UMD-NEPAL’s Teaching in School program is an opportunity for volunteers or interns to take an active role in the Nepali classroom. Our volunteers help to teach English in community schools and support the students to use their new skills. The acquisition of the English Language is a vital skill for the Nepali people. It gives them a voice and offers them a chance to change their future. Our teaching volunteers will work with the school’s existing English teacher who will provide classroom curricular and assistance with teaching methods and language barriers. At the same time the volunteer will help the English teacher to develop their own language skills.
Good teaching is a vital component to a good education in Nepal. As a volunteer teacher or teacher assistant you will teach or assist with English, Math, Science or ECA. As a volunteer you will give your children a huge head starts in life. The schools throughout Nepal are in desperate need of extra help with their English, Math, Science, Sports, Music, Dance and ECA classes. If you participate in this placement you will help teachers and children to improve in these subjects. Either by assisting in classes or you teach yourself. Volunteers may also get involved in extra lessons for struggling children or lead recreational activities in schools.
Nepali community schools can be unpredictable. It is not uncommon for them to be closed due to holidays, exams and other circumstances, e.g strikes. During these times volunteers will be asked to teach in the community, helping those who are financially unable to attend school. UMD-NEPAL has been working with Tribeni Municipality, Rukum community since 2013, striving to empower the villagers – teachers, parents and schools – to enable children to receive an education, explore their creativity and develop for the future of the community.
What will I be doing?
Volunteers either teach or assist in teaching at primary or secondary schools of small villages in the mountains of Rukum District. Depending on your experience you may run classes on your own or act as a teacher’s assistant. As an assistant you will work alongside a local teacher helping with all the subjects. We encourage you to think of creative ways to teach the children and to bring in new teaching resources.
The age of the children varies from 4 to 16 years. You can decide which age group you like to teach. Volunteers spend up to 6 hours a day at the school. On arrival you will meet with the principal to discuss your ideas, aspirations and experience. At all times we ensure that you are comfortable with your level of commitment and involvement. Don’t worry, you won’t be thrown into a classroom of 60 children on your first day, unless you want to!
Do I need any qualifications or skills to do this work?
You do not need any qualifications for this placement, but you do need to have a good command of the English language. It helps if you have had experience of working with children in the past, but if you have not then being a confident and enthusiastic person is important. There will be basic support materials to use but these are always in short supply, and so anything you can provide to help will always be appreciated. In the past volunteers have brought photos, videos and items from home to share.
