Volunteer English Teaching Opportunities
Role Title: Volunteer English Teacher
Department: Tsoknyi Gechak School (TGS)
Location: Tsoknyi Gechak Ling, Chobhar, Nepal
Reports to: Rashmi KC, Principal, TGS
About TGS:
Tsoknyi Gechak School is a primary school for young nuns. While we keep Buddhist ethics at our core, we follow the Nepali government curriculum. Our subjects include Tibetan, Nepali, English & Math, Social Studies, Science, Occupational Business & Technology Studies (OBT) Moral education & Physical education, Computers and Art. We currently have approximately 120 students and run a Lower Kindergarten, Upper Kindergarten, and Classes 1 to 8.
Purpose
Tsoknyi Gechak School accepts energetic, flexible, and creative English teaching volunteers to join our nunnery community and teaching team as required. Volunteers team teach with our class teachers (Lower Kindergarten, Upper Kindergarten and classes 1 & 2 (ages 6 to 10), and with our English teachers in classes 3 to 8 (ages 10 to 18). They may also teach an after-school class to teaching staff and evening classes to older nuns in the Shedra (Buddhist College) and Trasang (practicing Sangha). We ask volunteers to commit for at least 5 months: either May to September or November to March.
We are particularly interested in improving all our students and teachers’ English pronunciation and in introducing English phonetics. Knowledge, skill and experience in this area are particularly desirable.
Qualifications:
Required:
- Fluent English speaker
- Bachelors degree or higher from an accredited institution
- Primary or Second level teaching experience or experience teaching
- English as a Second or Foreign Language
Preferred:
- Women, monks, and couples
- Graduate of a TEFL, TESL or other similar program
- Experience living in Nepal/India/Tibet or in a Developing Country is an advantage
- Knowledge of technology that is relevant and useful to English language learners
Volunteer Working and Living Conditions
Volunteers work 5 ½ days per week, including Monday through Friday and alternate Sundays. School runs from 9am to 4pm and comprises 8 class periods. Trasang evening classes are scheduled from 5 to 6pm and may be included if we have 2 volunteers to deliver classes. Typically, volunteers teach 5 to 6 classes per day. A work schedule including class planning time will be worked out with the volunteers on arrival.
This is a volunteer position without salary or stipend. Volunteers must cover their own travel expenses, health and travel insurance, tourist visa costs and pocket money. Room and board at Tsoknyi Gechak Ling (TGL) is provided as well as 2 weeks holiday time off during the five-month volunteering commitment.
Location:
Tsoknyi Gechak Ling is located outside Kathmandu in the small Newar and Chhetri village of Chobhar with few amenities or shops. The larger town of Kirtipur is a half hour away on foot. The public transport service to Kathmandu is poor and unscheduled and more often than not the buses are overcrowded. Taxis to pick you up can be booked but are obviously more costly. It takes about 45 minutes to get into downtown Kathmandu by bus, 30 minutes to get to Swayambunath and an hour and a half to get to Boudha.
Life in Kathmandu:
Life in Kathmandu is not without its challenges – regular electricity cuts and water shortages are normal. Potholes, overcrowded buses, chaotic bumper to bumper traffic, along with noise and dust are endemic. Frustrations can build and getting things done at times; can feel extremely difficult! While our aim is to create an oasis of calm at TGL, for now and until completion of building works, TGL is a dusty (or muddy) and noisy construction site. We are therefore looking for volunteers who are flexible and adaptable and can adjust to living and working in a Developing Country that lacks resources and basic facilities.
To apply
First email Tsoknyi Humanitarian Foundation at [email protected] and request a ‘TGS Volunteer English Teachers Information package’. It includes a frequently asked questions sheet, application form and volunteer waiver and instructions on how to complete the application process. Please note all volunteers will be asked to provide an up-to-date Child Protection Certificate/Police Background Check.