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Connect with the Peace Corps
If you're ready for something bigger, we have a place where you belong.
Apply to the Peace Corps
The application process begins by selecting a service model and finding an open position.
Let us help you find the right position.
If you are flexible in where you serve for the two-year Peace Corps Volunteer program, our experts can match you with a position and country based on your experience and preferences.
Serve where you’re needed mostHigh School English Teacher
Education
Environment
Job highlights
- Receive high-quality training that equips you to teach English internationally and address sustainable development goals through education.
- Experience the rich culture, natural wonders, and warm hospitality that have earned Malawi the nickname, "the warm heart of Africa."
- Engage in traditional forms of living, learn the value of communal life, and build lasting friendships rooted in mutual understanding.
Get answers live — every weekday at .
Apply by
November 15, 2026Know by
January 1, 2027Depart on
June 4, 2027Duration
2 years, plus 3 months trainingAbout the project
Are you interested in sharing knowledge and skills with younger generations to help them excel academically? Malawi is the place for you!
To prepare the youth for global opportunities, public schools across Malawi transition to English as the medium of instruction for all subjects after grade 5. However, persistent challenges—including a shortage of teachers, limited resources, and inadequate infrastructure—impact the country’s ability to provide accessible, high-quality education. Many teachers continue to teach using the more familiar Chichewa language. As a result, many students, particularly those in rural or underserved areas, struggle to comprehend English, leading to high failure rates on national examinations.
As a High School English Teacher, you will collaborate with school staff to strengthen classroom instruction and learning outcomes. Your support will extend beyond the classroom through teacher trainings, English clubs, and community activities. Your service will help shape Malawi’s next generation of leaders.
Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Malawi project page.
Required skills
Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
Bachelor's degree in any discipline.
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 Malawi
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Teach engaging English lessons using student-centered methodologies.
Facilitate extracurricular events or activities.
Establish a school library program with sustainable management practices.
Teach lessons that support the development of employability and life skills.
Facilitate teacher training sessions to strengthen English instructional skills.
Organize environmental education activities, such as tree planting.
Plan and facilitate facility improvement projects.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as computer studies and sports.
Volunteers live in rural or semi-urban communities across the country. Housing will be approximately two miles away from the work site. Some homes have electricity while others do not. In areas with no electricity, renewable energy solutions help support daily needs. Water is accessed from communal sources such as boreholes.
Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Malawi country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.
Meet a Volunteer in Malawi
Carly M.
Environment and Food Security Educator
"Malawians have taught me what it means to be kind, what it means to be selfless and welcome others with open arms; they have taught me that even in the toughest of times, they know how to spread happiness and keep a smile on their faces."
See full Volunteer profile
As a High School English Teacher, you will be trained on general teaching practices, subject-specific instruction techniques, and effective facilitation skills. Peace Corps/Malawi will equip you with Chichewa, Tumbuka, or Tonga language resources. You may also work with a tutor who can help you build basic language skills to connect with the community.
After nine weeks of training, you will move to rural or semi-urban community where you will collaborate with secondary schools and other community organizations. You will work with the community to assess the needs and develop solutions based on community priorities.
Only heterosexual couples can be accepted for this program. Each person must apply separately and must qualify for a position in either the same or a different sector than their partner. Couples will live together during training but may separate occasionally for field-based activities. 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 Malawi, 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 Malawi. Review information on medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
