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Q: When does the program start and end?

A: Volunteers will arrive in Pohnpei in mid-July for orientation. School begins mid-August and runs until late May or early June. There are school breaks over Christmas and the New Year and in the spring, similar to a US school schedule. Volunteers will mostly likely depart from Los Angeles, LAX in mid-July. If an overnight stay is required WorldTeach will provide accommodations.

Q: What are the qualifications for acceptance into this program?

A: Volunteers must be native English speakers, have a bachelor’s degree and an eagerness to work and contribute to a community. A Master’s Degree is required for placement at the College of Micronesia in Pohnpei.

Q: Are you still accepting applications?

A: Yes. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, until the program fills, generally in April or May before departure. WorldTeach often has  openings for last-minute applicants, so please contact the WorldTeach office if interested in applying to the Micronesia program after the April 15 deadline; however, to ensure placement, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible.

Due to the small number of teaching placements available in Pohnpei, the majority of acceptances will not be handed out until February, which is  six months before departure. One or two early acceptances for particularly strong candidates might be considered.

Q: What is our partner organization in the Federated States of Micronesia?

A: WorldTeach’s partner organizations in the FSM are the State Departments of Education of Pohnpei and Kosrae, and the College of Micronesia.

Q: What are the objectives that our partners have for this project?

A: The objectives of the Departments of Education and COM are to fill teaching vacancies in their schools and to vitalize their educational system with input from motivated foreign teachers.

Q: Where are the schools that I might be assigned to?

A: On Pohnpei, each volunteer is assigned to teach English, math, science (or a combination) at one of the island's three public high schools: Kitti, Madolenihmw, or PICS. On Kosrae volunteers will teach high school English or science or possibly math. Volunteers with master's degrees will be considered candidates to teach at the College of Micronesia Pohnpei State Campus in Kolonia. 

In the past, volunteers have taught mostly senior level English, math and science. Together with Micronesian education administrators, WorldTeach tries to place volunteers in a teaching position best suited to their talents. The local schools determine their own needs, however, and sometimes these change, so volunteers should be flexible.

Q: When will I find out where I'll be teaching?

A: Placements are made shortly before departure in July after WorldTeach has collaborated with the Department of Education to determine where its volunteers are most needed.

Q: What will be the ages and levels of the students I will teach?

A: Volunteers on Pohnpei and Kosrae will teach primarily senior high school classes, although they may pick up a lower grade class or two. High school seniors in the FSM are usually 17 or 18 years old. However, a fair number drop out for a few years and then return, meaning that a few students are in their 20s.

At the College of Micronesia in Pohnpei, volunteers have taught lower-level classes to students in their 20s.

Q: How big will my classes be?

A: Class sizes vary between 18 and 40 students. Most class sizes are in the mid-20s.

Q: What will my daily schedule look like?

A: Volunteers teach between four and six sections each day, each about 45 minutes long. Most volunteers are also involved in extracurricular activities that keep them at school a bit longer.

Q: Will I be expected to run extracurricular activities?

A: Volunteers are expected to take on extracurricular projects outside the classroom, whether at school or out in the community.

Q: What are some of the extracurricular activities that former volunteers have done?

A: Former volunteers have coached high school sports and debate teams, organized clubs and academic competitions, done education-related research and writing outside of school, set up school libraries, and more.

Q: What are the biggest challenges for volunteers in this program?

A: Volunteers in the FSM face challenges of under-prepared students, as well as infrastructural and scheduling complications. Female teachers often need to develop strategies to deal with awkward or inappropriate attention from male students.

Q: Will I receive training?

A: Yes. Orientation lasts for about a month and includes valuable information about the country and culture, language classes, and teacher training. Teacher training will focus on ESL teaching methods, lesson planning, teaching resources, and a teaching practicum.

Q: Will there be World Teach support in my country?

A: Yes. The WorldTeach Micronesia Field Director will be based in Kolonia, Pohnpei. The Kosrae volunteers will have a Head Teacher, who will handle administrative duties on Kosrae.

Q: What languages are spoken in my country?

A: While English is the official language of the Federated States of Micronesia, everyday life is conducted in Kosraean on Kosrae, and Pohnpeian (as well as various outer island languages) on Pohnpei. Local people vary in their English abilities from fluent to very basic.

Q: What is the language of instruction in my country?

A: English is the language of instruction, though many teachers clarify in the local language so some students have been able to get by without much English comprehension.

Q: What language(s) do I need to speak?

A: While learning a local language is very helpful, volunteers only need to speak English to participate in the program.  Instruction in introductory Pohnpeian or Kosraean is part of the volunteer orientation.

Q: How well will my students know English?

A: Students in academically advanced sections will be quite conversational in English, while some students in lower sections will not be able to form basic sentences.

Q: Will the host family I stay with during the 3-4 week orientation speak English?

A: WorldTeach Micronesia does not currently use host families, except during the one-month orientation to help volunteers integrate into the community and learn more about the culture. At least one member of the host family will speak English with some fluency.

Q: What if I want to change host families or schools?

A: If a host family is not meeting its obligations during training, the volunteer will be moved. Unless there is a critical health, safety, or personal issue, WorldTeach expects all volunteers to work through the year at their assigned schools.

Q: What type of housing will I stay in?

A: On both Pohnpei and Kosrae, volunteers will live with one to several other volunteers in simple, furnished apartments close to their schools. Housing is provided by the Departments of Education and volunteers will receive a living stipend to cover the costs of their food (approximately US$150 a month). This is in addition to their teaching stipend (of US$150 per month).

Q: Will I have my own room?

A: Yes. Volunteers have their own rooms in their orientations when they are placed with host families, as well as in their apartments later.

Q: What will I do for meals?

A: During orientation, volunteers eat with their host families for dinner and breakfast, and they have lunch with the other volunteers. For the rest of the year, volunteers use their living stipend to shop for their own food. The volunteer housing has cooking facilities.

Q: What is commonly eaten in my country?

A: The local diet in Micronesia consists of plenty of rice, tropical carbohydrates like yams, taro, and breadfruit, fish, local fruits like bananas and mangos, and canned meats. Pohnpei has several supermarkets that get most of the food items available in the United States. However, availability is inconsistent and imported foods, especially fresh vegetables, can be a bit expensive.

Q: Is it difficult to accommodate special diets there?

A: Due to the infrequent availability of fresh vegetables on the islands, some special diets can be more difficult to follow here. However, volunteers on Pohnpei have been content with a largely vegetarian diet.

Q: Is there electricity and running water?

A: Yes. Almost every house on Pohnpei has electricity, which is purchased piecemeal, by the kilowatt hour. Volunteer housing on Pohnpei and Kosrae will have electricity run on this system. The tap water is fine for bathing, washing dishes, and brushing teeth. Drinking purified water, which is available cheaply in town, is recommended.

Q: Will I have access to email in my country?

A: Yes. Most volunteers bring laptops and use dial-up connections through the telephone lines in their houses or at their schools.

Q: Are there mobile phones in my country?

A: Yes, on both Pohnpei and Kosrae. The service is a bit inconsistent, but widely used. Cell phones are expensive in the islands. Bringing one from home and buying only a SimCard for the island is recommended.

Q: Does World Teach arrange travel to my country?

A: Yes. WorldTeach arranges travel to Micronesia from a meeting point in the United States (usually Los Angeles).

Q: Can I make my own travel arrangements?

A: Volunteers may make their own travel arrangements, although WorldTeach prefers the group to travel together if that is at all possible. Volunteers need to plan to arrive on the same date as the rest of the group so that they do not miss any orientation activities. Furthermore, volunteers will be reimbursed up to the amount that WorldTeach paid for tickets, but not for any hotels or other expensives incurred during independent travel. Any volunteer planning to make independent travel plans should contact WorldTeach.

Q: What are the vacation times I will have?

A: Volunteers get the same vacations as local teachers, that is, about two weeks for winter break and about one week for spring break.

Q: Can I come home during the year?

A: Yes. Volunteers have the opportunity to travel home during the Christmas break, which is usually about two weeks in December. Volunteers may also go home in the case of a medical or family emergency. As employees of the Department of Education, volunteers are responsible for teaching full time for the duration of each school term and thus may not miss school for other reasons. Travel of this nature will be done at a volunteer's own expense and can be both expensive and time-consuming. 

WorldTeach provides one round-trip ticket for volunteers who complete their teaching service. Volunteers who decide to leave the program early without teaching the full year will have to pay for their flight home.

Q: Will there be a chance to travel to other places?

A: Volunteers may travel during vacation periods, but air travel in Micronesia is prohibitively expensive for many volunteers.

Q: Do I need a visa?

A: For U.S. passport holders no visa is required for the Federated States of Micronesia. Non-U.S. passport holders should contact their WorldTeach Program Manager to discuss visa requirements and will need to submit additional documents to the WorldTeach offices in order to secure an entry visa before arrival in the FSM.

All volunteers should have a passport that will be valid for at least a year after the WorldTeach program will end.

Q: What should I take with me?

A: Volunteers need to take lightweight, modest clothing for teaching. Women should bring conservative skirts and dresses that hit well below the knee. It is not considered appropriate for women to wear pants or shorts. Men and women alike should keep in mind the high temperatures and humidity on the islands.

Most volunteers have been glad to have a laptop computer along, although the humidity can do damage to electronics.

A more extensive packing list is provided in the volunteer literature once one is accepted into the program.

In terms of teaching materials, the WorldTeach office in Kolonia has some teaching books and materials that can be borrowed and copied. Volunteers might want to take their own books, activities, or other materials that they think would be of use during the year, such as posters or pictures from magazines, popular songs, or videos. Such items have the potential to be great teaching tools that can be hard to come by.

Q: How much money should I take with me?

A: Access to US$500-$1,000 should be sufficient for spending money. It is recommended that volunteers take several hundred dollars in traveler’s checks with them. In the past, most have not needed to use their own money. However, it may come in handy during the beginning of the year, as volunteers are setting up their households, or for travel and recreation during vacations.

Q: Will I have access to an ATM?

A: Yes, on Pohnpei. Volunteers on Pohnpei have bank accounts with the Bank of Guam, which has a 24 hour ATM in Kolonia. Kosrae does not have an ATM, although the island does have a bank, the Bank of the FSM.  A branch of the Bank of Guam with an ATM is scheduled to open on Kosrae in Fall, 2008.

Q: What immunizations will I need?

A: The most comprehensive source of information on immunizations and travel health is the Center for Disease Control’s website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. This site provides recommendations for country-specific international travel as well as detailed information on specific diseases. Volunteers should consult their doctor or a travel health specialist about immunizations and other health needs.

As for travel to any developing country, it is generally recommended that a volunteer get immunized against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid. A volunteer should also check with his or her doctor to make sure his or her Polio, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), and Tetanus-Diphtheria (TTD) vaccinations are up to date (and to get a booster shot if necessary), in addition to checking for a recent TB test.

Q: What if I get sick? What are the medical facilities like in the Federated States of Micronesia?

A: Adjusting to a new environment, diet, and climate places demands on your body and health. Living in a new culture and taking on new professional responsibilities will be tiring; getting sick at some point in your stay in the Federated States of Micronesia is a definite possibility.

Both Pohnpei and Kosrae have hospitals, doctors and well-stocked pharmacies. More complicated medical cases may be referred to a hospital in Hawaii.

As a WorldTeach volunteer you will have supplementary overseas health insurance coverage that includes emergency medical evacuation insurance. For medical expenses such as doctors’ visits, prescribed medicines, etc. volunteers pay up front, keep the receipt, and then file a claim to get reimbursed by the insurance company.

More information about the supplemental overseas health insurance is emailed once an individual is accepted into the program.

Q: Is it safe?

A: While there is always some level of risk involved in traveling and living in a developing country, violent crimes are rare in the small, interconnected societies of the FSM. Minor break-ins and petty theft are a concern. The WorldTeach field staff will provide safety information during orientation and can be consulted if any problems arise during the year.

Q: Is there a volunteer participation fee?

A: No. The FSM State Departments of Education and the College of Micronesia fully fund the WorldTeach Micronesia program. Volunteers are only required to pay a US$2000 deposit, which is fully refunded at the end of service. Please read more about costs and services for all our programs here. There is a range in volunteer participation fees for various WorldTeach programs in accordance with airfare costs and other program necessities, as well as the amount of financial support available from the host organization.

Q: Will I receive any stipend during the year?

A: Yes. Volunteers receive US$300 monthly to cover living and teaching expenses.

Q: Can I speak with someone who has done this program before?

A: Given that the Micronesia program is so new, with only a few returned volunteers and a number of volunteers who have chosen to stay on in Pohnpei, we unfortunately won't be able to provide you with direct references; however, if you email us, we can immediately put you in contact with a returned Marshall Islands volunteer who can answer general questions for you about serving with WorldTeach in the Marshall Islands.

Q: Can I bring my pet with me?

A: Volunteers may not bring pets with them while abroad. Pets are often quarantined upon arriving to a foreign country to help prevent the spread of foreign parasites to the local animals. Also, housing conditions cannot always accomodate pets. Thus, to greater protect their general wellbeing, WorldTeach must insist that volunteers' pets remain at home.

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