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Gap Year Teaching - Gap-Year-Mexico - Africa and Asia Venture
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Gap Year Teaching - Gap-Year-Mexico - Africa and Asia Venture
Gap Year Teaching
Experience life in Mexican villages and teach English in rural schools
Who and where?
The local Mexicans are a mixture of Mazuan Indians and other ethnic minorities, who live in traditional villages and farm in the pine-clad hillsides around Valle de Bravo. This attractive, small colonial town, some 3 hours west of Mexico City, has a vibrant market, lies alongside a stunning lake and is very popular with AVs.
Outline Experience
| 10-12 days | 4 months | 5 days | 3 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| orientation and Spanish in Hacienda Pipiol | teaching mostly English in selected rural schools in the Valle de Bravo | camping, rafting and adventure in the Queretero region | independent group travel throughout Mexico |
What and Why?
Throughout Mexico it is noticeable how little English is spoken, even though the Government is very keen to encourage it in schools and rural communities. Our projects are very much a balance between encouraging English-speaking, helping in cultural/community activities and teaching in primary and secondary schools.
You will teach colloquial English to classes of about 40 in both primary and secondary schools. Schools work to a timetable and syllabus and the standards of discipline and dress are reasonably high. You will also help with some sports and other activities, e.g. football, basketball and dancing!
Late afternoons and evenings are spent back in your villages enjoying community life.
Gap Year Living
You and your partner will live in your own Mexican house, in the centre of the village, with 4-6 other AVs. Accommodation is fairly basic but you will have a shower, an inside lavatory and a kitchen.
Gap Year Travel
There is a 2-week mid-term break to coincide with Easter or Christmas. Most AVs travel to Oaxaca and the Pacific coast during this period. When you leave your school you will go on an adventurous safari to the Queretero region for 5 days, camping under the stars, rafting and chilling out. Then it is independent group travel time for 3 further weeks and you can choose between going north to the desert regions, south to the Cancun coast (sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling), or combining these with visiting colonial towns and pyramids.
We are certain that you will make lasting friends among the Mexicans and among your fellow AV volunteers. We are also certain that you will want to return again and again in the future!
Gap Year Support
Our main representative is Adriana Martinez Cabal who, with Genero Tirado, will provide regional support. Genero’s family own Hacienda Pipiol and Adriana lives nearby. Adriana, together with Laura Torres Izabel, will run the Orientation/language course and will visit you during the term. Other support comes from Teresa Badenoch and her family in Mexico City.
