Summer Internship

The Tandana Foundation is seeking applicatns for an internship beginning June 15, 2012 and ending August 15, 2012 that will focus on developing ESL curriculum, teaching it, and helping young volunteers teach it.

Position Description

This internship is designed to help provide more continuity and greater excellence in the curriculum and teaching for our Vacation English Course in Quichinche, Ecuador.  Two to three interns will work together to design a coherent and effective curriculum for three different levels of ESL classes for secondary school students.  The classes will take place five days a week in the mornings from July 2 through August 3.  The interns will plan the curriculum ahead of time, teach it, and record it in a way that is easy for future volunteers to follow.  They will teach the classes throughout the month. They will also work with two groups of volunteer high school students, each coming for a short period of time, helping the volunteers get involved in planning and teaching the classes during their visits.  The interns will live with host families in the Quichinche area, and may supervise the high school students at certain times. 

Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and record effective ESL curriculum.
• Lead local students on field trips and service activities.
• Work with North American volunteers to help them participate in teaching the ESL classes.
• Supervise, in a safe and professional manner, North American high school students for short periods of time.
• Represent Tandana in a positive manner to all community members and volunteers
• Communicate and collaborate with Tandana’s Local Coordinator
• Live with a local host family and build relationships in the community

Requirements:

• Minimum of conversational Spanish
• Experience living in cross-cultural situations, preferably in Latin America
• Experience working with North Americans
• Ability to work cooperatively with a diverse array of people, to solve problems creatively, and to promote a positive experience for all involved
• Self-motivation, responsibility, and an ability to work independently
• Prior ESL experience or training, or demonstrated interest in teaching is preferred but not required.
  

Benefits:

• Living expenses while working for The Tandana Foundation  (The intern will provide his or her own transportation to Ecuador, but Tandana will provide room, board, and transportation within Ecuador).
  
• The opportunity to participate in unique cultural activities and worthwhile community projects

9-Month Internship

The Tandana Foundation is seeking applicants for an internship, beginning September 1, 2012 and continuing until May 15, 2013, that will combine leadership of volunteer programs with individual volunteer work. 

Position Description

            The internship was created to provide more continuity to Tandana’s presence in the communities where we work in Ecuador and allow the intern to develop connections and relationships that will improve our volunteer programs.   It should be an opportunity for the Intern to learn, grow, and connect, a chance for Tandana to provide more benefit to the communities on an ongoing basis, and a way to enrich the experience of our volunteers.

            The Intern is expected to serve as Assistant Coordinator (or Group and/or Community Coordinator) for all scheduled programs during her time in Ecuador. As the need arises, she may be asked also to assist other volunteers or to coordinate custom programs.  She takes responsibility for the Summer Volunteer Program, including managing the volunteers and heading up the vacation courses for local students.  In between programs, she is expected to follow up with patients from the health care programs and teach English at the Panecillo elementary school.  The Intern and the Executive Director will work together to plan this work, set goals, and evaluate progress.  The Intern should keep in touch with the Executive Director and the Scholarship Coordinator regarding progress and challenges.  She must provide written reports on patient follow up, vacation classes, and the Summer Volunteer Program.

            Because developing relationships in the community and strengthening Tandana’s presence there are priorities of the internship, the Intern is expected to be in the communities, make an effort to develop connections, and show community members that they are her priority.  However, the intern may wish to spend some time traveling, and may spend up to three weeks away from the communities during the internship time period.  She may also travel before or after the time period of the internship. Because the intern will often be involved in preparing for and following up after the programs, she must be in the communities one week before the beginning of each program through three days after the end.  When leaving the communities, the Intern should inform the Executive Director of her schedule.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the programs on a daily basis and facilitate all aspects of the group’s stay in Ecuador
• Work with community leaders and other local contacts to coordinate volunteer work and cultural activities
• Set a positive tone for volunteer groups and create opportunities for reflection and improvement of group dynamics
• Coordinate logistics of the programs, handle money, keep accurate records
• Represent Tandana in a positive manner to all community members and volunteers
• Solve problems and handle emergency situations in a professional manner
• Take responsibility for follow up with patients from our health care programs, making appointments, helping them navigate the public health system, advocating for them at the hospital
• Teach English in the Ati Pillahuasu elementary school in between volunteer programs; work on other ongoing Tandana projects.
• Communicate and collaborate with Tandana’s Local Coordinator
• Live with a local host family and build relationships in the community

Requirements:

• Minimum of conversational Spanish; fluency preferred
• Experience leading groups in service projects or other experiential education programs
• Experience living in cross-cultural situations, preferably in Latin America
• Experience working with North Americans
• Ability to work cooperatively with a diverse array of people, to solve problems creatively, and to promote a positive experience for all involved
• Self-motivation, responsibility, and an ability to work independently
• WFA certification or equivalent or greater first aid training

Benefits:

• Intern will receive $100 per month and three weeks vacation
• Transportation to and from Ecuador
• Living expenses while working for The Tandana Foundation
• The opportunity to participate in unique cultural activities and worthwhile community projects

Remote ESL Teaching Internship