Provide Skill-based Training for English Teachers in Malawi

Activity/project background

The Northern Region Education Division, operating under Malawi’s Ministry of Education, oversees secondary schools across the northern districts and provides support to teachers in curriculum delivery and professional development. The division works closely with school leadership and teaching staff to improve instructional quality and student learning outcomes.

Despite these efforts, teachers continue to experience challenges in applying learner-centered, experiential and evidence‑based approaches in English language instruction. Gaps persist in participatory and discovery-based pedagogy, English as a second language methodologies, reading comprehension instruction, oral communication development, and the integration of research literacy into classroom practice.

The Northern Education Division is seeking the support of two Virtual Service Pilot Participants (VSPPs) to Support teachers’ capacity in effective English instruction through skill-based training. Each VSPP will collaborate with the Division Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Coordinator and to engage with five English teachers from different schools in the division.

The organization has 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

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

• Co-develop and share practical teaching resources tailored to partner needs by the end of engagement
• Co-facilitate one 90-minute virtual teacher learning session per week from the second week to the 19th week with HC partners to model participatory and discovery-based English teaching methods
• Provide feedback and reflective support to teachers on lesson planning and implementation of new student engagement techniques
• Participate in monthly coordination and review meetings with HC partners to assess progress and strengthen local capacity (last week of each month; 1–2 hours)

VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be eight hours per week with six hours for asynchronous work.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Central African time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The host country counterpart will have access to Google meet, Zoom, google drive, emails, and WhatsApp 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 education, secondary education, or teaching English as a second language

Experience:
• 2 years teaching English as a second/foreign language
• Planning and facilitating training sessions for educators, providing guidance on effective English language teaching methods and general instructional best practices
• 2 years designing and facilitating experiential and learner‑centered teaching methodologies
• Managing or designing literacy programs
• Leading/facilitating interactive sessions via Zoom/Teams, using WhatsApp/email for follow-ups, and adapting materials for low connectivity environments

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 applied linguistics education, teaching, and/or certification in TEFL/TESOL/CELTA

Experience:
• Data‑informed teaching, including using simple monitoring tools (e.g. observation checklists) to track teacher uptake and learner outcomes
• Designing student engagement techniques
• Training teachers on evidence-based pedagogical skills

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.