SVS School for English – Volunteer English Teaching in Sri Lanka

The SVS School for English is a small, family-run English school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. They are a registered charity that was set up in 2006 with the aim of enabling Sri Lankans and expatriates living in Sri Lanka to develop vital, empowering English language skills.

SVS School is now looking for committed, open-minded individuals with a passion for helping students develop their written and spoken English language skills.

Whether you’re looking to make a life change after years spent in the rat race, or want to gain some life experience after university, whether you’re a nomad of the world looking for your next settlement or just someone who wants to make an honest difference in people’s lives, then come and join the SVS family.

About the position

Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka

Job type: Volunteer teaching

Starting dates: They look for volunteer teachers throughout the year and accept applications on a rolling basis. However, term dates usually run as follows:

• Term 1: early January to early April
• Term 2: mid-April to end June
• Term 3: early July to end September
• Term 4: early October to mid-December

Schedule: English classes in Colombo run Monday to Friday, beginning at 8.30 AM. Volunteer English teachers work 30 hours a week, teaching three 2-hour classes daily, and are provided with lesson plans and course materials.

Class size: Classes are kept small, to better facilitate interaction and communication between students and teachers. The maximum number of students per class is 24 to 26 students.

Students: Many students are from rural areas attending university or working in Colombo and they need English to further their prospects but afford the cost of English education. They also have a large student population of Buddhist monks. In addition to these groups, they also get students from Korea, Japan, China, India, Thailand, Taiwan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Turkey, the Middle East….the list goes on!

Most students are aged 18 and over, although occasionally students as young as 16 enroll after finishing secondary school.

Benefits

• As a volunteer English teacher with SVS School for English, you’ll have the chance to live and travel in the beautiful tropical island that is Sri Lanka.
• Our volunteer teachers receive food and accommodation free of charge, travel to and from the school as well as a small monthly stipend.
• English teachers live in a large, modern house in the suburbs of Colombo, close to the scenic parliament area, and a stone’s throw from a gorgeous wetland park.
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided, as well as other amenities including a laundry service.
• Volunteer teachers will also have the opportunity to experience the tranquility of Sri Lanka’s up-country region when visiting Maskeliya, where the school’s parent project, the Samanala Valley Foundation is located.
• In addition to breaks between terms, volunteer teachers receive weekends and public holidays off – of which Sri Lanka has an abundance!

Requirements:

All English course teachers are expected to bring the enthusiasm, zest, and passion to be the best for their students.

To volunteer with SVS School for English, you also need to meet the following requirements:

• You must be a native speaker of English and/or have an excellent standard of English.
• Graduated from university and/or be certified in teaching English as a foreign language and/or have at least 3 or more years of work experience in any industry.
• Be able to commit to at least 6 months of volunteering at SVS School for English.
• Volunteer English teachers will need a visa to enter Sri Lanka, and the school assists in making the necessary arrangements to procure a visa.
• A teaching qualification/experience is meriting but not a requirement to volunteer at SVS School for English.

How to apply

To apply, please attach your CV in the specified format, and fill in their online application form.

Make sure that you include a brief paragraph of no more than 250 words explaining why you’d like to be a part of their team in Sri Lanka.

Once they receive your CV and application, they will be in touch to discuss the next steps. You may be asked to complete a small test online, to assess your English language and teaching ability. Afterward, you will also have a video interview with the Principal or Vice-Principal before a decision is made.

For more information about SVS, please visit their website.