Our team is looking for enthusiastic individuals with a passion for teaching to join us in Guatemala. We are a non-profit organisation working on education in Central America. We aim to make English accessible to support empowered; entrepreneurial and organised communities. Our efforts are meant as a tool for social empowerment and intercultural exchange. We teach in public schools; collaborate with local organisations and offer English classes to those keen to learn. We share a vision of strong united communities and individuals in charge of their economies; ready to grasp and create the opportunities that work best for their future. English is our tool for this as it opens up new opportunities for our students to get their studies to the next level and have access to a wider range of jobs. As the tourism industry is one of the main sources of income in Atitlan; followed by goods production; English is a way too; to empower the local community to be in charge of their economy. In many non-English speaking countries; fluent English teachers are scarce; with the areas we work in being no exception.
Our volunteers support public schools and local organisations with English while these skills are slowly acquired by local teachers and the community. As a volunteer; you will be teaching English to primary-school children; teenagers and adults in Santiago Atitlan; Guatemala. You will receive our full support while at the post. We will provide basic training and teaching materials upon your arrival; weekly progress reviews; and regular assistance from our Volunteer Coordinator and the team of volunteers; that is our culture; we support each other as we work together towards our goals. No previous teaching experience is required but if you do have teaching experience; we would love to have you! Prospective volunteers are expected to have a good communicative English level and intermediate Spanish; to communicate effectively with your host family and your students. One; Two… Tree! is unique in that we are all volunteers; which lets us not charge any fees. You will; however; be asked to cover your travel and accommodation costs. (They are quite affordable to start with; but if you are planning to stay for a year or longer; we can discuss how those can be reduced.) Accommodation – volunteers stay with local host families in Santiago Atitlan. This will help you get to know the local people and culture first-hand. All the families we work with have been pre-vetted and have previous experience in hosting international volunteers. The usual accommodation costs range from US$100 to US$300 per month.
Volunteering in Guatemala is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will not only give you practical teaching skills; but also a more holistic outlook on education. You will have a chance to improve your Spanish; learn about Guatemalan culture; make new friends and learn more than you give in the end. On the weekends; enjoy all the beauty the country has to offer – from lake Atitlan at your doorstep all the way to the wonders of Tikal in the North. Get a chance to directly engage with locals and meet passionate volunteers from across the globe! You will improve your teamwork; collaboration; and creative problem-solving skills as well as any other professional skill you would like to hone while staying here. We love proactivity and self-development and will make sure to offer you opportunities to help you in your self and professional development journey.
To apply; please fill out the online form on our website or send us an email at guatemala@onetwo-tree.com please don’t forget to include your CV and a few sentences explaining your interest in the role. Should y- ou have any questions; don’t hesitate to contact us at guatemala@onetwo-tree.com or follow us on Facebook; Twitter; and Instagram.
We love proactivity and self-development and will make sure to offer you opportunities to help you in your self and professional development journey. We offer recommendation letters; volunteer certificates; and LinkedIn recommendations for all who work with us. If you are staying for a long period of time (i.e. three months or more); we will be happy to convert this volunteering opportunity into an internship so that you can play a more active role in the running of the project; and get hands-on experience in the admin; fundraising or recruitment areas of a non-profit. We are also open to working with universities regarding college credit.
Santiago Atitlan
Year round – February through November
1 month minimum
Adults of both sexes 18+
No previous teaching experience is required although it is a plus. Advanced level of English and intermediate level of Spanish is required.
No registration fees; volunteer fees; etc. Volunteers pay for their transportation cost and their living expenses. Host family accommodation typically costs between US$100 – US$300 per month depending on the accommodations available and the volunteer’s preferences and options. This cost is paid directly to the host family.
Teaching English in Guatemala has received 18 reviews with an average rating of 5 out of 5
