Background Information
The school was founded in 1995 as "Doblas Kinder," an early childhood institution for children aged 2 to 5, driven by the dream of its founder, Mrs. María Elena McAllister, a teacher with a long career across different levels of education. Her vision was to create an institution rooted in pedagogical excellence within an environment of respect, care, and affection.
As the years went by and the community recognized the value of the project, parents asked for their children to be able to continue their studies under the same approach. So, in 2003, the primary level was created, and the school was re-established as the Cecilia Angélica McAllister Institute, with the kindergarten as an annex.
From its earliest days, the school has been committed to bilingualism, understanding that learning English from an early age opens doors to academic, professional, and personal opportunities. The partnership with Voluntario Global was born from this same vision: The school wanted to expose its students to native English speakers, as well as to English speakers from other countries around the world, in order to enhance its educational offering and bring the language to life beyond the classroom.
Why is this project important for the community?
For the families that make up the school community, it is critical that their children learn English in order to open up future educational and occupational opportunities. English is no longer just an academic subject; it has become a key tool to access higher education abroad, participate in international careers, and connect with people and cultures around the world.
By bringing volunteers from different countries into the classroom, the school enriches its bilingual program with authentic cultural exchange. Students get to hear different accents, learn about traditions and ways of life from around the globe, and understand firsthand that languages are bridges between people. For many of them, meeting volunteers is their first real encounter with a foreign speaker, an experience that transforms English from a school subject into a living means of communication.
Volunteer's Role
Volunteers assist in English classes and co-teach subjects taught in English alongside the regular teachers. Since the school is fully bilingual, students take a wide range of subjects in English, including Science, Biology, History, Literature, Geography, Anglo-Saxon Culture, IT, and Logical Mathematical Games, which means volunteers can contribute to a variety of academic areas based on their interests and background.
Volunteers rotate through different age groups, from Early Childhood (starting at age 2) through Grade 7, gaining experience with a wide range of ages and language levels. Depending on the class, volunteers may help with pronunciation, conversation practice, reading activities, preparation for international Cambridge exams (Starters, Movers, Flyers, and PET), and special events such as the Annual Spelling Bee, the English Festival, Career Day, and open classes for families.
What can you learn as a volunteer?
Learning is a two-way street, and the volunteer also learns through this experience. While their official duties involve assisting teachers, supporting students with pronunciation and grammar, correcting work, and co-teaching content subjects in English, volunteers also gain valuable insight into how a bilingual educational project operates from the inside.
Working across different age groups allows volunteers to develop adaptability and creativity, learning to communicate with very young children who are just beginning to discover the language, as well as with older students preparing for international exams. Teaching is also the perfect exercise to learn how to speak to an audience and to hold its attention. Above all, volunteers have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with students and teachers, and to immerse themselves in Argentinean culture in a welcoming community environment.
Soft Skills that teaching English volunteers are most likely to develop
Long term volunteers (3 months +) can get an International Volunteer Certificate from GLORE Certification, a Project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. You can choose up to 5 skills to certify.
- Organization and Time Management
- Learning to learn
- Autonomy
- Confidence
- Creativity & Innovation
- Communication and Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Decision Making
- Ethics and Work Commitment
- Empathy
- Flexibility
- Initiative
- Multicultural Awareness
- Open-mindedness
- Public Speaking
- Responsibility
- Self Awareness
- Team Work
Availability
The school follows the Argentine school calendar, open from March to mid-December. English classes take place in the afternoons, four days a week, usually from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. This project is not available during the school summer break (December through February) or during the winter break in July.
Location and first day at work
Before arriving you will write a letter of introduction to the school so they can prepare teachers and students for you. This will grant both the volunteer and the school a more personal experience.
The school is located in Caballito, a centrally located neighborhood of Buenos Aires, easily accessible by bus and/or metro from anywhere in the city. On your first day, you will be met by Aurora, the Director of English, who will give you a warm welcome, walk you through how the school runs, introduce you to the teaching staff, and help you get familiar with the classes you will be supporting.
Requirements
- Valid Passport & Visa: Most travelers do not need a visa to enter Argentina. Volunteers enter the country as tourists and can stay for up to 90 days. Extensions on visas are possible; our coordinators will advise you on this process.
- Medical Insurance: Voluntario Global requires the volunteer to have adequate medical insurance for the duration of the program and must be provided with details of such insurance coverage at the time of confirming their placement.
- Spanish Level Required: Not required
- Minimum Stay: 2 weeks
