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You will be teaching English to underprivileged children or unemployed adults in Buenos Aires and providing them with the necessary skills to succeed in life. Not only will you be an invaluable asset as a native English speaker, but you will also act as a mentor. With the aid of the online TEFL course included in the programme, you be able to transform the attitudes of the many people who attend the classes.
Programme Information
The ability to speak English is a valuable skill for Argentinians wishing to succeed, but the recent economic recession has made quality tuition hard to come by. The government cannot afford to attract native-speakers into Argentina to teach, and parents lack funds to educate their children in appropriate establishments.
Before arriving, you will be able to do your online TEFL course, included in the programme, for which you will gain a certificate upon completion. The TEFL course will provide you with clear ideas on teaching objectives and theories and give you that extra bit of confidence before your teaching placement begins.
Volunteer work activities
As a volunteer you will have the opportunity to choose between teaching underprivileged children or unemployed adults.
We recommend having some teaching experience and some knowledge of Spanish. In the event that there is another volunteer placed here, you may divide the classes or team-teach them. The classes should focus on conversation and there will be material available that can be photocopied for lessons. Generally, Mondays and Wednesdays are reserved for planning and preparing. Groups can have anywhere between 3 and 25 students. All work takes place in the afternoons.
On your first day of the project, you will be given an extensive orientation to familiarise you with your new surroundings. You will be informed of local customs, and how to get around using the extensive public transport network. A project coordinator will also meet you to explain your role as a volunteer.
Project Age Limit
Minimum 18 years, maximum decided on potential participants’ health.
Project Support
Throughout your stay in Buenos Aires you will have the support and guidance of the coordinator and team. They will be able to provide you with any help or advice you may need during your stay.
In addition to the in-country support, you will have access to a 24 hour emergency contact number should you need to contact one of our UK staff at any time.
Accommodation and Meals
There are two options for accommodation, depending on which package you choose.
For the language school and volunteering package, you will be staying with an Argentinian host family. Our host families are carefully screened and must meet stringent requirements before
being accepted. All are middle-class and live in safe homes, and are close friends of the school staff. The distance from the school varies from about 20-40 minutes by bus. You will be given a key to your host family's home so you can come and go as you please. The family will provide two meals a day, and a private room with a shared bathroom. They will speak Spanish most of the time, to help you learn the language and get the most out of the programme. There will be at least one member of the family that speaks English if need be.
If you choose the volunteering project alone, you will be staying at a hostel with breakfast included. Commute time to the project can be 30-60 minutes. Cooking dinner and washing up will unfortunately then be your own responsibility!
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