Teaching

Volunteer Teaching Abroad

Gain real-world teaching work experience and make a positive impact on the lives of students

With Projects Abroad, you can teach abroad and help children access the education they need for a brighter future. We know that education is essential for breaking down the barriers of poverty and inequality. We see it every day at our teaching placements. Through our teach abroad programmes, you’ll be able to make this change happen yourself. It’s also a great way to develop the skills you need for a teaching career, or discover if becoming a teacher is the right move for you. This is what you can expect from our Teaching Projects:
  • Work with children and young people in primary schools, high schools, or universities
  • Learn from and support local teachers as a teaching assistant
  • Contribute to lessons and get real classroom experience
  • Get a first-hand perspective on global education and its challenges
While the majority of our teaching abroad programmes focus on helping students learn English, you can teach other subjects. Passionate about physical education, art, or history? Let us know what you want to teach, and we’ll match you to the right project!

Choose a Teaching project

Matt L

I left Costa Rica extremely sad to leave but glad and so grateful to have been allowed to experience such a vibrant community and such a perfect way of life

Kelly M

For my required Education Internship, I wanted to go abroad to a fascinating country with a unique culture. With a little research, I came across Projects Abroad and their placement in Fiji. The staff were incredibly friendly and quick to respond to my needs required for academic credit.

Richard T

Sri Lanka is an amazing country and everybody should experience the culture, the friendly people and enjoying the many sights and places.

Robin G

My time in Argentina shaped the direction of my future. While working at St. Mark’s, I realised that the adult classes were my favourite ones to teach. Consequently, I decided to pursue a career in post secondary education.

Cassandra C

Overall, being an English teacher was a true blessing, as I learned just as much from my students as they learned from me.

Nadia S

Regarding the Projects Abroad’s team, I really appreciated the freedom that was given to me and the fact that they trusted me from the beginning; I could teach alone from the first lesson on, and I have benefited a lot from this independence regarding the improvement of my professional skills.

Kieran T

As we got to know the kids, it was easier to know which activities they would respond well to and which areas of English they needed to work on the most.

Chris M

Never before had I encountered such levels of respect towards elders from children. The pupils I taught at Dratabu Village Primary School were the happiest and most enthusiastic children I have ever met.

Edward S

My time here has benefited me so much. I have met so many unbelievable people from all over the world and had many priceless moments with the children I taught.

Simon J

The spoken English was most challenging, both for me as a teacher and them as students. Just trying to help them overcome their self-consciousness and foster an environment where they weren’t afraid to just give it a try was difficult. However, as my time there drew to a close, being able to sit back and listen to them talk in English amongst themselves – it was all worth it!

Robert P

"Seeing the students learn further knowledge, and to make improvements in lessons, was an incredibly rewarding experience for me, and I felt privileged to have made a difference in their lives."

Nick A

Project Abroad staff provided a very personal and caring service; people travelling with Projects Abroad were all generally happy with their host families, found the projects interesting and enjoyed the weekly socials and trips organized by them.

Ruth B

My best memories of teaching were the days that we made huge breakthroughs. The children were so bright and picked up ideas quickly. I was only there for a short time, but I felt we made a lot of progress- the kids couldn't hold a pencil properly when I arrived and could write the alphabet when I left!

Emma A C

I left my placement in Bungamati, Nepal with an intense love and respect for children, an increased appreciation for humanity and culture, and a renewed lust for life and living.

Sue H

I chose the Galapagos because I love wildlife, have always been intrigued by the islands and could combine teaching and conservation. It is also an extremely safe environment which I wanted for my first foray into volunteering. William Puga, Projects Abroad’s organiser in San Cristobal, does a great job and makes all volunteers extremely welcome.

Peter W

ABC

Pawena N

While I had a chance to contribute to the learning of the students, this experience also broadened my perspective and exposed me to diverse groups of people and many new adventures.

Andrew H

I would recommend volunteer work with Projects Abroad to people of all ages. I was surrounded by lots of younger volunteers and I really admired their ability to adapt to a different county and to work hard at their different placements.

Christopher O

I would like to mention the Projects Abroad staff who were so friendly and helpful to me and the other volunteers throughout our time abroad.

Sue N

The challenges and self-growth I experienced by throwing myself into a five week stay in Bogo City were so rewarding that I truly hope such an opportunity will come up again.

Frequently asked questions

How to Teach Abroad

Our Teaching Projects Abroad are open to people aged 16 and over. To join, you need to make sure you meet the requirements, and fill in the application form. If you need more help with how to teach abroad, we explain how joining Projects Abroad works.

You don’t need previous experience to join a Teaching Project. You can also teach English abroad without a TEFL qualification. This is because you’ll work alongside a local teacher, and we’ll teach you what you need to know before you step into a classroom. All you really need is good English and a passion for learning!

Our programmes run throughout the year, so you can join at any time. If you want to teach English abroad in the summer, we recommend applying early to secure a place on the project you want. This also gives us more time to match you to the placement that best fits your goals.

Is Teaching English Abroad right for me?

If you want a career in teaching or education, then our Teaching Projects are for you. We have a wide range of teaching placements to suit different levels of experience and interests.

You can use the teaching work experience you gain to:

  • Build a strong CV
  • Perform well in interviews
  • Help you decide if you want to pursue a career as a teacher

Are you a qualified teacher looking to volunteer abroad? Our projects can be tailored to make the most of your experience and skills. Read more about our approach to professional volunteering abroad.

Interested in teaching, but want a project where you work on other issues in a community? Take a look at our Youth Development and Social Work ProjectsSee the rest of our volunteer projects.

What will I gain from teaching English overseas?

As a volunteer teaching English abroad, you’ll get the skills you need to fulfil your ambitions, while supporting a community in need.

Here are just some of the benefits that our previous volunteers talk about:

  • Soft skills like teamwork, communication, leadership, resilience, organising, planning, and time management.
  • Practical teaching experience in a real classroom environment.
  • The ability to work and empathise with people of different cultures and backgrounds, helping to develop a ‘global mindset’.
  • Confidence from pushing past your comfort zone.

All of the above will enhance your CV, UCAS applications, and your personal development.

How are our Teaching Projects different?

At Projects Abroad, our first aim is to help the communities we work in. Your volunteer project will be ethical, well supported, and part of a better future.

Be fully supported by staff

In each project, there is a full-time member of staff whose job it is to support our volunteers. We don’t expect our volunteers to be qualified teachers or experts in education. On these projects, you’ll work alongside trained teachers from the local community and Projects Abroad staff. They will help you plan your work and be on hand to advise you as and when you need help.

A targeted approach

We are about a lot more than pitching up and pitching in. We stand apart from other volunteering projects, as we are guided by annual reviews and thorough needs assessments. For us, bringing this level of professional strategic thinking to each project is a crucial part of making sure that our volunteers and the communities we serve both get the outcomes they need.

Our Child Protection Policy

We take protecting the children and young people we work with very seriously. That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive Child Protection Policy.

Still got questions? We’re happy to help!

Our trusted accreditations

British Youth Travel Awards Customer Service
Go Overseas Rating
SDG Contribution finalist
Go Abroad Winner
Learning outside the classroom badge
GoOverseas community choice award
Sustainable tour operator finalist
GoAbroad Rating
Volunteer Forever award