TEACH ENGLISH OR FRENCH TO CHILDREN IN MOROCCO

WORK CONTENT AND DESCRIPTION

The project is based in the city of Errachidia, which is situated in the ZIZ valley, in between the mountains of High Atlas and the dessert sand hills in South West Morocco.

You’ll work in a school in Errachidia and your role will be to assist the children to learn English or French. You'll work as an assistant in the language lessons.

The school that you'll assist in is for students between the ages of 8 and 20 years old. The schools usually have around 70 students. None of the schools have state-of-the-art equipment, but they do all have electricity.

You’ll walk or cycle to school, which shouldn’t be more than 2km away from your accommodation.

TEACHING ENGLISH:
Overall the level of English is low, with the majority speaking Arabic and tribal languages. English is their third or fourth language (after French.) However, English is becoming more and more important to Morocco due to increased international trade and tourism.

TEACHING FRENCH:
As Morocco is an old French Colony, French is officially the second language after Arabic. Most government work and business and other activities are conducted in Arabic and French and printed in both languages. However as Arabic is still the main language you find that the less educated people, or the people who don’t deal with tourists, or those who live in remoter areas outside the main cities, will struggle with French.

French teachers are always extremely welcomed! Particularly in rural cities such as Errachidia where the project is based. If you’re studying French this is a great place to come and practice it. As a westerner the local people and children in the streets and at the markets will always try speaking in French with you first.

RAMADAN:
During Ramadan all cafes and many activities are closed and placements are not available during this period. However, you can use the time to go travelling and exploring around the country. The dates for Ramadan in 2016 are approx 7 June – 6 July.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS:
There are 5 school terms in the academic year which generally run as follows:
Term 1: Around 6 September to 14 October, followed by AUTUMN HOLIDAYS
Term 2: Around 10 November to 20 December (Harvesting Feast 19th to 20th Nov), followed by CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
Term 3: Around 4 January to 19 February, followed byWINTER HOLIDAYS
Term 4: Around 7 March to 23 April, followed by SPRING HOLIDAYS
Term 5: Around 9 May to 1 July, followed by SUMMER HOLIDAYS

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ACCOMMODATION

When you arrive in Morocco you will fly into Marrakesh where you will be met at the airport and taken by taxi to a traditional guesthouse in the city of Marrakesh for your first night. The following morning you will travel down to Errachidia by bus. The journey is long (10 hours!) but it is a stunning journey in which you can watch unfold out of your window Morocco’s intense and changing landscapes. The journey to Errachidia will take you through the amazing Atlas Mountains and hours of winding mountain roads which emerge dramatically into the desert plains of the Sahara on the other side. A landscape trip in which to begin your experience!

You'll either stay in a house with other volunteers, in a privately run hostel, or with a host family, depending on your own preferences and availability at the time you're there.

All of the accommodation is usually between 10 and 30 minutes from your Project (depending on whether you’d like to walk, ride a bike or take a taxi!)

Accommodation with host families means that Travellers volunteers get to eat, sleep, work, socialise and generally live like a Moroccan! Many of our volunteers remain friends with their host families long after they leave Morocco and in some cases they return to the country later especially to visit their family.

Whichever accommodation you choose, you're sure to enjoy a great stay in Morocco!

FOOD:
Food is included in your placement and will consist of local cuisine

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Got any questions? Please email us: info@travellersworldwide.com

QUALIFICATIONS:
You don't need any qualifications - you only need a good grasp of conversational English or French to do this project. Don't worry about not having special qualifications. The whole idea of Travellers is to provide any help possible, whether it is merely enabling children to hear pronunciation and natural grammar to help inspiring the kids to speak conversationally with you and each other.

Other work will include providing additional help with other academic subjects or showing them how to use a computer – in fact anything you can offer is very much appreciated and don’t worry - everyone knows you're not a qualified teacher (unless you are one, in which case, great!). The emphasis is on much-needed language development, additional learning and cultural contact. It gives your pupils valuable experience. You’ll also make school more fun for them!

We provide you with a Teaching Guide and Suggestions which will help you plan lessons and advise on inexpensive resources to take with you. Children are always fascinated with volunteers and want to learn as much as possible about you. They love to hear stories about you, your family and where you are from so it is ideal to take pictures, maps, magazine articles and photos of your family and friends with you. You can also use these as excellent resources for a lesson to promote discussion and interest

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BOOK YOUR PLACEMENT?

Once you have applied for a placement, we'll contact you and send you our Welcome Pack. You'll also receive Log-on details and password for our Volunteer Extranet where you'll have access to all the documentation and information which we've put together to facilitate preparations for your adventure! Your Project Co-ordinator for your country will liaise with you throughout the arrangements process, as well as while you're on your placement and on your return home.

The documents you'll have access to also include a Country Factfile, Safety Guide and any manuals that may assist you on your particular programme (e.g. Teaching Guide, Sports Manuals, Enrichment Suggestions for Animal Care, etc.). We do all we can to make your stay one that you'll never forget. This is a truly awesome, elegant and beautiful country.

As with all our destinations, the culture and heritage is different to what you're used to ... which, although one of the most exciting aspects of travelling, should be borne in mind. Self-reliance and independence are highly appreciated in all our destinations and will help you to make the most of this wonderful opportunity!

On Arrival, Your Introduction to the Country

When you arrive you will be welcomed by a representative who will take you to your accommodation and introduce you to everyone. During your first few days you'll be given an induction so that you can learn about the country and its culture, as well as other useful information, like how to use the transport system, banks, safety issues, tipping, and lots more. Your adventure has begun :-)

VOLUNTEERING WITH CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS
As well as protecting all our volunteers, Travellers Worldwide is committed to all our projects and dedicated to practices which protect children and vulnerable adults from harm. Read Travellers' Child Care and Vulnerable Adults Policy.

TRAVELLERS' SUPPORT AND BACKUP: Read about the excellent Support & Backup we provide before you leave and during your programme.

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OPTIONAL ADD-ON ACTIVITIES:

Make the most of your time there! To help you do that, we've put together some exciting activities, courses and tours that you can add to your itinerary. These are designed to be fun, but also to enable you to learn, and expand your personal and professional development enjoyment ... but mostly for your enjoyment! :-)

Terms and Conditions apply for Add-Ons, please see here.

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LOCATION | SIGHTSEEING:

Morocco has beautiful beaches and coastline, fantastic culture and heritage, and the winding streets of the ancient medinas (old towns). It’s easy to get around Morocco using buses or taxis through the labyrinth streets of the old town and the Souq’s (markets) in Marrakesh. Soak up the sun in Agadir. Visit Casablanca, the city of Fes (called the ‘Mecca of the West’ and the ‘Athens of Africa').

ERRACHIDIA:
Errachidia is like nowhere you’ve ever seen before. It’s almost as if you’ve stepped back to biblical times. Entrancing markets, colourful and hypnotic and not a western store in sight and that includes 7/11, Starbucks and MacDonalds – yes it’s true!

Errachidia is traditionally Islamic. The people are exceptionally friendly and open and though you’ll be expected to cover your body in your dress, it is liberal enough that non-Islam visitors are not expected to cover their heads.

The region of Errachidia is a cultural and linguistic mosaic. Every tribe, every valley, every village has its own unique characteristics, identifiable by its music, architectural features and its customs. Ethnic diversity is considerable with many races and colours in evidence: the Chorfas Alaouites, natives of the Arabic peninsula mixed with the Berber tribe of Ait Morghad (from the region of Goulmima), the Ait Izdeg (the area around Rich) and the Ait Atta (around Aoufous).

Errachidia is a simple city, with many cafés, mosques, some hotels and restaurants, internet cafés, shops and a few swimming pools. People move around the city by bicycle, motorcycle or ‘petit taxi’s’. In summer in daytime the streets are quiet and everybody stays in the houses.

The quiet of the day is a contrast to the lively of the evenings. In the evenings everybody, men, women, youth and children, go outside. Many of them stay at the ‘rond point’, a field of grass in the middle of a roundabout. The palm trees around the roundabout make the place a little bit cooler than the rest of the city!

Alcohol is prohibited in Morocco and whilst Westerners can find alcohol and drink it in hotels, we suggest you try and get into your mint tea instead!

MINT TEA:
There is nothing quite as delicious as the local tea speciality when travelling, whether Chai in India, Green in Japan or Mint in Morocco. For entertainment Moroccans drink this in coffee shops with exquisite Moroccan teapots and shot glasses. The mint leaves are mixed with a healthy handful of sugar lumps, heated, poured back and forth a few times and then downed. A lovely ceremony!

TRAVEL:

Read about Travel arrangements and what happens when you arrive in your new country.

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REVIEWS AND FEEDBACK:

AIZHAN SHORMAN
British
Teaching Children in Schools in Morocco

I feel that I gained some teaching experience and a lot of communication and language skills. The best thing about the placement was the family. They were so welcoming and kind.

I would recommend the placement for someone who wants to get an insight into true Moroccan culture, not one that is just presented to tourists in big cities.

This placement would suit an open-minded person eager to learn and meet very warm and nice people. Also, someone studying French would get a good exposure to the language. Lastly of course, someone looking for some teaching experience would also benefit.

Typical day:
wake up around 8:30
get ready and have breakfast 9-10 am
prepare a lesson plan for an afternoon class or go to teach a morning class 10 - 12
free time 12 - 14:30
lunch 14:30 - 15:30
afternoon class 16 - 17:30
socialize with the local kids/students and host family 18 - 23 (dinner is around 20 o'clock, and tea is served with a snack about an hour and a half before dinner).

JANE ATTWOOL
British
Teaching Children in Schools in Morocco

The placement appealed to me as a way of finding out more about Morocco and Moroccan culture, whilst doing something challenging and worthwhile.

I am grateful to the family who accommodated and fed me, for their kindness and generosity. I was made to feel very much at home, and accepted as a member of the family during my month in Errachidia.

The school staff were helpful and the students were motivated and charming. Classes could be a little chaotic, but we had a lot of fun!

I am grateful to the local organiser for the historical and general information he provided, as well as for arranging some trips (e.g. to the desert, see below) which gave a fantastic insight into the culture and way of life in this distant region of Morocco. I was a little nervous before starting my placement, now I feel very confident that I could tackle more demanding and challenging situations.

Grateful to staff for taking time to arrange trip to the desert and also a trip to visit extended family outside of Errachidia. Also appreciated supervision of transport arrangements to and from Marrakech. Lots of information provided relating to history and culture of the area which enhanced time spent there.

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