FAQs Archive

Q: Does ILP keep in touch while I'm abroad?

Yes! You may not see it, but a lot is going on to support you behind the scenes. Each semester has unique and unexpected challenges, so we have years of experience figuring out how to handle what may come up during your trip. We stay involved from start to finish. Each in-country volunteer has access to our 24/7 stateside Support Team. We're here to answer both the day-to-day questions and offer support when urgent situations come up. What if your flight gets delayed? Or you get sick on vacation and aren't sure what to do? Just text or call the Support Team! We will have frequently scheduled calls with your Head Teacher to go over the various needs of the group, but we're also available if you need to reach out directly. We aim to have someone from our team come visit in person once during your semester, about halfway through the trip. Additionally, our office is also in contact with your local leaders, when needed. Things are handled on a case-by-case basis but don’t hesitate to reach out to your Support Team during the trip if you have questions or concerns.

Q: Has anyone in my group already taught before?

This is usually the first time teaching for most people in our program. Every group has a Head Teacher who is a volunteer peer supervisor. They have many responsibilities, but essentially they act as the leader of the group and are often the middleman between the volunteers, the Local Coordinator/school, and the ILP office in Utah to ensure that things are running smoothly and needs are met. Head Teachers either have previous experience teaching the ILP method when they were a volunteer themselves, or they have completed additional training prior to the start of the semester. Either way, they are there to give you support and guidance and answer questions so that ILP classes are effective for the students. You may also have alumni in your group who are returning to teach for the second or third time.

Q: What if my local leaders aren't helping me?

We do our best to choose both Head Teachers and Local Coordinators who will follow the standard that we ask of them, but if for some reason you don’t feel like they are meeting your needs, don’t worry. You’ll have the contact information of your Support Rep (who works directly with your group) and the ILP Directors to help you with any issues that may arrive once you’re in-country. The ILP Directors also give you their personal emails and cell phone numbers so they can be reached at any time. You can call them at any point, even in the middle of the night. Hopefully, you're only calling then if it's an emergency, but know that you have that option available! In a nutshell, you have many resources to reach out to if you feel like one support system isn’t working.

Q: When will I find out my official country and group assignment?

When you apply, there are a few tasks to complete. First, you'll submit the short online form , then you'll receive instructions for the next steps which are things like submitting a couple of references, having a phone interview, and completing an online Orientation. Once your application is complete, our team will review your application and get back to you in about 3 business days. After you are officially accepted, the next stage is getting your location assignment. During the online Orientation, we'll explain an opportunity to "Expedite" your location assignment. Volunteers who choose Expediting find out about their assignment within about 1 week of completing Orientation, otherwise, you'll hear from us in about a month (from the time you complete Orientation). There are a limited number of volunteer spots in each country, so if those spots are all assigned out by the time you're ready to receive your assignment, you'll be added to a "lottery". We do have spots that open up, so we utilize a lottery system to assign those newly available spots. During Orientation, you'll have the opportunity to let us know which countries you're interested in volunteering in and the more countries you're open to, the more likely we'll be able to get you an assignment in a timely fashion.

Q: What happens when I apply? When will I know if I'm accepted?

When you apply, an ILP representative (who has been a volunteer with us before and now works in our office) will contact you to help you complete the next steps of your application and talk over the basics of our program. They are also there to help answer any of your questions before you fully commit. Once your application is complete, our review team will consider your application and get back to you in about 3 business days.

Q: Should I wait to apply until I know which country I want to go to?

Don’t wait to apply! Because we have a limited number of volunteer spots in each location, the earlier you apply, the more country options will be available to you. After you submit the first part of your application ( the online form ), you’ll be put in touch with an ILP representative who is there to answer your questions and give you more information about each country you have your eye on. While ILP is the same no matter where you go, the experience varies a bit as each location and program is unique in various ways. We’ve actually found that many volunteers end up switching where they’d like to go anyway after talking to their rep and learning more about each program!