Volunteer to Teach English in Greece

Date posted:2018-09-20 | Writer: Second Tree | Email: [email protected]

Do you want to use your TEFL skills to help refugees and asylum seekers develop their language ability? Second Tree is a Greek non-profit and non-governmental organization based in Ioannina, Epirus, founded in January 2017 by a group of volunteers that had worked together in the Katsikas refugee camp. Since our inception we have worked with and supported refugee communities across the Epirus region, and we continue to grow in our four key areas.

Integration – through workshops and activities that develop connections with the local community and economy; fostering an avenue for cohesion and unity.

Education – through non formal English Classes for teenagers and adults delivered by qualified teachers

Community-Building – through a Scouts program designed to develop teamwork and life-skills in young people in the region

Support – through our dentistry program that provides access to dental treatment.

Second Tree delivers non-formal education (NFE) programs at different sites in the Epirus region and is looking for qualified and/or experienced volunteers to fill the roles. The long-term objective of our NFE program is to develop the English language skills of students through the Cambridge Empower Workbook series, in order to prepare them for language certification.

Although acquiring certification is the intended long-term objective, we expect our teachers to ensure that the following objectives are realized in the immediate term:

To support the psycho-social and intellectual development of refugees and asylum seekers

To empower them with interpersonal – and life – skills

To enable access to quality learning resources

To develop their English language skills in preparation for certification

To strengthen their ability to enter formal education and/or the workplace

To foster their integration into European society

THE POSITION:

We are looking for volunteer teachers to deliver English classes to refugees and asylum seekers in Ioannina and the Epirus region. The ideal candidate(s) will have experience teaching English as a foreign/second language and will possess a strong understanding of the context we work in (refugee crisis). Experience delivering educational activities to vulnerable populations is a strong advantage.

The role will include:

Delivering daily classes to the population at an assigned site;

Preparing class materials;

Ensuring student engagement and progress;

Working closely with the Programme Manager to ensure the programme is being delivered to the expected standards of Second Tree;

SKILLS REQUIRED:

Degree in teaching and/or Certification in English language teaching (TEFL/TESOL/CELTA or equivalent);

Native English speaker or equivalent fluency in the TOEFL/IELTS/Michigan ELI;

Ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-level classroom;

Ability to work independently and in a team;

Ability to meet deadlines and manage own workload;

Ability to work in a high-intensity environment;

Adaptable, flexible attitude and approach to teaching and classroom management;

Strong communication and inter-personal skills;

Strong writing skills;

Skills Desired:

Experience working in the refugee context;

Experience working with vulnerable populations;

Fluency in Arabic or Farsi/Dari;

WHAT WE OFFER:

At Second Tree we cherish the relation that every teacher creates with their students. This is especially true in a refugee context, where gaining students' trust and having a thorough knowledge of their needs is crucial to their learning. For this reason, we only offer the position of Lead Teacher to volunteers that can commit to at least two months. Short term volunteers can help as Assistant Teachers. As space is limited, and Lead Teachers are vital to the continuation of the program, we prioritize long-term volunteers.

For Long-Term Volunteers: if you are staying with us for at least 2 months, we offer free accommodation with all the basic amenities (WiFi, heating, laundry, kitchen) covered in a shared team house, and offer and/or cover transportation for work-related activities;

For Short-Term Volunteers: if you are staying with us between 3 weeks and 2 months, we might be able to put you in contact with individuals providing cheap accommodation (approx. 5€/day). In case there are empty spaces in the team house, you are welcome to stay there, but priority will be given to long-term volunteers.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send a CV, cover letter and copy of your teaching qualifications to Giovanni Fontana at the email address given on the job heading.

Please put “ESL Teacher Candidate” as the subject line and specify in your email the dates you would be available to volunteer.