TEACHING ENGLISH IN INDIA

PROJECT SUMMARY

Imparting Education for noble cause

As many of our associated schools are constantly understaffed and require personnel, we place volunteers in schools – Community, Public or Slum, wherein they can work by themselves or alongside existing teachers/volunteers. Typical subjects taught include- English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Art and Physical Education.

Indian schools are generally open all year round so volunteering opportunities are readily available. However, the schools are closed during the month of May-June on account of summer vacations and also during October for 15 days on account of major festivals. During these periods, our efficient program staffs arrange initiatives for teaching street/orphan/slum/poor children or even tutorials at local schools.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

Though no prior teaching experience or skill is needed, volunteers joining the Teaching English program in India should have good English skills. Volunteers are expected to be flexible and patient and possess a passion and love for teaching.

The student class learning objectives: Alphabets, Numbers, Days of the week, Months, Telling the time, parts of the body,

Animals-mammals, insects, sea life, birds and reptiles.

English Language teaching methodologies:

Focused play, free play, indoor play, outdoor play, music and singing, movement and dance, drama and role-play, creative activity—painting, finger painting, day trips.

PROJECT AT A GLANCE

Location: Jaipur/Sikar;
Project: Teaching English;
Start Dates: 1st and 15th of each month (except May and June due to summer vacations in schools);
Arrival & Departure points: Jaipur & Sikar;
Skills/Qualifications Requirement: Knowledge of English;
Accommodation: Host families/Guest Houses/Host Organizations;
Food during placement: Local vegetarian food (2 or 3 meals a day, depend on the project);
Activities: Teaching English;
Working hours: 30 to 40 hours per week;
Weekly off days: Saturday and Sunday.

ROLE OF A VOLUNTEER

As an English teaching volunteer in India, you can bring a ray of hope and make a positive impact in the life of the children who cannot afford to go to expensive private schools to obtain English education. The general responsibility includes:

o Regularly teaching children English and Mathematics in the schools;

o Teaching conversational English through the book prescribed by the school;

o Organizing games, drawing and paining, singing, dancing and other creative education and extra curricular activities;

o Helping kids to do homework, monitor academic progress;

o Help in other activities or programs designed for kids (if any);

o Assist in administrative works of schools/host organizations;

o Ensure regular health check ups for the children in each school through co-operating with the local doctors and hospital’s staff;

o Creating basic hygiene awareness amongst children on regular basis.

AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES

During our work with volunteers during the last few months we have come to realize that a significant number of volunteer often seek more working hours than have been offered by our projects so far. For this reason, our programs would offer a number of optional afternoon activities that would help the volunteers have a wider impact during the stay.

English classes: In an increasingly unilingual world, knowledge of English can make a huge difference to the confidence, employability and social status of an individual. With English not being the first language in the rural areas, people from a vast majority of Indian population miss out on quality opportunities of gaining confidence in the use of knowledge. Volunteers, with their involvement in teaching English to local women can help the project achieve a multitude of objectives like empowerment and increasing employability.

Computer training: Computer knowledge can give students an employability advantage and make it easier for them to access modern means to information and expressions. Volunteers can make use of the well tested and developed modules of imparting basic computer skills to the enthusiastic local girls and women.

Teaching spoken English: Volunteers can also teach etiquettes or spoken English to the students, to the host family members or to the host organization’s staff and their family members.

Maintenance of institutional facilities: During some afternoons, the volunteers can take up maintenance, renovation and decoration of their various work places like schools, day care centers etc. Such work will not be available on a continuous basis and hence may be seen as an extra activity that the volunteers would carry out.

FOOD

India boosts of having on the best cuisines in the world today. Indian food is popular around the world and is much appreciated. While in India you would experience local cuisine, depending on your choice of city.

Basic Indian food includes:
Roti (Indian bread);
Vegetables;
Rice;
Dal (Lentil Curry);
Yogurt;
Pickle;
Salad.

Volunteers can enjoy eating out as well and taste a huge variety of dishes India has to offer.

ARRIVAL AND ORIENTATION

Volunteers are advised to arrive at New Delhi, the nearest international airport and then commute to Jaipur on their own, as for now, Delhi is not covered in our program. There are few domestic flights, some trains and many deluxe/air-conditioned buses available which are both safe and comfortable. Travelling time for Delhi-Jaipur is 40 minutes via air and five and half hours via rail/road. For more details on how to reach Jaipur, please go through the general information link on our website www.volunteeringinindia.org

The program starts with arrival in Jaipur where you are met and taken to host family/guest house. Volunteers have to stay for 3 days at host family/ guest house at Jaipur for orientation, resting, sight-seeing and for learning a little bit of Hindi. But they are free to go to nearby tourist places on weekends at their own expenses. The only transportation expenses included are for sight-seeing, drop at placement site and pickups/drops from place of stay to school. Volunteers will have to bear personal expenses i.e. laundry charges, internet, fruits, mineral water and entry fees to museums which are nominal.

ACCOMMODATION

We provide accommodations with host families/guest houses. Accommodation is also provided sometimes with in the orphanage/rehabilitation center or host organization’s complex in separate guest rooms or shared dormitories for volunteers. It is excited to stay with a family; that way you will learn the local way of life, next local people, eat local food and engage in local customs and traditions. Living is basic but all home stays have electricity, proper beds, bedding, running filtered water and sometimes even internet access. Volunteers can expect to share a room with one or two other volunteers. While bedding is provided, it is recommended that volunteers bring their own sleeping bag and mosquito nets for any trips during weekends or holidays.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

The volunteer program starts on the 1st and 15th of every month. You can choose to be a volunteer in any area with varied durations ranging from 2 weeks to 6 months. The English teaching program is limited during the months of May and June as local schools would have summer vacation during this period.

Major Indian festivals take place during the period September to November. The exact dates of festivals are decided by lunar calendar. To see calendar of events click here. This would interrupt your program. We wouldn’t recommend to initialize your placement during this time of the year if you opt to volunteer for a month or less. On the other hand, this period provides a once-a-lifetime opportunity to closely interact with the local culture for those who choose to volunteer for longer period of time.

APPLICATION FEES AND PROGRAM CHARGES (ALL COSTS ARE IN US DOLLARS):

Volunteer India Application Fees US $ 150.

A deposit of US $ 150 as application fee is required with your application (through Direct Online Bank Debit/Credit or Paypal). It is non-refundable upon notification of acceptance. The application fee covers administration, marketing, program information and communication. Click here to apply for the program.

Program Charges:

Volunteer India’s goal is to serve the world community by building partnerships between willing volunteers and carefully selected host projects. Program charges cover orientation, Hindi language teaching, materials, host family/organization and project screening, local transportation, food, lodging and ongoing program monitoring. To provide participants with a consistently high quality program, Volunteer India organizations must also maintain a proper infrastructure and cover general administrative costs including rent, salaries, record keeping, communication, and information services.

To see the program charges in your currency, we recommend you to click here.

The program charges are required at least 30 days prior to joining the project.

The duration and costs of the program are as follows:

Duration (in weeks)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Project Costs	150	250	350	450	550	650	750	850	950	1050	1150	1250

For picking up from Delhi by taxi and for Agra excursion to see Taj Mahal will cost US $ 100 more each trip.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation after acceptance and prior to placement confirmation – the deposit is forfeited.
Cancellation after confirmation of placement – 50% of the program fee is forfeited.
No Show or Early Departure from Program – 100% of the program fee is forfeited.
What is included in the program?

· Half day orientation on arrival at Jaipur and teaching basic Hindi phrases and common words (only for those volunteers who are interested in volunteering for more than two weeks);

· All meals at project site (2 or 3 meals a day), depend on the project and accommodation at Jaipur and at project site;

· All transport between projects and full day sightseeing at Jaipur;

· Dedicated on site assistance from English speaking guides;

· Free time to explore local area and assistance with planning independent excursions;

· All material required for various activities during the volunteer work like colour pens, pencils, paper and sport equipments etc.;

· Local sightseeing where applicable;

· 24/7 support from our staff.

What is not included in the program?

· Flights to & from India;

· Bus/Train/domestic flight fare from Delhi/Mumbai to Jaipur;

· Passport and Visa Fees;

· Emails and telephonic calls made;

· Travel/Personal insurance cover for the duration of your placement;

All items of a personal nature such as laundry charges, mineral water, gifts, fruits, cloths and entry fees to the museums.

The other expenditure you would be required to meet are:

Visa (a 6 months tourist visa is US$ 50 only. The extensions are charged at US $ 30 per 30 days). The maximum number of renewals is three).

For still/video photography at museums, travel insurance, police check and corresponding airport departure taxes.

You may need a weekly budget of up to US $ 50 to support your general expenditure like bottled water, personal items, beverages and entertainment.

Village life in India is relatively inexpensive in comparison to cost of living in western countries and you can hardly spend US $ 25 per week during your placement.

SUPERVISION

· The following, fully supported excursions would be provided as a part of the program:

· Assistance in setting up local support for the volunteer’s activities in co-ordination with the local NGOs.

· Extensive pre-departure information, port arrival details, regular training and support by Volunteering in India for preparing the volunteers for their experience.

· Information and assistance for independent excursions during the weekends.

CLIMATE

India’s climate generally has three seasons, which may vary from region to region. The hot season roughly beginning in February in the North and peaking in June can reach up to and above 45 Celsius in some areas, mostly in the centre of the country. You can expect Delhi to have temperatures at the high end of the 45’s.

Monsoon season means steady rain for the whole country from the beginning of July. It stays pretty hot, and though it doesn’t rain all day, it does generally rain everyday. The Monsoon causes muddy conditions at best but serious flooding is also a threat. The cool season is the optimum time to travel in India, as it is not too hot and not too cool. In the winter it does get surprisingly cold in the Northern regions, whereas in the south the temperatures are beautiful.

If you have any further enquires, please do not hesitate to contact us at (office tel. nos.) +911412355187, + 911416519704, (mobile) +919829013534 or at info@volunteeringinindia.org

FREE TIME

You will have loads of free time to explore the area. We are also organizing excursions to Agra, Pushkar, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur and Bikaner.

When not working or participating in a workshop or excursion, volunteers have plenty of time to relax and pursue their own hobbies. Some volunteers tour the local countryside; others read, write, play or even plan excursions to local points of interest. Most Friday evenings, volunteers arrange a small party or get together to celebrate the end of the workweek. You can also plan to cover other tourist places in Rajasthan/India as per your choice.