Job Discussion Forums

gypsygirl1475 · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 78

This morning on the Early Show they did a segment on various vacations one being a volunteer vacation. The one volunteer vacation that peeked my concern was teaching kids how to read in English. This vacation last for a week to two weeks. How can this be an effective way for children to learn? Every week someone new comes in that has no experience and attempts to teach children of another culture how to read in English?

Just wanted to see what other's thought about this?

I do realize that I will be a new teacher soon as well, however at least I am getting some kind of training before attempting this challenge.

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

I'm a bit leery of volunteer vacations that are so short. If you want to go, go for long enough to make it worthwhile, both for you and the people you are trying to help. My aunt recently did on in Mexico that sounded a bit better, but she's got special qualifications. She did medical clinics in the mountains somewhere in Guerrerro. She's a nurse and speaks Spanish so was able to contribute a lot. But in general, I don't really like them.

gypsygirl1475 · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 78

BTW I will be teaching English as a career in Mexico. Just thought I would point that out.
Also, some of the volunteer vacations are cool when they envolve actual manual labor, like helping build homes, schools, and hospitals. But the ones involving education or medical treament should be left to those who have some sort of qualifications.
I'm sure others will agree with me on this?

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

GueroPaz · Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 216 Location: Thailand or Mexico

Agreed, that untrained volunteers cannot effectively teach English, especially on a short term basis, anywhere in the world.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Just to play devil's advocate here for a minute...this particular volunteer vacation Gypsy mentioned...we are assuming that teaching English is the goal, but it might be nothing more than simply reading books to kids, a la George Bush on Sept. 11, 2001 in that Florida school. My Pet Goat.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Pet_Goat

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pet_Goat

My Edit: OMG, that was spooky!

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

I agree with Gee. Gee whiz, parents who read childrens books to the younger ones at bedtime, end up with children with a stronger desire to read well. So yes, even if you are reading to the kids here in Mexico,it would prove beneficial. Of course, you might have to prepare the book�s translation into Spanish.

Before relocating to Mexico, I looked into the possibility of doing volunteer work. I was disappointed in that many of them that were based in the US wanted huge sums of money. Since then I am surprised that no one has compiled them all into one website. Now there`s an enterprising project for someone with a lot of time on their hands.

Just make sure you link it up to Dave`s.