Cambodia: Language Exchange

Introduction

Whether you are a teacher, or just enjoy working with children, you should consider including this project in your adventure plans.

Our teaching placements are designed to give people who are interested in pursuing a career in a specific field their first taste of what it might be like. We also want to provide professionals who’ve already chosen their career path a unique experience that will help them to develop new skills, and present new opportunities.

You don’t need to have any previous teaching experience to get involved with this project.

Daily Life

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in South-east Asia – more than 75% of the population survive on less than $2 a day. Like many of the world’s poorest countries, Cambodia lacks the basic infrastructure to lift itself from the grip of poverty. Education is vital to the future generations of Cambodian children; children who are keen to learn, and who understand the importance of learning.

We’re offering you the opportunity to work with the children of Samraong, and help them to work towards a better future. While teaching English will be the main aim of your placement, the dire state of the local schools means that you may be called upon to help renovate, and rebuild school buildings, and orphanages. You might be asked to teach the children about environmental issues, or help them with their work in the vegetable garden.

Some of our placements are only looking for unpaid volunteers, but the experiences that they offer are unique and invaluable to your career progression. New projects are cropping up all the time, so bookmark us to keep track of our future projects.

You’ll be expected to teach up to three hours a day, from Monday to Friday. Your timetable will be flexible, and will include plenty of time for you to plan and prepare lessons, reflect and evaluate on your work so far and compare your experiences with other members of staff.

Bringing gifts to share with students, and staff members is often a great way to break the ice on your first day. In our experience, students are less interested in toys, but pictures of your family, home, or pet are always well received.

Travel & Accom.

Upon arrival you will be met at the airport by a project representative and taken to the project HQ.

You will be housed in Samraong with local home-stays, or at a guest house if home-stays are not possible. Living with a local family can be a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the culture of a country, but if you’d rather stay in a guest house, this can be arranged.

Laundry facilities are limited, so you should expect to wash your clothes by hand during parts of your trip. All our visitors are expected to be environmentally aware and to use all resources with restraint; especially water, paper and electricity. You’ll be expected to clean up after yourself, and play your part in keeping the accommodation neat and organised.

All your meals are included during your stay; they’ll be traditional Cambodian food, including plenty of rice dishes. If you have any specific dietary requirements, please let us know before you arrive, and we’ll ensure there is plenty for you to eat.

Requirements

• Minimum age 18.
• Passion and enthusiasm for working with children, lots of energy and creativity.
• No previous skills are necessary, however you will need to speak English at a native or near-native level.
• Minimum 1 week commitment – 30+ hours a week
• Necessary vaccinations.
• Necessary flight & visas.
• Full travel & medical insurance. Please see our info pages for more information and to get a quote.

Costs

€300 Euros per week

* Check the latest currency conversions with xe.com
** All payments incur a 5% bank transfer fee
*** Placements are confirmed with a 1 week deposit

What’s Included:

Project Fee includes food, accommodation, airport pickup, orientation, in-country support and project activities.

Private rooms are available for an additional €100 per week.

What’s not included:

Flights, insurance, visas (if applicable) and vaccinations. Full assistance will be provided in getting all these arranged if you choose our Premium Support.

Premium Support Upgrade

We understand there’s a great deal to plan and organise for your trip. When booking a Placement, many of our participants choose to purchase our Premium Support Upgrade to benefit from the expertise, knowledge and experience of our Project Coordinators.

We can provide the personal advice you need to ensure your trip is organised with excellence and planned with efficiency; ensuring the very best experience possible. Read more about how we can help you.

Extra Activities

Those looking to get off the beaten track should read our Top 5 Things to do in Cambodia. Sandwiched between the more touristy Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodia is a traveler’s hidden treasure. Explore ancient Buddhist temples and bustling outdoor markets, or simply relax with an all inclusive yoga retreat. Cambodia is waiting for you.

Visit Temples

Some people only go to Cambodia to see the amazing temples scattered around the country. Step into these holy places and experience where the ancient monks once lived. Or explore modern ones where they still live today! The most famous one is Angkor Wat, which is close to Siem Reap. Angkor Wat ruins are approximately 900 years old, and are part of an entire park that you could get lost in for hours. Two more beautiful temples that we recommend in Siem Reap are Angkor Thom and Ba Yon Temple. There you will see colossal carvings of Bodhisattva’s, elephants and intricate demons and gods. Just make sure that you don’t walk into the wrong room with shoes on!

Visit The Killing Fields

You might not want to bring the kids here, but if you want to dive into Cambodia’s past you must see the Killing Fields. This memorial in Phnom Penh commemorates a very dark part of Cambodia’s history. These unfortunate mass graves were a product of the Cambodian Genocide in the 70’s. This happened during the reign of Khmer Rouge, who murdered close to two million people. The grave is a sight that you will never forget. This is a terribly tragic, yet intriguing, window to the Cambodian culture that tourists should pay homage to.

Go to a Cambodian Market

Asian outdoor markets are often quite the eye-opener to Western visitors. Fresh vegetables, living fish and souvenirs all in one bustling place. Shop like a local but still get souvenirs, and finish the experience with some homemade noodles. We recommend The Central Market and the Night Market in Phnom Penh. Any of the markets near Angkor Wat in Siem Reap are great. You can even sometimes find tours to take you to all of them if you can’t decide on only one!

Phnom Penh Royal Palace

This entire compound is a feast for the eyes. The stunning architecture replicates the Buddhist temples you’ll see all around Asia. With glimmering golden towers contrasting white walls and expansive courtyards and walkways, you are sure to be in awe. Here you will get a full understanding of the grandeur of the royal Cambodian ancestors.

Do a Yoga Retreat

When your feet are tired from temple-hopping, finish your stay in with a relaxing yoga retreat. Cambodia has hundreds of affordable, secluded and spiritually gratifying yoga experiences. Wake up to the sound of gongs, chant your heart out and truly relax and experience real yoga. You can stay anywhere from a few days to a few months, and all yogi levels can find the right retreat for their needs.