Teaching - ROMANIA Project Information for Teaching in Romania

Our Voluntary Teaching in Romania

One of our first destinations, Projects Abroad first started sending volunteers to Romania in 1992. Initially all volunteers went to teach, answering to the realization in Romania that a knowledge of English is key to gaining a good job. We now have placements in almost a dozen schools in Brasov, where volunteers work alongside local teachers. While the teacher focuses on grammar skills, the volunteer is required to improve the accuracy and confidence of the students' spoken English. Previous volunteers have found that using materials such as games and songs is a great way to engage the students and make them eager to learn!

The Role of the Volunteer

Each volunteer is given a weekly schedule from their supervisor and will initially share a classroom with a language teacher in order to observe and learn the teaching methods used by Romanian teachers. After assisting the teacher for a few lessons, the volunteer will be able if they want to take the class alone, although the teacher will always be available to assist if necessary. Volunteers should follow the Romanian curriculum, but they are also welcome to bring their own ideas to the classroom.

Volunteers teach students between the ages of 5 and 18, and the average class size is 30. A typical lesson lasts 50 minutes followed by a break of 10 minutes. In Romania there is usually 18 hours of teaching time per week, and these hours are not necessarily spaced equally over the week. So the volunteer will be expected to teach for an average of 4 hours per day.

In the afternoons and during the holidays "English Clubs" are organised. Volunteers have the freedom to teach how they want to, and are not limited to teaching English; they can also coach sports, drama, music, or organise day trips.