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These answers to frequently asked questions will help inform you about the program in Ecuador. If you have further questions, please e-mail us at info@worldteach.org or call the WorldTeach office at 1-800-483-2240 or 617-495-5527. We can also put you in touch with a returned Ecuador volunteer.
Languages
Teaching Assignments
Accommodation
Q: What is the difference between the August departure and the February departure?
A: WorldTeach sends volunteers to Ecuador in two groups each year. The model for both programs is essentially the same: one month of orientation training followed by 10-11 months of teaching. The reason why there are two group departures for the same program is that different host institutions have varying academic schedules. When you apply to WorldTeach please specify whether you are applying for the Ecuador August program or the Ecuador February program.
Q: What are the qualifications for acceptance into this program?
A: All programs require a native fluency in English.
Year-long programs (August and February Departures) require a bachelor’s degree in any concentration. Volunteers must be able to present a diploma before departure in order for WorldTeach to secure their teaching placement. Teaching experience is encouraged, though not required, and all volunteer must complete 25 hours of Teaching English as a Foreign Language training before departing for Ecuador.
Q: Can I speak with someone who has done this program before?
A: Absolutely! We can put you in contact with a returned WorldTeach volunteer who can answer specific questions for you. Send a request by email to info@worldteach.org.
Q: Are you still accepting applications?
A: WorldTeach accepts applicants to all programs throughout the year. We accept applications throughout the year on a rolling admissions basis. Click on "To Apply" above for the application deadlines.
Q. How many volunteers will you accept?
A: In coordination with the requests of our local partners, the WorldTeach Ecuador program tries very hard to maintain sustainable programs. In the past, 40-50 year-long volunteers and 20-30 summer volunteers have served during any given year.
Q: What is our partner organization in the country?
A: WorldTeach does not have any specific partner organization in Ecuador. However, we do work in many different sites such as Quito, Guayaquil, Riobamba, and Ambato with the governmental organization Servicio Ecuatoriano de Capacitación Profesional (SECAP).
Q: What are the objectives that are partner has for this project?
A: SECAP strives to provide affordable education to Ecuador’s working class. Since English communication skills are highly valued in Ecuador as a means for obtaining competitive salaries, SECAP hires WorldTeach volunteers to help advance Ecuadorian communication and pronunciation skills.
Q: What languages are spoken in my country?
A: Spanish is the main language spoken by citizens of Ecuador. Summer volunteers placed in rural Andean communities will also have exposure to the indigenous language Kichwa.
Q: What is the language of instruction in my country?
A: All volunteers are expected to instruct their classes entirely in English, and Orientation provides numerous methods for creating a communicative classroom environment that creates language connections for English language learners, rather than focusing on translations.
Q: What language(s) do I need to speak?
A: The Ecuador program only requires native fluency in English. No Spanish knowledge is required, though volunteers will receive professional Spanish training during Orientation and Spanish classes are available and affordable in almost every placement.
Q: How well will my students know English?
A: The Ecuadorian public education system includes English language study and American culture is prevalent throughout Ecuador. Thus almost every student will have had exposure to English. However, English communication ability is very difficult for Ecuadorians and thus speaking and language skills may not be as advanced as reading and writing skills.
Q: When will I find out where I'll be teaching?
A: Teaching placements are determined by the WorldTeach Field Staff in consultation with the various host schools that have requested a volunteer teacher. Once accepted to the program, you may express general preferences with regard to your teaching or living situation. The Field Staff will take these preferences and your prior experience into account when matching you with a suitable school and host family. Since WorldTeach also has to take into account the needs of the host schools and communities, we cannot guarantee any particular placement. This process of matching volunteers with placement sites is done once the Field Staff has received information on all the volunteers in the group. You will receive information about your placement site, teaching assignment and host family about one month prior to departure. Until then, please be flexible and keep an open mind. Most volunteers teach between 20-25 class hours per week, although contracts vary between host schools. Some volunteers choose to get involved in community projects or organizations in their free time.
Q: What will I teach?
A: All WorldTeach volunteers in Ecuador teach English communication skills, with a focus on speaking and listening.
Q: What will be the ages and levels of the students I will teach?
A: Almost all of the placement sites in Ecuador have a diverse range of ages, which can include students as young as 14 and as old as 65, since many of the teaching placements are open to community members. Levels also range from basic to advanced, with university placements having more advanced English speakers while community centers cater to beginner level students.
Q: How big will my classes be?
A: Classes have about a minimum of ten students to a maximum of thirty.
Q: What will my daily schedule look like?
A: All volunteers have twenty to twenty-five hours of classroom instruction per week. Classes are usually in the morning or at night. During the day most volunteers spend time preparing for their classes. Working with WorldTeach Ecuador is a full time professional commitment.
Q: Will I be expected to run extracurricular activities?
A: Volunteers are not required to engage in extra-curricular activities, but community involvement and immersion is highly encouraged by WorldTeach. Because WorldTeach places volunteers with host families, community integration is much easier and many volunteers find that the most rewarding aspect of their experience in Ecuador is the creation of a community project.
Q: What are some of the extracurricular activities that former volunteers have done?
A: Volunteer community projects always depend on the specific needs of the sites. Past volunteer projects have ranged from volunteering at an orphanage, to starting a community exercise club, to building a library.
Q: Where will I be living?
A: Unless otherwise requested, all volunteers live with host families. Typically volunteers have their own bedroom and share the bathroom and living space with their host family. They eat meals with the family, and enjoy being a part of family life. Host families receive a stipend, provided by the host school, to cover the costs of hosting a volunteer.
Volunteers will live with two host families during the course of the program, one during orientation in Quito, and the other at their teaching site. Host families are eager to host a volunteer because they enjoy the cultural exchange, and they treat the volunteer like one of the family. Living with a host family may be a challenging experience, especially if you are used to living independently. You will notice a need to be sensitive to cultural differences. Your host parents may want to know where you are at all times, and worry about you going out at night. Ecuadorians tend to be family- and group-oriented, and your family may not have the same understanding of personal space and privacy as you do. Volunteers find living with a family requires a lot of patience and flexibility, but enables them to integrate into the community, learn a lot about the culture, and make lasting friendships.
Q: Will my host family speak English?
A: There are some families available who speak English and applicants can request a host family with English language skills on their Volunteer Profile Form. Otherwise all host family interaction will be in Spanish.
Q: Will I have my own room?
A: All Ecuador volunteers will have their own room with access to a bathroom.
Q: What will I do for meals?
A: WorldTeach’s host families will provide three daily meals for volunteers at the home stay house. All other food will be paid for by the volunteer.
Q: What if I want to change host families or schools?
A: WorldTeach discourages host family and school changes. Host family changes are feasible, as personality differences can arise, but changing sites requires serious extenuating circumstances.
Q: What is commonly eaten in my country?
A; In Ecuador lunch is the largest meal of the day. It usually consists of soup, rice, a vegetable, and a small piece of meat. Breakfast consists of bread, coffee, and sometimes fruit, while dinner is usually bread and the leftovers from lunch.
Q: Is it difficult to accommodate special diets there?
A: Accomodating special diets in Ecuador is feasible, as WorldTeach works with many host families who have hosted volunteers with special diets for years. However, there are very few Ecuadorians with special diets, and thus volunteers with special diets will face questioning from locals.
Q: Is there electricity/running water?
A: Every host family that WorldTeach works with in Ecuador has access to electricity and running water. However, some placements face strict regulations or weather conditions that cause the electricity and running water to short out on occasion. It is recommended that volunteers drink bottled or boiled water. WorldTeach volunteers are encouraged to be flexible and willing to adapt to any circumstances.
Q:What are my chances of being placed on the Galapagos?
A: WorldTeach Ecuador is excited to announce two volunteer placements in the Galapagos Islands starting in with the August 2010 departure. For more information about the WorldTeach Ecuador: Galapagos click here.
Q: Does WorldTeach arrange travel to Ecuador?
A: WorldTeach arranges travel for each group departing for Ecuador from a designated departure city in the USA. The group will meet at the departure city airport and then travel together to Quito, Ecuador. The international round-trip flight from the departure city to Quito is covered by the WorldTeach program fee. WorldTeach purchases round-trip tickets valid for one year at a discounted group rate. More details of the group flight arrangements will be available about two months prior to departure. You will then be asked to confirm your travel plans by a certain date so that WorldTeach can finalize the group air tickets.
Each volunteer is responsible for getting him/herself to the departure city (usually Miami, but this will be confirmed for your group). Many volunteers are able to find discounted or teacher/student fare domestic connections from the internet or student travel agencies such as www.studentuniverse.com or www.statravel.com.
Q: Can I make my own travel arrangements?
A: You may opt out of the WorldTeach group flight. You should arrange your own flights if you plan to travel in Ecuador before the program starts, or if you do not plan to leave from the United States. (If you want to travel after the program you can still use the WorldTeach return ticket which is valid for one year from date of departure; you will be responsible for any fees resulting from changing your return date).
If you choose to travel independently to Ecuador you must plan to arrive in Quito on or before the date of the group flight's arrival, so that you do not miss any orientation activities. Be sure to buy a round-trip ticket that is valid for a full year and has a changeable return date, in case your travel plans should change. Volunteers traveling independently must inform the Program Manager in writing of their travel plans. If you purchase your own air ticket to Ecuador, WorldTeach will deduct from your program fee the cost of one ticket on our group flight.
Q: Can I come home during the year?
A: As a WorldTeach volunteer in Ecuador you are under contract with your host school and are responsible for teaching full time for the duration of each school term. If you choose to travel home for a visit during the year this should be during school vacations. Vacation dates vary between different schools; you will need to ask your school director for the term dates when you begin your teaching service. If a family emergency or event requires you to go home during a term you must clear your absence with your school director and arrange coverage for your classes. Any trips home or other personal travel will be at your own expense. You might want to suggest your family or friends visit you in Ecuador, ideally during your school breaks so that you can spend more time with them.
Q: What are the vacation times I will have?
This depends on your site placement. All sites have at least one week of vacation between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day. There are also inter-semester or inter-cycle breaks scattered throughout the year.
Q: Will there be a chance to travel to other places?
A: You will have opportunities to see different areas of Ecuador. You will spend the first 4 weeks of orientation in Quito, the capital. After orientation you will travel to your individual teaching site. You will reconvene with the whole group for a Mid-Service Conference and again at the end of the year for an End of Service debriefing meeting and the flight home. These conferences may be in different locations as decided by your Field Director. Your travel to attend these conferences meetings will be covered by WorldTeach. Any travel you choose to do beyond these program activities will be at your own expense, and must be during weekends or school vacations. You may want to visit other volunteers on weekends, or explore another part of the country. You should bring your own spending money for personal travel.
Q: Do I need a visa?
A: Yes, you will need a visa to teach in Ecuador. WorldTeach will provide you with instructions on how to apply a visa. You are responsible for collecting the required items for your visa application. You will receive details on the visa requirements from WorldTeach shortly after your acceptance into the program, and WorldTeach will assist you in attaining the visa. Note that some documents can take some time to get, such as a police clearance certificate, and health exams and tests. You should allow yourself at least a month to gather all the required paperwork.
The Program Manager will ask you to send all your visa application documents and your actual passport to the WorldTeach office about one month prior to departure. WorldTeach will take all the applications to the Ecuadorian Consulate for visa processing, and then return your passport and visa to you in your pre-paid self-addressed express mail envelope.
Please note that visa requirements change frequently. WorldTeach will keep you up to date as you go through the process.
Also, please note that as part of the conditions for a 12-3 visa (a diplomatic visa that requires special authorization) it is required that volunteers "will not engage in lucrative economic activities" outside of their role as WorldTeach volunteer teachers. In the past, some volunteers have earned a few dollars on the side teaching private lessons. (Although volunteers were always reminded that their teaching post at their site was their primary responsibility, so it was never more than a few hours a week on the side.) Because of this new requirement, volunteers will no longer be able to earn money for such lessons.
Q: What are the requirements for my passport?
A: Passports must have at least four blank pages and should be valid for 24 months following the date of departure.
Q: What immunizations are required?
A: The most comprehensive source of information on immunizations and travel health is the Centers for Disease Control. This site provides recommendations for travel to South America as well as detailed information on specific diseases. Also refer to the Staying Healthy in Asia, Africa, and Latin America book that WorldTeach will send you when you confirm your participation in the program. You must consult your doctor or a travel health specialist about immunizations and other health needs. Please understand that WorldTeach staff are not qualified to give medical advice. Only your doctor can give you specific medical advice.
There is risk of malaria in Ecuador's coastal and lowland regions. Malaria is a serious mosquito-borne disease that can be fatal. See the CDC website for the latest information. If you will be teaching in, or might want to travel to, the coastal regions of Ecuador you should discuss malaria medications with your doctor. Some volunteers get a prescription for malaria medication in the U.S. but actually buy the drugs in Ecuador. Others get a limited supply (eg. one month's worth) of the medication before departure and then buy further pills as needed in Ecuador.
Q: What if I get sick? What are the medical facilities like in Ecuador?
A: Adjusting to a new environment, diet, and climate places demands on your body and health. Living in a new culture and taking on new professional responsibilities will be tiring. You will get sick at certain times; it is unavoidable. But you will also learn how to look after yourself, maintain your health, and seek treatment for sickness.
Ecuador has adequate medical facilities. In Quito there is a good hospital with specialist doctors. In other cities there are doctors, clinics, and, in larger cities, provincial hospitals. During orientation you will be introduced to an English-speaking doctor and shown where the hospital is in Quito. Your Field Director will also give advice on health and safety while living in Ecuador.
Medication is very available in Ecuador. No prescriptions are required for most medications; anti-depressants are an exceptions. Birth control pills are available, although they may not be the exact same brands as in the U.S. If a brand of a drug is not sold in Ecuador, most pharmacies can match the percentage of each ingredient in the drug to come up with something compatible. It is wise to consult your doctor about your prescriptions well in advance of departure. If you require a specific brand of a drug it may be best to take a year's supply with you.
As a WorldTeach volunteer you will have health insurance coverage that includes emergency medical evacuation insurance. For medical expenses such as doctors' visits, prescribed medicines, etc. you pay up front, keep the receipt, and then file a claim to get reimbursed by the insurance company. All volunteers are covered under the WorldTeach group insurance policy; it is not optional. The policy has been designed specially with WorldTeach volunteers in mind. If you have a pre-existing health condition that may require further treatment you should consider maintaining your own health insurance coverage as well. You will be sent the health insurance policy description when you are accepted as a volunteer.
Q: Will I have health insurance?
A: WorldTeach provides volunteers with health insurance that covers most incidents that occur in country; however, volunteers should read the policy carefully to determine whether they should retain additional insurance.
Q: Is it safe?
A: While there is always some level of risk involved in traveling and living in a developing country, WorldTeach pays close attention to US State Department and Embassy advice. Many people visit Ecuador every year as tourists, students, or on business.
Ecuador is a developing country with severe economic difficulties that can give rise to social inequalities and tensions. Strikes and demonstrations are fairly common in Ecuador as groups of people express their political and economic demands. Volunteers are advised to avoid demonstrations. Risk of theft is present and rising in Ecuador (as it is everywhere, in your home town too!) and you will need to take sensible precautions to look after your personal belongings. Do not take any belongings that you are not prepared to lose, and do not draw attention to expensive items. There are active volcanoes in Ecuador, but they are carefully monitored so that warnings can be given if activity might require evacuation from the vicinity. As in most countries, road accidents actually pose the greatest risk. You will need to use common sense, be responsible for yourself and aware of your surroundings, and travel with other people wherever possible. Your host family and community will know you and look out for your safety. Your Field Director will discuss safety and health during orientation. All volunteers will be registered with the appropriate Embassy in Quito in case of a national emergency. WorldTeach has a 24-hour communication system and an emergency evacuation plan for the country.
Q: What should I take with me?
A: When you confirm your participation in the program you will be sent a booklet called Living & Teaching in Ecuador. This booklet will contain a suggested packing list. We do not recommend taking a lot of electronics, as they are easily broken or stolen. Try to pack light; you will need to be able to move your bags easily, and you will find most things are available in Ecuador. In terms of teaching materials, the WorldTeach office in Ecuador has some teaching books and materials that you can borrow or copy. You might want to take your own books, activities, or other materials that you think will be of use to you during your year. Posters or pictures from magazines, popular songs, or videos are valuable teaching tools that are harder to come by in Ecuador! You can also speak with a returned volunteer for advice on packing.
Q: Will I be paid?
A: As a volunteer you will receive a stipend from your host school for the months that you teach. This stipend may vary between sites (WorldTeach has a separate contract with each host school) but is usually about US$180 per month. While stipends are modest, they are designed to cover only your basic living expenses and are usually the equivalent of an Ecuadorian teacher's monthly salary. Stipend payments have sometimes been very delayed due to slow bureaucracy in the school administration. You will receive the stipend for each month you teach, but you will probably not receive it regularly and you might not receive it until late in your teaching year. In addition to your personal stipend, you will also receive from your school a stipend for your host family that is roughly equivalent to yours. In effect, when you receive a monthly payment from your school you will give a portion of it (roughly half; your Field Director will clarify the exact amount) to your host family towards their costs of housing and feeding you.
Q: How much money should I take with me?
A: The amount of spending money you will need is very subjective. It will depend on how much you intend to travel, and the lifestyle you intend to lead. Volunteers living in or frequenting major cities will probably spend more money than volunteers in smaller towns who spend most weekends in their host community. Your room and board (daily meals) are provided by your host family, and WorldTeach reimburses program-related travel to conferences. You will need your own spending money for personal costs such as communications with home and social activities, and for paying up-front for medical expenses. You may also need to use your own money to cover daily living costs if your stipend payments from your school are delayed. Previous volunteers recommend taking or having access to about US$2,500-3,500 in spending money, or more if you intend to do a lot of traveling. Traveler's checks are the safest way to take money as they can be replaced if lost. You can also draw money using a credit or ATM card at banks in Quito and other large cities. Many volunteers choose to open a bank account in Ecuador, so that their money is safe and can be accessed from most cities. You should also maintain an account in the U.S. that you can access via an ATM card. If you are going to choose this route, make sure that somebody in the U.S. has joint access to your bank account so that he or she can add money if necessary. You should also ask your bank if they will charge you international fees for withdrawing money from an ATM (cash point).
Q: Will I have access to email in Ecuador?
A: Email is available at most locations where volunteers are placed. Internet cafes are quite common, especially in the larger cities. Cafes will charge you between US$0.80 and US$1.20 per hour, and there are extra costs for printing. Some host schools will have computers with internet that you may ask permission to use. While you may not have daily access, you should be able to check your email on weekends. Postal service to Ecuador is generally reliable. An airmail letter takes 7-10 days from the United States. Some volunteers chose to rent a mail box ("casilla") at their local post office to receive mail. When you receive your placement information you will be provided with the mailing address for your host family home.
Q: Are there mobile phones in my country?
A: All volunteers are encouraged to purchase a mobile phone once they arrive in Ecuador, as they are an affordable way of communicating efficiently.
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