Teaching English in Rabat, Morocco

My volunteering experience teaching English in Rabat, Morocco was amazing. From living in the cultured, buzzing, authentic heart of the Medina to also teaching in a school in this Medina, that clearly appreciated us so much, was phenomenal.

My typical day started with a Moroccan breakfast provided by my "Moroccan Momma" who I became so attached to! It was always delicious, topped off with some fresh Moroccan Mint Tea. After this, I would make the short walk to the school I was walking at, seeing the morning buzz beginning with a "cockle doodle doo" from the local rooster!

Upon arrival, at 9am, the kids were always sat eager and excited waiting for you. This is where the fun and teaching English would begin. Each day we started off with warmer activities running through numbers, alphabet, days of the week, months of the year, and general vocabulary we were gradually teaching them. Each day we would teach different themes, such as animals, daily routine, food and colours.

My favourite time of the day would definitely be story time, whereby the children would get so excited and thrilled to hear a story. Its a great moment, capturing a whole class of children and engaging them into a story in a language that is not their native.

Teaching would end each day between 11:30-12:00(midday), giving us the rest of the day to explore Rabat. After class we would usually wander through the medina until lunch, at around 1. Lunch would be again provided by our warm, welcoming Moroccan host family. It would be different, authentic, Moroccan cuisine each day - and definitely fill me up until dinner!

Following lunch, over the two weeks I visited, alongside Katie, places such as Les Oudayas, Necrople de Chelle, Pais De Royal, Tour de Hassan and even Casablanca - where we visited the Mosque Hassan II. This was stunning. Generally, we walked and explored all of Rabat, and on the hottest days relaxed on Rabat Beach. Moroccan's are so welcoming and friendly - I have made loads of friends out there in just the two weeks that I was there.

On the weekend in the middle of the two weeks we were there, we visited Marrakesh! This was amazing, and one of the highlights of the trip. It was so different to Rabat, more touristy and westernised. It was an amazing experience seeing the Ourika Valley, Cascad, and generally exploring Marrakesh. The square was definitely buzzing with monkeys and snakes!

Ultimately, my two-week volunteering experience was amazing. I not only felt this warm, rewarding feeling of giving and teaching English to the children. But I also felt like Rabat gave me so much, it was amazing to see a whole different lifestyle, and completely immerse into that culture - through living with a host family, teaching in the local school and embracing the Moroccan cuisine! Ali our coordinator was helpful, and took us to some amazing local restaurants which was a pleasant change from the home-cooked food too!

I will never forget my two weeks in Morocco - and I intend to volunteer with Volunteering Solutions again in the future!