Education Project - Aims & Initiatives
English is a real commodity in Bali and the tourism industry alone is responsible for over 20% of all jobs. Being able to speak English confidently and proficiently opens the door to new careers and sustainable income. The main focus of this project is to assist young people to increase their career prospects by improving their English conversational ability.
Each day you will work in small groups to support and supplement English language learning. We do this through non-formal techniques and interactive sessions, using games and creative activities to establish fun learning environments. In addition and at the request of local communities, we provide small group adult conversational English lessons.
Developed by educational professionals from local schools, youth communities and kindergartens, this project facilitates international development by empowering local Balinese communities through capacity building and language skills, connecting our local partners with global opportunities. The project fosters cross-cultural collaboration and the sharing of ideas, cultures and perspectives and also brings useful financial resources and economic benefit to areas outside the direct tourist hubs.
On a Think Pacific Education Project in Bali, this is your opportunity to:
- Experience; Support conversational English lessons and youth activities.
- Challenge; Expand your comfort zone by immersing and working in a new culture.
- Purpose: Join a project that helps young people boost their opportunities.
- Sustainable: Provide supplementary support to sustainable local projects.
- Learn; Learn from inspiring grass-roots partners.
- Skills; Grow your ‘soft skills’ such as teamwork, communication, emotional intelligence & leadership.
Respected Local Initiatives + Cross Cultural Learning + Local Empowerment = Unique English Language Learning & Youth Development
Each day you will work within a variety of local projects to support Balinese teachers and community organistions. The role is varied and you will work in small groups to plan, prepare and support sessions. Activities include supporting English language within early years education settings, supporting English language learning in elementary schools and getting creative to lead after-school youth sessions for children aged 5-18. We also assist by running informal English lessons for teachers and adult community members who have requested assistance. The days are busy and fun-filled as we supplement existing local initiatives and work with educational professionals to expand opportunities through language learning.
Think Pacific supports a number of elementary schools based within walking distance or a short commute from your homestay base in Bali. The aim of the school projects is to provide regular assistance with conversational English support under the direction of qualified local teachers. The project also supports after-school youth sessions, which enable children to learn English in an interactive and engaging way. Each school has between 100 and 300 students, grade 1-6. You will also be supporting students who may have educational learning difficulties through these activities.
The schools have also requested English lessons and tuition for the teachers (adult literacy) with the aim of improving English conversation, reading and writing skills of the teaching staff.
We also support a number of after school tuition centers and locally run youth projects for 5-18 years old, located approximately 30 minutes drive from the community. Transport is provided via private, air conditioned vehicles, taking you to and from each project.
We also support early education programmes for children aged 3-5 years old. The project embeds conversational English at an early age to develop lifelong language skills. The project has a focus to teach children outside the classroom and use engaging and creative activities for learning.
You will be support to teachers within local elementary schools, acting as assistant teachers and delivering small group and 1-1 tuition for children. English lessons take place each day and you will work with different age groups to support the teacher or lead your own small groups, under their supervision, with a focus upon Conversational English as well as supporting English reading and writing.
Each day you will need to plan fun and interactive sessions, where you can follow on from classes led by the teacher and support sessions already held by previous participants. We encourage using learning through play, educational games and creative activities to make your lessons fun, interesting and interactive.
The cross-cultural collaboration provides uniqueness and novelty to local teaching, including considering accents, dialect, regional differences and even slang terms, which can all be important for conversational proficiency within tourism.
The aim of our after school clubs is to further the development of English through a range of activities including art, drama, singing, dance, team games, crafts, music, or sports. Through this, we expand both the English skills and the wider personal and social skills of young people fostering team work, initiative, creativity, decision making, leadership, reflection and non-verbal communication,
These clubs offer the chance to bring your own passions. Under the guidance of local Balinese staff you can suggest ideas for your favourite sport or activities so we can develop and grow the programme and widen the scope and theme.
Each day you will have time to plan and prepare your English lesson and activities. The homestay provides a beautiful, quiet and comfortable space to work on your planning. There is also a selection of wonderful cafes and restaurants within easy walking distance with wifi access. Our staff team provide resources and materials and example lesson plans for you to use as a team as you share your ideas and experience and upload your resources to our database so future groups can build upon your work.
Our conversational English lessons have been created for and at the request of local community members, including Balinese teaching staff. They are a fun, impactful and innovative way for you to directly support the host communities.
With the vast majority of jobs in Bali connected to the growing tourism industry, being proficient in conversational English can be a vital tool to advance job opportunities for local people and a driver for better income.
Working with our Balinese staff team, you will have the opportunity to design, plan and deliver small lessons, 1-1 and group English tuition at the most convenient times for local people (usually early morning or early evening).
The project is busy and varied and volunteers will work in smaller groups and visit different projects and rotate from Monday-Friday. Here is an example average day.
6:30am = Wake up & Time for Breakfast. Breakfast is served in your homestay accommodation, together with your fellow participants.
7:30am = Travel to your project. Some schools and projects are based a short walk away, others are up to 30 mins drive. You will travel to your project with a small group of fellow participants, supported by our Project Leaders.
8am = In the mornings participants are assigned to one of the following projects on a rota basis and work within local school settings
- 1) Kindergarten support
- 2) Primary school support
- 3) English lessons for Teaching staff
- 4) Conversational English lessons in the community.
Midday = Lunch
1pm – 2pm = Lesson & Activity Planning in groups
2pm – 5pm = Travel to after school clubs to lead grass roots youth projects, and ‘English Language Through Activity’, developing conversational English through art, drama, music, crafts and games.
5.30pm = Return to the village and debrief
7pm = Dinner & Free time
During the project, all students stay within the same beautiful and traditional Balinese village, which is located in a very safe area, located a short distance from the cultural and wellness hub of Ubud. Living in homestay is a wonderful experience and your chance to learn about traditions and customs.
The accommodations are all clean and modern, with western style bathrooms. Rooms have air conditioning, electricity and wifi. Most rooms are twin share and you will share with a fellow student on the programme of the same gender. You will have a lock and key to your room for privacy.
Breakfast and evening meals are served Monday – Friday at your homestay. Food is wholesome and local, often a mix of bread, jam, fruit, tea and coffee in the morning and dinners are rice, noodles, vegetables with optional meat. Balinese food can be spicy but we ensure there are varied options. Vegetarians and vegans can be catered for. Tea, coffee and filtered water is available at all homestay throughout the day and you should never drink tap water.
This Document explains the highlights and features as well as the outcomes you can expect to achieve as part of the program.