English Education Teaching

Project Description

The Kingdom of Tonga, located in Polynesia in the South Pacific and consisting of 170 islands, stretching 500 miles north to south with a land mass of 290 square miles over 270,000 square miles of ocean. A strongly Christian nation, religion plays a large part in Tongan society and intersects with custom beliefs and the four golden values of Tonga: respect, nurturing relationships, humility, and loyalty.

The Ministry of Education and Training and Peace Corps have built a strong partnership focused on improving education outcomes. English is a national priority, and as a close development partner Peace Corps works to increase student achievement and build teacher capacity.

The focus of our development approach is long-term with sustained shared learning, understanding, and growth. Relationship building, collaboration, and locally prioritized projects are measures for success. For Volunteers, the quiet pace and hands-off approach of Peace Corps’ development model can take adjustment. Rather than managing much themselves, Volunteers support the growth of foundational knowledge and skills that, when understood deeply, can be transformational. Along the way, there are many opportunities for Volunteers to leverage their skills and passions, catalyzing educational advancement in the school and community.

Volunteers play multiple roles during their service. Volunteers and their partners are trained to utilize participatory tools in a phased, asset-based approach to uncover existing strengths, advantages, and opportunities:

1) Collaborative Capacity Building with Teachers

Volunteers collaborate closely with teachers to support mutual learning in general- and English-teaching skills. Volunteers co-facilitate discussions on strategies and tips. Volunteers also collaborate to identify best practices in student-centered teaching methods, lesson planning, assessments, and inclusive education. Volunteers engage in model teaching, peer observations, co-developing learning materials, and bridging the English language capacity of teachers.

2) Improving Student Achievement in English

Volunteers teach oral and written English primarily in elementary schools. They co-organize and co-facilitate extracurricular activities and events to improve language skills and proficiency (direct teaching, pull-out groups, tutoring, and extracurricular classes, events, clubs, and camps such as drama, art, sports, reading, and other recreational activities).

3) Learning Environment and Community

Volunteers co-plan and co-facilitate activities that increase the ability of community members to support students’ access to learning. Activities include school fundraisers, contests, event planning, and home visits to involve parents in their children’s education and encourage parents to support continual learning.

Volunteers also collaborate to support locally prioritized community activities:

1) Facilitating youth camps or clubs on life skills development and leadership.

2) Co-organizing and co-facilitating library/learning center development and management.

3) Co-organizing and co-facilitating environmental education and disaster risk reduction projects.

Program

PCV

Post

Tonga

Required Skills

Qualified candidates will have a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline and a strong desire to teach English.

Desired Skills

Competitive candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline with 1 or more school year classroom teaching experience at the Early Childhood, Middle School, or Elementary level. Full time Montessori teaching experience is also acceptable.

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline with Elementary Education state certification.

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-School, Early Childhood, Middle School, or Elementary Education.

• Experience teaching English in an elementary-level classroom setting.

• Experience using participatory, student-centered teaching methods.

• Overseas teaching experience.

While not mandatory, the ability to swim and being comfortable with travel over the ocean in either small commercial ferries or small fishing boats is desirable as Tonga consists of many small islands requiring ferry or boat travel.

Language Requirement

None

Living Conditions

Upon arrival in Tonga, Volunteers will live with a host family during Pre-Service Training (PST). Following PST, Volunteers may continue to live with a subsequent host family, or seek independent housing for their two years of service. If a community is unable to provide an independent house, a Volunteer will live with a host family. Homestays provide several advantages to Volunteer service including support in integration, language, identifying resources, and safety and security. Most Education Volunteers will have housing provided on the school grounds.

Most Volunteers are assigned to small rural communities with between 100 and 1,000 people. Most Volunteers have electricity, running water, flush toilets, and basic amenities, though Volunteers should be prepared to live with limited to no access to these amenities at any given time during their service. Depending on the community, water can come in the form of a pumped water supply or rain catchment. Electricity and water at times may be cut off or inconsistent due to machinery breakdown, inclement weather, heavy usage, etc.

Volunteers can choose to bring their own personal phone or receive a generic smartphone upon arrival from post. Post will provide a SIM/eSIM card for those who bring their own phone. Plans include free calls and texts to all staff and Volunteers. Post also provides an additional allowance stipend for purchase of a local data plan to the Volunteer’s preference.

Internet services are generally available throughout Tonga, including the outer islands, via mobile data providers. Post will be supporting continual online learning throughout service and will support Volunteers in accessing needed services and devices.

Transportation at site primarily consists of walking and local community transport. Bus and taxi services are only available on the main island of Tongatapu. Travel to and from the outer island groups is most often via small commercial ferries and plane services. Small boats are used for traveling within island groups. Delays due to weather or maintenance are common and require patience and flexibility.

Inclement weather can also impact running water and electricity, as well as internet/phone service. Staff assesses the weather situation daily during cyclone season and communicate alerts to Volunteers. Safety and Security is a top priority and is covered during training.

Food is often the center of any event in Tonga. On Sundays or special occasions, Tongan families prepare food in an underground oven called an ‘umu.’ Tongan food consists primarily of root crops (yams, taro, cassava, etc.) and meat (beef, pork, chicken, fish, etc.). Vegetables are available, but availability diminishes the further you are from Tongatapu. In most communities, Volunteers will need to be prepared to navigate a diet that is primarily root crop and meat-based with vegetables being less common.

Primary Sector

Education

Apply By

01-Oct-2025

Know By

15-Jan-2026

Start Date

16-Jun-2026

Assignment Length (months)

24

Positions Available

20

Accepts Couples

Yes

Accepting Applications?

Yes

Request Type

171 English Education Teaching

Posted on LinkedIn

No