Development of English and German Courses through Songs

Volunteering Placement Code: 006-AR-CHT-ESQ-EC

City/Province/Country: Esquel - Chubut - Argentina

Host Organization Description: MAPU Association is a young non-profit organization founded in Madrid, Spain, on April 2006. The main objective of MAPU Association is to encourage and promote cooperation and development projects within the communities of Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia in order to foster local self-sufficiency, augment the locals´ resources, and improve their capacity for positive and sustainable development.

One of the Education and Culture projects promoted by MAPU Association is the teaching of foreign languages (particularly English and German) using songs as an alternative learning method. The language courses will be targeted to youngsters and adults who are reluctant to study using traditional foreign-language teaching methods, whether it is due to a poor experience at school or to the lack of contact with other languages, and as a result feel shy towards the “different sound” of another language.

Volunteering Placement Description: The idea of offering foreign language courses (especially in English and German) which base each lesson on a song was developed as a teaching alternative for youngsters and adults who don’t react well to traditional teaching methods and find them difficult or boring. Songs usually have authentic language and informal vocabulary, and as a result students can learn a language´s grammatical and cultural aspects in a more natural and entertaining way. Furthermore, songs provide valuable pronunciation and oral comprehension practice.

As a volunteer for the Development of English and German Courses through Songs project, you will be responsible for: teaching using songs; developing a class plan for different proficiency levels; analyzing and working with specific songs; developing grammar, vocabulary, and role play exercises for each song; and in general making the most of every language aspect each song can offer. You will also be responsible for using traditional methods to teach students who have a very basic language level and therefore may have a hard time learning through songs.

Objectives: The objective of this volunteering placement is that by developing learning material and teaching language through songs you help local people from Patagonia learn foreign languages and feel comfortable communicating with them.

Requirements: For this volunteering placement you need studies and/or experience in the teaching of your mother tongue (English or German) as a foreign language. You also need to be flexible, proactive, creative and able to work in a systematic and organized fashion.

Languages: Intermediate level of Spanish, and English and/or German as mother tongue

Minimum and Maximum Length: 1 month minimum – flexible maximum

Ideal Start Date: Flexible

Timetable: 20 to 25 weekly hours, from Monday to Friday, normally during the afternoon

Last Page Update: June 2008