About us: The Arajuno Road Project was created in 2008 with the goal of supporting the schools and improving the opportunities available to the children living along the road located between the small city of Puyo and the rural community of Arajuno in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The program has impacted over 500 children and their families to date by providing quality English instruction, improving the infrastructure and learning environment of their schools, and working on community development and conservation programs, such as school gardens and reforestation. The Arajuno Road Project is managed by the Amazon Language & Conservation Exchange.
What we need from you: The main responsibilities of the assistant coordinator are to aid the project manager and help the volunteers teach and assist with lesson planning. Normally, the majority of volunteers do not speak Spanish so it is the assistant coordinators responsibility to help translate between students and volunteers. The assistant coordinator should also have some experience with teaching English as a second language so that they can effectively assist the volunteers with planning lessons. The assistant coordinator is expected to step in and teach in the event that there is a gap in volunteers. The assistant coordinator serves as an important contact between the main professor at the schools and the project manager. He/She should also do weekly evaluations of how the students are progressing and report back to the project manager.
Responsibilities
- Guide lesson planning
- Assist volunteers with teaching/translating
- Teach when needed
- Communicate between professor and project manager
- Assist project manager with projects related to school work
- Update lesson planning chart, monthly calendar, and keep lesson planning book organized
- Keep track of school materials
- Keep work station organized
- Weekly reflection on progress at schools
- Help organize community activities
- Keep the volunteers happy and with a positive attitude
- Volunteer house chores
- Cook dinner one night a week
Qualifications/Experience
Mandatory
- 1 Year work experience
- Bilingual in Spanish and English
Desired
- Experience working with children
- Previous work experience abroad
- Previous experience working with or as a volunteer
- Previous teaching experience
- ESL/TESOL/TEFOL certificate
Skills
- Excellent organizational skills
- First class communication skills
- Excellent people skills
- Ability to adapt to diverse situations
- Tolerant, patient, and understanding
