Online English Instructor

We are seeking enthusiastic volunteers passionate about teaching, education, and cultural exchange to help prepare Ecuador’s next generation of English teachers.

Ecuador has one of the lowest levels of English proficiency in Latin America. One contributor is that many English teachers complete their university degrees without reaching the proficiency needed to teach the language effectively. Although this weakens English learning nationwide, it disproportionately affects low-income students, who depend on public education and cannot afford private instruction.

Details:

• Time commitment: 2 - 3 hours per week (Remote / Unpaid).
• Sessions can be scheduled flexibly to accommodate both students and volunteers.
• If your institution allows it, you can receive community-engaged learning hours for academic credit. For example, UMN student volunteers can use this opportunity to complete service hours for the course Basics of Teaching English as a Second Language (CI 3611W).

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide small-group conversational English practice sessions and academic support to university students in Ecuador who are training to become English teachers.
• Participate in dynamic and enriching cultural exchanges with participants.
• Help motivate and guide future educators in developing their language and pedagogical skills.

Qualifications:

• Passion for teaching, education, languages, or related fields.
• Excellent communication and empathy skills to work with students from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Reliability, organization, and comfort working in virtual environments.
• Native or advanced English proficiency.

What You'll Gain:

• Verifiable international experience in virtual teaching and cross-cultural mentoring.
• The opportunity to develop leadership and teaching skills in an international environment.
• A volunteer and social impact certificate endorsed by LIDE.
• The satisfaction of making a real difference by supporting educational access and equity in language learning.

About LIDE:

The Ecuadorian Development Research Lab (LIDE) is a 501(c)(3) research nonprofit dedicated to advancing evidence-based public policy. Our mission is to produce and disseminate rigorous research that evaluates the effectiveness of public programs and policies, helping improve economic opportunity and quality of life through data-driven decision-making.