Quick Facts

Duration: 6 weeks
2012 Dates (tentative): June 20th – August 5th

• Orientation: Budapest: June 20th – 24th
• Midpoint Break: Oradea: July 13-15
• Concluding Session: August 3-5:

Number of Volunteers: 10- 17
Language Requirement: None
Village Setting: Mostly rural, some small towns/cities
Living Conditions: Ranges from basic (no plumbing, no AC) to modern (TV and Internet), generally all volunteers will have access to a phone
For questions not answered on this website, Contact Emma

 

Program Structure

The program will kick off with a four-day orientation in Budapest, the incredible capital of Hungary. The orientation will introduce volunteers to the vibrancy of Eastern European culture and discuss teaching strategies with the Program Director and other volunteers. The orientation schedule will allow volunteers ample time to explore Budapest in between teaching break-out sessions. One of the highlights of the orientation is a visit to one of the many gorgeous Hungarian thermal spas. You would never know water could feel so lush!

After orientation, you will travel to your first teaching location, located in either Croatia or Romania, and teach for three weeks. You will reconvene with your fellow volunteers after the three weeks for a two-day mid-point break in Oradea, Romania. During this break, you will swap stories and teaching ideas with the other volunteers, indulge in some R and R, and lament how much food your host families have served you. After the mid-point break, you will travel to your second village and teach for another three weeks. The program will conclude with a weekend in an Eastern European city, exact location TBA. This is an opportunity to reconnect with the other volunteers, some of whom will become lifelong friends, and reflect on the experience as a whole.

The LE Romania/Croatia program is unique in that it offers several alternatives to the traditional village setting for teaching locations. While the majority of the host villages are in Romania, some may have the option to teach in one of our Croatian villages as well. In the villages volunteers will live with host families and offer English classes to members of the community. Volunteers in Romania will also have the option to teach English in an orphanage in the Transylvania region of Romania. Volunteers in Croatia can choose from three different teaching arrangements. Volunteers can (1) teach in a village while living with a host family, (2) work as a counselor at the Sunny Village Camp, or (3) organize English lessons and other activities at the Koprivnica Youth Center while living at the Sunny Village Camp. The Ideal Romania/Croatia Volunteer:

• Has an open mind and a big heart. Teaching experience is not required but enthusiasm and a sense of humor are.
• Is a leader and teacher. In the classroom, you are the show and there is no understudy! The ability to lesson plan creatively and engage your students is also key. Volunteers must be able to handle challenges with maturity and a sense of adventure.
• Is responsible and reliable. The program starts from the moment of acceptance.

Your Host Community

Village Stays (Croatia and Romania):

Your experience living with a host family will be one the most defining and gratifying experiences you will have on the Croatia/Romania program. Some host families will overflow with children; others will be empty nesters. Some will have an array of modern amenities in their homes; others might not even have indoor plumbing. What the families share, though, is that certain Eastern European warmth. It is the absolutely best way to truly experience authentic Eastern Europe culture on a deeper level than any average tourist. Many host families will go out of their way to show volunteers the local sites. You will generally be the guest of honor at every local birthday party, wedding or festival. Most households will have limited amenities, but all will abound in liveliness and, of course, food. They are not paid to participate in the program and graciously open their homes and their hearts to Learning Enterprises volunteers. You will find it difficult to say goodbye after three weeks.

Sunny Village Camp (Croatia):

Set in beautiful, rural Croatia, the Sunny Village Camp in Jagnkedovec brings together children ages 8 to 12 from Croatia and surrounding countries for an English language experience. As a counselor, you will help in running typical camp activities that focus on the development of kids’ English language skills. You will work alongside Helena Hecimovic, the camp director, as well as other counselors your age from Croatia. The camp has comfortable lodging and showers, and all meals are provided. Past camp volunteers have enjoyed working with the enthusiastic children and have appreciated the opportunity the camp provides in connecting with Croatians their own age.

Koprivnica Youth Center (Croatia):

The newly built Koprivnica Youth Center is located in the center of Koprivnica, a lively Croatian city of 25,000. As a volunteer there, you will organize English language classes, arts and crafts classes, and field trips to other parts of Croatia. Those interested in event planning may find this option especially appealing. When you’re not teaching at the Youth Center, you will spend your time at the Sunny Village Camp. While the Youth Center option is similar in many respects to the Sunny Village Camp option, it affords volunteers the chance to break up the structure of their day.

Romanian Orphanage (Foundation)

Last year LE pioneered a new aspect of the Romania/Croatia Program in partnership with the Romania Orphanage Foundation with great success. Approximately 4 to 8 volunteers will live and teach in a Romania orphanage located in Csíksomlyő for each session. The orphanage is in the heart of Transylvania and the foothills of the beautiful Carpathian Mountains. As the volunteers will be living together in the orphanage they will have the opportunity to connect with their students on an incredibly meaningful level.

Teaching

Volunteers always cite their experiences in the classroom as the most rewarding component of the program. Volunteers living in villages will be expected to teach for at least three hours a day, five days a week. Most volunteers divide the students in to groups according to age and English proficiency, and teach multiple classes. Many volunteers have also developed evening classes for adults interested in learning English in the evening. You will teach in the local community centers or school. Different villages will have different supplies. The majority will have basic teaching materials, such as chalkboards, chalk, pencils. While Learning Enterprises will provide you with teaching ideas, you will have complete freedom in determining how to run your classes. LE encourages volunteers to teach creatively. If you love to sing, teach your kids the words to your favorite Billy Joel song then have the class write and perform an original rap. If you love to act, hold a drama festival on the last day and invite the entire village. It’s your classroom, your world!

The students you will be teaching relish the opportunity to study with a native English speaker. The older students recognized the value in learning an important international language and eagerly ask about English business jargon and colloquialisms. For the younger students, simply interacting with a native English speaker helps transform the language from work sheets and verb conjugations into something more real. There is nothing more rewarding than watching your students grow and learn. Even if your students aren’t exactly fluent by the end of the summer you may have ignited their interest in English and or simply helped them to dream bigger about their future.

Additional Information

Romania_Croatia Addendum PY 2012, a field guide to life in country.

Romania_Croatia Projected Expenses PY 2012. Please note that all expenses are estimates and can vary depending on personal spending habits.