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GYC1381 - Teaching [English and other subjects] Country: South Africa Cost: £1295.00 Cost Includes: The price includes accommodation, food and pickup from airport but does not include flight, insurance, kit or visas     Duration: 5 weeks Company Rep Nearby: Never 0845 344 7613 or

 

	This placement would suit... enthusiastic, motivational individuals with a love of children and a desire to make a real difference in the lives of others. Support local teachers in under-staffed schools and help organise fun and interesting lessons... Help teach English, sports & other subjects... Build close friendships with your pupils, locals and other volunteers.... What to expect Venture to one of the world's most beautiful nations to teach curricular and extra-curricular subjects, from English to IT. Build close friendships with locals and other volunteers, sharing in the warmth of the GAP SPORTS Community. Roam out into the wild savannah of South Africa's big-game reserves, stroll the beaches of Nelson Mandela Bay, and spend sultry evenings in the night-spots of Port Elizabeth, South Africa's "Friendly City", all while making a constructive and memorable difference to the education of South Africa's most deprived children. NB: No prior teaching experience is required, though some knowledge in the subject is helpful for teaching older students. Completing a TEFL course may also be useful Teaching in South Africa Although South Africa is considered one of the most developed African nations, there is still a clear imbalance in the educational opportunities available throughout the country. While there are many strong schools available to the richer sections of the population, most of the townships are starved of educational skills and resources, thanks to poverty and the legacy of apartheid segregation. As a result, most of these township schools are under-funded and under-staffed and it is you, as a GAP SPORTS Teaching volunteer, who can make such a significant impact to the standard of education that so many of these children are deprived of. Your Placement There is a variety of different teaching opportunities in Port Elizabeth where you will be based with all our other GAP SPORTS volunteers and coaches. As in every education system, there are different schooling stages in relation to the age of the children. This means you can be exposed to a range of teaching methods and standards in the townships. With the younger children, you will have the opportunity to teach English as a foreign language, aiding your students to develop their fluency and conversational confidence. For the older children, English skills are stronger, and so there will be ample opportunity to teach a broad range of subjects that may include English Language, English Literature, Maths, Science, French, IT, RE, Design, Construction and Agricultural Studies. There may also be opportunities to teach drama, journalism or sports coaching. Although it may appear daunting at first but the Western education you have been exposed to will place in a very strong position to impart basic literacy, numeracy skills and other valuable knowledge that we so often do not realise we have. Your Role You will be attached to one of the schools in Port Elizabeth and which will, most likely, be in one of the townships. From here, your role will be to offer inspiring and exciting lessons that will improve the literacy, numeracy and communication skills of your class. You will probably start by supporting local teachers and assisting in lessons and other extracurricular activities. This will allow you to build close friendships with your pupils, as well as the local teachers. From this grounding, you will venture out and start to plan and teach your own lessons. And don't let this out you off if it sounds intimidating, because you really will be able to make a significant difference. Just think how many times you have listened to a teacher or lecture 'drone on' in class, thinking that you could explain the same thing a lot more simply and with a little more enthusiasm! Furthermore, help with issues such as lesson planning, discipline and cultural courtesies will be available from a number of sources, including the local school teaching staff, our in-country team and other volunteers. However, the your greatest source of development, and growth in confidence, will come from standing in front of your own class and learning to engage and excite your children. Before long, you and will soon shape your own teaching style for your class of children. At no point will you be on your own but you should remember that your role is intended to be as independent and self-supported as possible. In addition to regular class-teaching, GAP SPORTS will encourage you to introduce your own ideas and get involved with extra-curricular activities which might include art and design, drama, music, sport or the production of a school newspaper. Above all, we want to give you the flexibility to decide how you can best contribute to the school environment and education in South Africa . Our teaching placement is extremely rewarding, not only because of the close friendships you will form with your pupils and local teachers but, from seeing how keen the children are to learn from you and, furthermore, from seeing how grateful they are for your time-out to teach them. Not only this a humbling experience, but it will undoubtedly change your perspective on the educational privileges we have in the West. It will help you to value the standard of education back home and, more importantly, understand the positive impact this can have on the lives of others who, simply, do not get the same opportunities. Preparation On applying for a teaching placement, GAP SPORTS will offer advice on how to prepare for the programme. We will also liaise with your allocated school to discover the specific teaching needs and advise you of any requirements. In some cases, we may also be able to put you in touch with the schools directly. In addition, whilst it is by no means necessary, you may wish to look into improving your teaching skills before you leave for South Africa. If looking to teach English as a foreign language to very young students, you may wish to enrol on a TEFL course. However, enthusiasm is the most important 'qualification' for teaching in South Africa, so any vocational experience or particular interest in your chosen discipline will be ample demonstration of your ability to teach. Accommodation All our volunteers are provided with a very comfortable and centrally located place stay. This is at our volunteers' lodge that is conveniently situated to all the main amenities and some great beaches - afternoon surfing and evening star-gazing will no doubt become a common pastime! It is also home to all our other coaches and volunteers. Not only does this create our truly unique and vibrant social community, but it creates a safe and secure environment for you while living overseas. Our in-country support team is also close at hand to sort out any queries you may have and make sure everyone is getting the most out of their time abroad. You will also be well 'fed and watered' at the lodge as we provide both breakfast and evening meals. Social Events GAP SPORTS believes it is important to give volunteers the chance to unwind and have fun whilst they are away. The in-country team therefore organises a variety of activities to bring volunteers together, to share their experiences and, above all, have a good time. The social life in South Africa really is second to none. With so many 'sporty' people living together, social teams are a must. You will have more than enough time to play volleyball and football on the beach and we may finally find out who are the better athletes - footballers, hockey players, rugby players or cricketers?! There is also a whole variety of local teams that you can play with and, if you fancy it, you can create your own volunteer team and pit your chances against the South Africans! And, if animals are your thing, being a GAP SPORTS coach in South Africa is an ideal choice. With trips to Kagga Kamma Game Park, the Lion Park , the Addo Elephant Park and the Oceanarium (to see dolphins), you will certainly experience your fair share of big game and African wildlife. Not forgetting paintball of course, or your chance to experience a Boma (an authentic South African meal under the stars!). What more could you want from a social life abroad? Did we mention that you will be a walk away from Port Elizabeth's vibrant nightlife of clubs, chilled bars and authentic South African restaurants, all of which are a haven for meeting other volunteers and travellers?! Travel and Adventure Port Elizabeth is a hot-spot for travellers worldwide and, with its abundance and variety of exciting activities, there is no wonder why! Whilst there, you will be able to experience all the delights of the local area, including the game reserves, its renowned scuba schools and friendly nightlife, as well as its 40km of golden beaches which include Nelson Mandela Bay. We also provide a whole assortment of extreme sports and adventurous activities for you to try out - if you can muster up the courage! These include: mountain biking, camping, shark diving, bungy jumping, 4x4 safaris, golf, fishing, scuba diving, parachuting, horse riding, dune boarding, boogey boards, deep sea cruises, tennis, squash, kayaking, badminton, water skiing, coastal hiking, power kiting and more! Time will also be available for you to travel around Southern Africa, and beyond, should you wish. Head west to Cape Town and the legendary Table Mountain, or veer north to Namibia, and the deadly skeleton coast. Or perhaps travel on to West Africa, to meet some of our GAP SPORTS volunteers in Ghana! Our in-country staff will be able to advise on safe ways to travel, and will be only too happy to suggest some of the best sights to see in Southern Africa. If you like the sound of this placement, fill in the form below for more information... 0845 344 7613 Join sports and non-sports community projects in Ghana, South Africa and Costa Rica, become a ski/snowboard instructor in Canada with work experience, play and train at international football, rugby and cricket academies abroad, or become a qualified dive master and work in dive schools worldwide... no previous experience is needed and applicants are welcome from all walks of life!