| A teacher is a person who facilitates education or | | | | the higher grade levels. If you have a passion for |
| provides schooling for students. The science of | | | | sports, or just one sport your skills could be used to |
| teaching is pedagogy, whereby teachers get | | | | teach physical education. Also it could be your |
| professional qualifications for teaching. When you | | | | opportunity to teach the kids new sports that are |
| volunteer abroad as a teacher, many organizations | | | | played in your home country. Some volunteers |
| provide you with TEFL (teaching English as a foreign | | | | combine teaching sports as well as teaching English. |
| language) certification. This involves 120 hours of | | | | Teaching advice On the first day of your class, it |
| learning on how to teach English best in foreign | | | | could be daunting with all the eager eyes before you, |
| countries at the end of the course you are given a | | | | introduce yourself and ask the rest of the class to |
| certificate. Most of these programs are flexible and | | | | introduce themselves. This will break the ice and the |
| are done to fit your schedule. Apart from getting | | | | tension in the class, also find other ways you could |
| TEFL there are other language certificates like for | | | | involve the students in the class. Try to establish a |
| French, Spanish and also Italian. But when volunteering | | | | rapport, and tell the students something about |
| abroad as a teacher you don't need to have these | | | | yourself while teaching them the importance of the |
| professional qualifications. You don't need to be | | | | subject you are teaching. The school you will work in |
| trained as a professional teacher; all you need is to | | | | will give you a syllabus in which work with. When |
| be able to speak English fluently. Most of the | | | | preparing your lesson with the syllabus in mind. As |
| programs are in third world countries whereby they | | | | your time is limited, planning lessons makes the use |
| have problems speaking the language. The local | | | | of time to be effective. This helps in covering most |
| teachers know the language, the grammar and the | | | | of the course work in time and helps the students to |
| structural aspects but they lack the right | | | | plan their time as well. There are several teaching |
| pronunciation and intonation. As English is not their | | | | techniques you could employ but they need to: |
| native language they have problems with pronouncing | | | | encourage contact between teacher and students; |
| the words properly. As an English speaking foreigner | | | | encourage active learning; give prompt feedback; |
| you will be a great asset to the place where you will | | | | emphasize effective time management; and |
| be working. Usually the volunteer work for 18 to 20 | | | | communicate expectations. Lastly as a teacher you |
| hours a week. Most of the teaching abroad programs | | | | should pay attention to the school's academic and |
| are done in classes in some occasions you could be a | | | | work culture Problems Most of the programs and |
| private tutor helping the kids with their assignments. | | | | projects are done in developing countries, and you |
| You could be working in primary, secondary schools | | | | will be placed in schools which are ill equipped and |
| or in universities and colleges. The main duties | | | | don't have the necessary tools. You will be given a |
| involved in teaching are: Work as a teaching assistant: | | | | chalk board and chalk to use as tools. Most of the |
| teaching classes, grading books; Work as a social | | | | text books and reference material will not be |
| worker with the Administrator; help in cooking and | | | | available for you to use. This will require you to be |
| cleaning; Help in sports activities; and playing with the | | | | creative in your work. With an open mind you can |
| kids. Lessons Although teaching English is the most | | | | come up with new and creative ways to solve your |
| popular choice amongst volunteers, there are other | | | | problems. Another problem is that the students will |
| subjects that are taught in the schools. These | | | | be excited to meet you since you are from a |
| subjects are mainly taught in primary schools to the | | | | different culture and may lead them to stray off the |
| kids who are in lower grade levels. The subjects | | | | topic and ask too many questions about you. Also |
| include Maths, social sciences, geography, and Arts, | | | | since you are in a new culture you will have a bit of |
| music and sports education. The subjects are easy | | | | cultural conflict in the work environment. All in all the |
| and anyone can teach them. For students who are | | | | students, school and communities are excited about |
| studying art could teach the higher grade levels on | | | | your arrival and the work you are doing. They will |
| how to present their arts. As well as music, any | | | | help you in any way they can to make your work |
| volunteer who has experience or academic | | | | more fun and as easy as possible. |
| qualification can teach music to the lower grade to | | | | |