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Teaching English Volunteer Project in Romania - Miercurea Ciuc

Teaching English Volunteer Project in Romania - Miercurea Ciuc

Inspired to Teach English in Romania? International Volunteer HQ’s Teaching English project is a great way for volunteers to assist with language lessons in local schools. Volunteers gain teaching experience while supporting teachers to create engaging lesson plans, or leading classes on their own. Fluent English-speaking teachers can be a bit of a novelty for Romanian students and inspire them to keep learning the language.

Highlights:
  • Programs start every first and third Monday of the month
  • Affordable fees from $504 for 1 week
  • Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
  • Teach English and broaden students’ horizons in local schools

  • Discover Romania’s incredible castles and old-world towns

  • Stay with other volunteers in the pretty city of Miercurea Ciuc

Key information

Improve access to quality education
Based in local schools in Miercurea Ciuc
Volunteer apartment accommodation
Volunteers aged 18+
Fully hosted experience from $504 for 1 week
Durations from 1 - 24 weeks
Hungarian and Romanian lessons available
Up to 5 hours volunteering a day

This program is ideal for:

Volunteers who speak English fluently and are interested in education and teaching English. As you will work with the support of the local team and placement staff, you don’t need to be a qualified teacher to participate. However, some relevant experience or training, like a TEFL course, would be useful.
Who is this program suited to?

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

Romanian students don’t often come into contact with native English-speaking teachers so volunteers can be a real source of knowledge and inspiration in local schools around Miercurea Ciuc, especially for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

As an English Teaching volunteer you will either be a valued assistant to local teachers, or can teach independently, helping with all aspects of schooling, but especially English language lessons. Students can range from 6 to 16 years old. This project is ideal for volunteers ​who want to teach in a structured environment, and as such is a good introduction to a teaching career. Volunteer duties can vary but usually involve:

  • Teaching English classes
  • Assisting local teachers
  • Tutoring students
  • Providing language guidance
  • Arranging educational activities
  • Lesson planning

As a teaching volunteer, you may be asked to join some of the After School Support project activities too.

​The Teaching project isn’t available during the summer holidays, from June to September, but if you want to travel during that time, you can volunteer on the Summer Camp project instead. If your project runs during other school holidays, then you can also expect to be involved in holiday activities.

If your project is within two weeks of the start or end of the summer vacation, you should expect schooling to be run differently to normal, as schools are either winding down or starting up for the school year. These are extremely ​busy periods in the school calendar and very little formal teaching occurs. This time may also also involve helping with after-school programs.

School Holidays 2022:

  • 15th April - 1st May (Spring Vacation)
  • 6th June - 16 September (Summer Holidays) - Switch to Summer Camp project
  • 23rd December - 9th January (Winter Holidays)
Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education

More than half of all children and teens do not meet minimum proficiency standards in reading and mathematics. Quality education provides an opportunity to learn and grow in a safe environment and is key to preventing poverty, securing long-term employment and improving quality of life.

Why do Teaching English volunteering in Miercurea Ciuc with IVHQ?

As a volunteer English teacher in Romania you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

  • Inspiring students to learn English
  • Providing language guidance and expertise
  • Developing your communication skills
  • Gaining teaching experience
  • Immersing yourself in Romanian culture
  • Exploring Romania’s historic cities

Volunteer requirements

  • Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate in this program. If you are under the age of 18, IVHQ offers alternative volunteer opportunities for teens. Visit our High School Volunteer Abroad page to learn more.
  • All volunteers are required to speak fluent English, have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a criminal background check to IVHQ before departure.
Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

Apply For Free

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What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

SM
Shan Malik
14 Dec 2022

The experience and growth you gain is amazing. Although, you must be willing to break free from your everyday comfort zone and be able to tolerate very different living conditions. One of my greatest experiences was meeting the local teachers and volunteers who were amazing and intelligent.

...
RH
Rafael Heryapriadi
11 Dec 2022

The local team did a really great job in supporting me during the time I was volunteering. I felt a very strong connection with the kids I was teaching and it made me happy to see how enthusiastic the children were when we were present in the classroom! I also learnt many things about the local customs and culture. Overall, I had a positive experience on the program as not only did I get to see a new part of the world but I also got to see the smiles that I would put on people's faces!

...
NK
Noritaka Kobayakawa
06 Jun 2022

My experience in Miercurea Ciuc was very memorable. The local team was fantastic as they were very attentive and welcoming. The orientation week was very helpful as it informed me a lot about Transylvania history and the Hungarian language. The English camps were a lot of fun and the kids in Romania were great to work with.

...
MS
Mia Sim
12 May 2022

I loved my placement so much! This program has been absolutely exceptional with making sure that I got everything that I needed and that I had people to help support me.

...
KM
Kevin McQuade
05 Feb 2021

The Romanian teaching experience is an excellent way to grow both personally and professionally. The local team in Romania gives the volunteers a lot of TLC, so that you get the most out of your volunteer experience!

...
KL
Kristine Lehew
05 Feb 2021

Volunteering in Romania was life changing. I think I learned more about myself in these three weeks than I could have ever imagined. The staff were extremely helpful and offered myself and my sister (who I was traveling with) a lot of support throughout our trip! I'm under the firm belief that, counter to popular opinion, one does not leave bits of themselves in the places they travel. Rather the countries that you go to become a part of you. The friends you make are absorbed into the very fabric of your soul and you are changed forever because of your interaction. I'm so happy that I get to keep a little bit of Csikszereda in my heart forever. A place that makes me want to dance and stay up with friends all night. A place that I will long for in the years to come. My time in Csikszereda was amazing and I will honestly yearn to be back there for many years to come!

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

Academic course credit through International Volunteer HQ and Intern Abroad HQ.

Academic course credit

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Volunteer Abroad in Romania with IVHQ

Location

IVHQ’s Romanian projects are based in and around Miercurea Ciuc - a town in the Harghita county of Romania. It lies in the Székely Land, an Hungarian-speaking region in eastern Transylvania. It has an interesting history, pretty European architecture spanning centuries, an annual music festival, a Catholic pilgrimage, and winter temperatures that reach -30°C or −22 °F, which makes it the perfect place for cold season sports like ice hockey and speed skating.

Arrival and orientation

The program orientation begins on the first and third Monday of each month, and volunteers need to arrive in Miercurea Ciuc the day before orientation. After you have registered for the program, please book your flight to arrive at Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP).

Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee, however, if you arrive outside of Sunday between 9:00AM - 10:00PM, your pick-up will incur an extra cost of US$150.

We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night prior to your start date. If you are traveling in Romania prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up from a pre-arranged location in Miercurea Ciuc the day before your program orientation. There are two options for orientation in Romania, a One-Day Orientation and an Orientation Week.

One-Day Orientation: This is a standard full-day induction on your selected start date that covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Romania. You’ll be provided with an introduction to Romania, meet the program staff and get an overview of procedures. You’ll learn about the history of Romania and Hungary, religion, festivals, customs and traditions, dress/clothing, safety issues, food, transportation and travel opportunities and go through details about your volunteer project and accommodation​.​ The afternoon includes an introduction to the Hungarian language and a city tour of Miercurea Ciuc​ which is​ provided by local volunteers.​ ​The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.

Introduction Week: This takes place during the first week of your program. This introduction week has an extra cost of $540 (approximately $540) and is very popular among IVHQ volunteers. It includes everything on the One-Day Orientation as well as Hungarian lessons, trips to a castle, a Franciscan monastery, local villages, salt mines, a giant statue of Jesus Christ, museums, mountains and mineral springs. You’ll have the weekend free to do as you please before your specific placement orientation the following Monday. We recommend all volunteers take advantage of this week as it’s a great way to help settle the culture shock you can face when arriving in Romania.

The Introduction Week begins on your selected start date and your volunteer work will start the following week. If you wish to participate in the One-week Introduction, you’ll need to tell your IVHQ Program Manager in advance. You need to book a place and pay for this week before your volunteer program starts.

Volunteer schedule example

Weekdays

Start times and daily workload depends on the project that you are volunteering on, with some beginning in the morning and some in the afternoon. A typical schedule is as follows:

8:00 AM Volunteers prepare their ​own ​breakfast at the accommodation.
9:00 AM Travel to placement to join local placement staff and begin work on your project.
1:00 - 2:00 PM Lunch. Volunteers either eat lunch at a local restaurant or, in some cases, at their placement.
3:00 - 5:00 PM Afternoon placements usually end. Volunteers are free to return to the volunteer accommodation, plan for the following day’s activities or use their free time as they wish.
7:00 PM Volunteers prepare their dinner at the volunteer accommodation and have the remainder of the evening free.

Weekends

Volunteers have the weekends free and there is no shortage of things to do in Harghita or further afield in Romania. Volunteers can fill their free time with local markets, adventure activities or simply exploring parts of Harghita. Romania is a popular tourist destination, offering beautiful nature and scenery, with great trekking, climbing, biking, rafting and kayaking opportunities. Volunteers who wish to take a long weekend to travel can enjoy beautiful limestone mountains and explore Old World Europe.

Volunteers staying for longer durations, or who wish to travel before or after their program, can visit areas further afield in Romania and neighboring countries such as Hungary and Bulgaria. Volunteers can make travel arrangements once in Miercurea Ciuc, with the advice and guidance of our local staff.

Accommodation and WiFi

Volunteers are accommodated predominantly in one of two neighboring volunteer apartments or in a volunteer house. The smaller apartment accommodates up to 8 ​volunteers of the same gender in 1 room whereas the larger apartment, with 3 bedrooms, accommodates up to 19 ​volunteers. During the summer you can expect to be sharing with 7-17 people if you are in the female apartment (distributed between 3 connecting rooms) and in the male apartment between 4-8 people. In all other months the number is usually between 3-6 people. The volunteer house is made up of 4 rooms and you can expect to share a room with one other person of the same gender.

Th​e ​accommodation is based centrally and is within 10 - 15 minutes walking distance to the ​local team’s office, and steps away from numerous cafes and restaurants. Bedding is provided and towels are available on request. A washing machine is available for volunteers to keep their clothing and bedding fresh. If you have any specific requests in regards to your accommodation, please let your IVHQ Program Manager know, and our local team will do their best to arrange that for you.

WiFi is available at the volunteer apartments and volunteer house, as well as at many cafes and restaurants in the area. To keep connected, you can also purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone.

Meals

Volunteers are provided with one cooked meal per day. This meal is provided either at a local restaurant or ​at your placement. Breakfast, dinner and weekend meals are self-​prepared using supplies in the volunteer accommodation. Food is purchased on a regular basis by the accommodation manager, and volunteers can place specific food requests with him if they wish.

If you choose to eat away from the accommodation, you can typically expect the main meal of the day to be lunch with two courses. The first course is always a traditional soup which is followed by the second course of potato or rice dishes, chicken, pork, goulash or stews and pasta dishes. Bread is commonly served with all meals and as it’s often made with potatoes it can be quite heavy. Vegetarians can expect to be offered either cheese or mushroom dishes as a general norm at restaurants.

Pricing

  • USD
Duration
Program Fee
Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
  • USD
1 week $504 Equivalent to $72/day
2 weeks $867 Equivalent to $62/day
3 weeks $1,134 Equivalent to $54/day
4 weeks $1,401 Equivalent to $50/day
5 weeks $1,664 Equivalent to $48/day
6 weeks $1,927 Equivalent to $46/day
8 weeks $2,453 Equivalent to $44/day
10 weeks $2,979 Equivalent to $43/day
12 weeks $3,491 Equivalent to $42/day
16 weeks $4,515 Equivalent to $40/day
20 weeks $5,521 Equivalent to $39/day
24 weeks $6,521 Equivalent to $39/day
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Airport pick-up
  • Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Discounts on language lessons
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

  • All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately $329) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
  • Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, public transport to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
  • Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Romania generally find US$60 to be sufficient for weekly expenses including, transportation, water and miscellaneous spending.

Free-time experiences & tours in Romania

Take your volunteer experience to the next level with IVHQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Romania! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Romania program.

Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (One Hour Class)
Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (One Hour Class)

Eager to enhance your Hungarian or Romanian language skills while volunteering in Romania? Now is the perfect, cost-effective opportunity to boost your proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing these languages with confidence!

From $15
Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (Three Hour Class)
Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (Three Hour Class)

Eager to enhance your Hungarian or Romanian language skills while volunteering in Romania? Now is the perfect, cost-effective opportunity to boost your proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing these languages with confidence!

From $30
Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (One Hour Class)
Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (One Hour Class)

Eager to enhance your Hungarian or Romanian language skills while volunteering in Romania? Now is the perfect, cost-effective opportunity to boost your proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing these languages with confidence!

From $15
Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (Three Hour Class)
Hungarian and Romanian Language Lessons (Three Hour Class)

Eager to enhance your Hungarian or Romanian language skills while volunteering in Romania? Now is the perfect, cost-effective opportunity to boost your proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing these languages with confidence!

From $30

Hungarian and Romanian language lessons

We recommend that volunteers take advantage of the very affordable Hungarian and Romanian lessons offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers by local language teachers. These language courses are organized during your program orientation and are tailored to each volunteer’s current level of Hungarian or Romanian. We believe that taking these lessons can help you immensely with your day to day volunteer work and communicating with local people.

  • Three hour intensive private class = US$30 (recommended for short term volunteers)
  • One hour private class = US$15

These language lessons can be booked directly through IVHQ once you have registered for the Romania program.

Check what's required to visit Romania

Safety and support with IVHQ

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

  • All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
  • All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
  • All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
  • All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital Bucharest
Population 20 Million
Languages Romanian
Currency Romanian Leu (RON)
Time zone UTC+02:00

Weather and climate

Romania has a temperate-continental climate with distinct seasons, cold winters and hot summers. Daytime temperatures in winter range from 0°C to 5°C and in the summers months 25°C to 30°C. The IVHQ Romania program is based in Transylvania where the average temperatures are a little more extreme than the average.

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How to get started

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