Ecuador – Teaching Assistant in the Galápagos

Gain experience teaching English in the stunning Galápagos Islands! This project is specifically designed to allow volunteers to work in and alongside the local schools as well as the community to offer English classes. The project aims to empower local students through education providing them with greater opportunities in the future.

 

Program Highlights:

  • Experience life in the amazing Galápagos Islands
  • Give back to the local community
  • Gain experience in childcare
  • Enhance your CV
  • Island hop or relax on the weekends

 

Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum two-week commitment):

Arrival Day, Monday: Arrive at Baltra Airport (GPS) no later than 10:30 AM in order to catch the ferry to the island, where the local team will meet you upon arrival. You will be transferred to your accommodations, where you will settle in and meet fellow volunteers.

Days 1-4, Tuesday-Friday: Rewarding volunteer work. Your schedule may vary, but you will be working four hours each day, anywhere from 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Your afternoons are reserved for class preparation for the following day and in the evenings you are free. You may be required to assist classroom teachers in a pre-school, working with children aged 3-5 or help teach English to students in both elementary and high schools. You will also be responsible for implementing some of your own ideas and lesson plans.

Days 5-6, Saturday-Sunday: Weekends are free for volunteers to relax, or explore the island and nearby islands.

Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow the schedule of volunteering Monday-Friday and having weekends free to spend how you wish (check out “Travel Highlights” below for suggestions!) Departures are on Sundays.

 

Location icon Location of the Project: Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Project length Project length: Min 2 weeks – Max 12 weeks

Arrival Airport Arrival Airport: Baltra Airport (GPS)

Volunteer Work Volunteer Work:  English Teaching Assistant

Age Age:  18 – 60

Number of Volunteers Number of Volunteers: Up to 4 international volunteers

Important Note Important Note: Schools on Isabela are on summer holiday from mid January-mid May. Most flights will require an overnight stay in Quito or Guayaquil before a connecting flight to Baltra.

 

What’s Included

Accommodations Accommodations: Private room in a volunteer house or homestay

Food Food: Two meals a day, unless you select the homestay

Airport Transfers Airport Transfers:  Volunteers make their own way. Boat ticket to the island are included.

Orientation Orientation: All necessary training and introductions provided upon arrival.

Support Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

 

What’s not Included

Flights, travel health insurance, transfer to and from the airport Optional island hopper plane from Baltra to project base on the island (additional cost of approximately $200 each way), personal expenses

The Galápagos Islands is a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean and is considered one of the world’s leading locations for wildlife viewing. Its isolated landscape is home to a wide range of animal and plant species, many that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Charles Darwin visited the islands in 1835, and his observation of Galápagos’ species later inspired his theory of evolution.

Working as a teaching assistant on this project will allow you to engage with learners from all age groups. You may be required to assist classroom teachers in a pre-school, working with children aged 3-5 or with International Baccalaureate students. You will also implement some of your own ideas and lesson plans. Depending on your chosen age group, your tasks will vary, but may include:

  • Supporting teaching staff
  • Managing and organizing English classes
  • Helping to design and run continuing education programs for community members to practice conversational English

Note: Schools on Isabela are on summer holiday from mid January-mid May.

Internet icon Internet: WiFi is available.

Laundry icon Laundry: Laundry facilities are available.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: You will stay in a private room in a shared volunteer house. The accommodations have western – style flush toilets and shared common areas, including a kitchen and dining room. Volunteers can also choose to stay with a host family. At your homestay you will also stay in a private room with western – style flush toilets.

Food icon Food: At the volunteer house accommodations lunch and dinner is provided at your choice of various restaurants in town. Breakfast is not included, but you have the use of an equipped kitchen for cooking. At the homestay accommodations you will have breakfast and dinner with your host family. Lunch is provided at your choice of various restaurants in town.

 

A volunteer visa is no longer required. Volunteers enter Ecuador on a tourist visa for 90 days and the local team will provide you with a Galapagos visa.

 

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

  • CV
  • Police clearance
  • Basic level of Spanish in order to communicate with fellow workers and children
  • A genuine passion for children’s education and their well-being
  • Ability to work independently as well as in a team
  • Energetic, creative, and enthusiastic nature to stimulate the learning environment
  • Disclose life-threatening allergies before applying for consideration due to the remote location, enabling us to assess the destination’s suitability and manage potential risks.

The Galápagos Islands are one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations for wildlife viewing. Made famous by the sceintist Charles Darwin, the islands are home to species that many people are familiar with, such as the blue-footed boobys and giant tortoises. There is much to be seen on a trip to these islands, and a few suggestions are listed below.

Darwin Lake
Also located on Isla Isebla, Darwin Lake is a saltwater lagoon that has twice the amount of salt of the surrounding ocean.

Tagus Cove
From the cliffs surrounding Darwin Lake, volunteers can take a panga ride to Tagus Cove where there is the opportunity to see, and even snorkel with, indigenous marine life such as Galápagos penguins!

Tortuga Bay
For volunteers who wish to island hop, Isla Santa Cruz, to the right of the island, is an excellent choice. Tortuga Bay is one of the most popular and beautiful beach destinations in all of the Galápagos Islands and is located in southern Isla Santa Cruz. There are sharks, marine iguanas and occasionally flamingos in the Bay.

Volunteer Experiences

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