WorldTeach: Ecuador Volunteer Teaching (Year)

My year teaching English in Ecuador with WorldTeach changed everything for me. My parents say they think I learned more in that year than I did in my 4 years of college. I came into my own that year - I learned how to trust myself, how to navigate delicate cross-cultural interactions and how to face my fears. On top of everything else, the experience teaching English was a stepping stone towards my Masters degree in International Education which has led to 15 years of working in the higher education sphere.

I taught English in Ecuador 20 years ago. I am still in contact with a ton of my students from that year and still think of Ecuador as a second home. The WorldTeach structure and format made the experience accessible and achievable.

This program is an amazing fit for anyone looking to spend some time away from home in a rich cultural experience in South America. Ecuador is an incredible country where I have now spent a year and a half teaching, learning Spanish, loving the cuisine, exploring the country, and making lasting connections with friends and the community. I came to Ecuador planning on staying for only a year and ended up enjoying it so much that I decided to extend my stay. I am currently applying to medical school and am thus definitely leaving in August, something that will no doubt be very bittersweet. However I will be leaving with the knowledge that I have a second home; a place that has taught me so many invaluable lessons that I plan to use in my future career. I highly recommend this program!!

I lived in Quito and worked at the university as a volunteer English teacher. I loved my experience all around- I learned so much about myself through the process that I finally figured out what I want my future to look like and the career direction I want to pursue. My host family was amazing and I really improved my Spanish during those five months. The second half of the year I lived in my own apartment with some other teachers and really got the full Quito experience. There was a ton of time to travel because every two months you have at least a week break between cycles. You have a huge responsibility to your students so you should definitely come into the program with a desire to teach and learn how to teach well with help from your field staff and other volunteers. Field staff were great and always available to help us with whatever we needed! Very approachable.

The Worldteach Ecuador program gave me a great stepping stone to transition from the corporate world (the dark side of the force) to a new life of independent education-related work. The support, program structure and homestay all ensured that the experience would be a valuable one - and one that I would never forget. Learning Spanish on the hoof and travelling around as much of the country as I could added to the learning of a new culture and alternative perspectives on life.

I went to Ecuador right after college with WorldTeach. Though the year was anything but easy, it continues to be one of the most important experiences of my life. I had some trouble with my host families and had to move several times. Each time the program director was very supportive and helpful. I also had a bit of trouble with my teaching placement, but again the program director was very supportive and helpful wit the change. Those were some of the challenges, but now almost ten years later I still reflect on Ecuador as one of the most important things I ever did. If you decide to go it won't be easy, or maybe "fun" all the time, but it will be something that really changes you and forces you to really think about yourself and the world around you. Ecuador was the place where I realized that I wanted to be a teacher. I applied to grad school from in-country and I'm still an English Teacher today. Even if you don't think that you will continue to teach after completing the program the experience is completely worth it.

I'm currently a WorldTeach volunteer placed in Ibarra, Ecuador. Although I have not finished the program yet, I can say that the program has done nothing but impress me. The program is very well organized and does a good job in helping volunteers prepare for teaching/ adjust to Ecuadorian life. The field director is helpful and very well informed. I currently have nothing but good things to say about the program. As a word of caution, this program has a big emphasis on teaching. If you want to travel constantly during your stay here, this might not be the right program for you. Also this program unfortunately has a program fee. If there one thing I would say could be improved it would be more funding to help volunteers with the cost.

If you're looking to volunteer abroad while still having an incredible support system, this is it. There was amazing support from start to finish and WorldTeach (WT) was there for every small and big issue that arose.

Because you come into the program with a cohort, you enter a foreign place with 30ish new friends. Some WT volunteers were the only volunteers in their cities, but in my city, there were 2 other WT volunteers. These 2 people are two of my best friends now.

When I first got my placement, I was a little upset because I really wanted to be in Quito (and I was placed in Ambato), BUT, clearly they saw the right fit, and in the end, they were spot on, this really was the perfect fit for me, and I wouldn't have done it any other way.

Yes, of course, there were days that were really hard, but in the end, I had an amazing experience that altered my career path for the better. And I couldn't speak more highly of the WT program itself.

I taught for World Teach in Ibarra, Ecuador from September 2004 to July of 2005. My Field Director, Jessica Gillota was very professional and supportive. The month long training session in Quito prepared us for the teaching that was required and gave us a introduction to culture of Ecuador.

I worked at a small school in the mountains with two other young men. I was 55- years-old. In spite of the age difference, we had suppers and Pilsners every Thursday night. We had a 4-day work week, so we were able to take side trips on the week ends.

Ecuador is a beautiful country. I lived in the mountains in a valley between 3 extinct volcanoes. ( I used to go to the roof of my house to watch the sun set.) I flew to the Amazon Basin in Ecuador during a vacation from school. We had our World Teach mid-service meeting on the unspoiled Pacific coast. At the end of my school year, my husband came to Ecuador, and we visited the Galapagos Islands. It was all fascinating.

I think that my biggest lesson came from the indigenous people near Ibarra. It is a lesson that I carry with me now. You do not have to have a lot of material things to enjoy life. You do not have a big house to enjoy your home life. Tradition and history should never be forgotten. Celebrate your own culture with pride.