Frequently Asked Questions

 
1.    Where will I be placed in Lesotho?
 
Participants are likely to be placed in the same town in Lesotho outside the capital city. For the 2008 programme the teachers lived and worked in Mafeteng and Mohale's Hoek, small towns a few hours outside of the capital city, Maseru.
 
2.    What are the programme dates?
 
The programme follows the Lesotho academic year, which begins in January next year. The teachers will fly to Lesotho about a week before the term begins for a few days’ orientation in the capital city and in your new home town. Exact start dates will be confirmed in November. You will be teaching in Lesotho between January and June with the option of extending your stay a further 6 months up to December 2012.
 
3.  What about training and preparation?  
 
Dolen Cymru offers all teachers accepted on this programme a training programme specially tailored towards their needs. The training programme involves three separate courses, all lasting 3 days with the first two in Cardiff and the third delivered on-arrival in Lesotho before the placements start.
 
1.       Introductory Training Course:
 
Delivered by Dolen Cymru/Lesotho Wales Link staff in September. This training course serves as an introduction to the programme and the partner organisations and an ice-breaking/team-building event. Sessions include Sesotho language lessons, health and safety (HIV, travel vaccinations etc), roles and responsibilities, what to take, preparation work, a Q&A session with returned teachers, and introduction to Basotho culture.
 
2.       Pre-Departure Training Course:
 
Delivered by VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) in December. This training focuses on the professional development of the teachers, awareness raising of development issues, coping strategies for working in a new environment (e.g. dealing with large and multi-level classes, teaching through the medium of a second language), supporting teacher development (mentoring, classroom observation etc) and teaching ESDGC on their return.
 
3.       On-Arrival Training Course:
 
Delivered by Lesotho Wales Link (LWL) in January. The LWL training is delivered on the teachers’ second day in Lesotho and focuses more sharply on the local context. Sesotho language is incorporated throughout and a session is done on Basotho culture. The training also focuses on the development context in Lesotho (HIV/AIDS, political situation and the economy) and the impact these have on education. The Lesotho education system is examined in detail and a meeting was set up with the work placement supervisors to agree aims and objectives of the placements.
 
4. How do I apply and what happens after my application has been accepted?
 
Contact Dolen Cymru for an application form. Complete the form and return it to Dolen Cymru by the next application deadline. If you are short listed you will be called to Cardiff for an interview and will be told within a day whether you have been accepted for the programme.
 
Any offer of a place on the programme will be subject to satisfactory references and medical checks. You will also be required to undergo an Enhanced CRB Disclosure.
 
5. What will be expected of me in the school?
 
It is usual in Lesotho for foreign teachers to work with whole classes, on average around 40-50 students, although it can be higher than this. You will be invited to contribute your own ideas as well as follow set courses. The school day starts at 8am in Lesotho (for Primary Schools, from 8.30am in Winter) and ends at 2pm for Primary Schools and 4pm for Secondary. Classes run from Monday to Friday and you will be expected to help with occasional extra-curricular activities after school or on some weekends according to your own interests. What subject you will teach will depend on your own skills and abilities, and whether you are a Primary or Secondary school teacher. All teachers however will be expected to teach some English and possibly Maths. Your timetable can be negotiated with your school after your arrival.
 
Teachers will also be expected to undertake some workshops and trainings in order to share their skills with others. If you decide to stay on a further 6 months after the end of the programme you will have the opportunity to work more closely with colleagues to develop and improve your mentoring and teacher training skills.
 
6. What about accommodation?
 
Your accommodation will be arranged by Dolen Cymru's partner office in Lesotho. You will share a house with other teachers from Wales. There will be two houses with three or four teachers in each one. The standard of the houses will be high in comparison with local norms. All houses will have electricity (usually on a meter), running hot and cold water, a flushing toilet and cooking facilities. The houses will usually be within walking distance to your school. The cost of accommodation is likely to be around £60 per month and is not covered by the programme.
 
7. What level of English will the students already have?
 
Pupils are taught English from an early age in primary schools and the higher classes in many primary schools will be taught through the medium of English. Most secondary schools in Lesotho teach only through the medium of English. However, it is important not to forget that English is a second language in Lesotho and there will be some barriers to communication. TEFL skills will come in useful as will some basic Sesotho. You will be given introductory Sesotho lessons at every stage of your training.
 
8. What kind of support will I receive while I am out there?
 
Each group will be accompanied by a mentor, a person who will be responsible for supporting their professional development and for ensuring their wellbeing. The group mentor is Dolen Cymru’s representative on the ground but will also be a part of the team, working part-time at a school and living with the teachers. You will also be supported by the staff of Lesotho Wales Link, Dolen Cymru’s partner organisation in Lesotho. They will be on hand to give advice, liaise with the schools and local officials and offer you excellent support throughout your stay there.
 
9. Will I need a visa, insurance policy and vaccinations?
 
You will be issued with a visa (free of charge) on entry to Lesotho at the airport. Your passport will however need to be valid for at least six months after the date of entry. You will be covered by Dolen Cymru’s insurance policy for all activities during your stay with the exception of risky activities such as rock climbing or skiing.