Preparing to Teach in Nepal

This is a guide for pre-service and professional educationalist who want to prepare themselves to travel to Nepal and teach in local schools. The guide was compiled over eight years of working with volunteer teachers placed in Nepali schools and draws on observations and interviews with local teaching staff, Nepali students, and volunteers. It provides an evidence based approach to preparing, as an overseas teacher, to conduct classes in Nepal and identify simple, powerful and ‘appropriate’ ways of teaching that aligns with the local curriculum and engages and resonates positively with students and their teachers. The focus is on teaching in primary and lower secondary schools, but there are lessons for teaching in other domains such as building knowledge and skills within communities. This information would also appeal to teacher training institutions placing students in Nepal with a focus on: preparing their students for the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse school systems; and, who wish to provide unique opportunities for their students to expand their experiences and develop skills in working with diversity. The guide also highlights the need for teachers to prepare to be completely immersed in a different educational, cultural and linguistic environment and to be aware of how it may help shape their beliefs and reinforce behaviours that are consistent with building personal resilience and leadership.