Language Travel: Give Peace A Chance

English language teaching is the largest program in the Peace Corps. Volunteers teach in middle or secondary school, while developing teaching materials and working on community and school based projects. Peace Corps teacher trainers also work at the university level to train experienced teachers in subject content and resource development. The Volunteers fulfill the needs of university level students, who need enhanced English language skills in their study of languages, literature, business, medicine, engineering, and other content areas.

Peace Corps English teachers have made lasting contributions to their communities. In Ethiopia, volunteers initiated the "Young Girls’ Mentoring Project" which was taken over by The Forum for African Women Educationalists. The Peace Corps/Ethiopia Gender and Development Committee work with this nongovernmental organization in planning and securing funds for workshops and activities. Recently, 24 young girls were brought to the capital, Addis Ababa, to stay with prominent Ethiopian women role models. They observed their life at home and work. On the third day of the workshop, the Minister of Education related her own efforts to advance to her position, including her experience with Peace Corps Volunteers as teachers and role models in her youth.

In Kyrgyzstan, an Education Volunteer initiated the "Kids Helping Kids" project. Currently, this project is expanding to the national level and involves about 70 percent of the Volunteer population in the country. The theme of the program is the concept that students who are more fortunate can learn and help other children who are disabled, orphaned, poor, or in need. "Kids Helping Kids" also focuses on promoting awareness of the conditions of many children’s homes in the country as well as providing some aid.

Applicants to the Secondary English Teaching Program must have a degree in any discipline and may also qualify as state-certified English teachers at the secondary level with at least three months of teaching experience in ESL or English. Applicants to the Secondary Education Teacher training program may qualify with an undergraduate degree in secondary education, TEFL, English, or a foreign language; or a degree in any discipline along with a secondary education certification in TEFL, English, or a foreign language. Most applicants qualify with student teaching, graduate teaching or substitute teaching experience.

Applicants to the University English teaching Program need an advanced degree in English, linguistics, or in subjects such as history or language arts and have full or part time teaching experience.