Support University Faculty’s English Language Skill Development

Activity/project background

Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (UAEH) is an internationally recognized higher education institution in Mexico which has designed a Comprehensive Academic Transformation Project (CATP) as a strategy to achieve its goals. The project focuses primarily on 1) comprehensive education for students; 2) continued professional development and pedagogical training for faculty members; 3) permanent updating of the curricula; and 4) enhancement of graduate and research programs.

The Academic Improvement Department created an English language program designed to enhance the communicative competencies of the university’s professors and researchers which enables them to teach their subjects in English, supports internationalization efforts for students’ learning experiences, and enhances their research within the global academic community. Academic staff, professors, and researchers are now required to obtain a C1 (advanced) English level to align with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

UAEH is requesting one Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) with experience in language teaching to support English language skill development for university faculty. The VSPP will be matched with members of the Academic Improvement Department’s staff to support the English program and intercultural competency development. Through their relationship with the VSPP, academic staff will increase their interaction with a native English speaker to improve their oral communicative competencies in different social and cultural contexts. This engagement will also reinforce or develop the academic staff’s multicultural competency through intercultural exchanges. In addition, the VSPP may also connect with on-site Peace Corps Volunteers to enrich their collaboration with the Host Country partner.

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:

• Provide up to three hours of weekly conversation sessions or workshops related to academic, international, or global trendy topics to strengthen the communicative skills of the academic staff. Participants’ language level could range between B1 and C1 level. Group size could vary between 3–8 participants and attendance may vary weekly
• Collaborate with the on-site Peace Corps Volunteer to enrich their mutual service to strengthen the English program while focusing on the host country partner
• Participate in weekly or biweekly planning and follow-up meetings with counterparts

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 five hours are anticipated to be online teaching.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 10:00 a.m.–4:00 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 Zoom, Webex, or Google Meet 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, linguistics, or related field OR relevant certification: TEFL, TESOL, Cambridge, or similar

Experience:
• 2 years of TEFL/TESOL to university students or adults
• 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, linguistics, or related field

Language: Intermediate Spanish

Experience:
• Virtual engagement and communication
• Leading conversation groups, workshops, or webinars

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.