At a glance
- Work with students and teachers to help build their confidence in speaking English.
- You’ll work at disadvantaged schools, assisting with and leading classes.
- There are also opportunities to teach drama lessons.
Support Peru's Ministry of Education teacher training, starting Jan 7 2024. Learn more.
Start Dates:
Anytime
See DatesMinimum Duration:
Two Weeks
Ages:
16 or over
You need to speak basic Spanish.
Is a Teaching placement in Peru right for me?
This project is perfect for anyone looking to get hands-on teaching work experience in a classroom setting and help where it’s needed most. It will also help give your resume an extra edge, and demonstrate your commitment to education. This is extremely helpful if you’re planning on pursuing a career in teaching.
You don’t need any experience or qualifications to join. All you need is an enthusiastic attitude and a dedication to helping students and teachers improve their English. Projects Abroad staff are there to give advice if you need it, and you’ll have a supervisor. We also run regular workshops for our Teaching volunteers, where you can get guidance and talk about any challenges you’re facing.
Please note that if you’d like to work with younger children at a a primary school, you’ll need to speak basic Spanish. However, if you’re working at a high school or with teachers, you don’t need Spanish.
Our teacher training programme runs between January and February every year during school holidays in Peru. You’ll work directly with teachers on their pronunciation and discuss classroom management techniques. You can also share new ideas for classroom activities and games.
If you're interested in teaching other subjects, contact our Project Experts. They'll advise you on what subjects you can teach in Peru, and whether you can teach those subjects part-time or full time.
This project runs year-round, and you can join at any time. We encourage you to stay longer to make a bigger impact on your students and the teachers. It’s also a chance to gain even more teaching work experience while in Peru.
Please note that formal classroom teaching is not available during school holidays, from December to March, and in July and August. During this time, you can participate in our teacher training programme, or work with students at extra summer classes.
What will I do at my volunteer Teaching Placement in Peru?
In Peru, you’ll support students and encourage them to practice their English. You can get involved with the following activities at your placement:
- Assist teachers with English lessons to boost students’ confidence and career prospects
- Help teachers advance the local curriculum
- Facilitate workshops at a teachers’ training college to improve teaching standards
- Attend teaching workshops and networking sessions to discuss education in Peru
At your volunteer Teaching placement in Peru, you will be involved with these main activities:
Assist local teachers with English lessons to boost students’ confidence and career prospects
You’ll work at a primary or high school in Peru. Here, your main role will be to support teachers with their English classes. You’ll help put together lesson plans and think of activities and games that will encourage students to practice speaking and improve pronunciation. You’ll learn a lot from working with an experienced teacher. If you’re confident enough, you’ll be able to lead classes yourself.
Help local teachers advance the local curriculum
The Peruvian Ministry of Education has a set curriculum for English that local teachers implement. However, this proves to be a challenge in disadvantaged schools where teachers struggle with their own English. With your English skills, you’ll be a source of support for teachers in the classroom. You can help with planning, and creating resources like flashcards and posters.
Facilitate workshops at a teachers’ training college to improve teaching standards
We run a training programme for local teachers in January and February every year, during the school holidays. The programme helps teachers improve their English and they attend workshops on classroom management. This is a great opportunity to share any ideas for activities and games they can use in their classrooms.
This programme has been enormously successful in previous years, and we always have a large number of teachers looking to enroll. The more volunteers we have, the more teachers we can help!
Attend teaching workshops and networking sessions to discuss education in Peru
Once a week, you can join our teaching workshops where we discuss how to continue improving the work we do at schools. We also run monthly workshops to with local teachers to share new ideas about how to improve English teaching in Peru.
Where will I work in Peru?
Cusco
You can work in a high school, primary school, or at a teacher training programme in the city of Cusco.
Cusco is fascinating city rich in historical significance. It was once the capital of the ancient Incan Empire and you'll see countless reminders of this as you walk through it today. It’s streets are lined with beautiful architecture from ancient and colonial civilisations. Around the city are picturesque landscapes of the Andes Mountain range where llamas roam freely.
The schools where you can work are usually in rural and disadvantaged areas, and often lack resources. They don’t get enough funds from the government, and many local teachers struggle with their English.
What will my typical day be like?
In Cusco, you’ll start the day with breakfast at your host family’s home. Then, you’ll make your way to your placement using public transport, or walking if you’re close enough. On your first day, we’ll show you the easiest way to get to work.
A typical day at schools runs from 8am to around 1:45pm. At some schools, you’ll have the opportunity to get involved with extramural activities in the afternoons. For example, you could choose to coach a sport like football.
Your day will involve assisting teachers with their English classes, or leading classes with their help. We also recommend setting aside time for lesson planning and putting together activities. Being prepared for your classes will give you confidence, and let you be a better source of support in the classroom.
If you’re participating in the teacher training programme, you’ll have a different schedule. Each day runs from 8:30am to about 5pm. You’ll get a lunch break and plenty of time to take breathers in between sessions.
After your productive day’s work, you will return to your host family. You’ll share a tasty home-cooked dinner and tell stories about your day.
In your free time, we encourage you to explore Cusco. There’s plenty to see and do, from hiking and river rafting, to traditional Andean theatre and dance performances.
Aims and Impact of the Teaching Project in Peru
The aim of this project is to help local teachers and students improve their English.
Peru has a thriving tourism industry. This means that understanding and speaking English is an important skill and can open the door for better employment opportunities. In addition, many local teachers struggle with their own English and need help to improve.
We work with schools in disadvantaged areas, making sure that students here have the opportunity to learn and succeed with English. We also work with teachers to develop their skills.
As a volunteer, you’ll gain practical teaching work experience in Peru, while being part of our efforts to boost English education for those who need it most. The project will also give you a deeper insight into the challenges of learning English in a developing country.
In Peru, we’ve identified three long-term, sustainable goals that we’re working toward:
- Improve English
- Improve teaching techniques
- Improve classroom support
You can help us achieve these goals by joining us on this Teaching Project in Peru.
Volunteering for professionals
This project is also perfect for qualified professionals. With your skills backing up our ongoing efforts, we can make an even bigger difference together. We'll match you to the placement where your skills are needed most.
This means you can share your training and and knowledge with others. You can work hand-in-hand with our partner organisations and local communities to support sustainable development.
If you have relevant skills or qualifications, read more about how you can make use of them with Projects Abroad.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Cusco. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Peru and have a truly unique experience.
We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your program fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
Peru is a vibrant country with a mix of activities for every kind of volunteer. Whether you’re into arts, culture, history, or nature, there’s sure to be something for you!
One of the biggest attractions of Peru is the Inca history. There are awe-inspiring archaeological sites like Coricancha, Tambomachay, and of course, Machu Picchu.
Over a weekend, you can take a trip to the village of Pisac, where you can browse bright, eye-catching textile markets. Don’t miss out on seeing the llamas and alpacas too!
There are also lively restaurants, the perfect place to spend an evening relaxing and enjoying local cuisine, like ceviche.
We run a variety of projects in Peru so you’ll likely meet many other volunteers on your trip. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect and travel as a group. However, you’re welcome to travel independently if you prefer.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
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