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Volunteer in El Salvador
.: The ProgramThe English School is housed in the Centre of Exchange and Solidarity, which is located in San Salvador, El Salvador's capital. The school was developed with the mission to offer low-priced English classes to Salvadorans who are active in the social movement and interested in political themes. Students are aged 18 years old or older and come from various backgrounds. The classes are taught using participatory and popular education techniques with theme-based lessons, rather than grammar-based lessons. Political themes, such as women's human rights and the environment, are used to facilitate English learning in topics relevant to the students' lives and work.The school focuses on non-hierarchical education and a reciprocal flow of information between the students and the teacher. Six classes are run at any one time, with between six and nine students in each class. Each class is at a different level of English, and teachers before the cycle begins. Class lessons are focused on themes such as the US and its Intervention, The Environment, The Social Movement, Neo-liberalism and its Institutions, and Women's Human Rights. .: Program LocationThe school is based in San Salvador, El Salvador's capital, located in the centre of the country, with a population of approximately 1.6 million people..: Program RequirementsAs a volunteer in El Salvador you must:
.: Program ScheduleFor this program, teachers are required to be at the school for full nine week cycles. Volunteers commit to teaching for the full nine weeks to provide consistency and high quality education to English students. The next cycles run from:September 20 - November 25 2004 January 17 - March 17 2005 April 11 - June 9 2005 June 20 - August 25 2005 September 19 - November 24 2005 There is a two-day teacher's orientation and training prior to the first day of the English cycle. In addition, there is a weekly teachers' meeting throughout the cycle where teachers can check in with each other and share techniques and ideas for classes. The weekly time commitment for teachers is approximately 10-13 hours per week. The schedule for the English classes is Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 5:15-7:00pm. Approximately 3-6 hours is necessary for lesson planning per week. The weekly teachers' meeting is one-hour long and the teaching team decides which day the meeting will be held in the pre-cycle orientation session. Additional Activities: Volunteers also have the opportunity to participate in the following activities while teaching at the centre: Spanish Lessons: Teachers are encouraged to participate in intensive Spanish classes in the Spanish School at the centre in the mornings. The schedule for the Spanish program is Monday-Friday from 8:00am-12:00pm: 20 hours per week. English teacher volunteers can take advantage of half price lessons in exchange for their 9-week volunteer commitment. The Spanish School also teaches language in a political-social context and, therefore, students learn much more than the Spanish language. The language school cost for volunteers is $50 per week (when studying with at least one other person), plus a $12.50 administrative fee per week (for only the first four weeks of study), and a one-time application fee of $25. Political Cultural Program: In weeks that there are many students and participants at the centre, there is an afternoon Political Cultural Program that volunteers can participate in free of charge. This program is designed to explore various topics of interest related to social justice and the grassroots social movement. Activities include visits to local non-governmental organizations & political institutions, visits to historical sites, and visits to communities affected by the civil war. This program only runs when there are enough students taking Spanish classes to justify offering it. .: Program CostThe costs of the program are as follows:Global Volunteer Network - Application Fee: US $297.00. The application fee covers administration, marketing, program information, and communication. (This fee is paid to us before you leave for El Salvador). El Salvador Program Fee: The cost for the program is $70 per week. The program fee covers breakfast and dinner, and your host family while you are on the program. (This fee is paid to our partner when you arrive in El Salvador). If you wish to participate in Spanish classes, you will need to pay for these separately. You will need a weekly budget of around US$30 to cater for all your other expenses like bottled water, lunch, transportation for weekend excursions, personal costs, beverages, and entertainment. This varies from person to person, depending on what you want to do during your spare time. The other costs you will need to meet are your flights, tourist visa, shots, travel insurance, and departure tax. To see the cost in your local currency, we recommend you look here. .: Frequently Asked QuestionsWe have put together the following page, which answers the majority of questions people have.Click here .: Volunteer JournalsIf you would like to read about the experiences of some of our volunteers who are currently volunteering, you can do so here. This journal service is provided free to all our volunteers.Click here .:Application ProcessAll, applicants will be notified by email as to whether their application has been successful.(1) Complete the Application Form: Fill out the application form via the link below. Upon receipt of the form we will assess your suitability for the program. (2) Contact You: If you are successful we will then email you a letter of acceptance. (3) Decision Point: Once you have read through the letter of acceptance and we have answered any questions or concerns that you might have, it is time to pay your application fee to secure your place on the program. Please note that we will refund your application fee if you decide not to go. (4) Confirmation: Once the application fee is paid, our volunteer partner will contact you to ensure everything is organized. We will also send you the link to our program guide which covers topics such as country information, travel links, visa application process, and fundraising ideas. (5) Communication & Support: Throughout your volunteer placement we will communicate with you to see how you are progressing and discuss any issues. To apply for this program, click here. |
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