Program Reviews

WorldTeach is a great organization that is supportive on both the teaching and living fronts. They help develop the volunteers teaching ability and experience while also supporting living arrangements. Guyana is a small underdeveloped country that is the unpolished gem of South America and the Caribbean! It is overshadowed by the big tourism countries, leaving it untouched by industrialization. Guyanese, as a whole, may be stand-off-ish at first but are always welcoming! Also, once integrated into the community, they treat you like family. My students found out I love roti and pickled mango (unrippened mango and peper sauce) so they would bring some for me if they had extras at home! The students may be challenging at times, but it was easy anyone would do it! Patience and flexibility are musts when converting between the fast paced American life to the laid back Guyanese culture! Overall...Guyana will take you in and make you fall in love with it and make you never want to leave!

At the recommendation of a professor, I participated in World Teach Costa Rica after graduating from college. From the initial interview process to the pre-trip materials to the month-long orientation to the support I received in-country to the friendships I've made with both fellow volunteers and Costa Ricans I met, it was an outstanding and life-changing experience. Because WTCR is in mostly rural communities, you get a richer cultural and linguistic immersion than other programs. (We all spoke fluent Spanish by the end, even those who started with no Spanish at all.) The fees seem steep but are well worth-it. My host family was wonderful; I was comfortable and well-fed. When ill, I had access to excellent medical care and insurance. An in-country supervisor was always a phone call away. Although I can proudly say that WT volunteers are there to teach and make a difference and become part of their communities, not be on an extended vacation, the program afforded ample time to travel and explore CR's legendary parks and beaches. I came back from CR a more confident, world-conscious person, and like many of my fellow volunteers, I've repeatedly traveled back to visit the place I consider my second home. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

I participated in WorldTeach's yearlong Costa Rica program over 10 years ago, yet I find that the experiences I had are still relevant to me now. Not only did I learn Spanish and gain great teaching experience, I also gained crosscultural understanding that has served me well in a variety of jobs. I also gained friends--fellow volunteers as well as my host family--with whom I'm still in touch.

During my year in Costa Rica, I taught in two small elementary schools in a rural Costa Rican village. Each day I prepared lessons and taught 3-6 English classes for 1st through 6th graders. Though teaching is a lot of work, I had plenty of time for reading, getting to know the little town and my neighbors, and exploring Costa Rica on weekends and during school vacations. I'd happily recommend the program to anyone who loves working with kids and is open to new experiences. My year of teaching in Costa Rica was not always easy, but it was incredibly valuable to me.

I would recommend teaching abroad as a volunteer if you already have successful work experiences to build on. You will need to already know how to take initiative and make plans with little guidance. You will also need to know how to prioritize tasks, and be able to build positive interpersonal relationships. I would give this advice of already being prepared probably for any program.

Being the first full year group on Pohnpei, Micronesia had its challenges and rewards. Certainly the students, people, and fellow teachers are very welcoming on Pohnpei. My teaching life as an Algebra II teacher was really good and I feel I had an impact on my students then and even 7 years later as I write this.

WorldTeach now has a very successful program in Micronesia and I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to have a unique year volunteering and teaching. You even get the added bonus of experiencing a small Pacific Island culture.

More information on my year volunteer teaching as part of this program can be found at www.worldreviewer.com/travel-guides/conservation/teaching-i…

The Worldteach program in Chile was a very good choice. Worldteach provides effective in-country support and the experience of living with a host family and working in a public school was well designed and very important for my professional career.

My experience serving with World Teach in Thailand was life changing and deeply satisfying. I returned to the states and resumed teaching at a college level, forever impacted by the people, environment and life perspectives I encountered in Thailand. I think it was Marcel Proust who wrote...The real voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new places but in having new eyes (something like that!). The World Teach program provided full volunteer orientation prior to being placed at my Thailand location, maintained regular contact throughout the time, quickly assisted with problems that emerged. I think World Teach is a good size program (not too large) that allows them to be responsive to volunteer needs. I am not going to suggest every day was easy, as there were days I was tired and unsure of myself, along with the exciting days of discovery, but I cannot say enough about the overall experience. Also, the Thailand location was perfect for staying on after and traveling to numerous locations in Southeast Asia.

I had an amazing experience. 2 years later I still keep in touch with my Thai family and friends. They are some of the most amazing people I have ever met. I hit a few bumps in the road with my placement but the in country support was amazing. My students were amazing and when I call "home" my family rounds up the village and has them come talk to me on Skype.

WorldTeach Chile prepared me well for my assignment with a month of in country training that included leveled Spanish classes, cultural lessons, and preparation to teach in a student centered classroom. Once with my host family, I was living in Concepcion which was six hours away from our program director in Santiago. However, I was well supported by other teachers at my school and my family took good care of me. My program director checked in every few weeks, visited to make sure all was well, and was readily available when I needed help. Overall, the program was well run and I gained valuable skills in Spanish, teaching, and living abroad that I still use today. I was eager to live in another country, but appreciated the structure and support of this program from correspondence before we left to prepping us for reentry into the US. I highly recommend this program!

Kosrae

I will start off by saying through WorldTeach in Kosrae I had an amazing year, and I would not change anything about it for the world. I really enjoyed my time there because the volunteers were amazing, other expats were so helpful and friendly, the locals were always so kind, the organization itself provided lots of support, the school staff were friendly, and my host family was amazing!!

A typical day involved me getting up with my host family and eating breakfast. I would then ride my bike the short distance to school (bringing a rain jacket is recommended). I would arrive to the school around 8, and school did not start until 8:30. This gave me time to get my board prepared, and tie up any loose ends before school started. I would teach three sections, have 4th period as a prep, lunch, and then teach three more sections. The day usually ended by 2:40, except on Friday. During third and fourth quarter I tutored for two hours after school. After school I would ride my bike home, take a quick shower, maybe grab a snack, an then ride my bike to the volunteer house. I would socialize with the other volunteers and get some internet for a little while. I would then ride my bike back home, where I would grade some papers/ relax for a little while. I would then end the night eating dinner and watching tv with my host family.

The weekends were free to do with what I wanted. The was a really nice expat community, and we would usually get together on Friday night at one of the hotels for food and drinks. This was some nice time to unwind after a long week. The rest of the weekend could be spent hiking, going to waterfalls, climbing a giant tree next to a waterfall, swimming, snorkeling, diving, or going to a local barbecue. There are a lot of fun cultural events that happen throughout the year. In September there is liberation day, which a weekend spent playing games, eating food, and spending time with friends and neighbors. In December there is Christmas Marching, this is really fun. In Lelu Village the treat visitors very kindly. They give away lots of gifts and trinkets, they also do not mind if you get involved and march and sing with them. This is what I did. It was a wonderful way to spend Christmas away from family. There are also track and field days, markets, and cultural days. All which are very fun.

Kosraean people are very kind and giving. They will always offer you food and invite you to picnics. If you are walking on the side of the road they will stop there car and ask if you want a ride. It is very safe in Kosrae. I never felt in danger. There were times I would be riding my bike back home in the dark and I always made it home safely.

Overall I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Kosrae, and I know that many of the volunteers in my group were very sad to leave. It is a special place, and really is the gem of Micronesia. One things to keep in mind is Kosrae is very conservative. Respect the culture and their beliefs and you will have no problem.

Hope you enjoy your time if you visit Kosrae

Best,

Lindsey