Q: Will I get any training in teaching? Or in languages?
A: Yes. When you arrive in Tanzania, you will have approximately 3 weeks of orientation before departing for your site. During orientation, topics will be covered including orientation to the country and culture, Swahili 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 to live and teach in Tanzania.
Q: Will the volunteers meet again during the year?
A: Yes. The whole group will reconvene for a Mid-Service Conference where all the volunteers will discuss their teaching experiences and again at the end of the year for an End of Service debriefing meeting. These conferences may be in different locations throughout Tanzania as decided by your Field Director. Your travel to attend these conferences meetings will be covered by WorldTeach.
Q: Will I be near any other volunteers?
A: This varies. Some volunteers may be placed in the same town and may even live together, while others will be several miles away from the nearest volunteer.
Q: What subjects will I teach?
A: Many schools request that volunteers teach English, however some schools ask for Math and Science teachers.
Q: Will I be expected to run extra-curricular activities?
A: Schools may require that teachers assist with extracurricular activities such as an HIV/AIDS awareness club, drama club, or help with the Science Fair. In addition, many volunteers get involved with the library and form a library committee of learners. Many volunteers find these activities to be the most rewarding parts of their experience.
Q: When will I find out where I'll be teaching?
A: Teaching placements are determined by the WorldTeach Field Director in consultation with the various host schools that have requested a volunteer teacher. Once accepted to the program, you may express general preferences with regard to your teaching or living situation. The Field Director will take these preferences and your prior experience into account when matching you with a suitable school. Since WorldTeach also has to take into account the needs of the host schools and communities, we cannot guarantee any particular placement. This process of matching volunteers with placement sites is done once the Field Director has received information on all the volunteers in the group. You will receive information about your placement site, teaching assignment and living arrangement about one month prior to departure. Until then, please be flexible and keep an open mind.
Q: Do I need to speak another language to participate in the program?
A: You do not need any language proficiency other than English in Tanzania. Tanzania has two official languages: Kiswahili and English. Kiswahili, the lingua franca, is widely spoken though English is used in business and higher education, including secondary schools. Kiswahili is a bantu language that incorporates terms from both Arabic and English.
Q: Is it difficult to accommodate special diets there?
A: The typical Tanzanian diet consists of rice, beans, and ugali. It will be relatively easy to accomodate vegetarians but your options may be limited. The same is true for those who keep halaal or kosher.
Q: Do I need a visa?
A: Yes, you will need a visa to teach in Tanzania. You will receive details on the visa requirements from WorldTeach shortly after your acceptance into the program, and WorldTeach will assist you in attaining the visa. You will be responsible for collecting the required items for your visa application and please note that some documents can take some time to get, such as a police clearance certificate, and health exams and tests. You should allow yourself at least a month to gather all the required paperwork. You will submit this paperwork to WorldTeach by a deadline (usually a month or two before departure) and will then receive your visa and work permit upon arrival in Dar Es Salaam, barring any obstacles.
Please note that visa requirements change frequently. WorldTeach will keep you up to date as you go through the process and make it as smooth as possible. Non-US citizens may have very different visa requirements and should contact both WorldTeach and their consulate for more information.
Q: Does WorldTeach arrange travel to Tanzania?
A: Yes. WorldTeach arranges travel for each group departing for Tanzania from a departure city in the USA. The group will meet at the departure city airport and then travel together to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. The international round-trip flight from the departure city to Dar is covered by the WorldTeach program fee. WorldTeach purchases round-trip tickets valid for one year at a discounted group rate. More details of the group flight arrangements will be available about 2 months prior to departure. You will then be asked to confirm your travel plans by a certain date so that WorldTeach can finalize the group air tickets.
Each volunteer is responsible for getting him/herself to the departure city. Many volunteers are able to find discounted or teacher/student fare domestic connections from the internet or student travel agencies such as Student Universe or STA Travel.
Q: Can I make my own travel arrangements?
A: Yes. If you book your own travel to Tanzania you must plan to arrive in Dar on or before the date of the group flight's arrival, so that you do not miss any orientation activities. Be sure to buy a ticket that is valid for a full year and has a changeable return date, in case your travel plans change. Volunteers traveling independently must inform the program manager in writing of their travel plans. If you book your own ticket, WorldTeach will reimburse you the cost of a ticket on our group flight.
Q: What are the vacation times I will have during the year?
A: There is one long school holiday during the year. After the conclusion of the first semester in December, you will have about a 4-week break before resuming classes in January. There are also two 2-week breaks in September and March. In addition, there are several other national holidays throughout the year that will provide you with long weekend breaks.
Q: Can I come home during the year?
A: You are an employee of the Ministry of Education and are responsible for teaching full time for the duration of each school term. If you choose to travel home during the year (during school vacations, for example) this will be at your own expense. WorldTeach provides one round-trip ticket for each volunteer.
If friends or family wish to visit you during your time in Tanzania, we recommend that they plan their trip during a school vacation, so that you will have time to spend with them.
Q: Will there be a chance to travel to other places?
A: Absolutely! You will have opportunities to travel during weekends and school holidays. You may want to stay in Tanzania and go on safari in Serengeti National Park or climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Any travel you choose to do will be at your own expense. You should budget this prior to leaving to decide how much money you will need to bring. Please take note that volunteers are not allowed to miss school for any personal travel.
Q: What immunizations will I need?
A: The most comprehensive source of information on immunizations and travel health is at the Center for Disease Control. This site provides recommendations for travel to Tanzania as well as detailed information on specific diseases. Also refer to the Healthy Travel guide that WorldTeach will send you when you confirm your participation in the program. You must consult your doctor or a travel health specialist about immunizations and other health needs. Please understand that WorldTeach staff are not qualified to give medical advice. All we can do is tell you what immunizations are usually recommended for travel to Tanzania - only your doctor can give you specific medical advice.
As for travel to any developing country, it is generally recommended that you get immunized against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid. We also recommend that you make sure your vaccinations for Polio, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), and Tetanus-Diphtheria are still in date, and get a booster shot if needed. You should also have a TB test if you haven't had one recently.
Q: Will I have health insurance?
A: As a World Teach volunteer, you will have health insurance coverage that includes emergency medical evacuation insurance. For medical expenses, such as doctor's visits, prescribed medicines, etc. you may need to pay up front, keep the receipt, and then file a claim to get reimbursed by the insurance company, which is HTH Insurance. All volunteers are covered under the WorldTeach group insurance policy, this is not optional. You will be sent the health insurance policy description when you are accepted as a volunteer.
Q: What if I get sick? What are the medical facilities like in Tanzania?
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. You will probably get sick at certain times; it is unavoidable. While Tanzania's public hospitals can be under-resourced, there are private hospitals and clinics that provide high-quality health care. During orientation your Field Director will give advice on health and safety while living in Tanzania.
Q: Is it safe?
A: While there is always some level of risk involved in traveling and living in a developing country, WorldTeach pays close attention to US State Department and Embassy advice and does not place volunteers in any area considered dangerous. Many people visit Tanzania every year as tourists, students, or on business.
Tanzania is a stable country, and the people are very welcoming. Risk of theft is present (as it is everywhere) and you will need to take sensible precautions to look after your personal belongings. Do not take any belongings that you are not prepared to lose, and do not draw attention to expensive items. As in most countries, road accidents actually pose the greatest risk. You will need to use common sense, be responsible for yourself and aware of your surroundings, and travel with other people wherever possible. Your host community will know you and look out for your safety. All volunteers will be registered with the appropriate Embassy in case of a national emergency. WorldTeach has a 24-hour communication system and an emergency evacuation plan for the country.
Q: What should I take with me?
A: When you confirm your participation in the program you will be sent a booklet called Living & Teaching in Tanzania. This booklet will contain a suggested packing list with tips from former volunteers and the field staff. We do not recommend taking a lot of electronics, as they are easily broken or stolen. Try to pack light; you will need to be able to move your bags easily. In terms of teaching materials, the WorldTeach office in Tanzania has some teaching books and materials that you can borrow or copy. You might want to take your own books, activities, or other materials that you think will be of use to you during your year. Posters or pictures from magazines, popular songs, or videos are valuable teaching tools that are harder to come by in Tanzania!
Q: How much money should I bring?
A: The amount of spending money you will need is very subjective-- it depends on your lifestyle and traveling choices. Previous WorldTeach volunteers recommend taking (or having access to) $1500 to $2000 in spending money. This should allow you to buy things you need for your room, travel during vacations, call home occasionally, and cover any unforeseen expenses. The stipend provided by your host institution should be enough to cover your basic living expenses, but you may need to subsidize it with money brought from home. Remember that during your first two months in country, you may not be paid. Your first stipend paycheck will likely come after your first month of teaching, but it is not uncommon for stipend payments to be delayed. You will want to have enough spending money to get by should your stipend payments be late.
Q: Will there be access to ATM's?
A: Yes. There are ATM's in the bigger cities like Dar Es Salaam and Moshi. However, it is important to check with your bank before leaving to ensure that you are able to use your card in Tanzania. Some banks must activate this specifically.
Q: Will I have access to email there?
A: Yes. Internet access in Tanzania is spreading fairly rapidly. Some placements may even have internet at your school. If not, you will have access in a nearby town at an Internet cafe. Keep in mind that the speed will probably be much slower than you are used to in your home country.
Q: Are there mobile phones there?
A: Yes. Most of our volunteers buy a cell phone once abroad. These can be purchased for a reasonable price. Some volunteers are able to use their own cell phones from home and put a Tanzanian SIM card in it.
Q: Is there a participation fee?
A: Yes. The program fee cost $5,990. This includes pre-departure information and preparation, round-trip international airfare, health insurance, in-country orientation, Mid-Service and End-Of Service Conferences (including transportation, meals and housing) as well as meals and housing throughout your teaching service and 24-hour field support.
Q: Will I receive a stipend during the year?
A: As a volunteer you will receive a stipend for the months that you teach. Stipends are modest at $150 a month; they are designed to cover your basic living expenses.
Q: Can I speak with someone who has done this program before?
A: Because this is our first year in Tanzania, we do not have any returned volunteers from Tanzania. However, we are happy to put you in contact with a returned WorldTeach volunteer from another country. Contact the office by phone (1-800-483-2240 or 617-495-5527) or send a request by email to info@worldteach.org.
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