Like most international voluntary service programs, WorldTeach programs have a high percentage of young volunteers, many of whom are recent college graduates in their twenties.  As a result, much of our program literature addresses the questions we know they will ask, and our application procedure is in many ways geared towards recent college graduates, in that we require college transcripts and request letters of recommendation.

However, at WorldTeach, we are actively working to diversify our volunteer pool (in age, background, skills, and other characteristics), and more and more mid-career and retired adults are inquiring about WorldTeach every day.  If you are one of these applicants, your questions will probably differ from those of recent college graduates.  This page is intended to answer some of these questions. 

Putting Your Experience to Work

WorldTeach encourages mid-career and retired adults to serve as volunteer teachers for many reasons.  With age and experience come a more realistic and balanced perspective, an increased sense of self and direction, and a more professional approach to the job.  Most of the countries in which we work place a high value on the skills, maturity, and wisdom gained through life experience. 

Whether you are taking a leave of absence from your current job or are looking for a new way to contribute to society after retirement, the skills and experience you offer will be invaluable to your students, colleagues, and community, and will enrich your own appreciation for the culture of your host country.

Teaching Experience

WorldTeach does not require volunteers to have teaching experience before applying, and most volunteers are not professional teachers.  For this reason, our in-country orientation programs generally focus on basic teaching skills. 

However, some applicants to WorldTeach do have substantial professional teaching experience.  Rather than exempt veteran teachers from orientation activities, we prefer to find ways to incorporate their experience into our training program and use it for the benefit of all volunteers.  If you are an experienced teacher, you are also likely to find teaching in your new country very different from teaching in your home country. Teacher training during orientation is geared specifically towards the kind of work you will be doing in your host country. 

If you have advanced qualifications such as a master's or doctoral degree, you may be eligible for placement at a higher level than other volunteers.  For example, you may be qualified to teach at a teacher training college rather than at a high school.  The WorldTeach field director for your program will decide if an advanced placement is feasible for you.

Thanks to the generosity of a former volunteer, WorldTeach is pleased to offer Teacher Fellowships for trained and experienced teachers (3+ years of classroom experience) who plan to continue teaching upon return from their WorldTeach program.  Please see our Scholarships page for details.

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Stipend

As a WorldTeach volunteer, you will not receive a salary. If you are in a year-long program, you will receive a monthly living allowance. The living allowance is modest, but often equivalent to what local teachers make.

The living allowance you receive should cover your day-to-day expenses while you are teaching.  It is not enough to support dependents or pay for private accommodations, and will not cover expenditures such as overseas travel or luxury items.  If you plan to support dependents, rent your own apartment, or travel extensively, we advise you to take more spending money with you than is otherwise recommended.

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Health

If you are in good condition and used to physical activity, you should not have any difficulty as a teacher overseas.  However, working as a WorldTeach volunteer teacher in a new environment, with a different climate and more basic housing conditions, can be more strenuous than your job and lifestyle at home.

In the case of any volunteer injury or illness, acceptable health facilities are usually available in or near most countries where WorldTeach volunteers are placed.  If necessary, the health insurance WorldTeach provides will cover evacuation to another country for medical treatment.  It is important to note that the WorldTeach health insurance is mandatory for volunteers of all ages. If you have a pre-existing condition for which you may need further treatment, you may wish to consider maintaining your current health insurance coverage as a supplement to the WorldTeach health insurance.

For volunteers over 49, an additional surcharge is placed on top of the insurance coverage.  Due to the current health insurance, we are unable to accept volunteers who will be 75 years old while in-country.

A comprehensive health exam is required of all volunteers before departure.  A doctor's signature must appear on the volunteer's health form in order for him/her to participate.  This form confirms that in the doctor's opinion, the volunteer is fit to undertake a year of hard work, under difficult conditions, in a developing country. 

If you have any chronic condition which will require significant medical attention during the year you would be away, you probably think particularly carefully about applying to WorldTeach.

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Special Health Considerations

Ecuador,Namibia:  Malaria and other tropical diseases are endemic in certain tropical regions of these countries. 

Marshall Islands: Some placements on the outer islands are very remote with limited variation in diet.

China: Volunteers must be under age 65 to be accepted into the program. This is a requirement from our partner organization in China, the Hunan Department of Education.

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Language Learning

Research conducted by the Peace Corps has shown that older volunteers may have more difficulty learning new languages than younger volunteers.  WorldTeach does not require any foreign language skills when you apply, and although we encourage volunteers to study the local language throughout their time of service, we only require it during orientation.  We ask that you give it your best shot; concern about language acquisition should not keep you from applying.

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A Final Consideration

The greatest obstacle for many volunteers in developing countries is adjusting to the different structure and values of the host culture.  In most WorldTeach volunteer locations, the pace of life is relaxed, and few people are as concerned with the clock as most Americans.  Teaching schedules and vacation dates often change at the last minute.  You may find that people make decisions without consulting you, that your life is more structured by others than you have become accustomed to, or that you have less privacy than you are used to.

In addition to the adjustments required by a new culture, the WorldTeach program will make certain demands of you throughout the year, especially during orientation.  While recent college graduates are used to attending classes, eating communally, and participating in frequent group activities, candidates who have been out of college for some years may be used to more independence.  All applicants should feel comfortable living and working within the expectations of an established program.

"A year can change your life no matter what age you are. Be open to that." Shirley Sekarajasingham, Ecuador Year

The key for anyone adjusting to life in a different culture is flexibility.  If you set out resolved to accomplish a predetermined task, you may be disappointed.  Convincing yourself to live according to the styles and pace of another culture is difficult, but it may be the most important step you can take in preparing to go.  With an open and enthusiastic mindset, and a willingness to "go with the flow," you will have a fascinating and rewarding experience.

We are happy to put you in touch with returned WorldTeach volunteers in your area and, if possible, other mid-career or retired professionals who have volunteered in the past.  For a list of returned volunteer contacts, please contact us.


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