Teach English in Guatemala

One, Two... Tree!, a non-profit organization working on making education more accessible in Latin America, is looking for enthusiastic individuals with a passion for teaching to join our team in Guatemala.

About One, Two... Tree!

One, Two... Tree! was founded in 2013 with a mission to offer better educational opportunities, and therefore also a more promising future, to children in need all over Central America. We opened our first project in Nicaragua, where the NGO’s impact rapidly grew over the following 6 years, up until 2019 , when, with heavy hearts, we made the difficult decision to close it due to political unrest.

Luckily, we were able to apply our learnings from Nicaragua to our projects in Guatemala and Mexico, established in 2017 and 2019 respectively. Both of these are currently thriving, and we’re looking forward to extending our reach to the Dominican Republic in the near future.

All of us at One, Two... Tree! are volunteers, and we live and breathe education, as for many children around the world it is the only tool that can open up the road towards a better future. That’s why we work with local governments and public schools to provide high-quality English classes to students who otherwise would not be able to access them.

What will you be doing?

This role will entail teaching English to primary-school children in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala. You need to commit to at least 16 teaching hours per week, with additional time set aside for preparation.

You will receive our full support while at the post. We will provide basic training and teaching materials upon your arrival, weekly progress reviews and regular assistance from our Volunteer Coordinator. We are extremely open to feedback; in fact, we encourage personal initiative, and would love to work with you on maximizing the impact you can make in this role. That’s why we’re looking for self-starters who are passionate about education and eager to make a difference.

Our project in Guatemala

In Guatemala we’re based in Santiago Atitlán, where we teach English to over a thousand children across twelve public schools. We also provide free group classes for adults. We have an agreement with the Guatemalan Ministry of Education, and we cooperate with the regional government and other local institutions as well.

Requirements

Before applying, please consider if you meet the following criteria:

• The ideal length of stay is between 6 months to a year, as it provides a much needed continuity for the students. We will still consider applicants who can only stay for a month to 6 months; however, please note that 4 weeks is an absolute minimum, and we will give priority to volunteers who plan to stay longer.
• Communicative level of English. Most classes are given to beginners, so fluency is not necessarily required. It is important to note however that you need to be comfortable speaking English as you’ll be conducting English classes everyday.
• Beginners to intermediate Spanish. Our goal is to conduct as much of the class as possible in English, but some Spanish will still be useful to navigate the everyday life and in schools. Alternatively, you can also opt to take Spanish classes while in Guatemala - we can arrange that for you.
• Passion for education, openness to new cultures, and a drive to learn new skills.
• Some previous teaching or volunteering experience is a plus.
• A police record issued by your local authorities certifying that you haven't committed any child-related crime

Practical Arrangements and Costs

One, Two... Tree! is unique in that we are all volunteers, which lets us not charge any fees. You will however be asked to cover your travel and accommodation costs. (They’re quite affordable to start with, but if you’re planning to stay for a year or longer, we can discuss how those can be reduced.)

Accommodation - volunteers stay with local host families in Santiago Atitlán. This is not only the most economical option available, but it will also help you get to know the local people and culture first-hand. All the families we work with have been pre-vetted and have previous experience in hosting international volunteers. The usual accommodation costs range from $150 to $330 per month, and include three meals per day and a private room.

Why should you apply?

Volunteering in Guatemala is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will not only give you practical teaching skills, but also a more holistic outlook on education. You’ll have a chance to improve your Spanish, learn about Guatemalan culture, and, on the weekends, enjoy all the beauty the country has to offer - from lake Atitlán at your doorstep all the way to the wonders of Tikal in the North.

We offer recommendation letters, volunteer certificates and LinkedIn recommendations for all who work with us. If you are staying for a long period of time (i.e. three months or more), we will be happy to convert this volunteering opportunity into an internship so that you can play a more active role in the running of the project, and get hands-on experience in the admin, fundraising or recruitment areas of a non-profit. We are also open to working with universities regarding college credit.

How to apply

To apply, please fill out our form at https://www.onetwo-tree.com/en/why-volunteering/ or send us an email at hola@onetwo-tree.com - please don’t forget to include your CV and a few sentences explaining your interest in the role.

Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at hola@onetwo-tree.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.