About this role
Co-teach Cultural Awareness to Vocational College English Instructors
Description: Vocational colleges in Ukraine prepare specialists who sustain social, economic, and industrial workforce development. They combine practical training with applied knowledge to ensure students are prepared for immediate employment and that they can contribute to schools, communities, and critical infrastructure. Vocational colleges recognize that the strength of their programs depends not only on student training but also on the continuous growth of their instructors.
Thus, three vocational colleges in Ukraine have expressed their interest in collaborating with the Peace Corps through the Virtual Service Pilot. The three VSPPs being requested will collaborate with teachers in Ukraine to facilitate virtual English clubs for English instructors at vocational colleges nationwide. They will coordinate with one of three virtual American teachers and guide three interregional groups of 15–20 English instructors, representing ten different regions of Ukraine.
This engagement brings together new participants who will be engaging with the initiative for the first time with returning colleagues who have previously engaged with Virtual Service Pilot Participants for clubs. The latter have spoken highly of the progress they achieved in English proficiency, confidence in communication, and cross-cultural learning. The selected VSPPs will engage participants in English-speaking clubs that aim to enhance their command of the English language, confidence in using English for professional needs, improve communication skills of participants, and develop their intercultural competencies.
One college has not previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. All colleges understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.
Desired Qualifications: Education: Master’s degree in education, secondary education, related field and/or relevant certification: TEFL, TESOL, Cambridge, or similar
Experience: Virtual engagement and communication
Required Skills: Education: Bachelor’s degree in any field
Experience: 1 year in TEFL/English teaching to adults
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
Host Country Partner’s Mission and Goals: Vocational colleges in Ukraine prepare specialists who sustain social, economic, and industrial workforce development. They combine practical training with applied knowledge to ensure students are prepared for immediate employment and that they can contribute to schools, communities, and critical infrastructure. Vocational colleges recognize that the strength of their programs depends not only on student training but also on the continuous growth of their instructors. For English instructors, this role is especially strategic. Colleges provide opportunities for professional development through workshops, peer collaboration, and partnerships with international educators. Advanced English education is a strategic priority: it provides access to global resources, strengthens professional resilience, and enables authentic collaboration with international partners. The mission of vocational colleges is to empower vocational educators by creating structured opportunities for English language practice and professional growth. By fostering interregional collaboration, they seek to strengthen Ukraine’s vocational education system by equipping teachers with advanced English skills that open access to global resources, partnerships, and innovative teaching methods.
Ternopil Vocational College of Economics, Law and Information Technologies of West Ukrainian National University, Ternopil Region trains specialists in applied fields such as economics, finance, law, IT, and management, with a mission to provide practice-oriented education that meets labor market needs and supports Ukraine’s resilience. Its goals emphasize preparing graduates for immediate employment, fostering innovation, and strengthening professional competencies in both social and technical sectors. The specific goal is to improve teachers’ communicative confidence and master fluency. By collaborating with the Peace Corps, the college seeks to provide an authentic linguistic environment that empowers staff to use English effectively. Key activities include practicing English via speaking clubs which encourage interactive activities with participants.
Lutsk Pedagogical Applied College, Volyn Region is a leading regional educational establishment dedicated to training highly qualified pre-service teachers for primary and secondary schools. The college maintains a strong focus on English language education, modern pedagogical approaches, and professional competencies aligned with European and global educational standards. Their mission is to prepare educators capable of responding to a rapidly changing environment and contributing to the modernization of the Ukrainian education system through student-centered methodologies. Through this engagement, the college aims to strengthen teachers’ English fluency, intercultural awareness, and professional skills by integrating authentic communication and international collaboration into the professional development process.
Vynohradiv Vocational College #34, Zakarpattia Region is a state vocational institution that offers practical career-focused training that equips students with skills for immediate employment in finance, banking, insurance, electronics, automation, and IT. The college provides opportunities for diverse student groups, ensuring vocational education remains open and responsive. The college maintains internal systems of educational quality, including regular teacher training and methodological innovation, encourages cooperation and openness to global practices, including language learning and digital competencies.
Virtual Service Engagement and Tasks: The VSPPs will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:
• Collaborate with the counterparts to establish practices for session planning and facilitation • Co-develop a syllabus for an English-speaking club with clear policy, procedures, resources, and learning outcomes • Co-facilitate a 60-minute English-speaking club each week • Incorporate cultural topics and intercultural exchange activities into the English club lessons
VSPP is expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be five hours per week.
Online collaboration will generally occur between 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Ukraine time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.
The host country counterpart will have access to email, Zoom, and phone for regular communication and collaboration.
Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0–18), two adults must be present.