At a glance
- Teach English in either a school or university. You’ll support local teachers in the classroom, and take the lead with helping students improve their conversation skills.
- You can also teach French, German, Italian, and Japanese.
- Help students with their pronunciation, encourage them to practice speaking, and raise their confidence. You’ll plan your own classes and activities.
- You’ll be based in Guadalajara and stay with a local host family. Mexico offers some awe-inspiring sites to see in your free time, like mountains and volcanoes, deserts, beaches, and ancient ruins.
Start Dates:
Anytime
See DatesMinimum Duration:
Four Weeks
Ages:
16 or over
Intermediate Spanish (for teaching in schools)
Is the Teaching Project in Mexico right for me?
This project is great for those who want to gain practical teaching experience, especially if you’re considering a career in teaching. Use it to add relevant work experience to your resume. It will also give you interesting points to talk about in interviews.
As a volunteer teaching English in Mexico, you’ll sharpen your skills in leadership, planning, and management. These specific skills are useful for any career.
If you don’t have previous teaching experience, don’t worry. You’ll receive a full induction from your project supervisor before you start, and our staff are there to guide you. We also run regular workshops for all Teaching volunteers, where you can brainstorm ideas and discuss challenges. You can also take a look at our extensive online database for ideas.
If you're interested in teaching other subjects, contact our Project Experts. They'll advise you on what subjects you can teach in Mexico, and whether you can teach those subjects part-time or full time.
This project runs year-round, and you can join at any time. However, schools are closed over the Easter and Christmas holidays. We encourage you to stay as long as possible to make a bigger impact on students.
Please be aware that if you choose to volunteer with us during the school summer holidays, we do arrange alternatives. Contact us to learn more about this option.
If you want to teach in schools, you should speak intermediate Spanish. This is not required for teaching in universities.
What will I do at my volunteer teaching placement in Mexico?
You'll gain teaching work experience in Mexico, at a school or university and focus on teaching English. You can also expect to get involved with the following activities at your placement:
- Support local teachers at a secondary school during English classes
- Teach conversational English to university students
- Attend workshops to learn more about the education system in Mexico
Your work will follow on the following areas:
Support local teachers at a secondary school during English classes
You can play a major role in helping local teachers with their English classes. First, you’ll start off by observing. Once you’ve gained confidence, you can lead your own classes. Your focus is on improving conversation, and giving students confidence with speaking.
Teach conversational English to university students
You can give conversational English lessons to students at the University of Guadalajara. You’ll teach small groups of about ten students at a time. These students have chosen to take part in optional English courses. They will be motivated to learn, and excited to speak with you.
Attend workshops to learn more about the education system in Mexico
We organize regular workshops so you can receive insight into the educational system in Mexico. You will also learn more about the background of the school or university where you’re working. Any other advice you need can be given at these workshops, and you can exchange ideas and discuss challenges.
Where you work on the Teaching Project in Mexico
Guadalajara
Guadalajara is the second largest city in Mexico, with a population of five million people. The central plaza is filled with cafes, restaurants, and shops, making for a fun day trip. If it’s the season, you can attend a local football match. We also recommend taking an evening to go watch traditional lucha libre (dramatic Mexican wrestling)!
You’ll work at schools or universities, where there is a shortage in English teachers who focus on improving conversation.
Typical day on the Teaching Project in Mexico
You’ll begin your day with breakfast at your host family’s home. Then you’ll take public transport or walk to your placement, depending on how close you are. On your first day, our staff will be there to show you the way.
If you work at a secondary school, you’ll begin your day at about 7am. You’ll work with teachers while they give their English classes, or you can lead your own lessons. Your main focus will be on encouraging students to practice speaking through activities and games. In one day, you’ll be involved with about four hours of English teaching.
If you teach at a university, you will teach for around six to eight a day. Classes run between 7:00am to 1:00pm. You’ll work with small groups of students, focusing on conversation.
In the afternoons, you can attend workshops to learn more about the school or university where you are working, or about the education system in Mexico. We also encourage you to use your afternoons to plan classes or activities for the next day.
After your busy day, you can return to your host family for dinner. Over your meals you can share the exciting stories of your day with your host family or other volunteers.
In your free time, you can explore. Why not try as many different Mexican meals as you can, like tortas ahogadas - pork rolls drenched in chilli sauce? Your weekends will be free to explore more of Mexico. Mexico is a paradise with amazing sites to discover. Marvel at its mountains and volcanoes, deserts, beaches, and ancient historical ruins.
Aims and Impact of the Teaching Project in Mexico
The aim of this project is to improve English among school and university students in Mexico.
In Mexico, English is an important skill because of the thriving tourism industry, and because it’s the language of international business. This is especially important because Mexico has a strong trade relationship with the United States of America. Students are eager to learn from English speakers, so they can improve their conversation. In more rural areas, teachers’ English levels are much lower, and they struggle to help students practice speaking.
Your role is to help students gain confidence speaking English, and interacting with people from around the world. You’ll also become a source of support for local teachers in the classroom. In turn, you’ll also benefit the teachers by giving them the opportunity to practice speaking with you.
We work toward four long-term goals at our Teaching Project in Mexico:
- Improve English
- Increase literacy
- Improve classroom support
- Encourage learning through creativity
Join us as we strive to achieve these goals, while experiencing life in Mexico.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Guadalajara. They'll welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and learn about yours. This is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Mexico and have a unique experience.
We'll try to ensure you live with other Projects Abroad volunteers or interns at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your program fee includes three meals a day. This is great news because nothing beats authentic Mexican food. Get ready to sample the most delicious tacos, enchiladas, and quesadillas
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
With beautiful beaches, arresting art galleries, and buzzing restaurants, there’s something for everyone in Mexico. You’ll have plenty to do during your free time on your project in this dynamic country.
There’s something captivating about touring through old buildings. If you’re into neo-gothic architecture, treat yourself to a trip to the Templo Expiatorio del Santisimo Sacramento. It’s a work of art with its ornate steeples and glowing stained glass windows.
There are also plenty of museums, giving you the chance to immerse yourself in the country’s rich history. For something different, you can spend the day appreciating the wildlife and lush vegetation of Las Peñas Ecological Park.
You can’t take a trip to Mexico without tasting authentic Mexican cuisine. You can spend an evening enjoying pozole or tamales at a local restaurant and watching the vivid orange-red sun melt into the horizon.
We have a host of different projects in Mexico so there’ll likely be lots of other volunteers in the area during your trip. So you can choose to travel and explore in a group or on your own.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
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