At a glance
- Volunteer as a teacher in Cambodia and help those in need while gaining teaching experience in kindergartens or primary schools.
- You’ll focus on improving their conversational English by playing interactive games with them. Many children come from marginalized backgrounds and therefore don’t pay to attend these schools.
- You’ll live and work in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, where you'll see the wonderful sights while giving back and exploring the country.
Is teaching children in Cambodia right for me?
If you enjoy working with children and teaching, then our Teaching Project in Cambodia is for you! No previous teaching experience is necessary but you need to have the desire to share your knowledge with these children.
Pursuing a career in teaching? Contribute to the practical side of your studies by working in a classroom on a daily basis. Get to know the children and implement your training in the lessons you teach. Add this teaching work experience in Cambodia to your resume for an extra edge.
You will have the guidance and support of your project supervisor right from the start. Throughout your stay, you will have access to an online database filled with worksheets, classroom activities and educational games you can implement in class. The local Projects Abroad staff will also run regular teaching workshops were you can share ideas and get inspiration from others.
If you're interested in teaching other subjects, contact our Project Experts. They'll advise you on what subjects you can teach in Cambodia, and whether you can teach those subjects part-time or full time.
What will I do at my volunteer Teaching Placement in Cambodia?
You’ll work with the children at kindergartens and elementary schools.You’ll be involved in the following activities:
- Improve the English levels of the students through fun and interactive lessons
- Assist with extracurricular activities such as sports, music and arts class
- Prepare exciting lessons for the next day to ensure each activity has a clear goal
Your work will focus on the following areas:
English lessons
The English language has fast become one of the most spoken languages worldwide. Since it is used widely across business and media channels, it is important for Cambodians to learn English from a young age. Their fluency in the language will provide them with better employment opportunities as they get older. As a volunteer teaching English in Cambodia, you’ll play an important part at your placement. Depending on their current skill level, you’ll teach them basic English words such as colors, numbers, and ABCs. You can play role-play games that encourage the children to talk in English and improve their confidence.
Creative classes
You can also take your lessons outside of the classroom when organizing activities for the children. Get their bodies moving during a sports class. You can work on their locomotor skills such as balance, throwing, kicking, running, skipping, jumping and more. Off the sports field, many of the children may be more creatively inclined. Some children enjoy the soft tunes from musical instruments or the vibrant colors and crafts they can make during art class.
Lesson preparation
You’ll need to spend time each day to ensure you are prepared for the next day of lessons. For example, you can spend an hour or so thinking of new ways to captivate your students during class. This kind of thorough planning will make teaching easier and give you more confidence.
Where will I be working in Cambodia?
Phnom Penh
As a Teaching Volunteer in Cambodia, you’ll be working in the charming city of Phnom Penh. Known as the pearl of Asia, the city is situated along the Mekong River. Although still recovering from the results of war, Phnom Penh is a resilient city and home to some of the most friendly people in the world.
You’ll be able to see a different side to the city as you volunteer in disadvantaged areas. Here families struggle to feed and educate their children. You’ll teach at one of our partner NGO schools which are open to families in need. They subsidize the children’s meals and provide them with free schooling that complements the state curriculum.
A typical day at your volunteer Teaching Placement in Cambodia
Each morning, you’ll wake up in your shared volunteer apartment and enjoy a Cambodian breakfast of egg fried rice, banana pancakes and fresh fruit. Don’t forget your shoes in the doorway before you hop into the tuk tuk waiting for you outside.
You’ll start teaching at 9am and end around 4 or 5pm, Monday to Friday. The moment the children see you, you’ll hear a chorus of “teacher, teacher” and be pulled towards the classroom. Depending on your placement, you might teach basic English lessons or organize music, art or sports classes. To avoid the midday heat, you’ll head back to the apartment at 11am. You’ll enjoy a stir fry lunch and plan your lessons before heading back to the school at 3pm.
At the end of the day, you can head back to the apartment with the other volunteers or grab a tuk tuk to the riverside promenade. Over the weekends, you can spend time learning about Cambodian history at the S21 Museum, the Killing Fields or the Royal Palace. One weekend trip you cannot miss is the Angkor Wat temples in Siem Riep.
What are the aims and impact of this project?
The aim of this project is to provide disadvantaged children with educational support and teach English.
Education in Cambodia remains weak. This is due to poverty in rural areas, not enough schools, and a lack of teachers. Dropout rates are high, particularly for lower secondary school. Many families cannot afford the costs related to schooling.
By teaching in Cambodia, you will work directly with children and give them the skills and education to succeed at school and in life. To ensure the work we do positively benefits the community, we have set out four goals for to work towards:
- Improve English levels
- Improve teaching techniques
- Encourage learning through creativity
- Increase literacy
Each activity that you prepare for the children should have at least one of these goals in mind. Help us work towards these goals by signing up for the Teaching Project in Cambodia.
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 share accommodation with other Projects Abroad volunteers and interns during your stay in Phnom Penh. This is a great way to get to know your fellow volunteers and interns, share experiences, and explore your surroundings in your free time together.
The accommodation is safe, clean, and comfortable. Your programme fees include three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
Explore Cambodia and you will be amazed by the juxtaposition of vibrant cities, achingly beautiful scenery, and famous historical landmarks. This country has a lot to offer during your free time.
The world-famous gathering of temples near Siem Reap is a must for all visitors, especially the magnificent Angkor Wat. Climbing over huge tree roots to temple doorways shrouded by vines is guaranteed to bring out the Indiana Jones in you!
However, Cambodia offers far more than ancient temples. You can go trekking in the jungles or try snorkelling and dolphin-spotting in the seas surrounding Sihanoukville. For a more relaxed afternoon, you can spend time on one of the beautiful beaches.
What’s more, with a network of international volunteers in Cambodia with you, you can decide if you want to spend your free time exploring independently or in a group.
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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