Support English Learning at Agriculture School

Activity/project background

Partner: Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan Pertanian Pembangunan Cianjur (SMKN PP Cianjur) (Government)

Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan Pertanian Pembangunan Cianjur (SMKN PP Cianjur) is a government vocational high school in Indonesia specifically focused on the agriculture sector. The school is requesting the support of a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to work together with teachers to enhance student engagement in English learning specifically at the 11th grade level.

With the support of the VSPP, the school would like to develop a syllabus that focuses on improving their students’ English communication skills such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Additionally, these skills would be built on topics related to agriculture and intercultural understanding. The VSPP would support teachers by observing their classroom and provide feedback on how to better enhance the English learning environment.

SMKN PP Cianjur has previously worked with a Peace Corps Volunteer. They understand that the 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-assess the current English syllabus and establish priority areas for improvement
• Co-design and develop a syllabus / lesson plan for 11th grade students, ages 16 - 17 years old.
• Co-teach classes with topics focused on agriculture and intercultural aspects of the United States and Indonesia
• Observe and provide feedback to enhance the classroom learning environment

This engagement is expected to be approximately 12 weeks. VSPPs are 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, 7:00 a.m. -2:20 p.m. Indonesian time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The Host Country Counterpart will have access to WhatsApp, Zoom, and Instagram 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:

  1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
  2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
  3. 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

Experience: Two years’ experience teaching English in a foreign country or with TEFL students

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:
• Bachelor’s degree in education, teaching, or related field
• TEFL certification

Technical Skills: Familiarity with virtual engagement and communication

Language: Basic Bahasa Indonesia

Experience: Facilitating or actively participating in a school’s English extra-curricular program and/or community of practice program

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.


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