Tanzania: Volunteer English Teaching in African Schools

Tanzania: Volunteer English Teaching and Work-Experience

• Placement locations: Arusha, Dar es Salaam
• Types of schools: Primary, Secondary, Maasi school run by Projects Abroad
• Age of students: 6 - 16
• Class sizes: 40 - 50
• Role: Teacher or teaching assistant (English)
• Extra-curricular roles: Art, Drama, Geography, Music, Sports
• Accommodation: Host families
• Price: From £1495
• What’s included? Food, accommodation, transfers, insurance, personal webpage, induction and orientation, 24/7 support, social activities
• What’s not included? Flights, visa costs, spending money
• Length of placement: From one month
• Start dates: Flexible

You can gain work experience teaching at primary or secondary schools overseas in Tanzania and no TEFL or other formal teaching qualification is required. Whether you want to volunteer teaching during your gap year, career break or holiday you will have a role to play and your efforts will be greatly appreciated.

The impact you have on the lives of your students will be obvious and long-lasting, but you will also be part of a much wider volunteer network, which is making a really positive contribution to the communities in which we work.

Teach English Language in schools with Projects Abroad

Tanzania’s two official languages are English and Swahili, but many Tanzanians also speak one of a hundred or so tribal dialects. The main feature of Tanzania’s education is its bilingual policy; speaking good English is key to getting a good job in business or in the tourist industry and it is the language of technology, commerce and administration. Swahili remains important as the language which keeps Tanzanians in touch with their cultural heritage and values.

Despite the bilingual policy levels of spoken English vary widely throughout the country and as an English Teaching volunteer you can make a big impact in helping to improve the standards of English in the school where you volunteer.

It is also possible to teach French in Tanzania, please let us know if this interests you, when you apply.

Volunteering on a Teaching Project in Tanzania

Our teaching placements are based in and around the northern town of Arusha and in the coastal city of Dar es Salaam. We work in both primary and secondary schools, so please let us know if you have any preferences. All lessons in secondary schools are taught in English, however in primary schools Swahili is the main language used outside of English subject lessons.

Teaching volunteers often start as classroom assistants helping the local teacher with the English classes and working with small groups of children on conversation based tasks. Depending on your ability and preferences you may be asked to take the timetabled English classes for a range of ages.

Your encouragement and some well planned, interesting lessons are often all that are needed to spark an increased interest in the language and a desire to improve.

Volunteers also often get involved in teaching other subjects like sports, art and drama, so let us know if you have any specific skills or interests.