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Teaching - Gap-Ventures - Africa and Asia Venture

Teaching

Why Teach?

For children in most of the rural areas we operate, education is the only way out of the poverty trap. They may not make it anyway, but you can help them try. In addition, you will be doing something for the community in which you will be living and people will recognise that you are there to help.

And it is, not so surprisingly, incredibly rewarding and huge fun because most children are so desperate to learn. Additionally, teachers are looked up to nearly everywhere, so you'll get plenty of respect...ready for that?

Teach Where?

Our teaching gap year schemes are available in all our African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi), in the Indian Himalayas (Darjeeling and the Lepchas community), Nepal, western China, northern Thailand and Mexico. AV's teaching placements are for 3 - 4 months, mostly in rural schools.

Teach Who?

You can tell us which level you want to teach and we will try to arrange it for you. We have a mix of primary and secondary schools (6-16 years), but the majority are primary. In secondary schools we will not ask you to teach beyond the GCSE level and only then if you are happy. The teaching medium is English everywhere, except in Mexico, where some Spanish is required.

Teach In What schools?

Nearly all our places are in poor rural schools, where the need is greatest (they are not badly organised, just poor). We will place you where you will be well suited - that's what the interview is all about! Believe us when we say that you will be really welcome and you certainly will not take a local teacher's job!

Officially, you are an assistant teacher. In practice, this means that once you have the confidence you will have your own class. Pretty well all classrooms have desks or benches, a blackboard and chalk and a few even have electric lights! Class sizes vary from 30 to 130 and, especially in the bigger classes, you teach as a pair with your partner.

Teach What?

You tell us what you want to teach and we try to match you to the school where you can do it. In Africa, this will include the full range of general subjects. In Asia and Mexico you will mostly teach English. You will nearly always be covering part of the local curriculum and working towards important exams for the children.

Teach Only In The Classroom?

No way! You will be very popular if you help with PE, organise sports and games between schools and run out-of-school activities like drama, art, music and, of course, more sport! Not all schools have an 'after school' life.

In some places, like Nepal, sport is minimal because children have to walk up to 2 hours to school and 2 hours home again. If activities don't exist you can start them - a school band, a tae-kwon-do class, a dancing class - just use your initiative and talk to us for advice and inspiration.

Teach For How long?

We work in partnership with our schools, determined to be useful to them. We believe it is important that your placement is for about a full term of 11-16 weeks - anything less disrupts the school. You will also find that it takes 2-3 weeks to get completely into your stride. Most AVs wish they could stay longer - when they know what it is like!

Teaching Aids?

We will tell you which is 'your' school some 6-8 weeks before you go. You should consider acquiring some books to remind you of your subject, e.g. a grammar for English teachers. We suggest that you take some very small gifts, such as silver and gold stars and the like, to reward effort and encourage good behaviour. Your baggage allowance will limit the quantities you can squeeze in!

Interested?

See how teaching works in detail in:

AFRICA: Uganda - Kenya - Tanzania - Malawi - South Africa

ASIA: India-Darjeeling - India-Lepchas - Nepal - China - Thailand

CENTRAL AMERICA: Mexico

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