BACKGROUND

The Peace Corps is an independent U.S. Government agency that sends American volunteers around the world to aid countries to fulfill their development needs. The Peace Corps has programs in 65 countries with approximately 7,000 American volunteers of all ages and backgrounds.

The three goals of the Peace Corps are:

• To help the people of interested countries in meeting their needs for trained men and women;
• To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of peoples served;
• To help promote a better understanding of other people on the part of Americans.

Peace Corps originally opened its program in Rwanda in 1974, working for 20 years before closing its offices in 1994. It reopened its program in 2008 and Peace Corps Volunteers currently work in Health and TEFL Education, responding directly to the Government of Rwanda’s priorities. We are seeking an enthusiastic individual who is a team player and self-starter with moral integrity and a spirit of continuous improvement to fill this vacancy.

BASIC FUNCTION

Under the Supervision of the Training Manager (TM), but with day-to-day coordination of the Homestay, Language and Culture Coordinator (HLCC), the Language and Cross-Culture Facilitator (LCF) instructs Peace Corps Trainees (PCTs) and Volunteers (PCVs) in Kinyarwanda language. Additionally, LCF advises and teaches PCTs on cross-cultural items and issues. The LCF conducts classes in Kinyarwanda using the techniques, methods, and training materials provided by Peace Corps/Rwanda; assigns lessons, corrects faulty pronunciation, improper tone pattern, and faulty structure by using intensive drills of various kinds; schedules review of subject matter and tests to determine students’ progress; periodically schedules students for tests with the LCC; advises LCC on a regular basis of progress of students and suggests transfer of students to other classes if their progress clearly exceeds other class members or if their slow progress delays the advance of the class. The LCF collaborates with host family members to help PCTs integration and practice Kinyarwanda in the family and in the host community. Note: This is an intermittent position.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Language Training

• Actively participate in a language and all staff Training of Trainers workshops. Assist the HLCC with preparation of lesson plans (writing new lesson plans as needed and improving on previous ones).
• Prepare all relevant learning materials, charts, supplies, etc.
• Monitor and document progress of PCTs towards meeting the required language level at the end of Pre-Service Training (PST) and report issues to the LCC in a timely manner.
• Assist PCTs with cultural adjustment and learning issues during PST.
• Assess PCT progress during the training and provide feedback according to the Trainee Assessment Design.
• Act as a cultural information resource and serve as a role model to PCTs.
• Attend necessary technical sessions to best incorporate relevant terms into lesson plans.
• Assist colleagues with lesson preparation before classes.
• Integrate technical and cross culture vocabulary into language lessons.
• Integrate all the medical corner information in his/her daily Kinyarwanda teaching.
• Always Speak Kinyarwanda to PCTS during PST and seek to engage them in conversations.
• Encourage Kinyarwanda immersion in the community and in host families.
• Review lessons with PCTs after formal classes if needed and requested.
• Accompany PCTs during Community Based Training or site visits, facilitating and monitoring PCT progress and objectives.
• Support the review and writing of new training/learning materials for language, cross- cultural awareness and homestay integration.
• Report PCT absences, tardiness, or disciplinary problems that may arise in class and/or tutoring sessions to the HLCC.

Host Family Monitoring

• In collaboration with the Training team, the LCFs discuss cultural experiences to Host families and provide necessary advises as required to support PCTs during their stay in the host families and for future integration into their communities .
• Discuss to Homestay issues raised by PCTs related to Host Family that need clarifications/ follow up.
• Discuss PCT cultural, safety, and security issues with the Host Family and report any issues to the HLCC.
• Monitor and report PCT whereabouts and compliance with established curfew.
• Monitor and document PCTs integration and accomplishment of Trainee Directed Activities in host families.

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

At a minimum, the successful candidate’s CV must demonstrate the following:

Minimum Education

• Bachelor’s Degree (A0) in Education or a related field, with proven adult teaching experience.

Required Work Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience applying adult language and cross-cultural instructional skills.
• Minimum 5 years of experience working in a multicultural environment.
• Minimum 5 years of experience designing and adapting Kinyarwanda language and cross-cultural training materials for learners in new sociocultural settings.

Knowledge Requirements

• Strong knowledge and practical experience with second-language training methods and systems.
• Excellent command of Kinyarwanda, including grammar, idiom, syntax, and pronunciation.
• Strong knowledge of lesson-plan development and creation of instructional materials such as texts, workbooks, and audio-visual aids.
• Good training planning and facilitation skills using adult-learning principles.

Language Proficiency

• Fluent in English and Kinyarwanda (written and spoken).

Work Environment

• Ability and willingness to reside at a remote training site for more than three months.

Abilities and Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively, maintain trainee motivation, and support rapid language acquisition.
• Strong interpersonal skills and sensitivity to cross-cultural dynamics affecting adult learners.
• Demonstrated commitment to program objectives, strong communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in a team.
• Ability to work calmly, tactfully, and effectively under pressure, while maintaining strict confidentiality.

• Actively participate in a language and all staff Training of Trainers workshops. Assist the HLCC with preparation of lesson plans (writing new lesson plans as needed and improving on previous ones).
• Prepare all relevant learning materials, charts, supplies, etc.
• Monitor and document progress of PCTs towards meeting the required language level at the end of Pre-Service Training (PST) and report issues to the LCC in a timely manner.
• Assist PCTs with cultural adjustment and learning issues during PST.
• Assess PCT progress during the training and provide feedback according to the Trainee Assessment Design.
• Act as a cultural information resource and serve as a role model to PCTs.
• Attend necessary technical sessions to best incorporate relevant terms into lesson plans.
• Assist colleagues with lesson preparation before classes.
• Integrate technical and cross culture vocabulary into language lessons.
• Integrate all the medical corner information in his/her daily Kinyarwanda teaching.
• Always Speak Kinyarwanda to PCTS during PST and seek to engage them in conversations.
• Encourage Kinyarwanda immersion in the community and in host families.
• Review lessons with PCTs after formal classes if needed and requested.
• Accompany PCTs during Community Based Training or site visits, facilitating and monitoring PCT progress and objectives.
• Support the review and writing of new training/learning materials for language, cross- cultural awareness and homestay integration.
• Report PCT absences, tardiness, or disciplinary problems that may arise in class and/or tutoring sessions to the HLCC.
• In collaboration with the Training team, the LCFs discuss cultural experiences to Host families and provide necessary advises as required to support PCTs during their stay in the host families and for future integration into their communities .
• Discuss to Homestay issues raised by PCTs related to Host Family that need clarifications/ follow up.
• Discuss PCT cultural, safety, and security issues with the Host Family and report any issues to the HLCC.
• Monitor and report PCT whereabouts and compliance with established curfew.
• Monitor and document PCTs integration and accomplishment of Trainee Directed Activities in host families.

• Ability to communicate effectively, maintain trainee motivation, and support rapid language acquisition.
• Strong interpersonal skills and sensitivity to cross-cultural dynamics affecting adult learners.
• Demonstrated commitment to program objectives, strong communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in a team.
• Ability to work calmly, tactfully, and effectively under pressure, while maintaining strict confidentiality.

• Bachelor’s Degree (A0) in Education or a related field, with proven adult teaching experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience applying adult language and cross-cultural instructional skills.
• Minimum 5 years of experience working in a multicultural environment.
• Minimum 5 years of experience designing and adapting Kinyarwanda language and cross-cultural training materials for learners in new sociocultural settings.
• Strong knowledge and practical experience with second-language training methods and systems.
• Excellent command of Kinyarwanda, including grammar, idiom, syntax, and pronunciation.
• Strong knowledge of lesson-plan development and creation of instructional materials such as texts, workbooks, and audio-visual aids.
• Good training planning and facilitation skills using adult-learning principles.
• Fluent in English and Kinyarwanda (written and spoken).
• Ability and willingness to reside at a remote training site for more than three months.