Are you a teacher interested in training other teachers? Our Teacher Training placement in Peru is for you!
This is your chance to empower teachers and build a brighter future for Peru's young people. Plus, discover the ancient land of the Incas as you explore the Andes Mountains and Machu Picchu!
In January 2024, Peter became a Teacher Trainer in Peru. Below, read his story and let it inspire you in your own teacher journey.
Tell us about your background
I did my A levels, O levels, and went to university, wanting to be a teacher. When I finally did my teacher training, there were no jobs to be had in Germany, so I asked my uncle, who suggested I come to Namibia and work. I never really thought about working in another country before.
I went to Namibia and liked the school and the country, but they couldn't offer enough money. So I left that and changed my career completely. I went into sales, business, insurance, and real estate. Then, I did an apprenticeship in banking.
Later on, I studied marketing and worked at Citibank in Germany doing marketing for securities and mutual funds. Finally, I got a job as a teacher in the south of Germany and said OK, that's what I really want to do!
So I went to school and did that for around 28 years. I taught subjects like English, computer science, geography, and economics.
My first experience of teaching abroad was on one of my trips to Sri Lanka – the year after the tsunami. My experiences there made me realise how privileged I was – living in a rich country and having a good education. I thought I have to give a little back.
So I started to teach in other countries. I would knock on the doors of schools, and ask to teach. Most headteachers were happy to let me teach some lessons there.
One day, I came upon Projects Abroad and I thought, yeah, that's the idea. I'd like to do that. And that’s when I started in Mexico.
What motivated you to join Teacher Training in Peru?
I was looking for somewhere where I could teach teachers and thought that was a brilliant idea. I believe that the further up we start, the more change we can make.
I had no idea about the teaching capacity of the teachers in Peru and I was shocked when I realised that they could hardly speak any English.
I realised that working there for four weeks would have some effect. I think that was the main thing. I know I cannot change everything. I cannot change people's living conditions or the education in the country. But when you go home, you feel like: “That was good – I did my part.”
I'm still in contact with some of the teachers, as well. I send them some links and answer their questions, which gives me a good feeling. I'm now living in the south of Spain and I can help a little here, too. I work as a volunteer in a language school. I do some English classes here at home or German classes.
Being a pensioner does not mean you have to sit on the beach every day and wait for sundown.
How did you find working with the Ministry of Education?
The Ministry of Education is the link between the teachers and Projects Abroad. Whenever you offer a course to the teachers, that's an official course they do with Projects Abroad.
For the teachers, this course is very important for them. Attending the complete course helps them get another job. The teachers in Peru have to apply for a job every year. So every year in our summer holidays, they have to go job hunting. And the more points they have, the better. So if they go to the course, they have more chances to get a job.
How is the Teacher Training programme in Peru structured?
We started with a test for the teachers to give us an idea of where they are. We put them in different groups and used the metrics they use at school. So in their metrics, the Ministry of Education tells them what they have to do each year.
They have little time, so they have to focus on the essentials – the metrics. That's what we have to teach. We ask them what is most important and take lessons from that
At the end, there was another exam. The teachers come from different regions and some have a long trip to get to university every day and they have to job hunt at the same time.
What does a typical day look like as a Teacher Trainer in Peru?
There's nothing like a typical day, but I think what's important was to get them talking more English.
As you start learning another language, it usually takes a while to get tuned in. It's the same for me when I speak Spanish – I just need a bit of time to tune in. After speaking the foreign language for a while, I found it easier and stopped thinking in my head in German and translating it word-by-word. Instead, I start thinking in the other language.
My idea was to start with very basic things – maybe a song with lines that they can use in their classes. I pose tasks as something we'll be doing tomorrow. This means they knew what was coming.
At the end of the day I would say, "Well, this is what we did today. If there's anything you did not understand, then tell me now or send a WhatsApp message."
I'm happy to answer messages so they know what's coming. They know the tasks are strongly related to the metrics they're supposed to teach. We try to not only do grammar, but a bit of communication so they can improve their pronunciation. This can be very difficult for Spanish-speaking people because they've got sounds that don't exist in English and vice versa.
What did you personally gain from this Teacher Training Project?
It's a very good feeling to give back a little. I feel gratitude when people tell me my work was really helpful.
I also got to know another country. I've never been to Peru before. I've never lived at an altitude of 3500 metres. I never really had an idea about the Incas. So it was a bit of an eye-opener in terms of history and geography.
Oh yes, and the food is fantastic!
To me, travelling is always an adventure. There's always something happening, something new, something I didn't know.
For example, I didn't know Cusco is a tourist city. It has a real industry around it. If you go there as an English-speaking person, you can find people who ask you to teach them English. I sit down with them and teach them.
A lady was trying to sell some merchandise on the streets and we we started talking. She asked me to come to her village and teach the children. I thought, why not? These things wouldn't happen in other countries.
When I teach overseas, I find that people are engaged and not distracted. They give 110% every lesson.
Projects Abroad gave me an opportunity to turn my job into something truly worthwhile. They gave me all the help they could. And the students appreciated what I was doing.
Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to do Teacher Training in Peru in 2025?
Yes, I would give teachers the metrics so they know what to expect in advance. I was surprised that they don't always know what they're doing there or what to bring. It's helpful to tell them to bring books and teaching materials.
Also, focus on pronunciation and speaking. This is what's missing. They can always learn grammar, but speaking and conversation are hard.
One of my mistakes was going home as soon as I finished work. Don't go home. Stay there. Do more.
When you make a big trip all the way to the South of America do as much as you can. Join a language programme and explore the area. Machu Picchu was amazing! When we arrived, it was covered in mist, but half an hour later, it cleared and I had a fantastic view. Yeah, it was really worth it.
Inspired by Peter's story?
This is a personal account of one volunteer’s experience on the project and is a snapshot in time. Your experience may be different, as our projects are constantly adapting to local needs and building on accomplishments. Seasonal weather changes can also have a big impact. To find out more about what you can expect from this project we encourage you to speak to one of our friendly staff.
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