Sri Lanka: Education & Teaching

Introduction

Sri Lanka, the “nation of smiling people”, is a beautiful island in the Indian Ocean with rich biodiversity, and a multicultural and a multi-religious population. Formerly known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka is famous for its cuisine, its holistic medicine, cricket, tea, gemstones and its vibrant artistic traditions. Buddhism has shaped the country’s traditions and culture along with the influence of the colonial period with British, Dutch and Portuguese elements visible on every corner. Over 2,000 years of history and culture are visible in the Sri Lankan cities, its beautiful ancient temples and with eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, the country fills its visitors with awe and amazement. Sri Lanka offers adventures in it’s chilly mountains or sun-drenched pristine beaches where you can snorkel in crystal-clear waters, its luscious hills with two thousand year-old temples and hundreds of elephants or in its cities with colonial buildings and tiny one floor hostels overlooking the sea.

You can choose from the following teaching projects;

Preschool Teaching
Your project is to work as an assistant teacher at one of our many Kindergarten schools. This program helps children in the villages improve their English language skills. You will primarily be teaching English. You may be called upon to help teach drama, music and foreign languages. You would also assist other teachers and staff and may have to create teaching plans, etc. All the institutions are well managed and are supervised by officers from government and private institutions.

All the institutions are over 5 years old. They all share the common values and aim to create a better future for the kids. Some of them provide free education too.

Special Needs School
Spend your time at the Special Needs School where you will be able to work with students with different health conditions. Your affection, attention and care would help these children to have confidence and skills they deserve to have. You will support the teachers and staff in looking after the children and teaching and involving the children in various other activities. You will be training them to live a regular life.

Teaching English to Adults
Teaching English to adults program is aimed at improving the skills and knowledge of english of adults. The aim of this program is to enhance their confidence and knowledge of English. Proficiency in English is one of the essential requirements in acquiring a suitable employment in Sri Lanka. Yet the formal school education has not been successful to produce individuals who are competent in using English. Therefore, we strive to teach individuals who are in need of assistance learn English.

Village Kids
In Sri Lanka, obtaining English education is quite expensive and most of the children in villages are not able to attend for private tuition classes to improve their English knowledge. Therefore, under this project, you will be teaching English for children in villages after their school hours. The classes will take place either at a community center or at a home of a parent who would like to provide space to conduct the classes. Since this project will be carried out only for 2 to 3 hours in the afternoon, it is suggested that you combine this with another project, which takes place in the morning.

Culture Week

Prepare for a meaningful start to your volunteer project on the beautiful island nestled in the Indian Ocean, where pristine beaches and ancient Buddhist temples await your exploration.

Please note that this week is an optional add-on to your Volunteer trip, typically scheduled at the beginning of your journey.

During this introductory week, we’ll provide you with valuable insights and guidance to make your transition into this unique journey smoother. You’ll gain essential knowledge about safety, local transportation, and travel tips, particularly beneficial for solo female travelers.

We’ll begin by immersing you in the heart of Sri Lanka’s culture and traditions. You’ll explore the profound teachings of Buddhism, uncover the rich cultural heritage, and visit sacred temples, including the revered ‘Temple of the Tooth.’ We’ll also take you to a peaceful forest sanctuary and introduce you to the serenity of a sacred Hindu temple.

Language sessions will empower you to engage with the warm-hearted locals more effectively. You’ll experience the relaxation of a traditional Ayurvedic massage, witness the beauty of ancient Kandyan dance performances, and indulge in the flavors of Sri Lankan cuisine during hands-on cooking sessions.

To spark your creativity, you’ll have the opportunity to craft your own Batik design or appreciate the intricate details of a traditional one, allowing you to make a personal connection with the culture as you transition into your volunteer project.

Schedule

Monday

We start off the day with a welcome and introduction program and the collection of the necessary documents. A basic Language Lesson will be held thereafter. After lunch, we shall attend a cultural lesson and head out on the Kandy City tour followed by a cultural show and dinner thereafter.

Tuesday

After a good Sri Lankan breakfast, learn about the famous Sri Lankan Spices and Ayurvedic herbs in a herbal garden. Do you know what the acronym TEA stands for? And what is the national gemstone in Sri Lanka? Let’s find out when we visit a tea factory and the Gem Museum in Kandy. A soothing boat ride awaits at the beautiful Kandy lake later on.

Wednesday

A traditional Sri Lankan cooking experience awaits followed by a visit to a temple and learn a few of the Buddhist religious rituals practised by Sri Lankans and to practice meditation to soothe and calm your spirit and soul.

Thursday

We start off early today with an early morning visit to a family practising traditional Batik painting. Have a fun-filled, creative workshop/lesson, challenge your creative side into producing an original Batik design of your own, or to try to master the detail of a traditional one. Work with vibrant colours, techniques, tools and dyes. Followed by lunch with the family, thereafter we will visit the sacred ‘Temple of the tooth’.

Friday

Today we will visit a sacred temple in a small forest and a holy Hindu temple thereafter. An Indian lunch awaits you in the city followed by a relaxing Ayurvedic massage later on.

***This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.***

Daily Life

Monday to Friday

Preschool Teaching

• Primarily teach English, but also teach drama, games, music, art and foreign languages
• Encourage children in academic work and promote all-round development of the child
• Assist teachers and other staff
• Create teaching plans

Special Needs School

• Engaging in educational activities with children as advised by the teachers
• Communicating with children through creative activities
• Playing games

Teaching English to Adults

• Teaching to write and speak English
• Improving communications skills in English

Village Kids

• Preparing lesson plans
• Teaching English to children
• Organizing cultural sharing activities
• Engaging in games and other interactive activities to improve their spoken and written English abilities

Travel and Accommodation

Accommodation is provided at the volunteer centre located 2 km from the centre of Kandy town. Here you will share rooms with 4 to 5 other people on a single-gender basis. All rooms are equipped with a private toilet.

There are hot showers and shared bathrooms. Linens are provided; however, you need to bring your own towels. Safety lockers are at your disposal to store your belongings and there is a fridge if you would like to keep food and beverages. The dining and lounge areas await you to hang out with the other participants or you can head to the beautiful garden by the river to relax. If you need an ATM or something from the supermarket, you can reach them within a 15 minute walk. Please note the centre does not have WiFi.

You will be provided with three meals per day on weekdays and two at the weekend. The cuisine is a mix of Western and Sri Lankan dishes including lots of rice and vegetables. The local restaurants are also a convenient option for eating out.

Upon arrival at Bandaranayake International Airport in Colombo you will be met by a project representative and transferred to the volunteer centre in Kandy. The journey to the centre takes approximately three hours. Please note you will need to arrive on the weekend before the start of your program.

Requirements

• Minimum age 18.
• Passion and enthusiasm to get to know Sri Lanka, lots of energy and creativity!
• Willingness to dress and behave in a respectful manner, including covering up body tattoos and removing piercings while working at the temples.
• Minimum 2 weeks commitment
• CRB Police check (or equivalent) showing that you have no previous criminal convictions
• Necessary vaccinations.
• Necessary flight & visas.
• Full travel & medical insurance. Full assistance will be provided in getting everything you will need ready if you choose our Placement Support Package.

Costs

£350 GBP per week

£400 GBP for the optional Culture Week add-on.

* Check the latest currency conversions with xe.com
** All payments incur a 5% bank transfer fee
*** Placements are confirmed with a 1 week deposit, minimum 2 weeks booking

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.