Ecuador: English Teaching Assistant in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Introduction

In the rural Ecuadorian Amazon, English is increasingly valued for access to opportunities in tourism, conservation, and business, but many schools face challenges such as limited resources, irregular instruction, and high student-to-teacher ratios. As an English teaching intern, you will work alongside local educators to support students in developing their language skills through conversation, games, and creative lessons. Environmental education is also a key focus, and you may help incorporate topics like recycling, waste reduction, and forest protection into classroom discussions and activities.

Interns may be placed in public schools or private learning spaces, including a forest-based alternative school that uses experiential and project-based methods. This internship is as much about cultural exchange as it is about teaching. By participating in classroom life and community routines, you will gain firsthand insight into rural education systems, Kichwa culture, and the deep relationship between language, land, and local knowledge.

Daily Life

Your internship begins with an orientation in the city of Tena, where you will get to know your placement and meet fellow participants. Once in your host community, mornings usually begin with breakfast and conversation at home, followed by a walk or bus ride to school. There, you might assist teachers during lessons, lead small group conversations, develop interactive games, or introduce basic vocabulary through storytelling, music, or nature-based themes. You may also support environmental efforts at school, such as starting a recycling station, organizing a clean-up day, or helping run an after-school eco-club.

Afternoons and evenings are shaped by community rhythms. You may help your host family with daily tasks like harvesting in the chakra, cooking, or feeding animals. Some days might include tutoring sessions, planning future lessons, or joining local youth in sports or community events. On weekends, you are free to explore nearby rivers and trails, visit neighboring towns, or participate in workshops with other interns. While your classroom role is meaningful, your open presence and willingness to engage in community life are equally important parts of the experience.

Travel & Accom.

The best airport to fly into is Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) in Quito, Ecuador’s capital. Interns need to arrive to Quito no later than the night before their orientation begins. Quito is only 4 hours from Tena, the main city in the Napo Province. On the morning of orientation, a staff member schedules a taxi to pick interns up and bring them to Tena for training; they just have to pay the driver upon arrival.

Interns stay in Tena during orientation, and the cost of the accommodation is provided. The rest of the program is spent living with a local host family. This is an amazing opportunity to immerse in the local community, learn about the culture, and practice Spanish. Host families provide 3 meals per day, bedding, and a place to do laundry.

Requirements

Interns are expected to finance their own travel costs.

Not included: International flights, mandatory travel insurance, personal expenses, a few meals on your own, and optional tips for local guides.

Other requirements include:

• Full travel & medical insurance
• Necessary vaccinations
• Necessary visa costs (Most nationalities are granted a 3-month tourist visa automatically upon arrival, and you can extend this for 3 more months for a fee while in-country. Always check specific visa requirements based on your nationality).

Costs

$750 USD for the 1st week, $550 USD* for each week thereafter.

* Currency conversions are approximate. Use xe.com for up to date currency conversion rates
** All payments incur a 5% bank transfer fee
*** Places are confirmed with a 1 week deposit.

What’s Included:

• Accommodation during orientation
• Accommodation and 3 meals a day with a host family. Includes a private room, bathroom, all bedding, and place to do laundry
• Guided pre-departure preparation
• In-country orientation that addresses risk management, culture shock, cross-cultural adaptation skills, history/culture/politics of Ecuador and the Amazon, team-building, goal-setting, and more
• 1:1 check-ins every week
• 24/7 emergency support
• Network of doctors, therapists, Spanish tutors in-country
• Access to network of experts and information databases for research support
• Exit interview and end-of-program reflection
• Alumni group and future references

What’s not included:

• Costs of flights and visa
• Costs of vaccinations
• $15 per day for food during orientation training
• Personal transportation
• Any other activities outside of scheduled program activities (white water rafting, yoga, workshops, guided jungle hikes, etc.)

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.