Teaching English in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Why is this project important for the community?

This project is important because the institute is located in a working-class neighbourhood where learning English can be useful since the majority of the locals would never have the opportunity to speak English or meeting native speakers in their area. The hardest thing is being able to keep up with modern and technological demands and also keeping the students interest in learning the language and getting to know different cultures. 

 Volunteer's Tasks

Volunteers are expected to assist teachers in class. The presence of native speakers evidently is very helpful to the children’s learning of the language, but anyone with knowledge of English and enthusiasm to get to know another part of Buenos Aires is welcome. When they reach the last level, namely 6th year, they are expected to have reached an upper-intermediate or advanced level of the language and to sit an international exam called Cambridge First Certificate.

Local Coordination

This English Institute opened in 2000 offering courses of English for children and teenagers in particular, and eventually for adults. It is located in Ciudadela, a small middle class town just outside the city of Buenos Aires. You can take either the bus or train to get there, which will take approximately 1 hour. On your first day, you will have an informal chat with the director, Laura, where she will explain how the school runs and tell you in which classes you can help.

What can you learn as a volunteer?

You will have the chance to know another part of Buenos Aires, commuted with the locals, and amplify your perspective immersing on the day to day of a working class neighbourhood. Assisting the english classes at this institute gives volunteers the opportunity to learn about different aspects of the argentinian culture and deepen cultural exchange in an educational environment .

How does your work impact on the community?

This school amplify the chances to further their education, and provides students the opportunity to forge a brighter professional future. Students are also able to bond with the volunteers through their cultural differences, their accents, theirs travels and more.

Schedule

Courses are delivered from Monday to Thursday in the afternoon. Students attend the classes previously coordinated with the director, and depending on the course, classes last 60, 75 or 90 minutes