ESL Teaching Internship in Ecuador
The Tandana Foundation
The Tandana Foundation is seeking interns to teach English (and possibly computer classes) in mountain villages in the Otavalo canton of Ecuador, a region that is rich in natural beauty and cultural diversity. This internship is available from September through early July, and the minimum time commitment is 6 months.
Position Description
In this internship, you will work alongside local teachers and community members, teaching English to students in kindergarten through 6th grade (plus basic computer classes depending on the needs of the school). Because Tandana facilitates many volunteer programs and community development projects throughout the year, you may also help coordinate service- and cultural-learning experiences for groups of U.S. students that are visiting your community as well as assist with other Tandana projects as need arises. You will also tutor Tandana scholarship students who need additional help and support the scholarship program in other ways. Finally, you will serve as a a cultural ambassador and a positive representative of The Tandana Foundation. In return, you will be placed with a host family, which will allow countless opportunities to explore the indigenous cultures and subsistence lifestyles of highland Ecuador as well as the natural environment around you. You will also be given all the support you need to succeed in your work and be encouraged to accomplish your personal internship goals.
Requirements:
- Conversational Spanish
- Experience living in cross-cultural situations, preferably in Latin America
- Ability to work cooperatively with a diverse array of people, to solve problems creatively, and to promote a positive experience for all involved
- Self-motivation, responsibility, and an ability to work independently
- Demonstrated interest in elementary education or ESL
- Minimum age is 19
- Minimum time commitment is 6 months
Responsibilities:
- Teach elementary English five days a week and potentially computer classes as well
- Help coordinate the activities of visiting student groups and other Tandana projects and ensure that volunteers and community members alike have positive experiences.
- Provide tutoring and other support to Tandana's scholarship program
- Represent Tandana in a positive manner to all community members and volunteers and help to build good relationships
Benefits:
- The opportunity to participate in unique cultural activities and be a part of a dynamic, multi-cultural team
- Detailed orientation and ongoing support from Tandana's Ecuador Program Manager as well as a mentor
- Room and board with a local family (homestay)
- Work expenses including local transportation, cell phone, and consular fees. (Interns pay their own airfare to Ecuador)
How to apply:
Interested parties should send a resume and a letter addressing each of the following questions to Aaron DiMartino, Operations Director, at aaron@tandanafoundation.org
- Please describe any experience you have living in Ecuador or in another cross-cultural situation.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses as a leader?
- Describe an experience that was very challenging for you. How did you deal with the difficulties, and what did you learn from the experience?
- What are you passionate about, and how do you express that passion?
- What do you think will be most exciting about this internship?
- What do you think will be most difficult about this internship?
- What are your personal and professional goals for this internship and how can we help you accomplish them?
About The Tandana Foundation
Location:
2933 LOWER BELLBROOK RD, SPRING VALLEY, OH 45370, US
Mission Statement
To empower individuals of various cultural backgrounds with an increased awareness of the world, other cultures, and themselves, and with an expanded sense of their possibilities;
To promote positive, caring interactions between people of different backgrounds and encourage consideration and lessening of global inequalities;
To promote respect and responsibility toward one's self, all people, and the Earth.
Description
he Tandana Foundation is a non-profit organization that offers cross-cultural volunteer opportunities, scholarships, and support for small community projects in highland Ecuador and Mali's Dogon Country. Tandana coordinates service projects and volunteer vacations that offer visitors to Ecuador or Mali the unique opportunity to be guests rather than tourists, to form cross-cultural friendships, to experience a rich indigenous culture, and to make a difference in the lives of new friends. Its scholarship program allows rural Ecuadorian students to continue their secondary and higher education. Its community projects help villagers in Mali and Ecuador realize their dreams of improving their communities.
The Tandana Foundation is not about "helping the poor unfortunates" or imposing a developmentalist worldview or any particular religion. Rather, our goal is to create and nurture real and responsible relationships among people of different cultures. Giving and receiving are inherent parts of those relationships, and contributing to community projects is a great way to make friends. Any foreigner who has worked in an Ecuadorian minga (community work day) knows how that works on the ground! We come to learn and to share.
Tandana comes from a Kichwa root meaning "to gather together" or "to unite" and represents the spirit of our work.