Job Discussion Forums

[zewd]

I will be taking a TEFL course in Prague (through TEFL Worldwide) that finishes up in the end of June. At this point I'm looking to stay in Prague or at least the Czech Republic (you know, unless I get that dream job in Scandinavia, har de har har...), but who knows what I'll decide when I actually get there.

Can anyone tell me about volunteer opportunities abroad? I know there are plenty of volunteer teaching positions, but I'm thinking of something non-ESL related in addition to a paid job teaching. I'm most interested in the conservation/environmental field, perhaps joining on weekend cleanup trips, etc. I know opportunities in these fields exist, but all I've seen so far are on a short-term "you pay for the experience" basis arranged from the volunteer's home country. Perhaps I'll have better luck searching once I'm in the region.

I guess my questions are... will this be possible? Especially without a good grasp of the local language? Will I have time for this even if I do find the opportunities? I've heard that the average work week in the CR and many other locations in Central/Eastern Europe is about 25 hours, but I wonder if I'll be able to make enough on these hours or if I will have to take on additional lessons just to make ends meet. I'm used to 50-60 hour workweeks so I definately know what it is to be very busy, but I would rather not walk that fine line between "being very busy" and "rapidly driving oneself towards insanity."

Help!

[spiral78]

If you stay in the CR, you'll probably find that you need some private students, not just to get by, but if you want to fund a few extras. Also, that 25 hour per week means contact hours - it doesn't include travel time to businesses to meet with your students (maybe you're already aware that teachers typically have most of their teaching hours outside private schools, in various businessesaround the city) or preparation time. 25 hours is considered to be fulltime work, because in terms of actual hours, it is!

If, after you establish yourself somewhere, and establish your schedule, you still have time left over and want to volunteer, you'll certainly find opps. Free teaching to Romany students perhaps? And there are environmental groups around too. Once you are there, you will be able to make contacts.

[dajiang]

Hiya,
I put up a huge list of web resources on volunteering on my weblog.
http://roeltheworld.web-log.nl/
just click on working abroad and paste/copy.
Most of them are probably not what you're looking for, but there are some good organisations about that might give you ideas.

Otherwise just go there and try to get to meet people who work in these fields like conservation or healthcare or something.

In Barcelona, for instance, I went to a job agency and asked them about anytyhing they'd know about volunteering. They knew someone who knew someone else, and i got in touch with a guy that could use some help, and I had a great time helping him to set up an organic farm / summer camp place.

There are usually possibilities to help out at orphanages, with activities or daytrips. Some teachers I worked with in China helped out with the orphanage on a regular basis, and in their spare time they went to schools in the countryside to help out the people there as well.

Good luck,
Dajiang

[CharlesTESOL]

I'll bet Cheryl at TEFL Worldwide can help you. I know when I was living in CR some years ago she used to volunteer at an orphanage in Prague and got some teachers involved in that. She's been in Prague for years, so should be a good resource for you.

Good luck!

[XXX]

Try giving a few free lessons at the local high school. In Moscow, the family next door, she was a teacher hense rather poor, got at least two lessons for their teenage son per week. It is always good to back to the country you are visiting. It will do your karma good.