Don't Trust WorldTeach

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.