About this role
English Teacher
Project Description: Students and teachers in Indonesia are seeking fluent English speakers to help them develop their communication and instructional skills.
While English has long been taught in Indonesian secondary schools, students’ opportunities to develop practical, communicative skills remain uneven, particularly outside major urban areas. Many students complete years of English instruction yet gainlimited confidence using the language in real-life situations. Many English teachers have been trained in traditional, teacher-centered methods and have limited exposure to communicative, student-centered instruction or opportunities to practice with native or fluent speakers. These gaps are compounded by large class sizes, limited instructional materials, and uneven access to professional development. The Government of Indonesia’s recent plan to introduce English as a mandatory subject beginning in grade 3 also reflects the growing recognition of the importance of English at an earlier stage of education. As an English Teacher, you will collaborate with educators at public or Islamic schools to strengthen English instruction by creating new teaching resources and using student‑centered practices. Your collaborative efforts will help students and teachers build the skills and confidence needed to pursue further education, employment, and opportunities on a global stage. Your efforts will also foster meaningful connections between Indonesians and Americans.
Required Skills: Bachelor's degree in any discipline.
Living Conditions: Volunteers serve in peri‑urban and rural communities across East Java, West Java, and East Nusa Tenggara. During your service, you will live with an Indonesian host family, sharing daily routines and meals. Volunteers have a private bedroom, while common areas such as the kitchen and living room are shared. Most Volunteers can expect to live within a 30‑minute commute of their assigned school.
Job Highlights: Earn a teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) certification after training on student-centered instruction and effective classroom management. Gain hands-on experience working with Indonesia’s national curriculum while learning from the expertise of local teachers through structured co-teaching with counterparts. Receive 120 hours of Bahasa Indonesia language training and strengthen your proficiency through daily interactions.
Activities: Observe and learn about Indonesia’s education system and English-teaching practices. Plan and teach engaging, level-appropriate English lessons that promote student-centered learning. Develop supplemental teaching materials and create a supportive learning environment. Conduct workshops to strengthen teachers’ English proficiency and instructional skills. Facilitate English clubs, summer camps, or youth-focused activities that build confidence. Integrate cross-cutting topics into lessons and extracurricular activities. Encourage community participation in school activities and strengthen support for ongoing education projects. You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as supporting English conversation clubs or youth leadership camps.
Training: As an English Teacher, you will be trained on student-centered instruction, effective classroom management, and the national curriculum. Peace Corps/Indonesia will teach you Bahasa Indonesia to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community.
After 11 weeks of training, you will move to a peri-urban or rural community in East Java, West Java, or East Nusa Tenggara, where you will collaborate with public schools or madrasahs (Islamic schools) to assess language-learning needs and develop solutions based on participatory approaches.