Support Students in English Language Communication and Collaboration
Eligibility
Open to all RPCVs
Activity/project background
Partner: Radomyshl Hub Lyceum 2 (Government)
Radomyshl HUB Lyceum 2, a secondary school in Ukraine, is joining Peace Corps Virtual Service Pilot to encourage students to improve their language skills, develop social-cultural competence, and apply new virtual technologies in learning.
Radomyshl HUB Lyceum 2 plans to organize a series of practice events for 20 highly motivated students interested in improving both their English language and social-cultural skills with the support of a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP). By working with a VSPP, students will be more immersed in an English language environment, improve their language fluency, and learn more about English-speaking countries. The group will meet weekly with the VSPP for a 60-minute session covering various themes such as culture, family and social life, shopping and services, school, food, sports teenage life, modern technologies, and ecology. To plan for these sessions, the VSPP and their counterpart will prepare, facilitate sessions, and develop presentations together.
Radomyshl Lyceum 2 has previously worked with Peace Corps Volunteers. They understand that role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.
Virtual service engagement and tasks
The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their Host Country Partners:
• Co-teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and language skills class once per week to a group of 20 students from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Kyiv, Ukraine time.
• Meet with Host Country Counterpart once per week to discuss session plans and curriculum.
• Co-develop session plans
• Co-develop and adapt teaching resources on American culture such as about sports, youth life, cuisine, healthcare, media, social network sites, art, culture, education, etc.
• Co-analyze results of conducted classes and identify priority learning objectives.
This engagement is expected to be approximately 15 weeks. VSPP is expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5-15 hours per week.
Meetings between VSPPs and Host Country Counterparts will take place during normal office hours, Ukraine time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.
The Host Country Counterpart will have access to email, Zoom, and phone for regular communication and collaboration.
Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0-18), two adults must be present.
Optional additional activities
The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:
- To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
- To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
- To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
Goal 1 will be achieved through the VSPP's engagement and completion of the above tasks. The counterpart and VSPP may also choose to identify an activity that aligns with Goal 2. Additionally, the VSPP may identify a Goal 3 activity to implement during their engagement. See recommendations and tools for Goal 3 activities.
Essential qualifications
Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in any field OR
• Relevant certification: TEFL, TESOL, Cambridge, or similar
Experience:
• 1 year of teaching experience OR
• Experience in co-planning and co-facilitating online English non-formal education activities
Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually
Desired qualifications
Education: Master’s degree in education, or TEFL, or related field
Technical Skills: Familiarity with virtual engagement and communication
Experience: Experience teaching at the high school level
Terms and conditions of engagement
VSPPs will be engaging with the host country partner, in coordination with Peace Corps post staff, remotely from the US. They should have access to a computer, internet, and telephone in order to enable direct engagement with the Peace Corps overseas office and the Host Country Counterpart assigned by the host country partner.
Orientation with the host country partner will be provided, within the designated virtual service hours, during the first week of virtual service via an online presentation and discussion. The host country partner will provide an overview of its organization, the local context, and how they envision collaborating with the VSPP.
The VSPP will have regular check-ins with their counterpart and bi-weekly check-ins with Peace Corps staff. Spending unstructured time with counterparts can be critical to relationship-building and is encouraged through activities such as coffee chats and informal calls within the weekly 5-15 hours.
Engagement-specific safety and security
The VSPP will receive an orientation on Peace Corps’ Child Protection Policy and how it relates to online engagement along with IT security best practices. The VSPP will be expected to follow safety and security guidelines for online engagement to ensure their safety and that of the Host Country Partner and their counterpart, and any beneficiaries of the engagement.
Supervision requirements
The VSPP will report to a designated Peace Corps staff member. The VSPP will be expected to abide by the Virtual Service Pilot Participant and Donation Agreement and Participant Principles of Engagement. The VSPP will also be expected to check in with the designated host country counterpart as assigned by the host county partner.
Does this sound like the virtual engagement for you?
Get started on your journey.