Start date
August 18, 2025

End date
November 17, 2025

Duration
13 weeks

ELIGIBILITY: Must be at least 18 years of age. Must be a U.S. citizen.

Activity/project background

Colegio Técnico Profesional Uladislao Gámez Solano (CTP) opened its doors to students in the community of Tirases de Curridabat (southwest of San José, Costa Rica) in 2006 as a technical high school in order to provide quality job opportunities. This high school has more than 1,300 students and offers a night school option known as the National Plan for students with special needs as well as a technical school. Many CTP students come from under-resourced backgrounds and frequently face situations of violence, abuse, and intra-family aggression requiring specialized attention from the institution’s staff to support students’ resilience. Despite these challenges, teachers describe the student population as very affectionate, dedicated, and eager to improve. Students are aware that obtaining their school diploma from CTP will enable them to support their families and/or improve their economic situation.

This virtual engagement will allow CTP students, ages 16-18, the opportunity to interact with native English speakers through conversational clubs that enhance their English speaking, communication, and vocational skills. The English clubs will greatly improve the students’ career prospects, ultimately having a direct impact on them and their families, while also allowing students to gain cross-cultural skills for meaningful interactions with people from other countries.

Therefore, CTP is requesting two Virtual Service Pilot Participants (VSPPs) to each facilitate weekly English conversations with two groups of 4-5 students selected from grades 10-12. Each VSPP will provide two one-hour sessions each week for each group for the duration of the engagement. VSPPs will collaborate with their counterpart and each other to coordinate topics, classroom management techniques, and timely feedback to students.

Virtual Service Pilot Participants (VSPPs) have implemented this type of English club since 2022 with two different high schools with very positive results. Teachers from both institutions reported the students who previously engaged with a VSPP displayed a higher level of confidence and appeared more relaxed in the classroom and at the companies during their professional practicum.

The organization has previously collaborated with the Peace Corps through VSP since 2024. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.

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
• Co-develop conversational session plans
• Co-facilitate conversational clubs consisting of activities that strengthen the students’ ability to express themselves in English and develop life and vocational skills
• Teach two, 1-hour English conversational sessions each week for 2 groups of 4-5 students
• Participate in coordination meetings
  
  

Each VSPP is expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5-15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 8 hours per week. Due to school holidays and examination days, there will be a few days off during the engagement. School schedule and meeting information will be provided during orientation.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Costa Rica time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The Host Country Counterpart will have access to Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, email, etc. 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

Language: Intermediate Spanish

Experience: 1 year of 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