Teaching English for Buddhist Monks
The English Teaching in Buddhist Monasteries Program aims to provide volunteers with a rewarding experience while offering English education to monks. As a volunteer, you will be placed in monasteries where you’ll teach English for 3 to 4 hours daily, catering to 12 to 15 monks with varying English proficiency levels.
The ability to speak English allows monks to translate religious text and communicate the teachings of Buddhism to others. It is not totally uncommon for monks to leave the monastery when they get older, therefore it is important for them to learn English in order to boost their career prospects in mainstream society.
Monks primarily study Buddhist subjects in the Sinhala language, and English is an optional language to enhance their communication skills. You may follow existing English subject curricula or design your lesson plans based on the monastery’s requirements. Beyond English instruction, volunteers can engage in extracurricular activities like learning the buddhist Philosophy, Buddhist & Sri Lankan culture, storytelling, and even participate in meditation and yoga sessions facilitated by the monastery’s senior monks.