Natasha, volunteered with the HELP English project in Leymebamba
“Leymebamba is about two hours from Chachapoyas in the Amazonas region of Peru at about 2000 metres. I taught the kids in the Casa Hogar three days a week. The classes are separated by age and level and are an hour and a half each. They all have either no previous English experience or a very basic level. I also taught the women working in the artesenal two times a week. The classes are two hours each and they have no previous English experience. The museum workers have classes twice a week for an hour. They have a beginning to intermediate level of English. All this being said, the schedule is very customizable. The standard of living in Leymebamba is basic. The town itself is pretty small and there is not much to do for entertainment. You will be the only foreigner in town and will be regarded with curiosity, sometimes suspicion. When you get to know the people there though, they are very friendly.”
Louise, volunteered with the HELP English project in Las Lomas
“Las Lomas Colegio is a small state school. The school doesn’t have a permanent English teacher or a kindergarten class. The Las Lomas area is one of the poorest in Huanchaco, and you rarely see people on your way to the school. I taught English three times a week, each time for a different class. On Mondays, I would teach the ‘primeros’ (4-5 years old) where they would learn very basic English vocabulary and also do a lot of drawings and games. On Tuesdays, I taught the ‘segundos’ (7-9 years old). For this, I prepared a lot of games with English vocabulary for the kids to start structuring basic sentences. The class on Wednesdays was with older children and it was really interesting as they already know some English. Most of them are really interested in learning English, which made teaching them a lot easier. The students especially like to learn grammar and vocabulary through music. I definitely enjoyed my experience. Everyone is really nice at the school. The children are energetic, loving and always ask for more which is extremely rewarding. It makes work really pleasant. I can’t get enough of having children jump all over me every time I walk through the door. For future volunteers I would advise them to be patient with the 1st grade. Have a lot of imagination and inspiration because the class may not always go the way you planned it.”
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Zoé, 26, Belgium, volunteered with the HELP English project at Las Lomas for 6 weeks
“I was an English teacher and I organised all the English teaching for Otra Cosa. I taught one hour every morning at 11 or 12 on Fridays and three times a week in the afternoons from 2.30 to 6.00 pm. I worked in the office in the other afternoons. Volunteering with Otra Cosa was a very enriching experience. I learned a lot about the Peruvian culture thanks to my grown-up students and I worked with the primary school teachers in order to improve discipline within the English classes. I would advise future volunteers to really involve the primary school teachers in their classes, to be motivated, and to believe in the students.”
Delphine, Anneleen and Ellen, volunteered with the HELP English project at the Huanchaco Library
“The library in Huanchaco used to offer free English classes to adults three times a week, but after several lessons it became clear that the students had very different levels of English and so we created a system of beginners, intermediates, and advanced students. We offered two classes a week to each level. Our role was mainly to teach English but we were also trying to figure out the level of English that the students already had. We also asked the students what they thought of the classes, their interests and how they felt about the way we teach. We also began advertising the classes by putting up posters around town. Although none of us are teachers, we really enjoyed doing it and preparing classes and tests was really interesting. The classes are really good fun. We tried different styles and ways of teaching. The best feeling is to see how your students improve their English and how enthusiastic they are. We also got to know the students after a while, and it really helped to improve the lessons we were giving. It also made us think that a diploma or certificate in education is not what makes a good teacher. We would advise future volunteers to use humour, get to know them, play games, ask how they feel, try to find out which rhythm is the best for them to learn and what their interests are. But most of all, have fun!”
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Yael, 19, Germany, volunteering as a music teacher at the blind school, Tulio Herrera Leon
"I volunteer at the blind school 'Tulio Herrera Leon' in Trujillo. They have many students with many kinds of different disabilities and different ages. My project is to teach music, and I enjoy working with these incredible people. It is such a great experience to see how they improve, how they are happy to go to school and stay motivated. The music room is almost a little too small for all the instruments we have. The amount of equipment is incredible. The parents of the students are often helping out in the school, everybody is really obliging and kind. It's a great working environment."
