Strengthen English teaching and support literacy in rural Timor Leste

Maubisse Parish Catholic School, through Palms International Volunteering, is seeking two volunteer English Teacher Mentors to help build the capacity of local teachers and improve learning outcomes for students across pre secondary and secondary levels. The English Teacher Mentor will support local teachers in delivering engaging, student centred English lessons aligned with the updated national curriculum. Your mentoring will help improve literacy, strengthen teacher confidence, and ensure students receive high quality Catholic education.

This role is ideal for someone passionate about teaching, capacity building, and supporting young people in low resource settings.

What you’ll do

First several weeks – Learn and build relationships

• Learn local language, cultural norms, and school context with support from a local mentor.
• Observe teaching practices and document strengths and community assets.
• Avoid recommending changes during this period; focus on understanding local approaches.

Ongoing responsibilities

• Mentor teachers in planning simple, effective English lessons.
• Co teach and model strategies suited to multilingual, low resource classrooms.
• Create simple, reusable teaching materials (flashcards, worksheets, reading texts).
• Support teachers to encourage participation from shy or struggling students.
• Strengthen literacy across Tetun, Portuguese, and English.
• Gradually transition responsibilities to local teachers to ensure sustainability.
• Document progress, stories of change, and evidence of improved practice.

What you’ll bring

• TESOL training and a university degree.
• Experience teaching English in multilingual or low resource settings.
• Ability to design simple learning materials.
• Familiarity with Timor Leste’s education context (desirable).
• Strong mentoring, communication, and teamwork skills.
• Patience, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity.
• Commitment to serve for 12 months with limited resources.

What you’ll gain

• Deep cultural immersion in a rural Timorese community.
• The opportunity to strengthen teacher capability and student learning.
• Professional experience in cross cultural education and mentoring.
• Contribution to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

About Palms International Volunteering For 65 years, Palms International Volunteering has supported skilled Australians to live and work alongside communities in the Asia-Pacific. Our volunteers don’t ‘fix’ problem - they build relationships, strengthen local capacity, and walk with communities striving for dignity and opportunity. These are ‘solidarity placements’. Accommodation and a small stipend is provided, as well as preparation and ongoing support.

The focus is on living as a true neighbour to learn, and to establish an effective mentoring role. This is the basis for lasting capacity building in the community. It is also a chance for you to step out of the rush and reconnect with what matters through a deep cultural immersion and genuine community relationships.