Our volunteer teaching abroad
Volunteering as a teacher abroad is a hugely rewarding experience that allows you to share your knowledge, inspire others, and travel. Whether you dream of empowering children or supporting adult learners, we offer a range of opportunities where you make a real impact – often teaching English as a foreign language – for a minimum of one month. If you’re just starting out, you can support local teachers in the classroom by helping students build confidence through conversation, games, and creative activities. Placements are available for experienced teachers, first-time language assistants, sports coaches or homework helpers, all subject to DBS checks or the equivalent. The important thing is to choose a placement that matches your skills, to ensure you – and your students – enjoy your lessons to the fullest.
Volunteer teaching holiday in Tanzania
From
€1400
28 days
ex flights
Help rural education & empower young minds in Mwanza
Tailor made
Teaching and community volunteering in Kerala
From
US $1295
4 weeks
ex flights
Travel and teach in the gorgeous sunshine state
Small group2025: 20 Dec, 27 Dec, 2026: 3 Jan, 10 Jan, 17 Jan, 24 Jan, 31 Jan, 7 Feb, 14 Feb, 21 Feb, 28 Feb, 7 Mar, 14 Mar, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 4 Apr, 11 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 16 May, 30 May, 13 Jun, 27 Jun, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 8 Aug, 22 Aug, 5 Sep, 19 Sep, 3 Oct, 17 Oct, 31 Oct, 14 Nov, 28 Nov, 12 Dec, 26 Dec, 2027: 9 Jan, 23 Jan, 6 Feb, 20 Feb, 6 Mar, 20 Mar, 3 Apr, 17 Apr, 1 May
Teaching assistant volunteering in Kerala
From
US $1299
4 weeks
ex flights
Make the most of your holidays with volunteer travel India
Small group2025: 20 Dec, 27 Dec, 2026: 3 Jan, 10 Jan, 17 Jan, 24 Jan, 31 Jan, 7 Feb, 14 Feb, 21 Feb, 28 Feb, 7 Mar, 14 Mar, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 4 Apr, 11 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 9 May, 16 May, 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 18 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 31 Oct, 7 Nov, 14 Nov, 21 Nov, 28 Nov, 5 Dec, 12 Dec, 19 Dec ...
Volunteer in Peru, teaching and sports
From
US $1395
4 weeks
ex flights
Machu Picchu adventure with some volunteering in Cusco.
Small group2025: 21 Dec, 28 Dec, 2026: 4 Jan, 11 Jan, 18 Jan, 25 Jan, 1 Feb, 8 Feb, 15 Feb, 22 Feb, 1 Mar, 8 Mar, 15 Mar, 22 Mar, 29 Mar, 5 Apr, 12 Apr, 19 Apr, 26 Apr, 3 May, 10 May, 17 May, 24 May, 31 May, 7 Jun, 14 Jun, 21 Jun, 28 Jun, 5 Jul, 12 Jul, 19 Jul, 26 Jul, 2 Aug, 9 Aug, 16 Aug, 23 Aug, 30 Aug, 6 Sep, 13 Sep, 20 Sep, 27 Sep, 4 Oct, 11 Oct, 18 Oct, 25 Oct, 1 Nov, 8 Nov, 15 Nov, 22 Nov, 29 Nov, 6 Dec, 13 Dec, 20 Dec, 27 Dec ...
Nepal teacher volunteering holiday
From
£1695 to £3145
4 weeks
ex flights
Volunteer with children in Pokhara, Nepal
Tailor made
Teaching and family volunteering in Peru
From
US $1395
4 weeks
ex flights
Experience sensational Peru with family volunteering
Small group2025: 19 Dec, 26 Dec, 2026: 2 Jan, 9 Jan, 16 Jan, 23 Jan, 30 Jan, 6 Feb, 13 Feb, 20 Feb, 27 Feb, 6 Mar, 13 Mar, 20 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 10 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 23 Oct, 30 Oct, 6 Nov, 13 Nov, 20 Nov, 27 Nov, 4 Dec, 11 Dec, 18 Dec, 25 Dec ...
See all our Volunteer teaching abroad holidaysContact Us
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What does volunteer teaching abroad entail
Do I need to be qualified?
The volunteer work you will be able to undertake depends greatly on your qualifications, experience and the time you can commit to the placement. If you are a qualified teacher (including TEFL certificates) and you can commit to a minimum of one month, then you can lead classes in schools or summer schools, following the agreed curriculum. Unqualified volunteers or those opting for shorter placements will be assisting teachers in class, leading conversation sessions, helping out with homework and volunteering at after school clubs. This is to ensure consistency for the students; a rapid turnaround of teachers hinders learning, can result in repetition and fails to create the important teacher-student relationship.
What subjects can I teach?
Most teachers and assistants will be involved in English lessons; however, some placements also include music, sports coaching, maths, drama or arts, depending on the volunteers’ skills and interests and the needs of local communities. In the case of English lessons, it is very valuable for students to be able to practise the language with native teachers in order to improve pronunciation and conversation skills – so even if you are not actually teaching, you are providing a much needed service. Qualified coaches can also lead sports sessions in schools or after school clubs.
Know before you go
All reputable and responsible organisations require a DBS check (or equivalent background check) to be carried out on anyone applying to volunteer with children or vulnerable adults. We will provide you with information on dress codes, local culture and beliefs, and anything that you can donate to the school. You may also be informed about local environmental issues to help to minimise your impact – such as water use and waste disposal. Qualified teachers will also be informed about the curriculum in order to be able to plan their lessons.
Is there any training included?
Many placements offer inductions on arrival, including orientation in the local area, cultural training and an induction into the kind of volunteer work you will be doing, including the school and syllabus. Inductions usually last at least one day.
Can I enjoy other activities alongside the teaching?
Combined volunteering holidays mean you will be mixing your classes with other activities – a popular option is yoga and teaching in India, where morning yoga sessions are followed by afternoons assisting teachers in a local school. On weekends you are often free to do as you choose!
How long do placements last?
The shortest volunteer teaching placements are just a week long. These are best suited to those helping out with conversation classes, homework or after school clubs, as you won’t need to get stuck into syllabuses. Even if you are a qualified teacher, you’ll need to commit to at least a month to be able to plan and lead classes, to ensure consistency. The maximum time you can volunteer for is usually around 12 weeks – though do chat to the holiday company if you think you can commit to longer – the more time you spend on a project, the more you can offer your students and the local community.
When will I be teaching?
Some teaching placements will only be available at certain times of year, depending on the local term times. Others may offer both regular school and summer school placements, meaning they can be offered all year round. Usually, you will be teaching from Monday to Friday, with weekends free to relax, explore the surrounding area or go on excursions. Some activities may be included in the placement fees, such as short tours, language lessons or a weekend excursion. For those leading classes, there will also be time during the school day to spend on lesson planning and preparing materials.
What is included in my fee?
The cost usually includes accommodation, transfers, inductions and support. Some projects include all meals, others include breakfast and lunch, others are self catering. Speak to your volunteer organisation to find out if any other activities are included – some offer weekend trips or excursions on your days off, as well as covering transport costs to the school, SIM cards and so on. It is also common for a part of your fee to be donated to the project itself – covering materials, equipment, classroom construction or local staff salaries in order for the projects to be able to keep running.
Where will I be staying?
Due to the nature of these placements, many are based in rural areas and smaller villages where the need for teachers and teaching assistants is greatest; this provides a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and get to know local teachers and other community members. Accommodation options vary hugely. Often there is a dedicated volunteer house; while some placements have the option of staying with a host family. Volunteers on a Thai island may even have their own beach hut!
The accommodation is usually located within easy travelling distance of the school – either on foot, by bike or by local bus or tuk tuk.
The accommodation is usually located within easy travelling distance of the school – either on foot, by bike or by local bus or tuk tuk.
Our Volunteer teaching abroad reviews
5
2Volunteer teaching abroad reviews
Riyaz Mithani29 May 2023
My most memorable part of my holidays were my students. I learned more from them then what I offered them. It was magnificent. read more
Emily Fairchild17 Aug 2019
The most memorable part of the trip was turning ordinary lessons into fun and creative ones, which the children enjoyed.read more
