Seeking volunteer English teachers to live and work alongside teachers at a high school in Pastaza, Ecuador. We are seeking a teacher for a September 2015 start (3 or ideally 4 months commitment) but we are keen to hear from those interested in volunteering at later dates also. For all information, volunteer blogs and application form please see: www.iamachuar.org

The school

Kapawi Community is situated deep in the nearly two million acres of the Achuar people’s traditional territory near the confluence of the Pastaza and Capahuari Rivers- the former a major, the latter a minor tributary of the Amazon-near the border between Ecuador and Peru.

Colegio Tuna is made up of 116 students from 13 Achuar communities. The school opened in 2000, and specializes in eco-tourism. There are 11 teachers, teaching 13 different subjects such as math, science and history, using the books and curriculum from the Ministry of Education. The teachers are all Ecuadorian; some are Achuar, some Kichwa (another nationality that lives in Achuar territory), and some from the city.

The academic curriculum follows that which has been proposed by the Ministry of Education for bilingual schools that specialize in training students to pass the high school diploma (Bachillerato) in Ecotourism.

That said, the school does not have the funding to pay a full- time English professional teacher. English language skills when implemented in the right contexts will allow Achuar to gain more equal access to other education or professional opportunities.

In order to be able to control the rules of this engagement with tourists, corporations, investors, the tourism industry as a whole, and the outside world more generally, it is essential that the Achuar train their own professionals to run the ecotourism projects themselves. Language education is an important component in this.

Please note that this is an unpaid position. There are no application fees but the volunteer will have to pay their own transport to the reserve and contribute towards food costs. We ask teachers to understand that the collaborative nature of the project requires that teachers cover these basic costs. The teacher will be provided with basic accommodation.

Specifications

Have at least 1 -2 years experience of teaching English and ideally a TEFL/CELTA qualification
Advanced / working knowledge of Spanish.
Knowledge and experience of working/travel in Ecuador or Latin America is desirable but not absolutely necessary.

•Have an interested in living in the Amazon and living with the Achuar. Be flexible, sensitive to other people's life histories and easily adaptable to a new host culture. Be seriously prepared to spend time in a very remote environment that is more testing in many ways than the city.

•Be a motivated "self-starter" who is also willing to build on and develop a scheme of work established previous volunteers.

•Be willing to commit to a cycle of roughly 3 months in the jungle (Ecuador tourist visa allows a 90-day period entry - we are unable to assist with visa extensions).

English Teaching methods

During their stay the volunteer will hold the reigns of the English teaching programme in terms of its structure. That said, there is an Achuar student’s book designed by a previous volunteer that all classes are using. Today the book needs some adaptation so there is also a teacher’s guide written by a more recent volunteer, to accompany this book. The teacher should spend time planning lessons and keep a record of these to aid in the teacher changeover process. There is scope to conduct teacher training sessions for the Achuar staff-body too.

For all information, volunteer blogs and application form please see: www.iamachuar.org