WorldTeach: American Samoa Volunteer Teaching - Year

My time in American Samoa was nothing short of breath-taking. The natural beauty of the island is the first thing you notice. My placement was on the island of Ta'u, one of the most remote locations that WorldTeach offers. My time was spent exploring the tropical jungle, snorkeling on pristine beaches, and teaching the most entertaining and creative kids on Earth! I recommend this program in American Samoa to anyone who is looking to truly escape and still have a great supportive staff to see them through the difficulties of any Teach Abroad program. WorldTeach truly is out to make a difference in the World, and there's nowhere on Earth like American Samoa!

Waking up and walking to school may sound like a horrible way to start your day but it was one of the things I looked forward to when the island ran out of gas. When you watch movies of tropical islands and think "that's not real, it's too awesome", well, that was my life. For a year I lived on one of the most pristine beaches and reefs in the world. I was a volunteer teacher through WorldTeach at Olosega Elementary School. The walk each morning followed the coastline where I watched the tides roll over the tops of the reef and small white tip sharks swimming to catch their breakfast. The giant fruit bats eating from the papaya trees would all fly away from the road once they heard the group of local students and teachers walking, singing, and playing towards the school. There was such joy each day. Even in the rain there was something amazing to see. When the sea turtles would beach to lay their eggs, or the little turtles would breach the nest to scoot towards the water we always stopped to watch. Time was irrelevant, the experience was the key. I learned to enjoy the moment, to not have a plan, and to just flow like a river. When the whales would migrate through we would all stop to watch in amazement. The local community still looked at all of these things like it was their first time. They celebrated it and once I became part of the community, I was able to celebrate with them. The walks to school is where I became not just a palagi, but a part of the Ofu Village. I made friends and had experiences that would impact my life profoundly, just by being there. Once I'd get to school my work would start. No one says that teaching is easy, but no one ever told me it could be such a wonderful adventure. Just google Ofu Beach and look at the smiles on peoples faces, the joy that comes from living the dream. I carry these lessons with me today. On the subway or in traffic I think about the waves, the whales, and the crystal clear ocean.

Day to day my life in American Samoa was simple, breathtaking, dirty, loving, humid, bright, and happy. Teaching taught me a lot. It ended up being very rewarding. The people on the island are so generous! The laid-back island life comes with its ups and downs, but as with all things, it is what you make of it! I chose to make it an adventure. Go for it!

Sure a few bumps along the way, but I am so glad I took this opportunity when I did. I learned so much as well as my students, local community, and friends back home. If you are someone who wants to do some international service, are adventurous, and can roll with the punches, this may be a great opportunity for you. It can be hard work, but you have to enjoy yourself along the way.

WorldTeach has been a wonderful program for me, an elementary teacher by trade. Teaching lower elementary is challenging here in American Samoa. There is a cultural belief that real learning doesn't take place until students are teens. There is a language barrier and cultural classroom expectations are very different from the United States. However, the elementary schools are in dire need of native English speakers and conscientious teachers. Volunteers must be ready for serious challenges. Consequently, American Samoa is one place where volunteers really make a difference in the education of local children. I believe elementary placements are best for certified teachers, or for volunteers with classroom experience. Volunteers who have never worked with groups of young children do not tend to do well. It's a great fit for new graduates, fresh from student teaching. It's a great way to gain experience in your own classroom.

Volunteering in American Samoa leads to many challenging and rewarding experiences. The school environment is a difficult one, and the culture incredibly unique. Students tend to not be as engaged, as hard-working, nor as well-behaved as a teacher would expect from a typical class, but the amount of energy, encouragement, and dedication a teacher gives can lead to significant improvement and enjoyment of teaching here.

WorldTeach as an organization provided a positive experience. My field director went above and beyond to support and assist the volunteers. I felt well-informed of their expectations and guidelines, and comfortable asking questions and seeking help both in and outside the classroom. I would recommend this program to anyone who is interested in stepping outside their comfort zone and expanding their global perspective.

I had a great year as a classroom teacher in American Samoa. However, dealing with WorldTeach was expensive and exhausting.

Here is my experience with WorldTeach:

Housing: WorldTeach set-up unsafe and unsanitary housing. The landlord entered without permission, yelled at us for having friends over and exercising, and there was black mold. There was also only a mini-fridge and a hot plate for three adults. It was a 35-45 minute bus ride to school. I was relocated after six months, but only after extensive discussions with WorldTeach. This housing placement was previously used by WorldTeach.

Airfare: Round-trip airfare does not mean a fully paid ticket to and from America. I had to pay extra money to return to the departure city because there was a fare increase between when WorldTeach purchased the tickets and when my service with WorldTeach ended.

Teaching Placement: My school informed me they wanted to provide a co-teacher in my classroom. WorldTeach said I should welcome this and enjoy the cultural experience of having a local co-teacher.

Other Money Issues/ Invasion of Privacy: WorldTeach feels they have a right to know where you are at all times. If you miss school, they will use this to reduce your monthly living stipend and not return your deposit. Given this situation, most volunteers avoid contact with WorldTeach. WorldTeach also does some very interesting math on their monthly stipends, especially the last one. Watch-out and be prepared to fight for money they owe you.

I had a great experience in American Samoa, and I hope I don’t deter anyone from volunteering or coming to this exciting region. I recommend that If you are interested in coming to American Samoa contact the American Samoa Department of Education directly for a position. There is a teacher shortage and both private and public schools hire throughout the year.

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.