Program Reviews

I volunteered with WorldTeach RMI in 2005-2006 and was very happy with my experience. The screening process was very thorough and the staff and returned volunteers were very helpful in preparing for the experience. The in-country orientation was exceptional: the field director set up an extensive training program that assured that we were equipped with the right tools not only to teach but to navigate and assimilate to a different culture. I was placed on an Outer Island and was very happy with the support that I received: from the Buddy program, weekly radio check-ins, and monthly newsletter to on-site teaching evaluations, refresher courses at the mid-year break, and caring personal attention when challenges arose. I had an incredible time teaching at an elementary school and living with a host family on my island. This experience changed my life and I recommend it to anyone who is ready to challenge themselves physically and mentally and to commit themselves to educating students who are in great need.

I was stationed on Utrok, one of the outer islands in the country. It was incredible, the people were amazing, the teaching rewarding, and it is definitely an experience that will stick with me always.

The Marshall Islands program was one of the best years of my life. I was specifically placed on the main island of Majuro and taught 10th grade English at the high school. I lived with 8 other volunteers in community on the campus in a dorm. There was a program director living on the island for help at all times. Before beginning the school year we had a month of intensive in-country orientation that included cultural, language, and teaching instruction.

I wouldn't trade my world teach experience for anything. They supported me in my scary wildlife encounters and encouraged me to get out and explore the country! I got to experience teaching Spanish speaking students and learned to communicate in ways I never imagined.

I spent a full school year in Costa Rica, working in a 300 person rural community in the mountains. It was absolutely everything I was looking for! I requested to be as rural as possible, with a host family, where no one speaks English, and this is exactly what I got. I taught grades K-6 every day to 40 students, and spent my weekends going on local hikes, playing in the river with my host family, or helping my host mother cook. I was immediately accepted into the community and have already been back to visit! WorldTeach offered me support but it was definitely a time to teach myself how to tackle daily obstacles and problem solve on my own. I still look back on my year in Costa Rica as one of the best of my life.

The communities and people of Guyana welcomed us immediately. The schools are needy but the students appreciated you being there and trying your best to help them. You will hope you taught your students at least as much as you learned from them! It was an experience that I will forever be grateful that I chose to do!

I was placed on Kwajalein Atoll and while I did grow to love where I lived and the people in my community, I did struggle with teaching there. There was not a lot of support from other staff members and in some ways, I felt I was doing more harm than good. This is a country that relies heavily on aid money and I believe it has left the country and its people to depend too much on aid and help. However, with that said, if I had to do it over again, I would. I learned a lot about development there (not all good) and I cherish the families I came to be apart of in my community. Just keep in mind that your expectations, even the ones WorldTeach tries to tell you, will be vastly different from reality. Like most things, this is a complex society which you will not fully understand even after a year of living and working there. I have friends who did other programs with WorldTeach and loved it so I would probably recommend a different program for most people I know.

World Teach Costa Rica was an amazing experience. The program had a very thorough orientation. I always felt I was in good hands with the in country support. I highly recommend the program to friends.

The TEFL orientation was extremely well done. It was held in Bogota, where I suffered from sever altitude sickness. I would highly recommend that volunteers arrive a couple of days early to rest and get ready for an intensive study program. The recruiter that I had in Boston was very helpful to me. This person had originally accepted me for the year in Tanzania, and let me change to Colombia when I learned about bucket showers!
Somehow, I missed the part about doing the full training and orientation. I wanted the orientation, but was already certified in TESL. I was not happy at first that I had to do it 'again', but am very glad that I did! It had a completely different orientation than my first TESL program.
The study program throughout the year was amazing for me. It was a truly supportive continuing education program.
I had been assured that not speaking Spanish would be no problem for me when I signed up. So, I went speaking no Spanish, and this created many difficulties and misunderstandings for me. Added to a new work culture, this was a very painful time for me. I learned Spanish in a hurry, as it was for survival! I think that no Spanish would be fine if you are posted in a touristy spot, as some locals would have some basic English.
I reminded myself repeatedly that I was living in Latin America, which I have done a lot in my life. The disorganization at school at first drove me crazy! I had to reach deep into myself to organize things away from the happy chaos of the school. I ended the year feeling on top of everything, but have taken a lot away from this very loving culture. I loved my students, once I could talk with them, and know more about their lives. It was very hard to say good-bye.
I will also share that I turned 60 over this year. I was the only older person in a group of 20 year-olds. It could have been very hard, but I never once felt excluded or discriminated against by my fellow volunteers. I am truly impressed by this.
I will end by reminding people about the rule: peel it, cook it, or don't eat it. I got very sick from the food at my home stay. I am well now.

WorldTeach did a wonderful job of setting up the program, my teaching placement, host family, etc. I was on an outer island and they did everything possible to keep me safe and supported, even at a great distance.
The teaching placement was EXTREMELY difficult, but that is par for the course.