Training

The Peace Corps uses a competency-based training approach throughout the continuum of learning, supporting you from arrival in-country to your departure. Learn more about the Peace Corps' approach to training. 

• Pre-service training in-country is conducted by Peace Corps staff, most of whom are locally hired trainers. To foster appropriate and effective integration into the community, trainees typically live with a host family during training. Training covers technical, linguistic, intercultural competence, diversity and inclusion, health, and safety and security topics.
• Technical training involves structured sessions and practical assignments working in the community. 
• Language training typically involves classroom lessons five days a week in small groups. In addition to classroom lessons, you will also do speaking practice assignments with your host family or in the community. For Volunteers who do not have previous experience with the local language, the goal for pre-service training is to learn basic survival communication skills while intentionally building your intercultural competence.  During pre-service training, you will be given guidance and training on independent language learning skills and strategies and your language proficiency will be tested at the end of pre-service training to assess your readiness to serve.  After pre-service training, you will continue to study language independently throughout service so that you can develop sufficient language proficiency to serve effectively. Language proficiency will be tested at other points during service.   
• Intercultural and community development training will help you explore your cultural values, those of your host community, and your role as a Volunteer. Training will guide you in considering concepts of time, power and hierarchy, gender roles, communication styles, relationships and self, and resiliency. You will also participate in cultural events and learn about local history and way of life.

You will be trained in health prevention, basic first aid, and treatment of medical illnesses found in-country. During the safety and security training sessions, you will learn how to reduce risks at home, at work, and during your travels. You will also learn various strategies for coping with unwanted attention, how to identify safety risks in-country, and about Peace Corps’ emergency response and support systems.

Additional trainings during Volunteer service include in-service training after one to three months at your site, mid-service training, and close-of-service conference. You will be with your Volunteer cohort for these trainings and attention will be paid to helping you also explore and honor the diversity of US Americans within your group throughout service. 

Pre-Service Training

The Peace Corps employs a community-based model during pre-service training. It is based on adult learning methods that emphasize individual responsibility for developing the competencies to function independently as a Volunteer. You will live with a family, take care of your own needs, and work either independently or in small groups to accomplish tasks that build your skill levels. Senegalese facilitators will help you learn the necessary language and intercultural communication skills to accomplish your living and work tasks. You cannot be sworn-in to Peace Corps service until you have clearly demonstrated the attributes and skills necessary to meet the needs of your assignment. You can monitor and demonstrate your own progress through self-evaluation, consistent feedback from staff and facilitators, and participation in daily activities. Your success in this learning period requires full participation and, for some, a measure of sacrifice in terms of time and personal comfort. Investment of effort during this time will be well worth the rewards of satisfaction and well-being you will experience as a Volunteer. 

Senegal's pre-service training (PST) is very intensive and occurs during an 8 1/2-week period. PST will consist of four components: language, technical, cross-cultural, and personal health care. Safety training is integrated into all of these components, particularly in the cross-cultural and health care components. Please note that, in the training model used by Peace Corps Senegal, you will not be completely trained technically until after your in-service training (IST), which occurs three months after you become a Volunteer. 

Most activities and learning during pre-service training will take place in the communities where trainees are hosted. About one-third of the days of pre-service training will be with the entire training class. The remainder of training will occur in villages and small towns, where small groups of trainees, along with one or two of our Senegalese staff language and cross-cultural facilitators, will live with host families in the community. Focus in this setting will be on language learning (either French or local languages, such as Wolof, Pulaar, Mandinka or Sereer) and cross-cultural integration. Every one or two weeks, trainees will be brought together as a group for technical training, and safety and security, administrative, and medical briefings. 

During training, when you are not doing field work, you will be expected to wear neat, clean, and conservative clothing. Pants, shirts (including t-shirts), skirts, and dresses are fine, but shorts are appropriate only for recreational activities (e.g., jogging or soccer). Clothing that reveals stomachs, backs, or undergarments is not appropriate for Volunteers or trainees. Such appearance is not professional or culturally acceptable and can provoke unwanted attention and even harassment. Peace Corps Senegal strongly advises that trainees and Volunteers adopt sensible and appropriate means of dressing throughout their Peace Corps service.

Peace Corps service is not for everyone. Training is a time for you to re-evaluate your commitment to two years of service. Although training is very intense, it can also be a lot of fun. Be flexible and maintain a good sense of humor and you will have a rewarding and enjoyable training experience.

Technical Training

Technical training will prepare you to work in Senegal by building on the skills you already have and helping you develop new skills in a manner appropriate to the needs of the country. The Peace Corps staff, experts, and current Volunteers will conduct the training program. Training places great emphasis on learning how to transfer the skills you have to the community in which you will serve as a Volunteer. 

Technical training will include sessions on the general economic and political environment in Senegal and strategies for working within such a framework. You will review your technical sector’s goals and will meet with the Country agencies and organizations that invited the Peace Corps to assist them. You will be supported and evaluated throughout the training to build the confidence and skills you need to undertake your project activities and be a productive member of your community.

Language Training

Language proficiency is at the heart of successful Peace Corps service and effective language skills are essential to your personal and professional satisfaction.  Language proficiency is critical not only to your job performance, but also helps you integrate into your community, can ease your personal adaptation to the new surroundings, and supports your personal safety.  As a result, language training is central to the training program and closely tied to intercultural competence, diversity and inclusion training. 

Language instructors teach formal language classes five days a week in small groups of four to five people. Your language training will incorporate a community-based approach. In addition to classroom time, you will be given assignments to work on outside of the classroom and with your host family. The goal is to get you to a point of basic social communication skills so you can practice and develop language skills further once you are at your site. Prior to being sworn in as a Volunteer, you will work on strategies to continue language studies during your service. 

Peace Corps Volunteers in Senegal are very proud of their mastery of local languages, in addition to French. In many cases, when Senegalese discover you are a Volunteer, they automatically will switch to speaking a local language. This mastery of languages begins at pre-service training and becomes a proud pursuit for each Volunteer throughout his or her service.

Intercultural Competence, Diversity, and Inclusion Training

As part of your pre-service training, you will live with a host family. This experience is designed to ease your transition to life at your site. Families go through an orientation conducted by Peace Corps staff to explain the purpose of pre-service training and to assist them in helping you adapt to living in Senegal. Many Volunteers form strong and lasting friendships with their host families. 

Cross-cultural and community development training will help you improve your communication skills and understand your role as a facilitator of development. You will be exposed to topics such as community mobilization, conflict resolution, gender and development, nonformal and adult education strategies, and political structures.

Health Training

During pre-service training, you will be given basic medical training and information. You will be expected to practice preventive health care and to take responsibility for your own health by adhering to all medical policies. Trainees are required to attend all medical sessions. The topics include preventive health measures and minor and major medical issues that you might encounter while in Senegal. Nutrition, mental health, setting up a safe living compound, and how to avoid HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are also covered.  It will be important to be open and remain culturally sensitive as you undergo health training and suspend judgement as to not project your cultural beliefs and values.

Safety and Security Training

During the safety training sessions, you will learn how to reduce your risks at home, at work, and during your travels by building your awareness and indirectly practicing culturally competent communications skills. You will also learn appropriate, effective strategies for coping with unwanted attention and about your individual responsibility for promoting safety throughout your service.