Program Reviews

If you've seen the information about the program, you know that WT in the Marshall Islands is a 10-month commitment to teach either in Majuro, the capital, or on an outer island. My placement was on an outer island in Jaluit atoll.

I had an incredible time. Teaching is the purpose for the program, and teaching consumed most of my time and thoughts. It's not a vacation because it's where you live and work; all the palm trees and white sand in the world can't cure the frustrations that come with being a teacher in a new school that's underfunded and staff that's generally underqualified. Nevertheless, the joy you get from watching your students succeed and discover themselves is completely worth it.

Why Marshall Islands versus anywhere else? While you can have a classroom full of fun, brilliant kids in many places, only in the Marshall Islands can you...

-sail on traditional, reversible mast, handmade sailing canoes
-be sung to and and showered with gifts of coconuts and food with a welcoming party
-be professional because you wear a muumuu to work... every day
-go swimming and it's better than any trip to the aquarium
-watch exorcisms, learn about how to heal with coconuts, and all about Marshallese medicine
-celebrate Christmas by throwing food around and dance in the keyboard show choir
-learn to spearfish, netfish, troll, linefish with no pole, etc.
-have 180 days of tropical sunsets

True, it's volunteering, but in the outer islands the monthly stipend is enough to get by. You won't make any money but you'll have an unforgettable year.

This program is located in Isan, the northwest area of Thailand. That turned out to be a wonderful part of Thailand, as its culture is still very much intact and not so much changed by Western influences as is the more southerly regions such as Bangkok. The culture is very welcoming, and as such, we were received and treated very well the entire time. To be invited to various local events and to be included in activities was the norm by our Thai hosts. The food is generally outstanding and always freshly prepared and there's always plenty of it as well. (Cheese and chocolate, however, are relatively rare.)

Many, but not all, volunteers are housed on campus alongside Thai teachers. That often means cold-water bucket showers and basic facilities but you end up living just as some of your fellow Thai teachers are. At my school (in a small village), the teaching aids were basic but sufficient; no overhead projectors, for example, but copiers/printers and alike were available. Internet access was sometimes problematic, which could be frustrating at times because I used it extensively to find materials to augment my lessons.

In my opinion, the WorldTeach home office had some serious problems with organization and communication and this weighed on my overall experience. On the other hand, they managed to find excellent staff to take on the in-country field director position.

For me, the bottom line is that the beauty and wonder of the culture outweighed the problems I experienced with the program itself. I heartily recommend experiencing the Isan culture; it was an amazing experience for me.

Living in Nakhon Phanom was a true experience of what life in Thailand is like for Thai people who have not been exposed to the globalizing trends of western business and tourists. It takes a lot of adjustment to be able to cope with living in a very rural area, from getting used to the different kinds of food and climate, to adapting oneself to the specific ways that people are expected to interact with each other. The people, though, are welcoming and overwhelmingly friendly and make living in Nakhon Phanom a wonderful experience. You will get to teach some loving students, maybe learn about Thai rural traditions and culture, see and maybe participate in rice farming, go on trips to neighboring cities and celebrate holidays with the locals. The summer break is a great chance to travel the country and see how the Thai people live in different areas. All in all, one of the greatest experiences of my life.

My roommate and I lived on Ofu Island, accessible only by boat or private plane. We lived in one of the nicest houses in the village and were immediately welcomed into the community. Teaching the children was tough--the school schedule was often inconsistent and the children have a lot of attitude, but helping my students achieve their goals and compete in national competitions was an incredibly fulfilling experience. WorldTeach was an excellent support through the entire year--our Field Director was always around to help when we needed it. The American Samoa program is fully funded, so airfare and all official travel is covered.

Living on a remote island is hard but the lifestyle is so laid-back that it's definitely worth it. If you're looking for an island adventure this is certainly the way to go.

My year as a WorldTeach volunteer on the small island of Ta'u has been incredible. I taught eight second-grade students at Faleasao Elementary. My students were incredibly well-behaved and such a pleasure to teach. Many elementary students do not speak English beyond a basic, intro level, and are very much behind in other subjects. Words cannot express how incredible it was, as a first year teacher, to see improvements in my students' skills. I was able not only to teach foundational knowledge (reading, addition and subtraction, etc) to my class, but also to begin preparing them for their educational careers (how to be a student--how to study, how to ask questions about a text, etc.) It was difficult at times, but teaching here has been one of the most important things I've ever done.
The schools in American Samoa are under the American Department of Education, and due to the small enrollment at outer-island schools, elementary resources were abundant. We had up-to-date text books for most subjects, new computers and other technological resources, and regular professional development training from the Department of Education.
We lived in a small village, in one of the nicest houses on island, about 30 yards from the ocean. There is no night-life to speak of on Ta'u, but we were surrounded by beautiful beaches, lush vegetation, and a welcoming community of Samoans. We had every opportunity to learn traditional cultural practices--spear fishing, baking in an umu, weaving, Samoan dances (siva Samoa), and speaking the Samoan language. As far as safety goes, there is very little crime on our island (some teenagers broke into a store once but that's all that's happened in 11 months), and there is a tsunami warning system and evacuation procedure in place. I never felt unsafe here. The community is incredibly welcoming.
While is much harder to get certain basic items on an outer-island, the WorldTeach field director was always available to ship whatever resources (either classroom or personal) that we needed. We had extensive cultural and classroom training during orientation, and knew that our Field Director was just a phone call away. I never felt unsafe, unprotected, or alone in the program. Every effort is taken by WorldTeach to ensure that all volunteers are given the information and help they need on island; I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have the support of field staff while living in a new country.
I would recommend this program to anyone who cares about global education and wants to travel with a purpose. WorldTeach is a wonderful organization, and American Samoa is an incredible place to live. I've enjoyed living here so much that I've decided to stay on as a contracted teacher.

WorldTeach also offers year-long volunteer positions in public elementary schools throughout rural Costa Rica. I lived with a local family in a very remote town and taught daily English classes in the town's elementary school. Despite being an obvious stranger to the area, over the course of the year I became part of my rural town’s close-knit community as I held meaningful conversations and formed lasting friendships with Costa Ricans.

I received excellent support from WorldTeach staff throughout my year-long experience. Plus, WorldTeach is affiliated with the reputable Harvard University Center for International Development, helping to make your experience look great on a resume. I highly recommend volunteering with WorldTeach in Costa Rica.

The students have great spirit and the mission of this school is perfect and wonderful on paper, but the university has administrative and logistic issues that have ultimately impeded the students' education and progress. While some students are quite bright, many are average and others barely understand English. You will inevitably be teaching English grammar even if you're meant to be TA'ing a science or literature class. Your experience is what you make of it but will most likely be shaped by your fellow volunteers, who you will live, work, and socialize with. Getting out of the AUW bubble can be rewarding and fun as much as it is frustrating and exhausting, and there are many days where you might find it best to just stay indoors.

The experience of coming to Ecuador with WorldTeach changed my life in amazingly positive ways. This type of program is for anyone who is dedicated, wants to teach, wants to integrate into the local community, but is also looking for support from an awesome in-country staff. Wonderful program!

I knew upon graduation that I wanted to spend at least a year abroad. A friend told me about WorldTeach, and although admittedly teaching made me nervous, I decided to apply.

I was placed in a medium-sized city on the coast and initially taught English at a trade school. The demographic of my students ranged from adolescents to working professionals. It was not a course that was mandatory; therefore, my students were there because they wanted to be.

After my year with WorldTeach ended I knew that I was not yet ready to leave. I loved my students, had a great volunteer internship at the local hospital, and was not yet ready to leave my host family. I applied for an extension and after it was approved, I got the chance to work help pioneer a new site in my city.

Although the Asian University for Women suffers from some of the common pitfalls of universities and organizations in the developing world (meetings don't happen on time, bureaucracy gets in the way of efficiency, it's difficult to get things done quickly,) the dedication of the students more than makes up for it!

Each day, I worked with students individually in the university Writing Center or in small discussion groups for various courses. I was constantly blown away by students' curiosity and intelligence. They don't rest until they are sure they have completed every requirement as fully as possible. After having worked with students in the U.S., this was quite surprising, and actually took a bit of getting used to.

Living in Chittagong is also quite the adjustment. Westerners are rare, so you get quite the celebrity treatment everywhere you go - cell phone pictures, random people saying hello to you, a lot of staring. Also, there are very few "third spaces" - places to just hang out, outside of work and home so if you like hanging out at coffee shops, parks, bars, or museums, this is not the place for you. Apartments provided by the university are huge, though sometimes hard to keep clean. Food is a constant adventure in adjusting.