Teaching English in Ghana
| country: | Ghana |
| departures: | Departures can be arranged at anytime throughout the year |
| price: | From £745 (2 weeks) - £1595 (12 weeks) excluding flights. Extra weeks are £110 per week |
the amazing things you'll be doing
There is lots of the good stuff in Ghana - lots of overwhelming hospitality, friendliness, religions and languages. There's also lots of music, dancing, action and socialising in Accra - and lots and lots of glorious open African country and sunshine!
Most of our schools are based in the small town of Kwabenya, which is a small town/suburb about forty minutes drive outside Accra city centre. We also have schools in Asylum Down, which is more centrally located in Accra, and in East Legon, close to the city. You don't need any qualifications to participate in a teaching placement in Ghana, but, if you're teaching English, you do need to be fluent in the language and it should preferably be your home language.
Teaching English in Ghana
The schools are a mixture of primary and junior secondary. You will generally be asked to help out with any age groups, although where possible we will try to keep you to your preferred age range. You are very likely to be in popular demand everywhere - in and out of the classroom
Teaching the children in Ghana is very satisfying, as it is in most African countries, because the children actually do want to learn. A previous volunteer in Ghana, Paul White, is a qualified teacher and he says, "I encourage all my teacher colleagues to take time out to do a voluntary teaching placement - the children's enthusiasm to learn will remind them why they joined the teaching profession in the first place!" Paul does a voluntary project every summer - "to rejuvenate my spirit" - so far he's also done teaching projects with us in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, and is doing his next project in South America.)
Teaching Music in Ghana
Although music is extremely popular amongst the children at the schools, it has been dropped from many schools due to lack of funding. Therefore, as you can imagine, giving the school (and the children) free access to music teaching is a very welcome addition to the school and frequently will be the only access to formal music teaching that the children will get.
You'll most likely be based in the Asylum Downs suburb of Accra, close to the centre of the city. Here we have two schools that have some rudimentary music facilities and instruments. The children are friendly and kind of city-confident - they have no hesitation and 'helping' you on the keyboard or dancing to any music that's being produced.
You don't have to have qualifications - if you can play any type of instrument, you’ll be very welcome. You will teach music either at a primary or junior secondary school. Although you will be mainly teaching music, you may also assist with other classes. You will generally be asked to help out with any age groups, although where possible we will try to keep you to your preferred age range. You are, in fact, very likely to be in popular demand everywhere - in and out of the classroom.
Teaching IT in Ghana
Ghana's capital city has plenty of internet cafes and IT skills are becoming more and more vital to employment in this developing country. You may not be an IT expert, but in Western countries we are so used to working with computers that many of us take for granted how advanced our IT skills are.
If you have regular access to a computer you are among a small percentage of the world's population who are incredibly fortunate - so use this opportunity to share your skills! You will be amazed just how much you know and can pass on to your eager students!
We work with an IT centre in a poor area of Ghana's capital city, Accra. Regular IT lessons take place at this centre for both local school children and adults within the wider community. As in less advantaged countries everywhere, your help is very deeply appreciated. The school only has about dozen very basic computers so it’s not unusual to find 3-4 to one computer, especially when teaching the children.
You may find yourself teaching packages such as: Word, Excel, Access, Office, PowerPoint or Paint. Alternatively, you may help some of your students improve their typing skills. Our volunteers have made a tremendous positive impact in this school.
Before you leave, you'll be provided with a mountain of information on just about everything to do with Ghana and your placement, including a Teaching Guide to help you to structure your lessons. Our Ghana Manager and his team will look after you well. You'll get lots of advice about the do's and don’ts of Ghanaian culture, what to do and where to go.
Many of our volunteers remain friends with their host families long after they leave Ghana and in some cases they return to the country later especially to visit their family. Sometimes members of their Ghanaian family have even gone to visit them in their home country.
Most of our schools are based in the small town of Kwabenya, which is a small town/suburb about forty minutes drive outside Accra city centre. We also have schools in Asylum Down, which is more centrally located in Accra, and in East Legon, close to the city. You don't need any qualifications to participate in a teaching placement in Ghana, but, if you're teaching English, you do need to be fluent in the language and it should preferably be your home language.
Teaching English in Ghana
The schools are a mixture of primary and junior secondary. You will generally be asked to help out with any age groups, although where possible we will try to keep you to your preferred age range. You are very likely to be in popular demand everywhere - in and out of the classroom
Teaching the children in Ghana is very satisfying, as it is in most African countries, because the children actually do want to learn. A previous volunteer in Ghana, Paul White, is a qualified teacher and he says, "I encourage all my teacher colleagues to take time out to do a voluntary teaching placement - the children's enthusiasm to learn will remind them why they joined the teaching profession in the first place!" Paul does a voluntary project every summer - "to rejuvenate my spirit" - so far he's also done teaching projects with us in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, and is doing his next project in South America.)
Teaching Music in Ghana
Although music is extremely popular amongst the children at the schools, it has been dropped from many schools due to lack of funding. Therefore, as you can imagine, giving the school (and the children) free access to music teaching is a very welcome addition to the school and frequently will be the only access to formal music teaching that the children will get.
You'll most likely be based in the Asylum Downs suburb of Accra, close to the centre of the city. Here we have two schools that have some rudimentary music facilities and instruments. The children are friendly and kind of city-confident - they have no hesitation and 'helping' you on the keyboard or dancing to any music that's being produced.
You don't have to have qualifications - if you can play any type of instrument, you’ll be very welcome. You will teach music either at a primary or junior secondary school. Although you will be mainly teaching music, you may also assist with other classes. You will generally be asked to help out with any age groups, although where possible we will try to keep you to your preferred age range. You are, in fact, very likely to be in popular demand everywhere - in and out of the classroom.
Teaching IT in Ghana
Ghana's capital city has plenty of internet cafes and IT skills are becoming more and more vital to employment in this developing country. You may not be an IT expert, but in Western countries we are so used to working with computers that many of us take for granted how advanced our IT skills are.
If you have regular access to a computer you are among a small percentage of the world's population who are incredibly fortunate - so use this opportunity to share your skills! You will be amazed just how much you know and can pass on to your eager students!
We work with an IT centre in a poor area of Ghana's capital city, Accra. Regular IT lessons take place at this centre for both local school children and adults within the wider community. As in less advantaged countries everywhere, your help is very deeply appreciated. The school only has about dozen very basic computers so it’s not unusual to find 3-4 to one computer, especially when teaching the children.
You may find yourself teaching packages such as: Word, Excel, Access, Office, PowerPoint or Paint. Alternatively, you may help some of your students improve their typing skills. Our volunteers have made a tremendous positive impact in this school.
a day in the life of a volunteer
Your teaching will be spread over 10-16 hours per week, to children of a range of ages 5-15. Although English is the official language, a multitude of African tribal languages are spoken such as Ewe and Ga. Your help is very much appreciated and schools will usually embrace the volunteers whole heartily. Before you leave, you'll be provided with a mountain of information on just about everything to do with Ghana and your placement, including a Teaching Guide to help you to structure your lessons. Our Ghana Manager and his team will look after you well. You'll get lots of advice about the do's and don’ts of Ghanaian culture, what to do and where to go.
accommodation
Accommodation will vary, depending on your work location. You may live in comfortable guest house accommodation, but you will most likely live with a host family. This means that you get to eat, sleep, work, socialise and generally live like a Ghanaian. Local family stays enable you to fully experience the local culture from the inside. Many of our volunteers remain friends with their host families long after they leave Ghana and in some cases they return to the country later especially to visit their family. Sometimes members of their Ghanaian family have even gone to visit them in their home country.
volunteer travel - what's it all about?
Are you are looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world. Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.
how this holiday makes a difference
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We employ a local Manager to coordinate all arrangements for you whilst on your project. You will stay with either a host family, or family-run hostel, providing you with an authentic Ghanaian experience and providing the families with valuable cultural exchange, which not only helps to build confidence in a socially interactive way, but also provides the children of the family with important conversational practice in an informal setting.
All food and amenities are locally bought, supporting businesses and economy in the area and you will find yourself visiting refreshments stands, or “spots” as they are known in Ghana, which supports the small businesses. You will find that the locals welcome you with big smiles and will always be happy to see you. The schools that you will work with benefit in many ways from your efforts. Donations of important items, such as books and equipment are made possible by having our volunteers on these projects and they are greatly appreciated by all as these are all things that can really help to excel the children’s learning. You will assist in endless ways, not only by providing your time, hard-work and attention, but also by educating the children, in your chosen subject and your home culture, thus expanding their hearts and minds even further. You will learn about and experience a truly important culture too and get to immerse yourself into the colourful world of Ghana. |
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