Teach
Conversational English in this hot tropical paradise to deserving
children and adults who need your help! A
stimulating yet laid-back experience in one of the most beautiful and
diverse countries in
the world.
You may want to
work at one institute or you may be keen to spread your help between a selection
of institutes. Our projects are very well structured but, as with all things
Brazilian, also pretty laid back! You don't need any qualifications to
participate in a teaching placement in Brazil.
You will find this placement to
be an all round experience of volunteering. However if
you have any specifications (for example - you might only want to teach sport),
just let us know and we can tailor-make the program you are looking for. Otherwise, you may
wish to go with the flow and volunteer in a variety of worthwhile institutes for a
diverse experience.
WHAT YOU CAN TEACH IN BRAZIL: You can teach a huge variety of subjects in
Brazil, in just about every type of institution, with children, teenagers
and adults. Teaching here is exciting and rewarding.
You will have students from a variety of backgrounds… and sometimes in Foz
do Iguaçu you'll even have students from different countries! You are
likely to learn about their culture as they will hopefully
learn from you. Many of the children that you will teach, particularly in
Rio, are from some of the poorest areas, but they are full of life and their cheeky
manner is infectious and endearing!
We have a selection of institutions that you
can teach at, each one individual with its own atmosphere and attraction.
Some cater for children ranging in age, from the very young, where you will
probably spend more time playing than teaching, to older children who will
be excited to meet a foreigner like you and probably won't stop talking in a
mixture of Portuguese and what little English they know!
You may also work
with adults who want to improve their English so that they can improve their
career prospects - here you'll be able to have more in depth conversations. As well as English, you can teach the
following subjects in Brazil:
Music
Dance (modern, contemporary, ballet, etc.)
Art
Drama
IT
Sports (Football, Basketball, Netball, Volleyball
on the beach!) and various other sports - see also the
coaching sports page
Whilst a basic grasp of Portuguese will be
extremely helpful on this placement, it is not mandatory and there are
English speaking teachers/supervisors at all the centres who will help you
with translation. It is worth considering combining a short language course
with your volunteer placement to fully get the most out of your experience.
If you're interested in this please have a look
here or ask us for more details.
As well as providing much needed assistance
to children within schools, Travellers have also developed a number of
partnerships with social projects aimed at providing English lessons and recreational activities
to street children or those from disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
Our projects not only provide educational assistance -
they also focus on encouraging children to see the 'good side' of the world
- by taking them away from the violence and poverty that they live in and
encouraging them to see things in a different way. Such children have the
opportunity to develop social skills and life skills. Along with the co-ordinators
of such projects you'll be acting as a positive role model to children,
keeping them away from the dangers of the streets. It is not uncommon for
children in Rio's poorer areas to never have left their village. Many will be amazed and confused that you
speak an entirely different language - and they'll want to learn it too!
We have a huge variety of placements dotted
in and around the city of Rio de Janeiro, some right next to the beach and
some a little further inland. You'll no doubt work with several different
institutions, depending on what age groups you'd like to work with.
All projects
are within 45 minutes of your hotel accommodation and you will live and play
with all of our other Travellers Rio-volunteers!
Below are brief descriptions of
some of the projects that we are currently working with – if you would like
any more information please don’t hesitate to contact us.
CIEP: This is a state school located towards the
north of Rio, on the outskirts of the city. It was once a near derelict
building in an area of extreme poverty where many residents had no access to
sanitation or running water. Five years ago, a new principal took over the
management of the school, and worked tirelessly to not only renovate the
building of the school but to change the mindset of the pupils and their
families in the surrounding villages. With donations gained privately and
through local sponsorship, she has managed to create an environment that
encourages learning, both through the curriculum for children at school, and
through extra curricular activities provided for free to children and adults
in the community.
The schools main objective is to keep children in off the
streets, so it provides activities throughout the day and in the evenings in
the hope that children will want to stay all day, every day..... and they do! On
top of this, children receive a nutritious meal at lunchtime, which is
usually their only meal of the entire day. For many children their parents
can't afford to provide food, so on Fridays and Monday's they receive the
largest meal of the week to keep them going over the weekend. The enthusiasm
from the principal and staff (many of whom are volunteers themselves) has
the most incredible effect on the children - despite their circumstances and
the daily hardships that they face, they simply love school!! You will be
welcomed with open arms to teach whatever you can, including sports
(football, basketball), music, art, IT and other recreational activities!
However, all of the teachers are very excited about being able to offer
students the possibility to learn English.
Some of the teachers at this school speak English and
will assist you in your volunteering. It is open from 7am to 10pm and your
work will constitute 4 to 5 hours a day. There are approximately 500 children here,
with around 35 to a class. The children are all ages. This centre also
accommodates children with mental disabilities.
Vicky Boughton, Travellers Manager, said of her
visit to this school: "I was introduced to each
classroom by the principal, who explained to the children that I was from
England and didn't understand Portuguese. Their mouths fell open that
someone from another country had come to visit! Many of these children have
never even been into Rio itself, so you can imagine their excitement and
surprise at a foreigner being there.
She taught the children in each class
how to say 'GOOD MORNING VICKY', and they all chanted it at the tops of
their voices. She then asked them in Portuguese, 'Who wants to learn
English', to which everyone's hands shot up in the air! At lunch, I was
surrounded by happy, giggling children asking me to "Fala Ingles" (speak
English) - they were fascinated to hear words that they couldn't understand
and we had fun comparing the English and Portuguese words for parts of the
body. A good
lesson in Portuguese for me as well!
The principal is incredibly genuine and
passionate about the school and is viewed as a mother figure by many of the
children. When I left, she couldn't thank me enough for being part of
setting up this programme, which will give children at the school the
opportunity to be exposed to native English speakers. This project is going
to be a huge success - the school is incredible and heartbreaking at the
same time, anyone volunteering here will fall in love with it's magical
atmosphere!"
BALLET DE SANTA TEREZA: This is a
non-profit institution providing
a range of extra-curricular programs to children, teenagers and families who
live in surrounding areas, many of whom are vulnerable to the less desirable aspects
and sub-cultures of modern-day city life.
The institute tries to give children social stability
through encouraging participation in activities that stimulate social and
cultural awareness and encourage stronger integration among community
members.
The focus of Ballet de Santa Tereza is on teaching dance, but
aside from this you can also help take lessons in drama, art
(usually painting) or English teaching. There are also music lessons where
you can 'jam' with the children. The institution is
desperate to receive volunteers, whether it is to teach English or take
ballet (one of their more popular programs).
Most of the team at the centre are local community volunteers
who are willing to give their help freely. They say that the
satisfaction they get from seeing the smiling faces of the children is worth
more than any amount of money in the world!
Unfortunately sometimes lessons have to be called off because
of the lack of available teachers – so you will certainly help to make a
difference and keep the centre going through taking part in this project.
The centre is open from 9am to 6pm and
you'll usually work for around 4 to 5 hours a day.
There are approximately 140 children aged between 3-18 years, with around 25
per class.
Stephanie White, says of her placement at
Santa Tereza: "Everyone at
Ballet De Santa Tereza made me feel at home and it was a brilliant
experience. I really couldn't of asked for a better bunch of kids! The
children at Santa Tereza are so much fun and very talented, I became very
close to them all and I miss them very much! A lot of the families there
don't have much when it comes to material things but their culture and
lively personalities make up for that!
Ballet De Santa Tereza is a great
organisation, the children enjoy every day there! I suppose it is like an
escape for them! I would definitely recommend a trip out to Rio and
volunteering somewhere like Ballet De Santa Tereza, it really was the best
time of my life!"
Foz Do Iguaçu
offers a unique and rewarding
teaching placement with children from all sides of the borders, a great
social life to ensure you enjoy the best of the day and the night that
Brazil has to offer and magnificent natural wonders cascading down your
doorstep! Absorb this awesome culture by becoming a part of its community.
It is no surprise that most volunteers here choose to extend their stay!
Below are brief descriptions of
some of the projects that we are currently working with – if you would like
any more information please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Fundação Nosso Lar
About 26 students in total with 6 to 8 students per class ranging in age
from 7 to 16 years. Volunteers will teach here for 3-4 hours a day Monday to
Friday. Volunteers can teach English, music or art here. The children at
this school are very poor and they have practically no knowledge of English
presently.
Sometimes you will be asked to assist the class’s regular teacher, with
conversational English, whilst at other times you may be in charge and
expected to take the lead for the class.
Associação Benedita da Providência –
Creche Mamãe Carolina
This school hosts 120 pupils from young children to young teenagers with
classes of about 27. You will teach 3 to 4 hours a day during the working
week. Again the children here are poor with no knowledge of English
currently.
SCNSA - Sociedade Civil Nossa Senhora
Aparecida Located 20 minutes away on the outskirts of Iguaçu, the SCNSA complex
has a wide range of social services, including a fully operational hospital,
dental surgery and a crèche. The SCNSA has approximately 200 infants aged
4-6 (you'll work with some of them in the mornings) and approximately 250
adolescents aged 12 – 18, some of whom you'd work with in the afternoons.
Group sizes vary but the average is between 30 to 35. Your role and
responsibilities may vary greatly from day to day - you may be asked to work
independently, in pairs, or as part of a team under supervision. Activities
range from informal fun and games to a more structured teaching schedule.
The teaching programme is designed to address all of the students’
developmental needs, both academically and socially.
New Wave Private Language Centre Here you can teach conversational English to students who range in age
from about 16 upwards in the ‘schools'. These students appreciate the
benefits of learning English and the effect it will have on their working
lives and their future, thus teaching them is very satisfying. The schools
have a lovely atmosphere and group sizes usually are not larger than 15 -
group sizes generally range from 8 to 12, making easily manageable classes
and a friendly and inviting atmosphere. Classrooms are small and intimate,
with good teaching facilities.
"New Wave school
where I teach is amazing. They have excellent facilities, staff and
students are friendly and I feel part of the teaching team when I attend
teacher meetings every other Friday at 2.00p.m. There are three branches
of the school so you have a variety of classes."
Videesha
Kunkulagunta
Some of the schools are located in the centre
of town within walking distance of your accommodation. Others are slightly
further away but can be reached easily via public transport. Transport to and from your
school is covered by Travellers.
Support and guidance from Travellers
and the schools
You'll receive
lots of care and assistance from our very
friendly and helpful UK staff,
from the first stage of applying all the way through to the end of your
placement. We are also available 24 hours a day for any urgent matter
during your time on our placement.
Travellers
will send you our extremely comprehensive information pack with details on
everything - ranging from where to go on your weekend travels to what to
pack and extensive safety tips. We will also provide you with a selection of
manuals that will be very useful on your project.
In Brazil you
will have the support of our Brazil Manager who will be on call 24/7 from
meeting you at the airport and will be around frequently to ensure you are
settled and happy on your placement. You will also find that the teachers at
the schools and institutes where you work will be very happy to help you
throughout your placement.
If you
speak some Portuguese (or even Spanish), you will find it very beneficial on
this project. But don't be put off if languages aren't your thing! You're
sure to pick up some of the basic words whilst you are there, and will find
other ways to converse without language becoming a barrier. Don't forget
that we can also arrange some Portuguese Lessons for you during your
programme in either Rio or Foz, if you would like.
SCHOOL
HOLIDAYS AND ... CARNAVAL!
The main school holidays are from approximately
15th July until the 10th August and
10th December until the end of the last week in February.
If you are unsure about how seasonal
breaks may affect your placement, please ask us!
Carnaval begins at midnight on the Friday before Ash
Wednesday and lasts for five days,
but the whole country stops for about two weeks. Carnaval
is celebrated all over Brazil. The most famous is, of
course, held in Rio, but the authentic versions of Carnaval are found
outside that city.
"Carnaval - The planet's most spectacular annual cultural
pageant, where the
ancient world's spirit of chaotic collective delirium and abandonment of
self to the impulses of the body and a greater collective spirit is
unrivaled."
TRAVEL:
You have the option to arrange your
own flights or we can assist you with your flight arrangements. If you would
like us to do this for you, we will liaise with you regarding available flights
and dates to suit you. All arrangements for your flight bookings/payments will
be fulfilled by Murray Rogers Travel Ltd., ATOL No. 6856. (Read more about Murray Rogers Travel Ltd.)
Where possible, we arrange for two or more people to travel on the
same flight and we will let you have the names and telephone numbers of other
volunteers on your flight, so that you can chat to each other or even meet up
before leaving for your placement.
For Foz, you'll more than likely fly into
Sao Paulo, as this is the nearest international airport. From
there you can either fly to Foz do Iguaçu
or you have the option to take a comfortable bus/coach ride instead. The trip
takes about 12 - 14 hours and is an excellent way to see some of the country.
For Rio, you'll fly
into the international airport.
When you arrive, you'll be welcomed by
our local Organiser and introduced to the people you'll be living and working
with.
Where possible, all flights we arrange for you
have changeable return tickets because many of our volunteers choose to extend
their stay once they are in their destination country. Changeable return tickets
enable you to do so, within the limits of your visa and the level of your air
ticket, of course. If you choose to book your own flights, you should endeavour
to get a changeable ticket.
We meet you at the airport regardless of whether you make
your own travel arrangements or not.
VISAS:. All requirements regarding visas will
be arranged by our office and the process of obtaining a visa will be made very easy for you.
We can also arrange your flight
dates to give you additional time at the end of your project for travelling
around and sightseeing - this is a fascinating and wondrous country!
To see what support we provide in our countries,
please read Support
and Backup
PRICES:
To see the Prices of this project and all
our other projects in Brazil, please
click here
Prices
include
Accommodation and
breakfast while on your project,
2 T-shirts, if required
for your project
All support and backup
during your programme
Meeting you at the
nearest airport, where appropriate, but exclude international travel.
.
+44 01903 502595
