Why Volunteer In Peru?
Cusco, Peru is one of the most popular volunteer destinations in the world. It is a city incredibly rich with opportunities for both cultural and personal exploration. There are dozens of major museums, archaelogical sites and monuments just in the city itself and hundreds of sites in surrounding areas. It is a prime vacation destination and volunteering is just another way to immerse yourself deeper into this beautiful culture. Here at Proyecto Peru, we welcome over 300 volunteers each year from all around the world and we often get asked the same question, “Do I need to know Spanish to volunteer in Cusco?” The answer is very simple…No! I had similar concerns before committing to three months here, and although language barriers can seem scary, don’t let them stop you from having an experience of a lifetime.
Will I Be Able to Communicate Without Speaking Spanish?
Here in Cusco, the two main languages are Spanish and Quechua. Although not many natives speak English, the more touristic areas are English friendly. Most locals are very used to tourists and have a certain level of understanding of English. In your first few days while you are learning and adapting, you will be able to communicate your needs perfectly fine. In my first few weeks here, I felt extremely motivated to improve my proficiency. You will want to understand more about the culture and the people you interact with. One of the cool things about Cusco is the way it pushes you to improve everyday as opposed to many other volunteer destinations where you might have no need to understand the language as English is more widely used or understood. As time goes on and you improve your skills you will be able to communicate better and better with native speakers and develop a new level of fluency just as a result of living here!
Respect To The Culture
Before you arrive in Cusco set a goal for yourself to immerse fully into the culture, this will allow you to make the most of the experience. Try your best to speak to the locals in their language. They will appreciate the effort. It shows that you are actively trying to understand them and the culture you are becoming a part of. Language and culture go hand in hand. Language showcases the history of a culture through storytelling and tradition. Understanding the heritage and history will allow you to earn respect from the community. Here in Cusco, there were many cultural customs that I wasn’t used to. After being here for some time I have seen how gaining an understanding of these customs will show that you respect the culture and the traditions that are practiced.
Do Volunteer Programs Require Prior Knowledge
Most of our volunteer programs only require a basic level of understanding in Spanish. If you feel you are not yet at a basic level of understanding there are so many resources available to help you. First, you can use any language learning app to help you gain a basic understanding of certain words or phrases. Here at Proyecto Peru we offer so many options that you can add when you build your volunteer experience.
- Online Classes: Offered before you arrive and can be extended to in-person classes for no additional cost if incomplete before arrival
- Private Classes: Minimum of 1 week, personalized for you, very specific to your personal growth
- Group Classes: Minimum of 1 week, grouped with those within the same level as you, good for group learners, maximum of 5 students to a class
- Homestay Options: This allows you to be fully immersed in the culture and practice Spanish in the home environment
Why It’s Useful to Have a Basic Understanding
We encourage all volunteers to gain some experience before arriving in Cusco, not becuase it’s required but becuase it will enrich your experience. The more you are able to understand and contribute to your experience, the more you will get out of it. We also encourage all volunteers to take initiative when learning Spanish. It is difficult to learn a new language but one of the most useful ways to improve your abilities is to practice. Most of our volunteers come to us with a similar understanding of the language. We have found that those who communicate amongst each other in Spanish, improve the most. Speaking from personal experience, it is important that you try to use Spanish with everyone you interact with, including your friends. By defaulting to your native language, you are not allowing growth. Especially in areas of casual conversation, you should always be trying to communicate in Spanish in order to learn. Often times we can feel frustrated or get tired of trying to consistently speak Spanish to communicate everyday needs. It’s easy to default to your native language when with those who are in a similar position, it’s important that you don’t fall back onto what’s easy! And don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Again most people come to us with a basic or beginner level of understand so mistakes are not uncommon. I always ask those around me to correct me if I mess up, you learn faster by making mistakes. Keep each other motivated to improve.
Peruvian Spanish is Very Neutral.
Another thing to note is that Peru is one of the easiest locations to learn Spanish. The Spanish here is considered very neutral in terms of pronunciation and speed. Many Latin countries have a very fast paced way of speaking that can confuse non-native speakers. There are also so many variations of the language, gaining a consistent understanding can be difficult. Peruvian Spanish is considered very standard. It is slower and syllables are not commonly reduced. If you are apprehensive about learning a new language we encourage you to read more on this topic at our recent blog post “Why is Peruvian Spanish Considered So Neutral?”
Final Thoughts
Cusco is so rich in opportunity. It is a perfect travel destination for any and all types of experiences. If you are looking to travel to Cusco, we encourage you to look into our volunteer programs to further your experience. We do encourage volunteers to prepare as much as you can in order to get the most out of the culture but you do not need to know Spanish to volunteer here. Even the most basic level of understanding will be enough to enable you to have a wonderful experience. The community is very welcoming to all and we will do the most to ensure you get the most out of your experience.
To learn more about Proyecto Peru’s volunteer programs, internship opportunities or Spanish (and Quechua) language programs, visit our website or contact us at info@proyectoperucentre.org We look foward to welcoming you to Cusco.