University English Education Co-Teacher

Description

The Kyrgyz Republic, commonly referred to as Kyrgyzstan, is a Central Asian country that shares borders with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. A crossroads on the historic Silk Road, most of the territory of present-day Kyrgyzstan was annexed to the Russian Empire in 1876, became a Soviet republic in 1936, and achieved independence in 1991. Kyrgyz Republic is slightly smaller than South Dakota with a population of 7.3 million. Over 90% of the country is mountainous, with numerous glaciers and alpine lakes. The climate is continental, with extreme cold in the mountains in winter, subtropical in the southern Fergana Valley area, and temperate in the northern foothill zone.

The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic recognizes that English plays an important role in education and that English language skills can provide opportunities to advance careers, and access information and technology in all fields. The first group of Peace Corps English Education Volunteers arrived in 1993.

Volunteers work to implement the following five objectives:

• Increase the capacity of Kyrgyzstani teachers to use general and English teaching skills;

• Increase the English proficiency of Kyrgyzstani English teachers;

• Increase achievement of students in English;

• Strengthen students’ social-emotional learning (SEL) skills; and

• Increase the ability of community members to support students’ access to learning.

Peace Corps/Kyrgyz Republic, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science, assigns Volunteers to urban and suburban communities where higher education institutions are located. Volunteers are mostly placed at pedagogical universities and work with current and future teachers of English.

Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) bring their schools invaluable knowledge and skills in critical thinking, planning, project design and management, organizational development, information gathering, and communication across cultures. The Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) project affords communities the opportunity to communicate and share culture with a proficient English speaker who is eager to pursue the mission of the Peace Corps.

Volunteers will work in cities and towns throughout the country and will be clustered with 2-4 other Volunteers in nearby communities. Volunteers will have reliable transportation within their community and to the nearest city. Mobile data, text, and calls are readily available.

Annual leave accrues at 2 days per month up to 24 days per year and may only be taken during school breaks, which include 1-2 weeks in fall, winter and spring, and 12 weeks in the summer. Volunteers may not take annual leave during Pre-Service Training, and the first and last 3 months of service to allow for initial integration and final wrap-up and goodbyes.

Volunteers work 34 hours per week, Monday through Friday, at their assigned higher educational institution, as follows:

• 18 hours of co-teaching with local English teachers;

• 10 hours of co-planning;

• 4 hours of teaching English clubs;

• 2 hours of club preparation.

During the summer, Volunteers conduct clubs and/or camps.

Schedules at universities will vary between the different higher education institutions, though classes will typically take place in the mornings. University lessons last anywhere from one hour to one and a half hours, and the class schedule is built around academic hours rather than a set schedule of weekly classes.

To be successful, Volunteers will need to be open to new challenges and possess a strong sense of creativity. They will work with both young adults and seasoned teaching staff, and may have limited access to resources, such as textbooks or teaching supplies. Peace Corps/Kyrgyz Republic is committed to providing all Volunteers with relevant professional and cultural training for effective service. All Volunteers receive strong technical training that builds their teaching skills. Volunteers report their work activities on a Peace Corps online database on a quarterly basis.

Program

PCV

Post

Kyrgyz Republic

Required Skills

Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:

• Master of Arts (MA) in English, Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL), Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), English as a Foreign Language (EFL), Teaching English as a second language (TESL), or Linguistics

OR

• MA/MAT in any foreign language

Desired Skills

Competitive candidates will also meet or exceed the following criteria:

• At least 30 hours of English, foreign language, or literacy tutoring experience with primary, middle, or high school students, or adults.

• Master of Arts (MA) in English Language Learning, English Education, Literacy Education, English Literature, Curriculum and Instruction, Teaching and Learning, Education (Elementary or Secondary), Higher Education or Creative Writing; or

• Master of Arts (MA) in any discipline and 1 year experience teaching English as a foreign or second language at the university level.

• Youth mentoring and engagement experience.

• Experience working with adults in an education setting or other areas of non-formal education.

• Experience with youth in summer camps, clubs, sports, music, art, theater, volunteerism, and/or service learning, including their development and organization.

• Successful applicants will demonstrate a positive attitude, patience, flexibility, creativity, cultural sensitivity, openness to challenges and self-motivation for independent language learning and practicing new skills and knowledge at work and life.

Language Requirement

None

Language Requirements Information

There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position.

Language Skills Additional Information

While Russian is commonly heard in northern cities, Kyrgyz is the predominately spoken language throughout the country. Uzbek is spoken in some border communities in the south of the country. Prior knowledge of Turkish or Slavic languages is helpful in learning Kyrgyz, Uzbek, and Russian. Knowledge of the Cyrillic alphabet is necessary for Kyrgyz but prior knowledge is not required.

All Volunteers will learn Kyrgyz during Pre-Service Training (PST). They will be placed in small language classes of up to 4-6 and will study Kyrgyz intensively (4 hours a day, 5-6 days per week for 3 months). Volunteers must reach the Intermediate-Low language level in Kyrgyz by the end of PST to be sworn into service. Volunteers who want to study a second language must reach the Intermediate-Mid language level at In-service Training (IST), roughly three months after swear-in.

Living Conditions

Please view the Kyrgyz Republic Country Page to learn more about living conditions in the Kyrgyz Republic:

In the Kyrgyz Republic, families are generally large and extended family members maintain strong relationships. Several generations often live in one household, which may include cousins, aunts and uncles, as well as immediate family members. Children are seen as a blessing and 3-4 children are considered a small-to-medium sized family. Even those who live in cities maintain close contact with relatives in rural areas, and they travel there regularly to assist with farm chores or other family obligations. The family structure tends to be traditional, with household chores done by women and outside chores done by men. While Islam is the predominant religion, the practice has been influenced by the long association of Russia blended with Arabic traditions. Women may or may not decide to wear scarves to cover their hair. Neat, professional dress is mandatory for teachers. During their off hours Volunteers should expect to dress conservatively, especially when traveling to rural environments.

Traditional Kyrgyz food relies strongly on meat, noodles, potatoes, and bread. Meat is a big part of most meals, and sheep are often slaughtered for celebrations. In the cities, vegetables and fruits are available year-round, though the price will vary greatly by the season. Families, especially those with connections to rural communities, preserve food for the winter months. Bread holds significant traditional importance in the Kyrgyz Republic. While vegetarians and those wishing to avoid gluten have successfully served in Kyrgyz Republic, many find it challenging to be strict in their diets and to find affordable produce in winter months.

Families pride themselves on their hospitality. Guesting (visiting friends and relatives) is a traditional pastime. Visits last for hours and involve conversation, traditional foods, drinks, and toasts. Alcohol is generally available in the country, but it may not be culturally acceptable depending on the host family. There may also be different expectations regarding alcohol for men and women. In the summer, some families may ‘go to jailoo’ – taking the family and animals to the mountain meadows-- or to Issyk-Kul, the second-largest alpine lake in the world, for vacation.

Volunteers live with a host family for the full 2 years of service. In the cities, Volunteers will live in apartments with their host families, though in some cases, they may share a private house or live on the grounds of a family compound in a separate building. PCVs will have their own room but share the kitchen and bathing facilities. Homestays enrich the cross-cultural goals of the Peace Corps, give Volunteers an established social position within their communities, and provide them with a secure and supportive living environment, including continued language learning.

There is electricity and water in all regions of the Kyrgyz Republic. However, in some areas the electricity and water supplies are limited to certain hours of the day, often according to a set schedule. Apartment buildings and private houses are heated by gas, electricity, or coal. Mobile phone access is generally good with internet access available throughout the country.

Public transportation is widely available in the regional centers and consists of mini-vans, buses, or private and shared taxis.

Primary Sector

Education

TEFL certificate program

No

Apply By

01-Oct-2025

Know By

01-Dec-2025

Start Date

04-Jun-2026

Assignment Length (months)

24

Positions Available

5

Total Number of Positions Available

5

Accepts Couples

Yes

Couples Comments

Couples will stay together with a host family during training and throughout their service as Volunteers. Please note that couples will have separate work assignments with different institutions but will be placed within the same or nearby community for work.

Accepting Applications?

Yes

Request Type

172 University English Teaching

Post to LinkedIn?

No