At a glance
- Volunteer with children in the Philippines and help them improve their English. You'll work in a primary and high school and support local teachers. This is a great opportunity to add practical classroom experience to your CV!
- Schools in Philippines are overcrowded, so you'll be a welcome presence in the classroom. In addition, speaking English is an important skill that can help improve students’ future job prospects.
- You can also teach French, special educational needs, drama, participate in a literacy programme, and work with adults.
- You'll live in Bogo City with a local host family. There's plenty to see and explore and this will be a good opportunity to discover a different culture.
Is volunteer teaching in the Philippines right for me?
This project is ideal for anyone who enjoys working with children, and is looking for hands-on classroom experience. You’ll do practical work, and learn from qualified local teachers. If you’re interested in becoming a teacher yourself, this teaching work experience in the Philippines will be an excellent addition to your CV.
You can still join us even if you don’t have any previous teaching experience. This is because you will receive a thorough project induction and have a supervisor guide you throughout your placement. We also run regular teaching workshops. During workshops, you can get advice, troubleshoot issues, and share experiences with staff and other volunteers.
If you're interested in teaching other subjects, contact our Project Experts. They'll advise you on what subjects you can teach in the Philippines, and whether you can teach those subjects part-time or full time.
Our start and end dates are flexible, and the project runs throughout the year, so you can choose what suits you. The longer you stay, the greater an impact you can make!
What will I do at my volunteer Teaching Placement in the Philippines?
At your volunteer Teaching Placement in the Philippines, you’ll work with disadvantaged students at primary schools and high schools, and support local teachers. You will:
- Help children to improve their English language skills
- Provide extra support for teachers and students
- Encourage learning through creativity
- Assist with extracurricular activities
Your work with focus on the following areas:
Help children to improve their English language skills
The best time to learn another language is when you’re young. In the Philippines, you’ll work with young students to improve their English skills. Your focus is on reading, writing, and speaking. Your efforts will help develop their self-confidence, so that they feel comfortable expressing themselves in English. You may find yourself helping young children master the basics, or working with older students to improve their pronunciation.
In 2017, the government implemented a new education system, K-12. Instead of going to school for 10 years, Filipino students now get 13 years of education. There is a focus on multilingual learning. English is introduced as a subject from Grade 1, and used as a medium of instruction from Grade 4 onwards. In high school, it is the main language used to teach.
In addition, the Philippines has a huge tourist industry. This means that being comfortable speaking English is a vital skill. As a volunteer teaching English in the Philippines, you have an important role to play.
Provide extra support for teachers and students
Many of the schools in the Philippines are overcrowded, with a ratio of around 60 students to one teacher. This means that students don’t always receive the attention that they need to thrive in the classroom.
You will provide an extra pair of helping hands for the local teachers. You’ll assist with tasks around the classroom, and work with small groups of students who need extra help. By splitting the classroom into smaller groups, students will receive the guidance that they need.
Encourage learning through creativity
Innovating teaching methods can compensate for a lack of educational resources at disadvantaged schools. This can be done through art, games, drama, puzzles, or other fun activities. We encourage you to use your imagination!
Creative and original classes help to motivate students, keeping them interested and invested in what they are learning. These methods also encourage class participation and help children to focus.
Assist with extracurricular activities
As part of your teaching role, you will help out with extracurricular activities which are organised by the school. The specific type of activity will vary according to the school and time of year. It may involve anything from sport to drama. You’ll usually have one or two activities to assist with each month, which take place for 3 - 4 hours during the day.
Where in the Philippines will I work?
Bogo City
You will be based in Bogo City, which is situated in the northeastern part of Cebu Island. We have partnered with local government schools. You can choose to work in primary or high schools, depending on which age group you prefer. Many of these schools are located in more rural parts of Bogo City, which have less modern facilities.
Bogo City is small, but has most of the modern amenities that you’ll need, such as ATMs, grocery stores, and restaurants. There are also some interesting local landmarks to check out. In your leisure time, it is worth venturing further afield in Cebu. Spend time basking on white sand beaches, explore the marine life on an exciting scuba dive, or visit one of the bustling local markets.
A typical day on the Teaching Project
After enjoying a hearty breakfast at your host family’s home, you’ll travel to your placement via a motorised tricycle, similar to a rickshaw. You will be working either in a primary or high school in the local area. On your first day, Projects Abroad staff will accompany you to show the way.
You’ll work Monday to Friday, from 8am - 4pm. There will be an hour for lunch. You will often bring a packed lunch with you, as it is usually too far for you to commute home and back.
On a typical day, you’ll teach English lessons to different classes of students. You’re encouraged to steer away from rote based learning. Instead, use some creativity to make the lessons fun and engaging.
You’ll also assist the local English teacher in the classroom. Sometimes you will work with smaller groups of students, helping them to improve their conversational abilities.
Once you’re done for the day, it’s time to make the most of your new life in this beautiful country. Spend time getting to know your host family over a delicious dinner, or visit tourist hotspots with your fellow volunteers. We encourage you to also join us on one of our regular volunteer socials.
What are the aims and impact of this project?
The aim of this project is to help disadvantaged students improve their English and support the work of local teachers.
A knowledge of English is an excellent way to improve their future job prospects and allow them to engage with the global community. In order to achieve proficiency, children need to work on improving their skills from a young age.
We focus on three main areas: reading, writing, and speaking. You’ll help students to develop their abilities in each of these areas. Special attention will be given to those students who are struggling or have learning difficulties.
Volunteers will also provide additional support to teachers in the classroom. Public schools are often overcrowded, with a ratio of around 60 students to one teacher. You will help to reduce this ratio, allowing teachers to work with smaller groups of students. This in turn improves the overall learning experience for children, as they receive the attention and
educational support they need.
Other educational goals we’ve identified in the Philippines include:
- Improve literacy
- Improve proficiency in other subjects
- Encourage learning through creativity
Join us in the Philippines and support education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Bogo City. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of the Philippines and have a truly unique experience.
We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
The Philippines is made up of over 7,000 islands, so naturally there are some beautiful beaches where you can relax during your free time. However, there are plenty of other activities to keep you busy during your trip.
With white-sand beaches come all the exciting activities associated with living close to the sea. You can go snorkelling through the pristine waters, play volleyball, or relax on the sand as the sun sets.
In Cebu City itself, you can explore the traditional Carbon Market. For an insight into the country’s history, you can visit Fort San Pedro and Magellan's Cross. Here, you’ll learn more about the Spanish conquest.
The Spanish influence is also felt in the regular fiestas and street parades held in the Philippines. If you volunteer around the end of January, you’ll even get to experience the Sinulog Festival, a nine day Mardi Gras-style party.
With so many volunteers joining us throughout the year, there will likely be other volunteers in the Philippines during your trip. You can connect with them and explore as a group or travel independently if you prefer.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on-hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
Meet the team in the Philippines
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