensive Spanish immersion courses & Spanish learning materials upon arrival at La Catalina Natural Language School. For beginning students, the goal is they acquire some basic Spanish communication skills which will help them be more successful in their volunteer position. For intermediate or advanced students, the classes provide a great opportunity to hone their Spanish speaking skills.

During their stay, our volunteer will act as our English and Arts summer camp counselor for Mexican children in the village, ages 6 to 12, and as an English Teacher for community adult English classes.

As La Catalina Educational Foundation offers a variety of year round programs in the areas of education, art, dance, community development and more, there may be opportunities to extend the program.

Qualifications:
We are looking for the following Qualifications:
* University student at least 20 years of age or university graduate
* Some Spanish speaking abilities are very helpful but not mandatory
* Experience working with youth, adolescents, and adults in community related activities
* Experience working in summer camps or in schools
* Desire to learn new skills or pursue a teaching career
* Ability to plan and organize people and materials
* Good communication skills
* Outgoing, social, & friendly
* Ability to work independently and in a team setting
* Desire to help in the community and learn new about new cultures
* Ability to handle hot and humid climates
* Physically able to walk to and from different schools maximum of 15 minutes

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: $2500

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 20 and over

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Mexico Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 2-3

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Resume
• Written Application

Year Founded: 2003