Paid ESL Volunteer

q Designed for trained teachers (ESL, TEFL, TESOL, CELTA or DELTA certified) to experience Mexico in a meaningful way.

SEPTEMBER 1 - DECEMBER 13, 2008

TEACHING BASICS
Paid ESL Volunteers are recruited based on ESL Certification and/or teaching experience. In order to help teachers fund their personal costs, Instituto Heslington gives teachers free accommodation in an apartment or host family situation as well as a $300.00 USD living stipend per month. Though this salary may seem meager, it is the equivalent of what a native English teacher would receive for the same type of job.

Instituto Heslington believes that the best way to learn a language is by total immersion. Volunteers are not expected to direct classes around complicated grammatical rules and exercises, but to teach real-life English that students can use in a variety of everyday situations.

The maximum number of students per class is 12. Because classes are small and intimate, students have the opportunity to participate and enjoy personalized attention. Classes usually supplement the English exposure students receive in school, but Instituto Heslington provides students with the chance to practice English with encouraging native speakers who share exciting activities, cultural insight and most importantly authentic experience with the English language.

Students of Instituto Heslington range in age from elementary-age children to working professionals. Students are grouped with others of the same age and level thereby providing a more comfortable and appropriate learning environment. Teachers are placed according to their interests and the most appropriate age group to match teaching experience.

No Spanish is required to volunteer. What is required is an open mind and enthusiasm. Instituto Heslington provides the basic curriculum and lesson plans to teach the fundamentals of the English language. Volunteers have the freedom to integrate activities, games and anything they think will help their students learn and develop.

TEACHING EXPECTATIONS

Volunteers will teach up to five hours a day, five days a week, Monday - Friday.
Saturdays and Sundays are free to allow for travel.

Teachers will have ample time to prepare for their classes and will be provided with basic materials for classroom operation. Games, props and additional teaching materials can be provided by the volunteer or donated by sponsors.


Teachers will be responsible for taking attendance and keeping grades for their students. They will also give progress reports to parents at informal parent-teacher meetings.