Co-facilitate English Club for College Teachers

Activity/project background

A business college in Ukraine is one of the leading institutions in the country dedicated to preparing the next generation of specialists for the global economy. The faculty prepares specialists in fields like IT, graphic design, international management, and finance. Preparing students for a global economy requires them to develop a strong grasp of English and requires their teachers of various disciplines to excel with their English language acquisition as they work to modernize the curriculum. To achieve this, the college is launching an English club—a dedicated program for teachers of different subjects to improve their English language skills.

English language skills are critical for business educators and professionals to participate in the global economy. In Ukraine, business leaders are already isolated due to the ongoing war. Developing and practicing English language skills allows these individuals to participate more fully in different international conferences, programs, and trainings. Not only does this serve the faculty engaged in this project, but also their students who benefit from a modernized curriculum and especially the connections and opportunities that such relationships can forge.

The college is interested in collaborating with a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to co-lead weekly virtual sessions focused on fluid communication and professional confidence; vocational English tailored to the modern business world; and cross-cultural exchange presentations and conversations that builds a bridge between Ukraine and the international community. During English club sessions, the teachers are expected to enhance their command of English, increase confidence in their language usage for academic needs, improve their communication skills, and foster cross-cultural understanding. This engagement is more than a teaching role: it is a resilience-building project. The VSPP’s expertise will directly support Ukrainian educators as they modernize their curriculum and integrate into the global digital economy during extremely turbulent time for Ukraine.

The college has previously partnered with the Peace Corps and understands the unique role of a VSPP compared to a traditional Peace Corps Volunteer or a Peace Corps Response Volunteer.

Engagement and tasks

The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:

• Co-design session plans for English club meetings for teachers of various disciplines with clear policies, procedures, resources, and outcomes that encourage language proficiency, confidence, and cultural understanding. The sessions would focus on business communication themes such as business trips, pitching, negotiations, professional networking, etc.
• Co-develop learning resources that incorporate ESL teaching techniques and technologies, U.S. education procedures, and intercultural immersion
• Co-teach one 75-minute English club session per week for a group of 10–15 teachers
• Co-assess sessions and use the assessment to identify learning objectives and appropriate communicative activities for additional sessions throughout the engagement

VSPP is expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be five hours per week.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Ukraine time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The host country counterpart will have access to email, WhatsApp, Google Meet, and Zoom 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:
• 1 year of TEFL/TESOL in the U.S.A. or abroad
• Teaching or facilitating sessions, presentations, workshops, or public talks to adult audiences

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 any field

Experience:
• Virtual engagement and communication
• 2 years teaching adults or college/university students
• Teaching English to non-native speakers
• Previous VSPP for an education engagement

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 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.