Teach English in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

  Vietnam

Rural Areas

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks

Description: Vietnam is a country made famous by war but slowly gaining a reputation as a great travel destination. Put off first by the fighting and then by the memory of fighting the country has avoided the mass influx of tourists. Despite cosmetic alterations in the shape of shopping malls and coffee shops, Vietnam retains its traditional character. Based in the Mekong Delta amongst a patchwork of rice paddies we work with a number of projects teaching English to young children. Few Vietnamese school children have the opportunity to practice skills such as conversational English. Having a native English speaker around means the kids can have a break from the textbooks and learn through drama, debates, games and songs. To help you prepare we also include our TEFL certification when you sign up to the project.

*Project details:
In Mekong Delta i-to-i work with a number of schools, teaching children aged 7-18 years old. The schools are generally large with nearly a thousand students and there may be 40 or more students in each class. This program focuses on teaching English to children from a young age, helping them to improve their foreign language abilities and pronunciation as they get older.

*Why the project needs volunteers:
There is a huge demand for English teachers in Vietnam, as most young people are very keen to learn English. In a developing country like Vietnam, learning English can create great opportunities and improve the job prospects of young people. Few Vietnamese school children have the opportunity to learn from a native English speaker and to develop areas of English that are not covered in their school syllabus, such as conversational English.

Highlights:
* Making a difference and helping develop the English language abilities of the children
* Getting to grips with rural life in this fantastic part of the world
* Exploring the surrounding countryside during your time off

Qualifications: What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
Volunteers at this project should have a genuine love of children and an interest in education. Although you do not require any special skills, any experience working with children would be valuable. You will need to be confident, well-organized, creative and resourceful. To get the most out of this project, you will need to use initiative and prepare for your teaching time.

Your role as a volunteer:
Your main role as a volunteer will be to teach English to the students. Your role will be as assistant teacher, although as you gain confidence and experience there may be the opportunity to lead classes. The main teacher will focus on the tuition of grammar, while you will be expected to practise conservational English with the children. English textbooks issued by the Ministry of Education will be provided, but you must be prepared to teach English through a variety of methods, including drama, debates, games and songs. You may wish to bring some pictures which introduce your country and homeland along with story books and comics which will help you with the students.

In addition to teaching you will have the opportunity to get involved in extra-curricular activities with the students.

Another role as a volunteer is to set a good example to the students by teaching them good manners and social skills.

Cost in US$: USD 1260.00 for 2 weeks, USD 220.00 for every week thereafter

* Accommodation: Shared room in volunteer house
* Food: Food is not included; you will need to purchase your own food (budget approximately USD 50 per week)
* Airport Pickup: Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
* Training: In-country orientation and Online TEFL course
* Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18-80

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Vietnam Independently

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 50,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses. With over 400 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.

Year Founded: 1994