National Volunteer Center English Opens Doors Program Chilean Ministry of Education and United Nations Development Programme-Chile
2015 Brochure
What is the English Opens Doors Program?
2014 Volunteer Kevin Marriott with his students. The English Opens Doors Program -an initiative from the Chilean Ministry of Education, supported by the United Nations Development Program- is seeking volunteers to teach English under the supervision of Chilean teachers in public schools throughout Chile, working with students from 5th grade to 12 th grade. While volunteering with the English Opens Doors Program, you would have the opportunity to accumulate teaching experience in a developing country in a fee-free initiative, gain real-world experience living and working abroad, learn or better your Spanish-language abilities, get to know an incredible country with a wealth of cultural and geographical beauty, and most importantly to make a positive impact on an individual, national, and global level. Over the past 10 years more than 1,900 volunteers from all over the world have participated in the English Opens Doors Program!
What does it mean to be a Volunteer?
“I had an amazing experience living and teaching in Chile. I fell in love with teaching and I decided to stay in Chile after my program ended.” - 2013 Volunteer Francie Maureira Our Full Time volunteers are recent graduates and young professionals who are native or near-native English speakers with a background or interest in teaching. Accepted volunteers are assigned to public schools throughout Chile and support Chilean EFL teachers to reinforce English instruction in an “All English”, activity-based class. Volunteers work a total of 35 hours a week. This includes their work within the classroom, facilitating fun extra-curricular activities, participation/taking on a coaching role in our very popular student development initiatives such as: debates, spelling bees, public speaking competitions and our English camps! A volunteer's main focus is to motivate students to learn English and focusing on the development of English listening and speaking abilities.
What does it mean to be a Volunteer (continued)? Volunteers are responsible for:
Please see below for each volunteer service’s application deadline, start date, and end date. For more information, please visit our website.
International transportation to Santiago by stipulated start date Personal and leisure expenses (personal travel, eating out, etc.)
The benefits provided to volunteers:
When can I volunteer?
Volunteer allowance of 65,000 Chilean Pesos (approximately $120 US dollars) for every 30 days of completed service Food and accommodations provided through a host family In-country health insurance E-learning Spanish course with free BULATS certification test Week long orientation (food and accommodations provided) Transportation to and from Santiago Visa application and registration support In-country volunteer support Visa fees are waived by consulates in home countries
Volunteer Service
Application Application Deadline deadline for US for NONCitizens US Citizens
Start Date:
End Date:
July 26, 2015
VS1 *Year-long October 13, or one2014 semester
November 24, 2014
March 2, 2015
or November 28, 2015 July 26, 2015
VS2 *Year-long October 27, or one2014 semester
December 8, 2014
March 16, 2015
or November 28, 2015
2013 Volunteer Eunice Yu dancing “cueca”.
VS3
November 17, 2014
December 29, 2014
April 6, 2015
November 28, 2015
VS4
December 1, 2014
January 12, 2015
April 20, 2015
November 29, 2015
VS5
March 16, 2015
April 27, 2015
August 3, 2015
November 29, 2015
I am not a teacher; would I still be a successful volunteer?
Also, through their volunteer experience in Chile, the English Opens Doors Program has several supports in place to assist the volunteer. Volunteers will work with a Chilean EFL certified teacher for immediate support in the classroom. Additionally, volunteers are provided with a Regional Representative who coordinates and assists volunteers in their region, and the National Volunteer Center team, who is comprised of a caring and experienced staff of former volunteers who are also available for volunteer assistance. Lastly, the National Volunteer Center connects volunteers in the Orientation week and through social media such as a Facebook group for peer-to-peer connections. In addition to personal support, all volunteers are equipped with information during training and reference materials such as manuals, teaching aids, and an electronic teaching materials library.
“As someone with no experience, I was pretty nervous coming into the English Opens Doors Programme as a volunteer teaching assistant. However, in just one week of training we were all equipped with the exact tools we needed to get going in our placements straight away… I’m currently able to perform my job successfully because of the training we received in Santiago.” -Rinu Ogundeji, 2014 volunteer Yes! Volunteers are not required to have a teaching degree and/or TESL/TEFL certification. We provide all volunteers with a mandatory, comprehensive, week-long Orientation in Santiago. Our orientation includes essential training topics such as:
TEFL training Cultural adjustment Classroom management strategies In-training, “Practice Class” experience through a microclass setting Information, guidance and sharing of past-experiences provided from past volunteers
“Orientation gave me the tools I needed to be successful in the classroom, and taught me how to get answers to questions that would inevitably come up. It got me excited to be teaching and eager to get to know my students.” - Kristin Giordano, 2014 volunteer
How Do I find more Information?
How Do I Apply?
Easy! Visit our website at: www.centrodevoluntarios.cl There, you can read in-depth about volunteer stories, and explore other aspects of the volunteer experience. We also have various social media outlets so check us out on Facebook as well!
We have our Application process outlined on the website here. Our application process is comprised of a one application process. Please read through the information provided and if you have questions about the process, please don´t hesitate to contact us!
Would it be possible to talk to a former volunteer about their experience? Absolutely! When volunteers finish the English Opens Doors Volunteer Initiative, they become a member of our Alumni network as they continue to be connected with people they met through their experience, other former volunteers, and our Program. Some of our Alumni wish to “pay the experience forward” by talking to prospective volunteers about their memorable and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. They are listed on our website under the “Talk to an Ambassador” section. However, remember that the National Volunteer Center Staff is made up of former volunteers as well! Therefore, you are guaranteed to speak with a former volunteer during the interview phase of the application process.
Thank you for your potential interest in the English Opens Doors Program Volunteer Initiative! We hope you consider this unique opportunity to make a positive impact within a Chilean school community. Please refer to our website for more information and don´t hesitate to contact us with any question you may have.
National Volunteer Center contact information: Email: Voluntarios@mineduc.cl Tel. +(56-2) 2.406.7193 Skype: englishopensdoors Facebook: EnglishOpensDoorsProgramChile Twitter: @EODChile www.centrodevoluntarios.cl
“The English Opens Doors program has opened a lot of doors for me. My experience with English Opens Doors reaffirmed by desire to pursue a career that involved two of my passions: education and social work.” - 2013 volunteer Katie Pulchalski