Although South Africa is considered to be one of the most developed African nations, there is still a clear imbalance in the educational opportunities available throughout the country. Many of the township schools are largely under-funded and under-staffed, but this teaching project will give you the chance to make a significant difference to the standard of education that so many children are deprived of.

 

You will be based in Port Elizabeth where there is a variety teaching opportunities available to you. 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, having fluent English and numeracy skills makes you a very valuable individual. It is from this platform that you can really start to make a positive difference to the lives of your students.

 

You will be attached to one of the under-resourced schools in Port Elizabeth , 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, assisting in lessons and helping to organise other extracurricular activities. This will allow you to build close friendships with your pupils and the local teachers. From this grounding, you will venture out and start to plan and teach your own lessons. Furthermore, help with issues such as lesson planning, discipline and cultural courtesies will be available from a number of sources, including the teachers, our in-country staff and the other volunteers. You will quickly grow in confidence as you learn how to engage your students. Before long, you will develop your own teaching style that inspires and excites the class.

 

Although you will have support from our staff and the local teachers, you should remember that your role is intended to be as independent and self-supported as possible. You will also be encouraged to introduce your own ideas and get involved with extra-curricular activities such as 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 eager the children are to learn from you. Not only is this a humbling experience, 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.

 

A gap year teaching project in South Africa during your gap year is the perfect way to enjoy gap year travel while giving something back through a gap year volunteer project. Our teaching project will provide fantastic gap year opportunities, unforgettable gap year memories, close friendships, and the gap year experience of your life.