Involvement Volunteers International English Teaching in Darjeeling, India
Involvement Volunteers International (IVI) have provided teaching volunteer projects now for over 30 years! As a volunteer, you’ll usually work alongside a local teacher or with another volunteer. Depending on experience and desire, you can also teach classes on your own.
Our teaching projects do not require previous experience, although that is always a benefit! As long as you are commited to your project, have lots of energy and enthusiasm and a desire to educate, anyone is welcome on our projects.
Teaching projects vary immensely, for example working with students in government schools, working with children from very poor areas in Cambodia & India to rural Island community schools in Fiji or Philippines. We also have projects teaching teenagers and adults, as well as Buddhist monks!
What will I be teaching in classes?
You are able to teach varied school subjects, including science, math, history, geography, nutrition, reading, computer skills and more. You may be asked to work separately, one-on-one with special needs students, or to serve as an outside resource to an entire classroom. Classes are taught in English, and standard teaching materials will be available to you. Only your creativity is your limit! If you do wish to bring along items that will help you teach you are welcome to do so. Things like picture cards, workbooks, pencils, and stickers will be greatly enjoyed by the children.
Volunteers do not need a background in teaching as plenty of support and guidance is given. You can teach using a range of techniques including games, singing, group work, role play, and exercises. Volunteers also have the opportunity to teach a variety of other subjects including sports, drama, music, maths or science. Our projects are open to all volunteers, all we require is a good standard of spoken English.
Teaching overseas in IVI programs will leave you feeling fulfilled in the knowledge that you’re making a tremendous impact on the future lives of underprivileged children – Our primary focus is on English teaching, which is available at all of our locations.
Whether you are on a gap year, a career break, early retirement or just on vacation, our partner organisations support schools in every one of our destinations. Teaching placements allow volunteers to interact and make connections with students from very different backgrounds and circumstances to their own.
Many of the areas we service have low incomes and access to education is extremely limited. Through our partner organisations, we’re able to source quality and relevant teaching programs designed to integrate volunteers into the local community. We provide a safe environment with support, supervision and socialisation. English teaching overseas is most popular program type and most commonly requested resource throughout the communities and schools we work with, a request our volunteers help us fulfil.
As with all our projects we require individuals who are proactive and can assess and determine the needs of the classroom and design learning material to suit the situations. This should include considerations around different customs, religions and belief systems to ensure the content is aligned to the audience.
We also encourage all volunteers to be creative and do things totally outside the box. Now is your time to learn more about yourself, your strenghts and opportunities for improvement so that you can benefit your career.