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Teach English Sri Lanka

Are you looking to change lives of poor and disadvantaged children and give them life skills for an opportunity in the job market? Do you ever dream of visiting Sri Lanka to see the white beaches and the wildlife that the country is famous for? By joining this teaching English volunteer program in Sri Lanka you will get that and much more.

Sri Lanka is a country best known for its natural white beaches and exotic wildlife, from elephants to the might leopards and the rare jungle fowl. Gorgeous sceneries like lush jungles and pearly white beaches, deep history, culture and spirituality awaits you in Sri Lanka.

Being a developing country, Sri Lanka is economically and educationally disadvantaged. However, Sri Lanka is keen to improve its educational infrastructure and its people are hopeful and work hard to achieve a more prosperous life. The importance of conversational English is very significant in Sri Lanka, as English fluency helps secure higher-paying jobs and provides a gateway to further opportunities for the future.

In Sri Lanka, young people are in search of a strong English foundation so that they can lift themselves and their communities out of the clutches of poverty. Unfortunately, public schools are often underfunded and there is a shortage of qualified teachers. This seriously hurts the children of low-income families who can’t afford expensive private education.

This is where you come in.

By joining our program, you will help children who have been deprived of a quality education by teaching them vital English skills. By sharing your love and passion, you will make a difference by bridging the educational gap, providing much needed manpower to assist the local staff while experiencing the breathtaking country of Sri Lanka.

Are you interested in creating a better world for disadvantaged kids in Sri Lanka while immersing yourself in an amazing country and culture? Then contact IFRE for more information now!

Take a minute to complete the form and we will be in touch.

Volunteer Responsibilities & Impact

When you join this English teaching program, you will teach in elementary or middle schools in Galle. Depending on your experience, you can choose to teach independently or as an assistant to a local English teacher. Sri Lankan school shave their own books and curriculum which you will be using to teach the students.

As a teacher, you will spend 4-5 hours a day teaching young children in public schools between the ages of 6- 13 years. Additionally, you will organize extracurricular activities such as art, music and sports, as well as assist with administrative tasks when needed.

A strong command in English language is fundamental to make it in today’s globalized world, and your support will be vital in ensuring happy and prosperous lives for these disadvantaged kids. The love and passion you share with them will go a long way to ensuring that the children are motivated and inspired to reach their full potential.


Skills and Qualifications:

There are no specific qualifications needed for you to join the teaching English volunteer program in Sri Lanka. However, you must be willing to help the needy and be ready to work hard. It is also important that you are compassionate and have a passion and love of caring for children. Good skills in teaching English will are also necessary for you to provide maximum benefit to the kids.


Every day in our teaching program in Sri Lanka will be filled with fun and excitement. You will have new experiences every day and feel greatly rewarded as you see the enthusiasm the children show for your classes.

First Day: On your first day of volunteering in teaching English project in Sri Lanka, you will be escorted to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff and the children you will be working with.

Weekdays: You will start teaching on your second day and while your days will be varied this is what your typical day will look like:

7.00 to 7.30 AM: You will share a delicious Sri Lankan breakfast with your host family.

7.45 AM: You will then head out to your placement for a full day of activities. Work and hours are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at.

12.00 PM: Lunch break, you can either go back to enjoy a cooked meal with your host family or share with fellow teachers.

3.00 PM: Work at the placement usually ends around this time. You are free to travel home, prepare for the next day or help the children with their homework.


Teach English Sri Lanka: Dates and Fees

Please be aware that schools in Sri Lanka are closed during the following times:

March 07 March – 22 March
August Last two weeks of the month
December Whole month

Program Dates

IFRE programs begin every Monday year-round. If you have travel constraints, you can still start your chosen program on any day of the year.

Our Fees

Since 2006, IFRE has been the most trusted and respected volunteer abroad organization in the world, and also the most affordable. We’re dedicated to providing the highest quality volunteer programs at the lowest fees, which make it possible for everyone, especially students, to volunteer internationally and make a positive impact in the lives of others.

We believe in 100% transparency. Rest assured; we never use middlemen. Your one-time registration fee of $299 covers our administrative costs. The low weekly fee is paid in the host country directly to your host family and project (via country coordinator), and includes housing, food, and minor expenses. IFRE is a non-profit organization, so your program fees are tax deductible.

Volunteer Program Fees (US$)

Duration Teaching Projects
  1 Week   $150
  2 Weeks   $240
  3 Weeks   $360
  4 Weeks   $480
  5 Weeks   $600
  6 Weeks   $720
  7 Weeks   $840
  8 Weeks   $960
  9 Weeks   $1080
  10 Weeks   $1,200
  11 Weeks   $1,320
  12 Weeks   $1,440

Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day ( below 28 years) and $4.49/day ( above 28 years) »

Airport Pickup and Transfer to Galle (2 hours) $100/per person

Language and Culture $250

How your fee is allocated?

Program Fees Cover:

  • Accommodation (host family)
  • Food (only breakfast and dinnery)
  • Program Orientation
  • In-country support
  • Personalized project
  • Pre-departure information
  • Certificate of completion
  • Fundraising ideas and letters
  • Discount for returning volunteers

Program Fees Exclude:

  • Visas
  • Airfare
  • Personal expenses on soft drinks and foods
  • Daily transportation
  • Airport return transfer

Take a minute to complete the form and we will be in touch.

Accommodation and Meal

While you join teach English Sri Lanka program, you will be hosted by a local family. This family is properly vetted by IFRE and they are highly respected in the community. They have good reviews from years of hosting fellow volunteers and will also provide you with three local meals per day. They are welcoming and ready to love and respect you as well as provide you with a secure comfortable home and plenty of cultural immersion.

Read more about or amazing host families in Sri Lanka.


Free Time and Weekend Exploration

You are certain to spend a considerable amount of time exploring Sri Lanka. You have plenty of free time every day after work since you only work for about 4 to 5 hours per day, which gives you the chance to explore the small beach town of Galle, filled with evening activities. Over the weekend you’ll get to travel to the rest of the country and explorethe island’s amazing scenery and culture.

Learn more about Sri Lanka and places you can visit while volunteering.


Safety and in Country Support

IFRE will support you from the time you land in Sri Lanka to when you finish your project. We will assign you an in-country coordinator who will be available 24/7 to help you if you need anything. We also have a safety net of fellow volunteers who will assist you if you need any help and all our accommodation and project facilities are carefully vetted and routinely inspected to ensure the highest safety standards.

Read more about our safety procedures and network of in-country support coordinators.


Teach English Sri Lanka: FAQs

Arrival and departure

You should fly into Colombo International Airport for your teaching English Sri Lanka volunteer project. Please pack all necessary documents and reach Sri Lanka a day before your project work starts.

We usually arrange airport pick up service for our volunteers. When we receive your final flight details, we will send our airport representative to pick you up on your arrival date and time. If you miss your flight, please contact us as soon as possible aswe will arrange new pick up schedule in that case. You will meet our representative at the airport, and he will transfer you to your project placement.

IFRE does not provide airport drop off services but your in-country coordinator will be happy to advice you on how to best get there.

Visa

Volunteers working in Sri Lanka English teaching program need tourist visa. You will need Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka, as visa on arrival in Sri Lanka is not available without the ETA. You can extend your visa by visiting to the Department of Immigration in Colombo.

Vaccination

We highly recommend that you take the recommended vaccinations before heading to Sri Lanka. Please visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global Health Canada or in Travelers' Health United Kingdom for detailed information regarding required vaccination to visit in Sri Lanka. Vaccinations against Yellow Fever, Diphtheria & Tetanus, Japanese Encephalitis, Hepatitis A and B, Tuberculosis, Typhoid, Polio and Rabies are required.

For further readings:
Vaccination
Volunteer Health and Safety
Safety tips for your volunteer abroad trip

Why volunteer in Teach English Volunteer Project?

This Sri Lanka Teach English Volunteer Program will be an eye-opening and lifechanging opportunity that can truly change the present and future lives of countless deserving children. You will also be able to positively influence lives in ways you can’t imagine.

You will get the opportunity to educate underprivileged children

Taking part in this project will give you the opportunity to teach young children in rural schools of Sri Lanka. You can lead English classes and train students on both spoken as well as written English.This great platform will give you a chance to provide that much needed education to these children.

You will understand the education system of Sri Lanka

While volunteering in Sri Lanka in teaching projectyou will get to learn about a new and different education system that will be an enriching experience. This will help you to become familiar with the education system of Sri Lanka and make it easier to practice learning foreign teaching methods.

You will gain valuable work experience of teaching internationally

When you volunteer in Sri Lanka it not only benefits the children but also yourself. It helps you gain valuable work experience of teaching in a foreign country that can come handy in your future career as well as academic prospects.

You will elevate the level of education of deprived children

The majority of the population in Sri Lanka face a lot of hardships educating themselves and learning the English language. Thusby participating in our Teaching Sri Lanka volunteer Project, you’ll be able to provide easy access to learning English and elevate the overall level of education in rural Sri Lankan communities.

You will learn new ways to handle a class

Even if you’re a professional teacher in your hometown, there will always be something new you could learn to improve or enhance your teaching techniques. When you volunteer to teach abroad in Sri Lanka, you will discovernew ways of teachingand innovate new ways to createlessons which will hugely benefit you in the long run.

Other Volunteer Programs in Sri Lanka

IFRE has many different volunteer programs in Sri Lanka.Such as:

Work in an orphanage

Teach English to Buddhist monks

Provide medical care

Work with elephants in Kegalle or Pinnawala and much more.

Contact IFRE today to learn more!

Volunteer Teaching English in Other Countries

English is a vital skill to learn all over the world, and IFRE arranges English teaching programs in many different countries to help people across the world reach their full potential in this globalized world. Check our list below for our most popular teaching programs:

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