• American Samoa Year
• Bangladesh Year
• Chile Pat Sur Year
• China Hunan Year
• Colombia Year
• Costa Rica Year
• Ecuador Year
  • Program Profile
  • Country Info
  • Ecuador Now!
  • Day in the Life
  • Photo Gallery
• Guyana Year
• India Year
• Marshall Islands Year
• Micronesia Year
• Namibia Year
• Panama Year
• Tanzania Year
• Thailand Year
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• Chile Semester
• Namibia Semester
• Tanzania Semester
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• China Summer
• Costa Rica Summer
• Ecuador Summer
• Namibia Summer
• Poland Summer
• South Africa Summer

Program Profile

In 2012, WorldTeach Ecuador celebrates its 20th year of partnership, and is now WorldTeach's largest program.  Since the first group's departure in 1992, WorldTeach has developed strong relationships with a large number of Ecuadorian institutions, and we continue to expand as the demand for English education grows.  WorldTeach now sends upwards of 60 yearlong volunteers to Ecuador each year to all four regions of the country.

The ability to communicate in English is highly valued throughout Ecuador because of the country's developing tourist industry as well as Ecuadorians' desire for improved access to the global economy.  Tourism, both cultural and environmental, has become an increasingly viable means of generating revenue in this South American nation.  Knowledge of English also helps Ecuadorians open their businesses to a wider audience, leading to increased opportunity.

WorldTeach has been invited by several different types of institutions throughout Ecuador to provide English language training, and as such, volunteers work with a diverse array of students.  Although teaching placements vary widely by city and the type of host institution, the majority of WorldTeach volunteers in Ecuador teach English in university or community classes with older teens and/or adult students.  Most placements are located in cities and large towns, largely due to the nature of the institutions we partner with; however, each year there are also smaller communities that host volunteers.  

Volunteer Role

Your service in Ecuador will begin with a month-long intensive orientation run by the Field Staff.  Orientation will include TEFL training, two weeks of intensive practice teaching, Spanish classes, information sessions and discussions about Ecuadorian culture and politics, health and safety issues, and cross-cultural adjustment. 

After orientation, volunteers travel to their sites and begin their teaching assignments.  Depending on the placement, volunteers are usually responsible for teaching up to 20 hours a week.  Apart from classroom hours, volunteers are also responsible for preparation of classes, grading and any other duties assigned by their institutions. Class size varies widely throughou the placements, as do the types of students and their level of English.  Volunteers may teach university students, faculty and staff, and/or open-enrollment classes for members of the community. 

In addition to their teaching responsibilities, volunteers are strongly encouraged to actively participate in community life and engage in additional activities or projects of interest.  Past projects and activities volunteers include organizing English/Spanish conversation exchanges, volunteering with community organizations, starting sports teams, and participating in local sports clubs or dance lessons. 

Volunteers in the Ecuador Year program will be eligible for WorldTeach TEFL certification. Please note that for all departures leaving on or after July 1, 2012, an additional $50 is required by volunteers to participate in the TEFL Certification program.

Placements & Housing

Volunteer placements in Ecuador are based on the best match between the needs of the host institution and the personal qualifications of the volunteers.  Volunteers may be placed independently in their host community or with a small group of other volunteers (including other departure groups and the summer program). 

Volunteers live with host families. Most host families will have electricity and running water, though in some regions hot water is inconsistent at best. Weather in Ecuador varies greatly, depending on the region. The coast is hot and humid year round, with frequent rain from January through April, while weather in the Sierra is often described as "eternal springtime," with cooler temperatures (depending on altitude) and periods of both rainy and dry weather. It rains consistently in the rainforest region, with a slightly drier period from December to February. Galápagos tends to be hot and humid, similar to the coastal region.

Financial Information

The cost of the Ecuador yearlong program is $5,490. This includes pre-departure information and preparation, round-trip international airfare, health insurance, 4-week long in-country orientation, transportation to your site, meals and housing during orientation and throughout your teaching service, and 24-hour field support.

WorldTeach Ecuador volunteers receive a monthly stipend from their host institution once they begin teaching of approximately $450 per month.  Half of this stipend is paid to one's host family to cover room and board, while the other half is to off-set volunteers' professional and personal expenses. 

Many volunteers are able to successfully fundraise all or a significant portion of their volunteer commitment. Please refer to our fundraising guide for more information about fundraising possibilities.

Read more about costs and services here. 

Requirements

Volunteers must: