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Co-facilitate English Club for Ukrainian University Students
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Activity/project background
Five Ukrainian universities share a mission to promote academic excellence, innovation, and global engagement while fostering responsible, interculturally aware professionals. These universities aim to become leading centers of education and research that effectively integrate different subjects with modern technologies and apply foreign languages for their future professions. Universities provide professional training for students who specialize in different spheres of economy.
The ongoing war in Ukraine requires educators to seek expanded opportunities for encouraging language acquisition in students. Thus, the universities are interested in collaborating with the Peace Corps to engage with Virtual Service Pilot Participants to support English speaking clubs to enhance the language practice for students so they can attain higher levels of proficiency and success.
The VSPPs will collaborate with groups of 15–20 university students, aged 17–22, to strengthen the students' proficiency in English, boost their confidence in using the language, enhance their communication abilities, and cultivate intercultural awareness. Through collaboration with the VSPPs, students will engage in an immersive English-speaking environment, offering them valuable opportunities to interact with American experts, native speakers.
Two universities have previously collaborated with the Peace Corps two years program and VSP. Three other establishments have not previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.
Engagement and tasks
Each VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:
• Co-assess English language skills of students and discuss English club priorities with counterparts
• Co-plan and co-design conversation club curriculum relevant to the education needs of club participants and sessions list based on students’ interests
• Co-facilitate weekly virtual planning sessions to discuss and create club sessions outlines with the partner teachers
• Co-facilitate a weekly 60–90 minute online English language conversation club session for 15–20 students which engage participants in discussions and debates in English to practice their speaking and presentation skills
• Compile and organize learning materials from the virtual speaking club sessions to share with teachers and students for sustainable English club development
VSPPs are expected to engage in the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 6–8 hours per week. Club meetings schedule and meeting information will be discussed during orientations sessions.
Online collaboration will generally occur between 2:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Ukrainian/Kyiv time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.
The Host Country Counterparts will have access to Zoom, WhatsApp, and email 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
Experience: 2 years teaching EFL/English to university 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: Master’s degree in education or a related field and/or TEFL, TESOL, Cambridge, or similar certificate
Experience:
• Virtual engagement and communication
• Developing teaching resources
• Teaching English conversation clubs for youth or adults
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.
