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Co-teach English as a Foreign Language in Public Secondary Schools
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Activity/project background
Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) have successfully co-taught and co-planned English in public educational institutions in the Kyrgyz Republic for 30 years. The Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic would like to strengthen the English skills of teachers, directors, and regional educational authorities who have expressed interest in the Virtual Service Pilot, especially in areas where in-country PCVs cannot be placed due to safety and security issues, such as radiation zones and the risks within the region of Batken.
The Ministry is requesting 20 Virtual Service Pilot Participants (VSPPs) to address the four skill building areas of 1) teachers improving English teaching skills, 2) teachers improving their English conversation skills, 3) students improving English skills, and 4) improving Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills in communities. The VSPPs will be paired with one English teacher counterpart with whom to co-teach at either the school or university level. They will work on lesson planning with their counterpart teacher and conversation practice with both their counterpart and students. Once engaged, VSPPs will be introduced and paired with their respective counterparts and students in each region during orientation.
The Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic has previously worked with PCVs and VSPPs, and they understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year or Response Volunteer.
Engagement and tasks
The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:
• Co-create a work plan for co-planning and co-teaching in English with teachers at a ministry school or university
• Co-develop approximately 2–3 English lesson plans per week
• Co-teach a minimum of one English lesson per week during the school semester through December 2026
VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 5 hours per week.
Online collaboration will generally occur between 8:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Kyrgyz Republic time (10:30 p.m.–8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time). Specific times will be determined during orientation.
The host country counterpart 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: Teaching or tutoring students from K-12 to adult learners
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
Experience:
• Virtual engagement and communication
• Training ESL/EFL teachers
• Curriculum development
• Developing classroom management practices
• Teaching English as a second language
• Distance learning
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.
