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Connect with the Peace Corps
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Serve where you’re needed mostEnglish Teacher
Education
Job highlights
- Learn Spanish from experienced Language and Cross-Culture Facilitators.
- Gain valuable hands-on experience in the classroom and with the Ecuadoran curriculum.
- Appreciate the beauty of Andean Highlands, the Amazon forest, or the nearby Galapagos Islands.
Get answers live — every weekday at .
Apply by
June 15, 2026Know by
August 1, 2026Depart on
January 24, 2027Duration
2 years, plus 3 months trainingAbout the project
Public middle and high schools in Ecuador are looking for individuals interested in supporting English language learning.
As the world becomes globalized, the need to understand and use English has become a national priority. Ecuador has reported low levels of English language proficiency as compared to other South American countries. Per the English First (EF) 2025 ranking of 123 countries by English skills, Ecuador ranked #83, putting the country in the low proficiency category. Limited English exposure in public schools combined with large class sizes often results in students struggling to pass English courses or exams. The growing globalization and importance of English as a major language makes its mastery essential for the professional and personal growth of young Ecuadorians. The country’s future and economic development depend on the government’s ability to improve teaching methods and language proficiency among teachers to ultimately deliver high-quality English language instruction to its students.
As an English Teacher, you will collaborate with staff at public middle and high schools to strengthen English language instruction and proficiency levels. Through daily conversations and personalized support, you will enable students, teachers, and community members become more confident communicating in English as well as more knowledgeable of American culture.
Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Ecuador project page.
Required skills
Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
Associate degree in any field and at least two years of full-time, post-high school work experience (from any combination of roles).
OR
Bachelor's degree in any field.
OR
High school diploma or GED and four years of full-time post-high school work experience (from any combination of roles).
Language: There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position.
Required behavioral competencies
These competencies are essential for all service assignments and are assessed in the application and interview process:
Motivation for and commitment to service
Adaptability and open-mindedness
Problem solving and resourcefulness
Behavioral maturity and professionalism
Photos from Ecuador
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Plan and teach engaging lessons that support various proficiencies and learning styles.
Hold office hours for students to offer academic support or thesis review.
Provide feedback to faculty for articles pending publication.
Collaborate with institutional leadership to implement projects that foster internationalization.
Develop and support extracurricular clubs for both faculty and students
Lead skill-building workshops for faculty.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as community English game nights.
Volunteers will live with an Ecuadorian host family in a suburban community just outside central Quito before moving to their assigned site in either the Andean Highlands or Amazon region.
Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Ecuador country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.
Meet a Volunteer in Ecuador
Maja S.
Health and Well-Being Volunteer
"[From my community] I learned to conserve resources by doing dishes once a day; taking short, cold showers; unplugging electronics while not in use; and taking advantage of natural light whenever possible."
See full Volunteer profile
As an English Teacher, you will be trained to support local English language acquisition. Peace Corps/Ecuador will teach you Spanish to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community. You will also receive language resources and learn Quichua if placed in an indigenous community.
After 9 weeks of training, you will move to an urban, semi-urban, or rural community where you will collaborate with public schools to assess the local needs and develop solutions based on best teaching practices.
Heterosexual and same-sex couples are accepted for this program. Each person must apply separately and qualify for a position in the same sector as their partner. Couples will live together during training but may separate occasionally for field-based activities. Couples who are selected for the same sector will live together but work with different local partners which may be in the same community or in neighboring communities (not more than 30 minutes apart). Cohabitating couples are highly encouraged to present themselves as married throughout service due to cultural expectations.
To learn more about serving as a couple in Ecuador, visit the country page.
Application process
From application to departure takes around nine months. Learn about the application process for Volunteer opportunities.
Medical/legal clearance
You will need to be cleared medically and legally in order to serve in Ecuador. Review information on medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
