Sudan Volunteer Program (SVP) volunteers teach English at public higher education institutions around Sudan. Most are given considerable freedom to choose what and how they teach. The typical volunteer teaches free or semi-structured discussion classes, more structured English communication classes or a combination of both. These are generally extra-curricular, and volunteers are expected to make their own lesson plans and select or prepare their own resources.
Those with significant previous teaching experience may have the opportunity to teach full courses based on syllabuses or course books chosen by their institution, or even to train local English language teachers.
Volunteers are contracted to work at their host institutions for 20-25 hours per week, of which two thirds are contact teaching hours and one third dedicated to lesson preparation and interacting with students and colleagues outside the classroom.
SVP gives you a wonderful chance to help ordinary local people whilst working in a friendly and safe location and learning about Sudan’s sophisticated and unique culture. Most young Sudanese have received over 8 years of English language training in primary and secondary school, but have never heard a native English speaker and have had few or no opportunities to develop the key skills needed for oral communication. Our volunteers promote communication in English amongst their students and to help them to improve their spoken language. Contrary to the common perception of Sudan as unsafe, SVP volunteers are welcomed and standards of personal security in Khartoum and in northern and eastern Sudan are high. Although parts of the country continue to be afflicted by violence, non-Sudanese are not permitted to go there, so the danger for our volunteers is non-existent in that regard. We can put you in contact with current or recent volunteers so that you can satisfy yourself and your family on this and any other points that may concern you.
Requirements for Volunteers
- Are you a graduate or near-graduate in any discipline?
- Are you a native English speaker (or a non-native speaker with excellent English language skills?)
- Are you enthusiastic about the idea of teaching English?
- Are you resilient, resourceful, patient, good-humoured and culturally sensitive?
- Are you prepared to commit to at least six months in Sudan?
- Are you able to fund your own flights to and from Sudan?
If the answer to all the above is ‘yes’, they would love to hear from you.
The following qualities are not essential, but will certainly help you to succeed in a teaching placement with SVP:
- TEFL certification;
- Previous teaching experience, especially English for native or non-native speakers;
- Previous experience of foreign travel, especially extended stays and/or time spent in developing countries;
- Knowledge of Arabic;
- Knowledge of Islamic cultures.
All candidates will need to ask two referees to contact us and to pass medical and criminal records checks if their initial applications are successful.
Visit their website for more information.
*Cover Image Courtesy; SVP.