Argentina is bursting with cultural charm and natural wonders. It is a country of vast beauty including the tropical north, the spectacular Andes and the chilly deserts of Patagonia in the south. Volunteers experience the Latin way of life working with enthusiastic and passionate Argentinians, either teaching English to students in private schools or language institutes or caring for children and young adults in children’s homes and residential centres.
Placement Locations
Teaching placements are located in Neuquén, San Luis and Buenos Aires and community ones are in Cordoba. Most placements are on the outskirts of, or a bus ride from, provincial capitals with populations of around 80,000 to 120,000 people except for Buenos Aires, where there are 13 million people, but your placement is in the Northern suburbs. The remaining placements are in smaller towns of some 25,000 inhabitants.
Is it for me?
If you are looking for a new cultural experience and can adapt to the Argentinian pace of life, then a rewarding time awaits. You will need to show flexibility and initiative and in turn, you will have the chance to develop your Spanish and build strong ties with your hosts.
Roles Explained
Schools Assistant placements are based in top private schools and you will provide support to kindergarten or primary teachers and assist the children with their English schooling. These placements are ideal for those interested in working with children or thinking of pursuing a career in teaching.
English Teaching placements may be in fee-paying schools for both primary and secondary levels, or at private language institutes for children aged from ten through to adults. English is considered to be a very valuable language to learn and volunteers use their conversational English skills to assist and support both teachers and students in the classroom. Classes at the institutes are run during the day and evening, and often volunteers assist with some evening classes.
Community placements are available in children’s or residential homes when some of the children with learning difficulties become adults. Volunteers provide support within the children’s home to residents, who range in age from newborns to 16 years old. In the home, volunteers assist with the day-to-day running of the centre. Activities with the residents, such as arts, drama and sport, are also greatly appreciated and enjoyed. No English is spoken in these centres, so volunteers need to learn to speak basic Spanish before their placements begin.
The working week for placements in Argentina ranges between 15 and 36 hours. Weekends are usually free.
Accommodation and Food
Volunteers are usually accommodated either with a host family or an adult host at teaching placements or on site of their community placement. Host families may expect the volunteer to integrate and to contribute to family life. Despite the fact that Argentina is a big meat producing country, vegetarians have always managed without any problems.
What’s Included?
Pre-departure briefing
Airport pickup
Accommodation & food (unless otherwise stated)
In-country orientation
In-country support
24/7 emergency support
Need to know
Pre departure briefing – all volunteers are invited to a group briefing prior to departure
Language – some placements require a good standard of spoken Spanish – this is essential for community placements
Teaching skills course – this course is organised by Lattitude Global Volunteering and undertaken in London at the volunteers’ own expense prior to departure.
On arrival – volunteers attend a two-day orientation in Buenos Aires
Costs
| Interview fee | $100 |
| Contribution fee | $3100 |
| Tax | $36 |
You will also need to budget for:
Travel insurance
Airfares
Visa
Teaching skills course (teaching placements only)
Police check
Travel
Volunteers meet at weekends and in holidays and generally make the most of their free time to explore Argentina and neighbouring countries. Iguazu Falls on the border with Brazil are spectacular and not to be missed, and neither is the Perito Moreno Glacier in the Parque Nacional de los Glaciares down in Patagonia. In between are gorgeous colonial cities, buzzing artistic and cultural centres, vast sandy beaches, vineyards, the Lake District, the breathtaking Andes Mountains, gauchos and of course Buenos Aires and the tango.