Kosrae Year           Program Description

Kosrae State, one of four States in the Federated States of Micronesia.  The island of Kosrae is lush with waterfalls, extensive mangrove swamps, and a forested mountainous interior.   Unlike Pohnpei, Kosrae has no barrier reef, but is ringed by sandy beaches and colorful coral reefs.  The island also boasts the 20 ft high walls of the ancient Lelu Ruins.

In July 2008, WorldTeach began its first full academic year program on Kosrae, with eight volunteers teaching in the college preparatory program at Kosrae's public high school. Volunteers receive 3-4 weeks of orientation, including language (Kosraean), teacher, and cross-cultural training.  Volunteers teach English, math, and science. 

Like the rest of Micronesia, the culture of Kosrae is in transition, with the resultant challenges to individuals, families and communities.  Schools have also come under transition and we anticipate that the WorldTeach FSM program will continue to grow, with requests for more volunteers and placements in other FSM States (Yap and Chuuk).

Back to top

Volunteer Role

Volunteers should be prepared to teach math, science, or English, and to be flexible to the needs of the school.  Applicants with college classes in math and science will be given preference, although a math or science degree is not a requirement.  Kosraean is the native language, but English is commonly spoken throughout the FSM.  High school students will know English to varying degrees, though students in the college preparatory track will generally be quite proficient.  Classes will be taught in English. 

There are both public and private schools on Kosrae. Primary education is compulsory for Grades 1–8. Children are required to begin first grade at the age of six and grades 1-3 are taught in Kosraean, after which all instruction is nominally in English, though many local teachers continue to teach in the local language.  Entrance to high school is determined by achievement on a high school entrance examination.  About one-third of the elementary graduates pass the examination annually.  According to the PREL website, “All schools strive to teach English Language Arts, Vernacular Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Cultural Studies, Health, and Physical Education.”

Back to top

Placement Sites, Housing, Food

All volunteers will live within relatively easy traveling distance to Tofol, the site of Kosrae high school.  Volunteers will live together in apartments or houses provided and furnished by the Department of Education, and not with host families, which will present challenges to getting “inside the culture.”  However, Micronesians are welcoming and thoughtful volunteers should have no problem getting to know the interesting culture of the FSM.

Natural staple foods throughout the FSM are fish, breadfruit, pandanus, coconut, bananas and papaya. Micronesians raise chickens and pigs and eat a lot of imported rice. There is a wide variety of US and Japanese imported food, including occasional shipments of frsh vegetables, at several grocery stores around the island.  Micronesians get their protein from fish, both the smaller reef and the larger ocean fish, in addition to canned imported meats.  There are a number of good restaurants on Kosrae, at hotels such as Nautilus, Pacific Tree Lodge, and The Village. 

Length of Program

The program begins with orientation, lasting from mid-July through mid-August.  Following in-country orientation training, volunteers will teach for one academic year at their assigned school. The school year begins in late August and runs through late May.

Applications are processed on a rolling basis.  One or two early applicants might be accepted for the program, but due to the competitively few teaching spaces available in Kosrae, the decisions for the upcoming year's program will not be made until February, six months before the July departure.

Cost of Program

This program is fully-funded by the Kosrae State Department of Education.  This generous funding provides the cost of pre-departure information and preparation, round-trip international airfare from a US departure city (mostly likely Los Angeles), orientation, health insurance, a monthly volunteer stipend and a monthly allowance for food.

There is a $1,500 required deposit which will be refunded to volunteers upon completion of the program.

Please read more about costs and services.

Requirements

WorldTeach volunteers who are comfortable with math and science, and who were successful at their own college math and science classes, should do well teaching at Kosrae High School.  A math or science degree is not a prerequisite. as English teachers are in demand as well.   

Volunteers must be native-English speakers, must hold a bachelor’s degree (in any subject) from a recognized college or university, must be flexible, must be committed to teaching and international development, and must have the desire to live and teach in a remote location.

For placements at the College of Micronesia, volunteers will teach more advanced classes, and so there is a strong preference for applicants with master's degrees.  If you have an advanced degree and would like to serve in FSM, please contact us immediately!

Back to top