Trip Details

Volunteer English Teaching in Ubud Bali

On a Gap year? Backpacking? Or just want to help make a difference? As a Volunteer English Teacher in Ubud, Bali, you will have the incredible opportunity to ignite young minds with your language skills! Balinese children are extremely eager to learn and are an absolute joy to teach so every day will be a good school day. And if you don’t have experience, don’t worry! You can team up with fellow volunteers and learn as you go! And when your day of volunteering is done, you can head out to explore one of the most beautiful countries on the planet. As one of our most popular projects, we recommend you book quickly to ensure your placement.

Encourage Balinese Children to Reach for the Stars!

On this volunteer project, you will be spending about one to two hours each morning preparing lessons and around three hours in the afternoon teaching at a local elementary or high school. With Bali’s rapidly expanding tourism industry, the demand for local English speakers has never been greater, and native English speaking teachers are rare. Whilst there is a general syllabus to follow, you are encouraged to use your own ideas and methods to help engage the children and get them talking. However, support will always be on hand, so you can deliver your lessons with confidence. Importantly, this course is not just about language, it’s about building the confidence of these young children to make the best of their futures!

Teach English in one of the most Fascinating Places on the Planet!

Bali has plenty of everything you could want from a rewarding gap year project. It has a rich history, evident in current traditions, and in various ancient sites and temples scattered around the island. However, trekkers and explorers will also find a wealth of must-see places as they visit lush forests, mountains and stunning beaches. Check out Lovina, Sanu, Uluwatu and Kuta for everything from spiritual healing to beach parties! Further, our accommodation is the perfect base for your weekend travels, returning there each evening to relax with fellow volunteers, or to catch up with family and friends back home with available Wifi.

Why Volunteer English Teaching in Ubud Bali?

  • Sow the seed of learning in the minds of local Balinese children
  • Learn new teaching skills and swap techniques with local teachers
  • Build the confidence of these children for their future as adults
  • Find sun, adventure, culture and spiritual growth on the island of Bali
  • Enjoy our accommodation with Wifi, communal areas and meals included

Get in touch to find out more or browse through our many other volunteer experiences.

Trip Itinerary

Your time here in Bali with young children will be to help further their education, so that they may grow up to become successful and ambitious young adults within their local economy. Arriving on Sunday, you’ll have plenty of time to relax ahead of your exciting week!

Mandatory Orientation Day

On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarise yourself with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your programme will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.

Orientation Schedule – Monday

  • Welcome, introduction to Indonesia, House rules, Code of
  • Conduct and handling of documents
  • Culture Lesson
  • Lunch
  • Project meeting and Preparation

Tuesday to Friday

On a typical day during this Volunteer English Teaching project in Ubud, Bali, your schedule will rise early for breakfast. Thereafter, you can work on developing lesson plans for each day for a couple of hours. After lunch, you will head to your project where your students will be eagerly waiting for you! Finally, once your teaching day is done, you will return home for dinner and a relaxing evening.

During your project, you will be expected to

  • Assist children with self-confidence and assertive behaviour
  • Improve each child’s verbal and written English.
  • Design efficient lesson plans with your program coordinator and other volunteers.
  • Adapt your teaching methods to the needs of the children

Evenings and Weekends

Your evenings and weekends are free to explore Ubud or simply relax with new friends back at your accommodation. Many of our volunteers enjoy mixing with their new friends during the week and plan their weekend adventures together!

Please note: This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Places to Visit

Here are some of our top must-see destinations …

The Gili Islands

Here, you’ll find small resorts and huts for tourists looking to get away from the bustle of Ubud. In fact, the islands are a popular destination for snorkelling and diving due to its abundant marine life.

Nusa Lembongan

This is an island paradise with the clearest waters that you will ever see!  Surfing, diving and snorkeling and amongst the most popular activities that visitors can enjoy.

Lovina

Lovina is located between the Bedugul mountains and the sea, and is popular for dolphin watching, trekking, hot springs and its gorgeous coral reefs.

Sanur

This is a stunning stretch of beach in Southeast Bali that contains villa resorts and Zen Villas. Historically, it was used as the landing site for the Dutch invasion troops during the Dutch invasion in 1906 as well as being the entry point into Bali for the Japanese during WWII.

Kuta

Kura is a beach known of its surfing opportunities and party atmosphere, and is a popular destination for our volunteers over the course of their stay!

Uluwatu

This extraordinary temple was built at the edge of a 70-metre high cliff at the edge of the sea and is inhabited by monkeys.

Trip Accommodation

As a Teaching Volunteer in Ubud, Bali, you will be staying at our accommodation in the village of Pejeng Kaja. Located on the outskirts of Ubud, this is true Bali, and you will get a good chance to experience typical Balinese life – roosters crowing and all!

About the Accommodation

The accommodation is located in Pejeng Kaja which has shared rooms, sleeping 4-8 and including facilities such as hot showers and Wifi –  as well as enough space for you to socialise and relax in the evenings. Actually, we have 2 centres in Pejeng – Santi Rahayu and Melati – which are especially furnished with our volunteers in mind. In addition, you can opt for private accommodation, where you will have a private room and attached bathroom. However, these rooms are limited, so do let us know your preferences at the time of booking.

Food Arrangements

Indonesian food is delicious and you can expect to experience a whole new world of flavours during your stay!  Typically, dishes include mie goreng (fried noodles and vegetables), nasi goreng (fried rice and vegetables) or gado gado (mixed vegetables with a satay sauce). For those who do not eat meat, Indonesian does, in fact, use a lot of tofu and tempeh (soybeans). Further, breakfasts usually include pancakes, fresh fruit, and toast. Meanwhile, tea, coffee and purified water are available throughout the day in the house.

Facilities

From your accommodation, it will take about 15-20 minutes to reach the centre of Ubud. In addition, you’ll find some grocery shops in the village, and a 24hr mini-mart in Ubud centre.

Restaurants and Cafes

If you want to eat out occasionally, there is a wide selection of restaurants with international and local cuisine, 20 mins walk from the centre. Also, you’ll find several cafes in the village, where you can relax and hang out with other volunteers in the evening.

Swimming Pools

If you fancy a dip, there is a swimming pool which can be reached in 10 minutes by taxi from the centre. In addition, there are also several gyms around the Ubud area to keep yourself fit!

Clinic and Hospital

The clinic UPT Kesmas is open 24hrs, and is located in Tampaksiring about 4 km away. It takes about 10 minutes by car and the hospital Ari Canti hospital Rumah Sakit is about 8 km from the centre.

Trip Country Info

Indonesia

Capital: Jakarta
Language: Indonesian (official)
Currency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR)
Time zone: UTC +8

Indonesia, a Southeast Asian nation made up of thousands of volcanic islands, is home to hundreds of ethnic groups speaking many different languages. It’s is known for its beaches, volcanoes and jungles sheltering elephants, tigers and Komodo dragons. On the island of Java lies Indonesia’s vibrant, sprawling capital, Jakarta, and the city of Yogyakarta, known for gamelan music and traditional puppetry.For learning culture and gaining experiences you’ve never thought of, there is Indonesia, one of the most interesting countries in the world. With around 300 ethnic groups, each with cultural identities developed over centuries and influenced by Indian, Arabic, Chinese and European sources, Indonesia has many cultural experiences ready to be discovered.

Bali
Dubbed the Island of the Gods, Bali is one of the more than 17,000 islands that make up the Indonesian archipelago. Due to its location off the coast from the mainland and unique culture and religion from the rest of the country, Bali is often treated as a destination of its own, “if you’ve only been to Bali, you’ve never been to Indonesia”.

With its pristine beaches, its unspoilt waters ideal for surfing and diving, its lush mountains, its never-ending rice terrace and volcanic hillsides, its spiritually-infused culture and more, Bali has quickly become a must-visit and it often makes its way on everyone’s bucket list.

Flores
Flores is located the East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia. It has adventure, eco-tours, and mountain climbing interspersed with visits to prehistoric heritage sites, traditional villages and cultural events. It has some of the world’s most exotic marine life. And if you want to see the famous Komodo Dragons alive, this is the only place in the whole world which gives you the experience. You can visit the Komodo dragons in their natural habitats in the Komodo National Park islands. Here you will witness the natural treasures still trying to survive in its purest forms.

Flores is a multi-religious and multi-cultural island where 60% of the people are Christian, 20% Islamic and 20% Hindus and Buddhists. The holidays for Flores are similar to the general Indonesian calendar.

Flores, though one of the main islands in Indonesia, is still trying to keep up with the rest of the country. Evidently, its exceptional natural treasures need more care and its warm hearted people need more support.

Climate
Temperatures are pleasant, varying from 20-33 degrees celsius year-round. The monsoon season strikes in November and makes its way until March, bringing in humidity and a significant amount of rain. However, this usually does not stop people from visiting, as the rain usually begins in the late afternoons and evenings, meaning the daytime remains sun-filled. From June to September, the weather is dry and there is not too much humidity in the air.

Culture
Indonesia is a haven for customs and this can be seen in every corner of the islands. Not to mention the fact the these islands themselves have their own traditions and customs which are different from one another.

A good example of this can be experienced in Bali, where small offerings containing flowers, rice and even cigarettes (sesajen) are found in every house, restaurants, stalls and even at the check-in desks at airports. The offerings are set with burning incense sticks and sprinkled with holy water three times a day before every meal.

There are roughly 20,000 temples spread around the Bali island and, because the Balinese are masters of sculpture, the temples are guarded with statues of gods and goddesses.

Keep, in mind, however, that the Hinduism you will see in Bali is often different than the one seen in India.

Take a look at our latest gap year volunteer projects in Indonesia below or get in touch with any questions you have about volunteering in Indonesia.

Participant Criteria & Requirements

Standard Requirements

Under 18, Parental Consent is Required
Travel Insurance
DBS, Police Background Check

Additional Requirements

Team Player

What's included

  • 24/7 support in case of emergencies
  • Accommodation
  • Airport Pick up
  • English speaking coordinator
  • Meals
  • Orientation

What's not included

  • Airport drop off
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Vaccination
  • Visa