Madagascar's dramatic forest landscape is home to a fascinating diversity of life, with baobab and aloe trees, lemurs, chameleons and a whole host of other species that are found nowhere else on Earth! Its fantastically beautiful coastline boasts coral reefs rich in marine species, perfect for diving and snorkelling, and silky sanded beaches ideal for soaking up the bountiful sunshine. Madagascar's culture is vibrant and diverse; you will find bustling markets full of multicoloured produce and hospitable locals shouting their wares.
Check out our latest Madagascar Teaching video
Village schools are basic and teachers are in high demand; therefore your contribution will be extremely valuable. You will teach conversational English to these impoverished children, help with environmental education, and participate in other community activities. This truly will be an incredibly rewarding experience in one of the most extraordinary destinations in the world!
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from our Madagascar projects on the Gap Year Blog:
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
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Awaken your creativity & initiative as you immerse yourself in local culture
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Discover strange and beautiful Madagascar
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Live in the idyllic beach camp on the exotic island of Nosy Be
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Make lifelong friends with your team mates and co-workers
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Location |
Madagascar |
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Activities |
Teach English
Extracurricular activities
Marking pupils' work
Preparing homework
Creating lesson plans |
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Transport |
Airport pick-up on main arrival dates
Taxi/minibus to project site |
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Accommodation |
Shared communal accommodation on the beach camp |
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Before you go |
Pre-departure support
Travel & medical advice & documentation
Equipment advice
Discounted medical kit
Free Frontier T-shirt
UK TEFL training day and certification |
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In-country |
Food
Accommodation
Airport pick-up on main arrival dates (first Monday of the month)
Ground transfers & in-transit accommodation
Local orientation and training
In-country emergency support
24-hour international HQ back-up |
What Next? Apply Now!
WHAT DOES THE PROJECT DO?
The majority of primary school-age children and 36% of secondary school-age children attend school. However, schools are severely under-funded and there is an unequal distribution of educational resources across the country. Poor and rural communities can only attend seriously disadvantaged public schools.
The vast majority of the population speaks only Malagasy, and there is a lack of foreign-language teachers. Your help can give children and adults a sense of confidence, encourage their enthusiasm and ambition, and even improve their opportunities for the future. To teach, you will need to be patient, flexible, a confident communicator and able to use your initiative and imagination. It would be helpful to have beginner's level French, but you will have plenty of opportunities to learn! Lessons will be fun and interactive, developing the children's confidence and conversational skills. Over summer when there are school holidays you will be teaching adult classes either on camp or in the local church, which are essential. The local communities are extremely grateful for the support of the adult education clases.
Students will be interested in life where you come from. You may be able to get involved teaching other activities such as sports, music or science, if you are interested and have the relevant skills. There will also be the possibility of working with our field conservation programmes to arrange collaborations for environmental education.
WHAT WILL I BE DOING?
Your work schedule will cover a comprehensive, varied and enjoyable teaching programme which will engage you fully with your pupils and will awaken your creativity and initiative. You may be shadowing a local teacher at the school, or be required to take control of your own lessons, which will encourage you to formulate ideas and develop your teaching skills and techniques. You may be involved with activities such as marking pupil's work, and producing an inspiring teaching strategy including preparing homework and assembling innovative and effective lesson plans.
As well as this you will have the opportunity to help with lots of extracurricular activities which will vary extensively depending on your personal skills and interests – whether it is helping organise a school show, playing football with the super competitive and highly skilled local kids. You may even get the chance to join the Frontier marine or forest camps for their regular Saturday night themed parties, depending on which school you join and your work programme. Whatever you decide, you are sure to gain huge satisfaction from inspiring these communities, whilst enhancing your own skills and experience significantly.
What Next? Apply Now!
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE?
You will be welcomed by a Frontier member of staff at Nosy Be airport before 12 noon on the first Monday of the project. From here it's a short taxi or minibus ride from the airport to the centre of this vibrant town, where you'll spend a short while acclimatising before you travel to the beach camp.
WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?
During the project you'll live in a remote beach camp in idyllic surroundings on the island of Nosy Be, close to where your project will be based. You will camp alongside the marine project volunteers and Frontier staff and experience a unique and memorable living experience. The Frontier camp was constructed by Frontier volunteers working with local craftsmen, using traditional building techniques and locally sourced materials. The camp which is situated at the edge of the forest in a clearing on the beach has been designed to blend with the surrounding landscape. Camp life is very simple, unsophisticated and fun.
You will be staying in simple communal bandas, local style dwellings, your "shower" will be a jug or a bucket of water and you cook over an open campfire: so prepare for the basic, virtually footprint less, unencumbered lifestyle!
WHAT WILL I BE EATING?
Food on camp is simple and nutritious and consists largely of locally sourced fresh vegetables and fruit, rice, beans and noodles, all of which are purchased from nearby communities thereby helping to support the local economy. Luxuries such as chocolate, peanut butter and drinking chocolate are only available in the main cities, so make sure you stock up before heading to your field camp.
Part of your role on camp will be to help with the cooking. Creating spectacular meals over an open campfire or baking bread in the campfire oven will become second nature: so get your cookbooks out now and start thinking up recipes! Also, with luck you'll be invited to local feasts and festivals – a great way to engage with local communities and discover local cuisines and cultures.
What Next? Apply Now!
MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME
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23 May 2013
I have just spent two weeks as a teaching volunteer for Frontier Madagascar. I can honestly say t...
Read more
ENDEARING MEMORIES AND A PRICELESS EXPERIENCE
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17 Apr 2013
My time on the Madagascar Teaching project has become my one of my fondest memories and an experi...
Read more
BROADENING MY HORIZONS
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16 Apr 2013
Teaching at 5 different schools each week at first seemed like a daunting task, but after the sec...
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ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER CULTURAL EVENT HERE IN DEEPEST NOSY BE!
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11 Mar 2013
Alongside teaching the local kids and swatting up on our French and Malagasy, cultural events are...
Read more
AMAZING MADAGASCAR TEFL GAP YEAR EXPERIENCE!!!!!
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18 Feb 2013
Frontier Madagascar really gave me all that I was looking for with a very well organised and mass...
Read more
ENGLISH LESSONS FOR EASTER
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26 Apr 2012
My first week on camp at Nosy Be in Madagascar has not been what I expected in the slightest but ...
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Teaching in madagascar, such an amazing experience
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27 Mar 2012
After a twenty minute walk along the beach in the stunning sunshine sun I arrive at th...
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Loving teaching in Madagascar
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14 Feb 2012
We arrived on Monday into Madagascar and met up with everyone in Hellville. The weather wasn'...
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New found appreciation
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30 Dec 2010
This placement offers a uniquely deep understanding and appreciation of the culture. I have nothi...
Read more
Revision time in Madagascar
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16 Mar 2009
I can't believe it's the end of phase already. It only seems like yesterday that I was wi...
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Local students join Frontier projects
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20 May 2008
Frontier is proud to welcome local students from in-country universities to participate on our projects at no cost
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
A range of adventure and cultural activities like visits to remote villages, snorkelling, mountain treks and wildlife tours are available. You can arrange these in country which helps contribute to the local economy.
Scuba diving courses may be available (subject to availability of spaces and time constraints).
dive courses run monthly commencing on the first monday of the month
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Single Day snorkelling off the boats US$16/$16
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Single Day Dive US$48/$48
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Double Dive US$80/$80
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4-dive package US$160/$160
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10-dive package US$320/$320
COURSES*
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Discover Scuba Diving US$104/$100
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Open Water Dive Course US$400/$390
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Advanced Open Water US$368/$360
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Emergency First Responder US$160/$155
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Rescue Diver US$480/$470
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Dive Master US$800/$775
*Medical certificate is mandatory for participation in dive courses
