As a volunteer teaching English in India, your role will be to help students develop essential skills that will contribute to achieving their future goals. Conversing with fluent, native English speakers is a significant opportunity for students to improve their language skills, which is crucial for future employment opportunities. This project offers the perfect chance for India English teaching volunteers to apply their leadership skills and make a profound impact in underserved communities across India.
Background to the Teaching Program
India has experienced rapid economic growth in recent years. However, around 28% of the population still lives below the poverty line, and the wealth gap is stark. It can be shocking to witness the extreme differences in living conditions, with slums being a regrettable part of life in India.
Education is highly valued in Indian culture, but the country's education system still faces many challenges. Class sizes often exceed ideal capacities, and schools are severely understaffed. Aim Abroad supports two schools located in Faridabad’s largest slum community, offering free education, school supplies, and uniforms to local children. This initiative encourages parents to send their children to school rather than have them wander the streets, begging or collecting trash for money.
The children at these schools range from 3 to 16 years old. These schools, situated in slum areas, have basic facilities with cramped conditions. However, the enthusiasm and passion of the children for learning are truly inspiring. English teacher volunteers play an invaluable role in supporting the local staff, with the presence of a fluent English speaker giving a significant boost to the children’s educational development.
When we have more volunteers, we can expand our reach and support additional slum communities or disadvantaged areas by offering English classes. This, in turn, helps with broader community development. If you’re looking for gap year ideas, volunteering in India offers an excellent opportunity to make a difference.
Teaching Volunteer Placement Examples
Sector 10 Program
Established by Aim Abroad's local team, this project provides education to children from the Sector 10 community. This area is where our local team is based, and they have a deep commitment to giving back to the community through childcare and educational programs. The goal is to provide free, basic primary education to children from underprivileged backgrounds.
Around 50 children, aged 3 to 15, attend the Sector 10 program daily. The children are divided into two groups, younger children and slightly older children.
As an English teaching volunteer, you’ll work with the older children, focusing on subjects like English and Maths. You’ll plan lessons and activities, but if you have other ideas, you are welcome to discuss them with your project coordinator. The learning environment is lively and fun, with a balance of educational and recreational activities.
Many older children in the community are responsible for their younger siblings. Childcare volunteers will assist with the younger children, engaging them in arts and crafts, playground activities, and hygiene education. This allows the older children to focus on their own studies.
The program typically runs for 3 hours in the morning. The day starts with the national anthem, nursery rhymes, and some exercises for the whole group. After that, childcare volunteers work with the younger children, while the teaching volunteers focus on the older children. The group then comes together for some Bollywood dancing and snack time.
A local teacher and coordinator will be available to support the volunteers with tasks and activities. You may also have the opportunity to learn about or engage with our medical outreach programs, which operate in the same community.
Prerna Teaching Placement
The Prerna Teaching Placement operates within a Women’s Empowerment Facility, focusing on providing education to children in grades 1-8. The centre also supports women by teaching them employable skills like sewing, embroidery, and computer literacy. However, the core of this placement is its educational program, where volunteers lead lessons in English and Maths.
Each day, between 10 to 35 children from nearby slum communities attend, although attendance can vary due to family responsibilities. The children come from diverse educational backgrounds, so volunteers must be adaptable in their teaching approach. Volunteers will help create an engaging, supportive environment, track students' progress, and assess their development over time.
While the primary focus is on teaching, volunteers may also assist with the Women's Empowerment Project when there are fewer children. The program serves as a bridge, offering educational support for the children while empowering local women by providing them a safe and structured space to learn.
Other Considerations for Teaching in India
Experience
No prior teaching experience is necessary for the English teaching program. The presence of a native English speaker is extremely valuable, and as long as you are creative, determined, and resourceful, you can have a positive impact on the children’s education.
TEFL Course
We encourage volunteers to prepare for their teaching program by completing our 60-hour Online TEFL Course, which is internationally accredited and affordable. The course costs just 120 USD and will equip you with useful skills for teaching abroad.
Resources
Resources for teaching English in India may be limited. Volunteers are encouraged to bring materials with them to the project each day to maximize their productivity and involvement. Proper preparation will help you get the most out of your volunteer teaching experience.
Return Airport Transfer - Your return airport transfer is not included in your Programme Fee. Our local team can help arrange onward transfers to the airport or an alternative destination from the volunteer accommodation. Making specific arrangements once in India provides more flexibility as plans can often change, and participants may be on similar flight plans. Alternatively, a more common and cheaper method is to use a ridesharing app. Participants can often be travelling across their final few days and therefore are not necessarily heading back to the airport directly from our accommodation. The costs depend on your method of transport and your final destination. This can often be split across multiple participants if you are travelling with someone else on the programme.
Project Flexibility - There may be an opportunity as a volunteer in India to get involved with other India volunteer programmes. However, there may be instances where this would lead to overcrowding on these volunteering experiences, and thus limited project work opportunity. Therefore, such flexibility on a volunteer trip to India is not always possible. Priority will always be given to those signed up to that specific programme in India.
Weekends - Your project work in India runs from Monday to Friday, and weekends are free. You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation, but most participants will use this time to travel and explore the country. As a result, you can check out our India Weekend Travel Guide for top tips on how to spend your weekend.
