Santa Maria Experience

For anyone considering a semester abroad in the Americas, I would 100% recommend this teaching placement in the unique and beautiful town of Santa Maria de Fe, in rural Paraguay. Whilst the idea of moving to a small town in a country you may know nothing about, where almost nobody you meet will speak English, and whose way of life seems nothing but foreign to you, may seem daunting at first, I can assure you the Paraguayans will welcome you with open arms, and SMEF will guide you with your move, and with settling down in a Paraguayan host family, as well as showing you the ropes for teaching English classes to the local children and adults. It is hard to find another charity where your volunteering directly benefits the local population and that doesn't charge you for it. With SMEF you are really volunteering. You instantly see the rewards of your work and the gratitude of your students who would otherwise struggle to find another opportunity for learning such an important globalised language, without it costing them an arm and a limb. Of course, some days of teaching are more trying than others, but through this I personally learnt heaps about how to teach a language, about my own language, about what techniques to employ during different classes, and how to develop a teacher-pupil relationship, which in Santa Maria often turned into a friendship! Half a year on, I am still in contact with friends and my host family from Santa Maria, and I cannot wait to go back. Besides the volunteering experience of teaching English, the experience of living in the town remains invaluable to me. There really aren't words enough to describe the precious memories I have, and how worthwhile it is to spend at least a few months there. Santa Maria is anything but a tourist hub, which is exactly why you should go. You will have the immersion into Spanish (+ Guarani) experience you are looking for, and you will get to know a culture different to your own. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email on anna_rachel@hotmail.co.uk. I would gladly respond to any doubts or questions you may have. Anna