About this role
Co-facilitate English Club for Ukrainian University Students
Description: Five Ukrainian universities share a mission to promote academic excellence, innovation, and global engagement while fostering responsible, interculturally aware professionals. These universities aim to become leading centers of education and research that effectively integrate different subjects with modern technologies and apply foreign languages for their future professions. Universities provide professional training for students who specialize in different spheres of economy.
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 VSPPs will collaborate 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.
Two universities have previously collaborated with the Peace Corps two years program and VSP. 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 • Developing teaching resources • Teaching English conversation clubs for youth or adults
Required Skills: Education: Bachelor's degree in any field
Experience: 2 years teaching EFL/English 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: Five Ukrainian universities share a mission to promote academic excellence, innovation, and global engagement while fostering responsible, interculturally aware professionals. Universities aim to become leading 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 relevant to the education needs of club participants and sessions list based on students’ interests • Co-facilitate weekly virtual planning sessions to discuss and create club sessions outlines with the partner teachers • Co-facilitate a weekly 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.
The Host Country Counterparts will have access to Zoom, WhatsApp, and email for regular communication and collaboration.
Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0–18), two adults must be present.