Volunteer Teaching Project in Mexico

Teach English to school or university students to boost their confidence and career prospects.

Destination

Mexico

Age

16+ y/o

Minimum Stay

4 weeks

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

Requirements

You should speak intermediate Spanish to teach in schools (not required for teaching in universities).

What’s included

Pre-departure Support

Everything you need to prepare for your trip, including visa advice, cultural awareness training, access to your dedicated pre-departure portal, and more.

Socials & Fun

Regularly organized social events with other participants.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Meals

All breakfast, lunch, and dinners, and always fresh drinking water.

Request info

Starting at €2,875 EUR for 4 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments
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Trip Overview

Gain practical teaching experience

Work alongside experienced teachers in Guadalajara, supporting English classes and leading your own lessons, focusing on conversational skills.

Immerse yourself in Mexican education

Learn about the Mexican education system through workshops and hands-on experience, gaining valuable insights into teaching methodologies.

Explore Guadalajara

Discover the incredible city of Guadalajara, from its historical centre and artisan markets to its lively cultural scene and delicious cuisine.

Embrace Mexican culture

Live with a welcoming host family, savouring authentic Mexican food and experiencing the warmth and hospitality of the local people.

Develop personal skills

Build confidence, leadership, and communication skills while contributing to the education of young people and leaving an impact on the community.

What you need to know

Overview

This project is great for those who want to gain practical teaching experience, especially if you’re considering a career in teaching. Use it to add relevant work experience to your CV. It will also give you interesting points to talk about in interviews.

As a volunteer teaching English in Mexico, you’ll sharpen your skills in leadership, planning, and management. These specific skills are useful for any career.

Don’t have previous teaching experience? Don’t worry! You’ll receive a full induction from your project supervisor before you start, and our staff are there to guide you. We also run regular workshops for all Teaching volunteers, where you can brainstorm ideas and discuss challenges. You can also take a look at our extensive online database for ideas.

If you’re interested in teaching other subjects, contact our Project Experts. They’ll advise you on what subjects you can teach in Mexico, and whether you can teach those subjects part-time or full-time.

This project runs year-round, and you can join at any time. However, schools are closed over the Easter and Christmas holidays. We encourage you to stay as long as possible to make a bigger impact on students.

Please be aware that if you choose to volunteer with us during the school summer holidays, we do arrange alternatives. Contact us to learn more about this option.

A Day in the Life

You’ll begin your day with breakfast at your host family’s home. Then you’ll take public transport or walk to your placement, depending on how close you are. On your first day, our staff will be there to show you the way.

If you work at a secondary school, you’ll begin your day at about 7 am. You’ll work with teachers while they give their English classes, or you can lead your own lessons. Your main focus will be on encouraging students to practise speaking through activities and games. In one day, you’ll be involved with about four hours of English teaching.

If you teach at a university, you will teach for around six to eight hours a day. Classes run between 7:00 am and 1:00 pm. You’ll work with small groups of students, focusing on conversation.

In the afternoons, you can attend workshops to learn more about the school or university where you are working or about the education system in Mexico. We also encourage you to use your afternoons to plan classes or activities for the next day.

After your busy day, you can return to your host family for dinner. Over your meals, you can share the exciting stories of your day with your host family or other volunteers.

In your free time, you can explore. Why not try as many different Mexican meals as you can, like tortas ahogadas – pork rolls drenched in chilli sauce? Your weekends will be free to explore more of Mexico. Mexico is a paradise with amazing sites to discover. Marvel at its mountains and volcanoes, deserts, beaches, and ancient historical ruins.

Aims & Impact

The aim of this project is to improve English among school and university students in Mexico.

In Mexico, English is an important skill because of the thriving tourism industry and because it’s the language of international business. This is especially important because Mexico has a strong trade relationship with the United States of America. Students are eager to learn from English speakers so they can improve their conversation. In more rural areas, teachers’ English levels are much lower, and they struggle to help students practise speaking.

Your role is to help students gain confidence speaking English and interacting with people from around the world. You’ll also become a source of support for local teachers in the classroom. In turn, you’ll also benefit the teachers by giving them the opportunity to practise speaking with you.

We work toward four long-term goals at our Teaching Project in Mexico:

Improve English
Increase literacy
Improve classroom support
Encourage learning through creativity

Join us as we strive to achieve these goals while experiencing life in Mexico.

Activities

You’ll gain teaching work experience in Mexico, at a school or university, and focus on teaching English. You can also expect to get involved with the following activities at your placement:

Support local teachers at a secondary school during English classes
Teach conversational English to university students
Attend workshops to learn more about the education system in Mexico

Your work will follow on the following areas:

Support local teachers at a secondary school during English classes

You can play a major role in helping local teachers with their English classes. First, you’ll start off by observing. Once you’ve gained confidence, you can lead your own classes. Your focus is on improving conversation and giving students confidence with speaking.

Teach conversational English to university students

You can give conversational English lessons to students at the University of Guadalajara. You’ll teach small groups of about ten students at a time. These students have chosen to take part in optional English courses. They will be motivated to learn and excited to speak with you.

Attend workshops to learn more about the education system in Mexico

We organise regular workshops so you can receive insight into the educational system in Mexico. You will also learn more about the background of the school or university where you’re working. Any other advice you need can be given at these workshops, and you can exchange ideas and discuss challenges.

Map & Location

¡Hola! Get ready for a fiesta of flavours, colours, and experiences in Mexico. The birthplace of chocolate and the Day of the Dead celebrations, Mexico is a captivating nation with incredible food. people, music, and more.

It also has a rich history with Mayan ruins and colonial towns to explore, and is home to the world’s smallest volcano! Our project locations in Mexico are safe and you will be welcomed into the community like one of the locals immediately.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco in western Mexico, is steeped in tradition and brimming with modern energy. With a population of over 1.4 million, it’s the second-largest city in Mexico, and boasts a rich history and mild climate year round.

Famed for its mariachi music, tequila, and delicious cuisine, the city houses historic landmarks like the Guadalajara Cathedral and the Teatro Degollado. Wander along cobbled streets and experience the lively atmosphere of this enchanting city.

Food & Accommodation

You’ll have everything you need to enjoy an incredible experience in Mexico, including a clean bed, three meals a day, and fresh drinking water. You’ll stay with a caring host family, vetted by Projects Abroad, who will treat you like one of their own from the moment you arrive.

Your home away from home will be clean, safe, and secure, with Projects Abroad staff members handling your transport to and from your placement. Your host family will provide delicious home-cooked food throughout your stay and introduce you to Mexican culture.

Speak Spanish with them every day, share your experiences and culture, and make meaningful connections with people around the world. We will try to have you share your accommodation with other participants so you can experience the real Mexico together.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Mexico Arrival Procedures page.