Support ASL Conversation Clubs for Deaf University Students

Activity/project background

The Universidad Politécnica de Santa Rosa Jáuregui (UPSRJ) in Querétaro, Mexico, provides inclusive undergraduate and graduate programs serving Deaf and hard of hearing students. Previously, the university partnered with Peace Corps Response Volunteers to design and launch a basic American Sign Language (ASL) course that supports students’ academic and professional mobility opportunities in the United States and Canada.

UPSRJ has identified a need to expand opportunities for students to practice ASL with fluent signers and deepen their understanding of Deaf culture in North America. Structured conversation practice and intercultural exchanges help students strengthen communication skills, increase confidence, and prepare for future academic and vocational pathways.

To support this effort, UPSRJ is requesting a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to lead weekly ASL conversation clubs and intercultural exchange sessions for groups of approximately 3–5 students. This engagement builds on previous Peace Corps collaboration and will help the university continue expanding accessible, high-quality language and cultural programming for Deaf learners.

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-assess and plan session priorities, content, and approaches with the university counterpart during weekly or biweekly coordination meetings
• Facilitate two weekly ASL conversation session (approximately 1 hour) for a group of approximately 3–5 students while modeling effective online sign‑language learning techniques for a local teacher/interpreter
• Co-design and facilitate online intercultural exchange activities
• Exchange best practices, lessons learned, and instructional resources with local teachers during biweekly reflection or resource-sharing meetings
• Introduce and demonstrate new synchronous and asynchronous tools that support ASL learning in the Deaf classroom throughout the engagement period

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 of which approximately four hours are anticipated to be online teaching.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Mexico City time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The host country counterpart will have access to email, WhatsApp, and video conference applications such as Microsoft Teams 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

Language: Advanced ASL

Experience: Using online learning tools such as Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams

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, special education, linguistics, or related field

Language: Intermediate Spanish

Experience:
• Virtual engagement and communication
• Previous work experience in academic instruction
• 2 years teaching ASL
• Cultural competency with demonstrated respect to the deaf community

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.