Co-teach English in Secondary Schools or Higher Education Institutions - Virtual - Kyrgyz Republic

Activity/project background

Partner: Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic (Government...

Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) have successfully co-taught and co-planned English in public schools in the Kyrgyz Republic for 30 years. The Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic would like to strengthen the English skills of teachers, directors, and regional educational authorities who have expressed interest in the Virtual Service Pilot, especially in areas where in-country PCVs cannot be placed due to safety and security reasons such as radiation zones, and the regions of Batken, Osh and Jalalabad Oblasts.

The Ministry is requesting 10 Virtual Service Pilot Participants (VSPPs) to address the four skill building areas of 1) teachers improving teaching skills, 2) teachers improving English skills, 3) students improving English skills, and 4) improving Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills in communities. The VSPPs will engage in English technical training for counterpart English teachers and administrators. Once engaged, VSPPs will be introduced and paired with their respective counterparts and students in each region during orientation.

The Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic has previously worked with a PCV. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.

Engagement and tasks

The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their Host Country Partners:
? Co-assess the English technical skill level of counterpart teachers
? Co-create a work plan for co-teaching in English with students at a ministry school. This work plan would include times, dates, formats (synchronous/asynchronous), platforms to be used (Zoom, WhatsApp, email, etc.) for both co-planning and co-teaching
? Co-plan and co-teach a minimum of one English lesson per week (1?2-hour sessions/week)

VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5-15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 5-7 hours per week.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Kyrgyz Republic time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The Host Country Counterpart will have access to 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.

Optional additional activities

The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:
? To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
? To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
? 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 any field

Experience: 1 year of experience in TEFL/English teaching for primary or secondary school 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

Desired Qualifications

Education: Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in English, Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL), Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), English as a Second Language (ESL), Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), foreign language, or Applied Linguistics

Language: Basic Kyrgyz or Russian

Experience
? Familiarity with virtual engagement and communication
? Experience training ESL/EFL teachers
? Experience in curriculum development
? Experience developing classroom management practices

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

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