Teach English In Lesotho

Lesotho is a tiny landlocked kingdom completely surrounded by South Africa. Also known as the Mountain Kingdom or the Kingdom in the Sky, it is a land of rivers, valleys, mountain ranges, and Maluti beer. Lesotho seems to have been designed for the adventurous traveller, with activities on the land, sea, and even snow. Hiking, 4x4ing, camping, horseback riding, and skiing are all possible in the spectacularly untouched scenery.

Lesotho is a historically interesting destination too. It is home to Ho Kome Historical Cave Dwellings, a World Heritage site where dwellings have been carved out under rocks in caves and in which people still live today. It also boasts the largest concentration of dinosaur footprints in the world, which can be seen on dinosaur walking trails.

If you’re not interested in the prehistoric, you can go fishing or boating on the dams or take a tour of the local villages to catch a glimpse of the traditional Basotho culture.

Water is one of Lesotho’s treasures with an abundance of streams throughout the country. As a result, there’s a huge amount of potential to generate hydroelectric power. In fact, the country generates so much hydroelectricity it’s almost entirely self-sufficient as a nation. They do sell a lot of power to neighbouring South Africa as a great revenue stream.

Another extremely popular resource in Lesotho is diamonds, with the Letseng Diamond Mine being the most famous in the country. Unusually found at an elevation of 10,000 feet, the mine is the world’s highest diamond mine. It’s known to produce huge diamonds which, in return, have a high cost per carat value. It now stands as the highest dollar value per carat of any diamond mine in the world.

As mentioned above, if you are traveling to Lesotho, you might meet several paleontologists or archaeologists. It’s a popular destination for these experts as one of the largest dinosaur footprints in the world was discovered in the country. Found in the Maseru District of Lesotho, the carnivorous dinosaur named Kayentapus ambrokholohali was estimated to be 2.7 meters high and 9 meters long.

Though the local Government spends a lot on education, teaching English here requires a lot of skill and creativity. Resources are hard to come by and, due to corruption, the local teachers are not very well-qualified and there are many qualified teachers who are not employed. Paid positions are scarce and hard to find considering the lack of internet connectivity in the country.

There are volunteer positions available, most notably with the Peace Corps, but these can also be difficult to find if outside Lesotho. You need a residence permit to get a work permit but this can be done in the country.

Teaching English in Lesotho typically prefers a BA/BS degree, but it’s not always required, and contract lengths can vary. Peak hiring seasons occur year-round, and obtaining a work permit is necessary for obtaining a visa. Students typically range from children.

The average monthly cost of living in Lesotho ranges from 6,500 to 7,500 LSL, while volunteer placements are common for teaching English, meaning that there may not be a salary involved. With these factors in mind, teaching English in Lesotho can be a great opportunity for those looking to volunteer and gain teaching experience in Southern Africa.

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