About this role
Support English Communication Clubs for University Students
Description: Ukrainian universities are dedicated to academic excellence, democratic values, and international collaboration. Their strategic goals include expanding international partnerships, strengthening interdisciplinary research, and modernizing teaching and learning practices. They are focusing on faculty and student mobility, creating joint academic and research initiatives, developing curriculum development based on international best practices, and strengthening institutional capacity in digital education, university governance, and resilience during periods of crisis.
The universities are interested in enhancing English-language instruction, specifically with spoken English and intercultural communication. They believe that engaging with Peace Corps’ Virtual Service Pilot Participants (VSPPs) introduces authentic linguistic input and cultural perspectives that support the development of linguistic accuracy, pragmatic awareness, and cultural literacy beyond the traditional classroom.
Both educational institutions are requesting VSPPs to work with a group of 15–20 self-reliant, motivated, and change-oriented university and college students. Prior to orientation, VSPPs will be assigned to two universities. Each group will meet with their respective VSPP for one weekly 60-minute session for 26 weeks. Virtual club participants are eager to be immersed in engaging activities that cover topics such as art, social media, youth life, traveling, natural wonders, holidays, traditions, sports, education, and others. The VSPPs will work with local lecturers to create interactive activities for the English clubs which will cover topics of interest to the students. These partnerships are vital to give their students a global perspective and keep education quality high, despite the challenges in Ukraine.
Both educational institutions have previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. They all understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.
Desired Qualifications: Education: Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in English, teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL), or education
Experience: • Virtual engagement and communication • 2 years teaching university students
Required Skills: Education: Bachelor's degree in any field
Experience: 1 year of TEFL/English teaching to university students
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: Group 1: Sumy State University; Fostering a learner-centered environment where students engage in authentic communication, collaborative problem-solving, and the development of global and digital skills.
Group 2: Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University, Mykolayiv; Providing high-quality education and research aligned with European and global standards; promoting critical thinking and civic engagement, and contributing to the social, cultural, and economic development of Ukraine, particularly in the Black Sea region.
Virtual Service Engagement and Tasks: The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:
• Co-develop learning resources that incorporate U.S. culture • Co-design English club session plans with clear policies, procedures, resources, and outcomes designed to improve students’ fluency, confidence, and cultural understanding • Co-teach a 60-minute virtual summer camp session twice per week for a group of 15–20 students aged 18–20 • Co-assess sessions with co-teachers and identify learning objectives and appropriate communicative activities based on the assessment
VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be six hours per week.
Online collaboration will generally occur between 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Ukraine time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.
The Host Country Counterpart will have access to email, Zoom, 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.