About this role
Co-facilitate English and Culture Club for University Students
Description: Universities strive to build an open, internationally oriented academic environment where students and faculty collaborate to the field of research, develop critical thinking, and contribute to global dialogue. Graduates emerge as adaptable, innovative, and socially responsible specialists ready to shape the future of multilingual communication. The ongoing war in Ukraine requires educators to seek expanded opportunities for encouraging language acquisition in students. Thus, the universities are interested in collaborating with the Peace Corps to engage with Virtual Service Pilot Participants to support English speaking clubs to enhance the language practice for students so they can attain higher levels of proficiency and success.
The proposed English Speaking Clubs will provide a friendly, informal environment where students aged 17–22 with English proficiency levels ranging from intermediate to advanced can develop their speaking and listening skills, expand their knowledge of U.S. culture, traditions, and society, and engage in meaningful intercultural communication. Regular meetings will encourage students to discuss current issues, explore American traditions and holidays, and learn about everyday life in the United States through authentic interaction with a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP). The VSPPs will collaborate with English language instructors to create a dynamic space for students to practice English outside the formal classroom environment.
The VSPPs will engage with groups of 15–20 university students, aged 17–22, to strengthen the students' proficiency in English, boost their confidence in using the language, enhance their communication abilities, and cultivate intercultural awareness. Through collaboration with the VSPPs, students will engage in an immersive English-speaking environment, offering them valuable opportunities to interact with American experts, native speakers. The VSPPs will be assigned to schools during their post-led orientation at the start of the engagement.
Three universities have previously collaborated with the Peace Corps two-year in-person program and the Virtual Service Pilot. Three other establishments have not 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.
Desired Qualifications: Education: Master’s degree in education or a related field and/or TEFL, TESOL, Cambridge, or similar certificate
Experience: • Virtual engagement and communication • TEFL/English teaching to university students • Developing teaching resources
Required Skills: Education: Bachelor's degree in any field
Experience: 1 year of TEFL/TESOL teaching in the U.S. or abroad
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: Six Ukrainian universities share a mission to promote academic excellence, innovation, and global engagement while fostering responsible, interculturally aware professionals. Universities aim to become centers of education and research that effectively integrate different subjects with modern technologies and apply foreign languages for their future professions. Teachers strive to build an open, internationally oriented academic environment where students and faculty collaborate in research, develop critical thinking, and contribute to global dialogue. Graduates emerge as adaptable, innovative, and socially responsible specialists ready to shape the future of multilingual communication. Universities provide professional training for students who specialize in different spheres of economy. Nowadays, students must be capable of applying modern digital tools, natural language processing, and intercultural communication. The request for the Virtual Service Pilot Participants (VSPPs) stems from the universities' ongoing efforts to improve the quality of its EFL educational programs. Developing English communication skills through English conversation practice has been one of the key initiatives in improving language proficiency at the higher education level. The focus on conversational skills is essential to equip students with the practical language abilities needed for both academic and professional success.
Virtual Service Engagement and Tasks: Each VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:
• Co-assess English language skills of students and discuss English club priorities with counterparts • Co-plan and co-design conversation club curriculum that matches the educational need and interests of club participants • Co-facilitate weekly virtual planning sessions to discuss and create club sessions outlines with the partner teachers • Co-facilitate 15, 60–90 minute online English language conversation club session for 15–20 students which engage participants in discussions and debates in English to practice their speaking and presentation skills • Compile and organize learning materials from the virtual speaking club sessions to share with teachers and students for sustainable English club development
VSPPs are expected to engage in the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 6–8 hours per week. Club meetings schedule and meeting information will be discussed during orientations sessions.
Online collaboration will generally occur between 2:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Ukrainian/Kyiv time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.
Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0–18), two adults must be present.