Agreement term:

Full Time, One year

Anticipated start date(s) include:

July 12, 2026 

Agreement type:

Global Mission Volunteer (Global Teach)

Description

ELCA’s companion church schools in Central Europe invite you to teach English and other content subjects for one school year or longer. Each year volunteers teach in the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia. Schools in Slovakia are in Bratislava, and other cities and towns.

Volunteers teach English language, literature or other subjects in an academic program to students in 8th to 13th grades, following the approved school curriculum. Some schools focus on utilizing the ELCA teachers in conversation classes. The students have a working knowledge of English. Most graduates go on to universities within their home countries or abroad. 

Teaching 16-22 hours a week in classes of 12-18 students, teachers need to be creative, flexible and prepared to assume heavy demands of time and energy. Teachers can help students develop language and other skills that will enable them to move ahead in their chosen careers and to serve their church or society.

Site Information

ELCA Service and Justice Central Europe Teachers serve in the Central Europe Teachers (CET) Program, in partnership with the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in the Slovak Republic. This national church, as well as the national government, have set English language learning as a high priority. In partnership with the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia, the ELCA teachers prepare the students for a future in the church and in society. Typical class size can range from 8 to 20 students. The teaching sites are located in Bratislava, Košice, Martin, Prešov, Liptoský Mikuláš, and Tisovec. 

Timeline

• Applications Open: December 2025
• Interviews (online): January 2026 – March 2026
• School Placements and ELCA Agreements: April 2026 – May 2026
• Deployment Process: May 2026 - August 2026 (Process begins once ELCA contract is signed)
• ELCA Orientation (in-person): July 2026
• Deploy to Slovakia: Early August 2026 
• Slovakia in-country weeklong Orientation: August 2026 (Exact dates TBD)

Assignment Includes:

• Teach in a bilingual junior/senior high school or elementary school. Emphasis is for conversational English teachers, but math, science, religion and geography teachers are needed also. All instruction is in English language. 
• Interpret and implement national and school mandated curriculum through personalized lesson plans. 
• Prepare students for the end-of-school-year comprehensive final exams. 
• Participate in a mid-academic year review to assess performance. 

Experience and Skills

• BA/BS is required.
• Teaching experience is preferred.
• Effective verbal, written, and listening skills in an intercultural and multilingual context preferred.
• Christian faith and a commitment to the mission of the church
• Openness to various expressions of Christian faith and respect for people of other faiths
• Respect for beliefs, values and customs of church and culture where assigned 
• Well-developed inter-personal skills demonstrating understanding and compassion
• Demonstrate ability to carry out the responsibilities and the ability to adapt to different standards and practices
• Ability to work within the framework of a local administration
• Adaptable and flexible - sense of humor - good physical and emotional health
• Live and serve in a way which reflects the vision and expectations of the ELCA

Terms and Conditions:

• ELCA covers international travel to and from Slovakia at the beginning and end of service.
• While not employees, Central Europe Teachers of the ELCA are understood to be global personnel of the ELCA. This position is supported by the ELCA with the following provisions: stipend for the first three months of service, international health insurance and fees related to visas.
• Central Europe Teachers are provided by the local school and church: accommodations at no cost; local teacher’s salary (based off years of experience); a state/local health insurance plan.
• Student loans are deferrable.
• Candidates should be prepared to participate in an ELCA missionary orientation in July of 2026 as well as a CET program specific weeklong in-country orientation in August 2026, in Bratislava, Slovakia.
• In-country service period is from early August 2026 through June 2027, and candidates serve for one academic calendar year with the possibility of one-year extension.

If Candidate is Married:

The spouse can also apply as a separate applicant for the Central Europe Teachers program. Both will be interviewed together and will attend orientation to better understand ELCA missiology, goals, methodology for service and justice foci.

Alternatively, a spouse can accompany the person applying, and not be a part of the program. No ELCA and local school/church provisions will be provided in support of the spouse who is not a teacher.

Physical Effort

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. This position requires sitting for long periods of time. Employee will occasionally need to lift boxes or materials up to 15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.