Teaching English to Buddhist Monks
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About the project
Teaching English to Buddhist Monks
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Volunteer to teach young monks and learn about their lifestyle in a fascinating monastery!
Nepal has many spectacular Buddhist monasteries. Most of them are Tibetan monasteries opened by Tibetan refugees that fled the Chinese occupation. These monasteries house hundred of monks enrolled in the life of a monkhood from early in their lives. They study and live in the monastery, they mostly use Tibetan language and their chances of learning English are very limited.
Recently, the Rinpoche or the high lama of the monastery realized that the monks need to learn English if they are to spread the teaching of Buddhist and communicate effectively with outside people. Hence the monasteries are looking for volunteers to teach English to Buddhist monks. Teaching English to Buddhist monks is an excellent opportunity for volunteers who are interested in Buddhism and culture. In the monastery, volunteers will also have wonderful opportunity to learn vahrayana and witness colorful rituals and prayers.
💼 What the programme involves
Volunteers will primarily work as English instructors. The monastery is very spacious. A central building houses a prayer room and the main altar and another building is used for accommodation, eating and staying. During the teaching you will be encouraged to converse with monks to improve their speaking skills. You can talk about your culture and ask them about their childhood and life as monks!
A typical week in the monastery consists in organizing English classes from Monday until Friday . This means not only teaching but also taking part in their routine and discovering a different culture.
🏠 Accommodation on site
A simple room with a bed. Once the volunteers arrive in Nepal, they will sleep two nights in the volunteers' house at Kathmandu. Afterwards, they will sleep inside the monastery where they will teach english. We advise people to bring a sleeping bag and mosquito net.
🍲 Food
You will have 3 meals as well as tea and coffee at the project site. Breakfast occurs at 7:00 am and consists of a cup of tea and biscuits. Lunch is served at 11:30 am and usually includes dall/bhat( rice, lentils and vegetables). Dinner is at around 7:00 pm and is once more dall/bhat. The food is very simple but also extremely delicious and filling. Food is only included at the project site: if during the weeks-ends you want to visit, you will have to buy your meals.
📍 About the location
Kathmandu is the capital of the kingdom, situated in a valley which is an open air museum of famous sites, ancient temples and shrines, golden pagodas and are inspiring deities, is a city of inexhaustible historic artistic and cultural interest. Several beautiful and interesting villages and towns surrounding the valley offer ideal destinations for mini treks. The dazzling Himalayan peaks are visible from several points on the mountains around the valley.
Transportation is convenient and inexpensive. Medical service is quite good. Shoppers may purchase unusual gifts and souvenirs from an interesting assortment of items such as handicrafts, carpets, wooden art works, bronze casting and metal work, thankas, Nepali paper prints and readymade garments.
🎒 Leisure activities
Jungle safari is one of the most amazing trips in Nepal, as it is a rich country with an exceptional bio diversity and a beautiful natural environment. The tropical jungles of the Tarai preserves some of the best wildlife habitat in the subcontinent. There are also outdoor adventure sports into the wilderness to see wild animals, birds and natural beauty. You can either ride on an elephant’s back or on a four wheeler jeep accompanied by a fully trained guide (naturalist) to view the nature and animals.
⚠️ Requirements
English proficiency is expected though you are not required to show any previous experience or high scored English degrees. Volunteers must take care of the grammatical accuracy. Applicants must understand Buddhist values and respect the way of life of a monk.
ℹ️ Additional information
Min. 1 month
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📷 Project photos
📅 Available sessions
BM-WV1-2019
01/01/2017 at 00:00 → 31/12/2019 at 00:00
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–99 years old
Solidarity donation
450.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
P66W+VQ Hasantar, Nagarjun 44600, Nepal
Nepal
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Nepal Rupee (NPR / रूपैयाँ)
Exchange rate
1 NPR = 0.005958 EUR
Rate as of 31/05/2026
Timezone
Nepal Time
Local time: 21:40 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🗣️ Languages spoken