These answers to frequently asked questions will help inform you about the program in Bangladesh. If you have further questions, please call the WorldTeach office at 1-800-483-2240 or 617-495-5527. As the program is new, we cannot yet put you in touch with a returned volunteer from Bangladesh.
General
When does the program start and end?
Why is this first program 18 months instead of a year?
What is the cost for the Bangladesh program?
What special requirements are there?
Can I talk to a returned volunteer?
Teaching Assignments
What is the purpose of the Asian University for Women?
Who is eligible to attend the Asian University for Women?
Who is behind the Asian University for Women?
What is the Access Academy?
How many students will be at the Access Academy?
What is the role of the Access Academy?
What is the schedule at the Access Academy?
How many classes will volunteers teach each day?
What else will be required of volunteers each week?
Will volunteers also hold office hours?
Will volunteers have to teach both English and Quantitative Reasoning?
What curriculum and materials will volunteers use?
What is the school itself like?
Will I get training?
Languages
What is the language of instruction at the Access Academy?
Do I need to speak Bangla?
Accomodation
Where will I live?
What will I eat?
Travel
Do I need to get a visa?
Can I make my own travel arrangements?
Can I come home during the year?
Will there be a chance to travel to other places?
Can my parents or friends visit me during the year?
Health and Safety
What immunizations are required?
Is malaria a problem in Bangladesh?
What if I get sick? Are there doctors and hospitals?
Is it safe?
Logistics
Will I be paid?
What happens if I decide to leave before the 18 months are completed?
What else will I need to do before departure?
Will I have internet access?
How much money should I take?
What do I need to take with me?
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Q: When does the program start and end?
A: The 18-month Bangladesh program departed at the end of February in 2008. After three weeks of orientation, volunteers will teach for approximately 17 months, with vacations, from mid-March 2008 into August 2009.
In subsequent years the program will be a year long, beginning in early August and ending the following August.
Q: Why is this first program 18 months instead of a year?
A: The Asian University for Women is keenly interested in assessing the capacity of the women from poor, rural, and refugee communities from which they hope to select half of their student body. They want to be certain that these women will be successful when they enter the University proper, so they are planning for the full 18 months of pre-university training for these women at the Access Academy.
It is anticipated that in the future the students from under-resourced backgrounds will only need 12 months of intense training at the Academy, but the outcomes of this first group will help determine policy for the future.
Q: What is the cost for the Bangladesh program?
A: We have entered into a partnership with the Asian University for Women, and the total costs of the program are underwritten by them. WorldTeach does require a $1,500 deposit, however, to confirm your participation. This will be refunded to you only if you successfully complete the full teaching commitment.
Q: What special requirements are there?
A: Since the number of volunteers is limited to only ten and because it is a program with high international visibility, it is anticipated that this will be one of the most competitive programs at WorldTeach.
- Volunteers must be committed to empowering women through excellence in education
- Volunteers must have an interest in Asia, especially South and South East Asia
- Volunteers must have a deep commitment to teaching during their time with WorldTeach
- Volunteers must have at least one extra-curricular activity that they are prepared to implement
- Preference will be given to women who can serve as role models for the students
Q: Can I talk to a volunteer who has been to Bangladesh?
A: Not yet, unfortunately, because our first program began February 2008. They are the pioneers of the WorldTeach Bangladesh program! Hopefully after they complete their service, they will be available to talk with future volunteers. We do think that this is an important step in your decision whether or not to participate, but it isn’t possible for first year programs.
Q: What is the purpose of the Asian University for Women?
A: From Asian University for Women Plan of Operations: "The Asian University for Women (AUW) will provide a vibrant residential learning community where highly talented women from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds can achieve their full intellectual and personal potential. AUW will enable women to become effective professionals, leaders, and service-orientated citizens. And it will serve as a beacon for those striving to raise educational standards, increase opportunities for women, and promote regional cooperation and understanding among the people of Asia.” See their website at http://www.asian-university.org/
Q: Who is eligible to attend the Asian University for Women?
A: AUW will recruit students from different socioeconomic backgrounds and prepare them to make important contributions to their societies. Initially, recruitment efforts will focus on South Asia and South East Asia, expanding eventually to the rest of Asia and the Middle East.
Q: Who is behind the Asian University for Women?
A: The idea for the AUW originated with Kamal Ahmad, who is the Vice Chairman of the AUW Support Foundation and a member of the Board of Directors. Originally from Bangladesh, Mr. Ahmad, a lawyer, has worked for the World Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation and UNICEF, and has been in private practice in London and New York.
The AUW has a list of luminaries who have given their support to this ambitious and important initiative on behalf of South Asian women.
For a full list please see their website.
Q: What is the Access Academy?
A: The Access Academy is the preparatory school for the Asian University for Women. The Academy is held on the campus of the AUW. It is for the women who have been accepted at the AUW who have come from under-resourced backgrounds. The training at the Academy will give these women the skills and background they will need to be successful at the AUW. In particular, the Access Academy will emphasize English and Quantitative Reasoning skills.
Q: How many students will be at the Access Academy?
A: It is anticipated that there will be 300 women per class at the AUW, of which about half will be from poor, rural, and refugee communities. It is these 150 who will attend the Access Academy prior to attending the AUW.
Q: What is the role of the Access Academy?
A: The Access Academy exists to give women who need it, the support and background skills necessary for success a the university. The Access Program is “a preparatory program designed to provide economically disadvantaged students with the skills they will need to succeed at the University.” These women will receive at the Academy intensive classwork in the English and Quantitative Reasoning skills they will need at the university. Besides these skills, an important function of the Access Academy will be to empower these young women so they feel fully capable of being successful at the AUW and in life.
Q: What is the schedule at the Access Academy?
A: Students, and volunteers alike, will have very full days. Classes will be held five days a week, with seven periods each day. It is anticipated that there will be five periods of English (including all the skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening), and two of Quantitative Reasoning (including math and computers.)
Q: How many classes will volunteers teach each day?
A: In general volunteers will teach four classes each day.
Q: What else will be required of volunteers each week?
A: Volunteers will also run extra-curricular activities for approximately four hours each week. The Academy is very serious in wanting the students to be exposed to a wide variety of activities that will enrich their experiences, provide them with new talents, expand their capacities for leadership, and to provide for them all rich experiences with sports, music, drama, literary activities, broadcasting, etc. that will enrich and empower them.
Q: Will volunteers also hold office hours?
A: Yes. Volunteers will be expected to hold office hours three hours each week.
Q: Will volunteers have to teach both English and Quantitative Reasoning?
A: Volunteers will need to be prepared to teach both, but it is possible that they will end up teaching only one. Much will depend on scheduling. But with five daily classes in English and only two in Quantitative Reasoning, there will obviously be a bigger demand for English classes than for QR.
Q: What curriculum and materials will volunteers use?
A: Both the curriculum and the teaching materials will be identified by the Director of the Access Academy and her staff. Volunteers will be provided with these during Orientation.
Q: What is the school itself like?
A: For the first year classes will be held in a rented facility as the permanent structures are being built.
Q: Will I get training?
A: Yes. Your first few weeks in Bangladesh will be at the school where you will receive an intensive orientation training program with your fellow volunteers. This will include orientation to the country and cultures of the students who will be at the Academy, an introduction to the AUW and its philosophy, an introduction to the curriculum and curricular materials that you will be teaching from, and Bengali language classes and teacher training. Teacher training will focus on TEFL teaching methods, lesson planning, teaching resources, and a teaching practicum. The orientation will encompass an experiential approach, with opportunities for volunteers to learn through experience so that they are prepared for their upcoming experiences. There will also be a general discussion on how to structure the various extra-curricular activities that members of the group intend to implement.
Q: What is the language of instruction at the Access Academy?
A: All classes will be taught in English, including those in Quantitative Reasoning.
Q: Do I need to speak Bangla?
A: No. Students will come to the Access Academy from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Myanmar. English will be the common language for them. In addition, many people in Bangladesh already speak English, so you won’t have a problem. WorldTeach will, however, provide language classes in Bangla for volunteers during Orientation so you will have a background in the local language.
Q: Where will I live?
A: You will live in a residential apartment turned into faculty housing.
Q: What will I eat?
A: You will also be able to eat with the students, free of charge.If you choose not to, you may cook in your apartment. Your housing will have a kitchen/cooking facilities and refrigerator. Buying food, both groceries and eating out, will be quite simple. From your stipend you will have ample money to purchase whatever food you need.
Q: Do I need to get a visa?
A: Yes, a visa is required to travel to Bangladesh to work. WorldTeach, with the help of the AUW staff, will assist you in the visa process once you are accepted and confirmed in the program. You will need to collect various documents and have a health exam, while WorldTeach obtains official letters of invitation from the hosting authorities at AUW in Bangladesh. As a first step, make sure you have a passport that is valid for at least six months after the program is due to end. You will actually get two visas. The first will be good for three months, and once you are in the country you will get a second extension that will allow you to continue to live and work there. WorldTeach and the AUW staff will take the responsibility for helping you get both visas.
Q: Can I make my own travel arrangements?
A: Yes, you can opt to purchase your own ticket to Bangladesh if you wish to travel independently of the group. However, you are responsible for making sure you arrive there in time for the start of orientation. WorldTeach will reimburse you the amount that we paid for our group tickets (not the amount you paid for your ticket).
Q: Can I come home during the year?
A: Yes, however keep in mind that it is both expensive and time-consuming to travel to/from Bangladesh. You also want to consider traveling in the region instead, when you have time off school.
You are responsible for teaching full time for the duration of each school term. If you choose to travel home during the year this should be during school vacations only and will be at your own expense. WorldTeach provides one round-trip ticket for each volunteer that completes his or her teaching service.
Q: Will there be a chance to travel to other places?
A: Yes. Bangladesh is an extremely interesting country in an extremely interesting region of the world You will meet at the Academy women from all over this region and you will teach with colleagues who have deep interests in this region, so you will be encouraged to travel. Some travel will be organized by the program, especially to give you access to places and people and programs you wouldn’t be able to access without these connections. Other travel you will be free to do on your own. However, any travel must be done during school vacations or after the end of your teaching commitment. As a volunteer you are a full time teacher and cannot take time off during regular school hours.
Q: Can my parents or friends visit me during the year?
A: Yes. Visits from family and friends can help them relate to your experience and provide you with an important connection with home. Try to schedule visits during vacation time so that you will be able to spend time with your family/friend.
Q: What immunizations are required?
A: For up-to-date information on immunizations and travel health consult the Center for Disease Control's website. This provides recommendations for travel to specific regions and detailed information on specific diseases. WorldTeach cannot give out medical opinions.
As for travel to any developing country, you should
- make sure that your Polio, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), and Tetanus-Diphtheria (TTD) vaccinations are up to date, or get a booster shot if necessary.
- get immunized against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid.
- have an HIV test and bring the test results with you (make sure they state your name)
Q: Is malaria a problem in Bangladesh?
A: Yes! Malaria is a serious problem in this region of the world. You definitely want to check with your doctor to determine what you want to do to prevent contracting this potentially fatal disease. Malaria in South Asia, including Bangladesh, is chloroquine resistant, as it is in much of the world.
Most important is that you must try to prevent getting bitten by mosquitos, by using treated bednets (treated with permethrin), using a DEET-containing insect repellent on exposed skin, draining standing water where possible in your room, using screens and fans and mosquito coils, spraying your room with insect repellent in the evenings and by taking anti-malarial medication.
Be sure to consult your doctor or a travel health specialist. WorldTeach is not staffed by medical professionals!
Q: What if I get sick? Are there doctors and hospitals?
A: Yes. But standards are variable in the country. The field director and the Access Academy Director will insure you get the best care. There are western qualified medical practioneers who have their own clinics/ labs/ or consultancy offices. The general hospital situation is not satisfactory but there are private clinics. If serious emergencies arise, volunteers will likely have to be transferred to Dhaka or Bangkok. There are a number of flights to Dhaka daily.
As a WorldTeach volunteer you will have health insurance coverage that includes emergency medical evacuation insurance. For medical expenses such as doctor's visits, medicines, etc. you pay up front and then file an insurance claim to get reimbursed. For larger expenses the insurance company may be able to arrange direct payment to the hospital or medical provider. Your field director can assist you in emergencies.
Q: Is it safe?
A: Safety in Bangladesh is a serious issue, but you should be quite safe at the Academy. There will be full time security guards. The apartments have boundary walls and security gate. Entry to the apartment will be restricted and monitored. All windows have security grills. Doors have locks! The ground floor of most apartments is for cars. So volunteers will be staying in the first floor or above.
Volunteers will need to show vigilance, especially when they are traveling away from the Academy. During orientation you will discuss ways to stay safe.
Currently there is a Public Announcement on Bangladesh in effect. To quote the US Department of State Consular Information Sheet as well as the Public Announcement:
"The security situation in Bangladesh is volatile, and Americans are urged to check with the Embassy for the latest information.” Below are the links as well as some excerpts.
On August 17, 2005, a banned Islamist terrorist group, Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), claimed responsibility for nearly 500 coordinated small bomb blasts in virtually every part of Bangladesh that killed two persons and injured several dozen. Subsequent JMB bombings and suicide attacks killed approximately 30 Bangladeshis… JMB statements call for the imposition of strict Islamic law in Bangladesh, justify the indiscriminate use of suicide attacks, and condemn Western social and political concepts as un-Islamic. They also identify the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom as alleged enemies of Islam. The most recent JMB bombing occurred on December 8, 2005, and the Bangladeshi government has subsequently apprehended the known senior leadership of JMB. The potential for continued JMB violence, in Dhaka and elsewhere, should continue to be considered real and serious.
On January 11, 2007, President Ahmed stepped down as leader of the Caretaker Government after declaring a state of emergency. Elections previously scheduled for January 22 have been postponed indefinitely. The political and security situation throughout Bangladesh remains fluid. An initial curfew has been lifted, but a new curfew could be reinstated at any time. There is the potential for American citizens to become caught up in demonstrations or other situations which do not directly target them. The Embassy expects the situation throughout Bangladesh to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1011.html Consular Information Sheet
Q: Will I be paid?
A: As a volunteer you will receive a monthly stipend of $350 for each full month of teaching. If you participate in planned activities for the program you will also continue to be paid the regular stipend. Volunteers are expected to participate in these program activities.
Q: What happens if I decide to leave before the 18 months are completed?
A: Don't! If you aren’t sure you will make every effort to complete the full 18 month commitment with WorldTeach, please do not apply! This is the first year for the Access Academy, the kick-off for the entire AUW program, so we all need it to be as successful as possible. So if you are hesitant about making this longer-than-usual commitment, please consider applying a later year, or applying to another program.
If you leave before the program is over, you will be responsible for all costs incurred in your travel and anything else. In addition, you will forfeit your $1,500 deposit. Volunteers who leave programs early do not receive a letter of recommendation. Health and emergency evacuation insurance is terminated when you leave the program.
Leaving early really leaves the schools in a terrible position, without a teacher for the classes you have taught. And it's bad for the reputation of both WorldTeach and the Academy. So be sure you are committed to finishing the program before you go, and if you come home to the food and friends and family you have missed, be sure you have a firm commitment to return to your school and stick to it! You’ll be glad in the end!
Q: What else will I need to do before departure?
A: You will receive a checklist of pre-departure preparations when you are accepted for the program. Make sure to follow the timeline and dates that are specified on that checklist. You will need to find somewhere to gain at least 25 hours of experience teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). You will need to make an appointment with your doctor for a medical exam and to get your immunizations. WorldTeach recommends you allow yourself at least 3 - 4 months for pre-departure preparations.
Q: Will I have internet access?
A: Yes. Volunteers have wireless internet in their apartments and throughout most of the school.
Q: How much money should I take?
A: This will depend on how much you intend to travel, and the lifestyle you intend to lead. You will want to plan these things out and then determine how much money you want to bring and how much money you want to have access to through ATMs or otherwise. The $350 monthly stipend is quite a bit of money, especially since you will be able to eat at the school. You will need to bring money for the initial months until you are paid. $500 should be enough for this period.
Q: What do I need to take with me?
A: A suggested packing list will be included in the guide to Living and Teaching in Bangladesh (which you should receive with your confirmation packet). Do not take too much baggage - you will need to be able to carry it easily.
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