English Conversation Volunteers Abroad

We are a non-profit organization so we keep our prices as affordable as possible. Your program fee covers administrative costs for both CHI and the organization of the hosting country. Both organizations work on your behalf to provide you and your host family with a rewarding experience. This includes a diligent application process on each, interviews, orientations and to ensure that you and your host family enjoy a safe and exciting cultural experience while
matching your specified needs. In addition, both organizations provide you with the staff, here and abroad, to support you for the entire length of your stay.

This extensive matching process, when added to the inclusion of free room and board and only 15 hours per week of tutoring, makes for a fantastic value compared to the few alternatives offered by our competitors that offer anything close to the amazing experience of international homestay that CHI offers!

Remember, the longer your stay, the better the value! Even economical foreign travel can easily cost over $100 per day plus airfare and insurance. This makes our way of traveling 3 to 6 times cheaper.

The ECVA program runs all year long. You may choose your departure and return date based on a one, two or three month stay.

CHI asks that you submit your application three months before your desired departure date. If you are interested in a summer program we recommend that you send in your application as soon as possible. At times placements can be made with less notice. Click here to review our immediate openings.

A second language is not required for this program though it can be helpful. Most host families will be able to speak some English. We also have a partner in each country that will be available if you have trouble communicating with your host family.

We have partners all over the world, allowing us to accommodate most first choice requests. On our application we ask you to list the top three countries you would like to visit. If we cannot find you a host family in your first choice of country we will try your second or third.

Participants do not need teaching experience. As an ECV you will be required to help your host family with their conversational English for a maximum of 15 hours per week. As part of our program fee, we provide each ECV with excellent materials should you need more ideas for conversation. The goal for your family is to practice their conversational English. This is not about teaching them reading, writing and grammar. This program is about conversation.

The buddy program is offered to friends who apply to the ECVA program and plan on departing within the same calendar month. You do not have to go to the same country as your buddy. You must indicate the name of your buddy on the application. Once all program fees have been paid, you will each be given a $50.00 refund.

If your first family should not be a good match for you, our partner will work on your behalf to find you a second family.

For great prices on flights and insurance we highly recommend STA Travel. They are dedicated to student travel and are most helpful for those who are inexperienced travelers. Participants tell us they sometimes make their decision as to which country to apply for, based on the price of the flight.

Yes and no. Once we have placed you, and your host family has approved the dates you have requested, arrival and departure, you must abide by those dates. If you want to extend, are still able to continue your stay or travel and not exceed the immigration laws of the host country, we can attempt to arrange a second ECVA experience for you with a different host family with enough advance notice. Also, if immigration laws are not an issue, you may stay in the country longer though accommodations are your own responsibility.

This program is designed to allow you to really have a chance to visit the country you have chosen. We suggest you outline all the places you would like to visit and really get out and meet the people and experience the culture. This program is really a cultural exchange. We encourage you to take advantage of that free time. As we mentioned, some countries welcome further instruction or tutoring.