<p>Aside from the Peace Corps, what other opportunities might you suggest for a new young teacher who wants to teach abroad for a couple of years in a service similar to the Peace Corps? She’ll have just earned her teaching degree and has already traveled to Russia on her own and has traveled to Africa working at an orphanage. She’d prefer a location that could really benefit from her assistance such as the third-world.</p>
<p>What’s going on down near where Hurricane Katrina hit? I know their schools were disrupted for awhile and some teachers were running into there from Texas to try to help. How is it now?</p>
<p>Also, if you don’t mind the cold, I believe the government of Canada is eager for teachers to be flown up to such remote locations as the Yukon Territories, Nunavit (sp?), and other northern parts of each province to teach in Inuit communities.
If you read the newspaper comic strip “For Better Or Worse,” written in Canada but carried all over the U.S., that’s the storyline of the young adult daughter this past year.</p>
<p>also “Teach for America” helps very poor rural communities in the U.S., as well as some urban assignments</p>
<p>…just check whether Teach For America is for those with or without teachers certification.</p>
<p>You might want to check out some religiously affiliated programs too. For eg. Mercy Corps or Jesuit Volunteer Corp & Jesuit Volunteers International. During my college days, a good number of grads volunteered for a year or two. Some taught on Indian Reservations in the US, some worked in inner city urban areas, some worked for soup kitchens, shelters, food pantries or hospice programs run by local parishes.
My Spouse and several friends taught in Am. Samoa. Many of the participants had come from Jesuit or Catholic colleges, but they certainly might be open to students from other colleges, as well.</p>
<p>I talked to someone last week and she told me that her S was recruited heavily for Teach for America. I know for a fact that he is not an education major but is a Math Major. His mother told me that they are really hurting for secondary math teachers.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses so far. I think she’s interested in going abroad right now for that travel experience but I’ll pass along the domestic ideas anyway. The Canadian experience sounds interesting - I’ll pass that along as well.</p>
<p>She can teach Aboriginal children in Australia, Thai orphans, Chinese peasants, Fijian children.</p>
<p>There are needy children in every country. </p>
<p>If she does decide she wants to go to the Third World, just be aware that some of those residents view do-gooding Westerners with jaundiced eyes. The Last King of Scotland might make good viewing…the writer meant to illustrate the benign evil of ex-pat do-gooders.</p>
<p>World Teach is run out of Harvard; Volunteers in Asia is based at Stanford. If interested in Japan, there is the JET program that places graduates in various cities and towns for a couple of years. I’ve heard of programs for teaching in China as well. I know of someone who spent a couple of years teaching in Ecuador.</p>
<p>marite:
Thanks. Those look like good programs and I’ll pass them along.</p>
<p>cheers:
I understand the point. Hopefully she’ll be able to find a program she can be associated with where the locals will view her positively and will benefit. Part of this really will also be in what she’ll end up learning and benefiting from the locals and the experience. It really goes both ways. I think as long as she has this attitude and can project it, the locals will be more appreciative.</p>
<p>I believe that Teach For America takes newly-minted high-achieving college grads from a variety of majors, has a summer certification course or other route to certification, and places them in needy school districts at starting teacher salaries. They have wonderful relationships with a variety of businesses and grad schools that are interested in their alumni after the teachers’ two year committments to Teach For America.</p>
<p>I attended the 21 Dinner in NYC this winter – it’s a benefit for Teach For America in South Dakota in memory of George Boiardi, the Cornell lacrosse player planning to participate in Teach For America who tragically died on the lacrosse field in March 2004. There were several speakers at the dinner talking about their experience with Teach For America and it is a very impressive program. They are currently operating in something like 15-20 sites around the country, including the Native American Reservation in South Dakota, New Orleans, Bridgeport CT, etc.</p>
<p>Teach for America has become increasingly difficult to get into. A number of my daughter’s friends (who were highly qualified) made it to the final round of interviews and then were disappointed. I would encourage anyone hoping to do that sort of work to also have a plan B (and C).</p>
<p>Be forewarned that teachers of Inuit children encounter huge difficulties with alcoholism and substance abuse, such as “huffing.” It’s probably good to go anywhere forewarned about the challenges. It is easy to romanticize in advance, even while it is imperative to help the oppressed.</p>