Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitator PST (Five (5) Openings/positions)

This is a short term contract and not a permanent position.
Submission Date for first review: March 24, 2022 (Open until filled)
Area of Consideration/Who may apply: All applicants must be a naturalized citizen or permanent resident of Vietnam who are legally able to work within the country.
Duration of contract: September 24 - December 30, 2023
Market Value/Salary: 50 USD/day for an estimated 81 Days = 5,303 USD Total Estimate (including basic salary, overtime and Misc & UCWA allowances)
Period of Performance/ Length of Contract/ Work Schedule: Short-term contract (Monday through Saturday)
Place of Performance: Pre-Service Training Site
Security Level Required: Independent Name Check and Police Check
Background information of the position
The Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitator (LCF) works closely with a small group of Peace Corps Trainees (4-5) throughout the duration of Pre-Service Training (PST). Under the direction of the Language and Cross-Cultural Coordinator (LCC), s/he conducts language and culture training classes, following a prescribed curriculum, and effectively uses a variety of language training techniques, methodologies, resources, and activities. LCFs will serve as cultural information resource for Trainees by living with Trainees and facilitating their cross-cultural learning. LCFs will participate in the evaluation of the language training program and the overall assessment of trainees' performance.
This is a short-term contracted position and requires working fulltime at the central PST training site in Hanoi. During the PST, the LCFs will teach Vietnamese language and culture, work on material preparations and lesson planning and stay with Trainees for Vietnamese language immersion opportunities. LCFs will be required to follow a six-day work week, with additional preparation time and activities in the evening, and/or on weekends and holidays.
Qualifications
Required:
• Bachelor's degree in any field;
• At least two years of Vietnamese language teaching experience;
• Experience instructing foreigners of Viet Nam in areas such as, Vietnamese culture, traditions, values, customs and practices and how they may differ across populations/geographic areas in Viet Nam;
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills; comfortable leading group Vietnamese classes or cross-cultural sessions.
Prefered:
• Degrees in pedagody or certificates in Vietnamese language teaching methodologies;
• Experience teaching Southern Vietnamese dialect; special preference for candidates who are able to speak both Northern and Southern dialects;
• Ability to work within a cross-cultural team which includes American and Vietnamese staff;
• Experience living/studying/working outside of Viet Nam;
• Strong computer, communication, and organizational skills;
• Personal skills: flexible, adaptable, reliable, sense of humor, sensitivity to gender and diversity issues.
Duties and Responsibilities / Tasks and Deliverables
Before Pre-Service Training (Before PST)
• Learns and understands Peace Corps' goals, policies, training philosophy and design, performance objectives and evaluation methods.
• Reads all relevant program documentation, project plan, prior PST reports, training design guidance, Trainee assessment guidance, and Peace Corps policies and procedures regarding Volunteer/Trainee grounds for termination, standards of conduct/behavior, and selection criteria for becoming a Volunteer.
• Participates in all Training of Trainer (TOT) sessions and activities prior to PST. This includes a General TOT Program with all staff as well as the LTOT- the language component preparation program during which the language team will prepare the strategy and scope of the language training program.
• Participates in the preparation of language training sessions, materials, and resources under the supervision of the LCC and the support of Housing Coordinator.
During Pre-Service Training (PST)
Lesson planning and teaching
• In coordination with the LCC, creates and develops lesson plans and materials to teach Vietnamese communicative tasks which Trainees will practice at their jobs and their daily life at sites.
• Teaches Vietnamese language and culture classes to an assigned group of Trainees using a variety of communicative approaches and interactive learning methods.
• Identifies Trainees' successes and challenges and offers suggestions for additional assistance to those experiencing difficulty.
• Ensures that all Trainees complete all scheduled language learning activities.
• Is accessible to Trainees outside of scheduled sessions to provide conversational assistance and/or cultural information/suggestions/insights (Individual tutorials, cross-cultural trips/activities, field visits)
• Listens to Trainees' comments and evaluations of language classes and activities; responds to constructive criticism and strive to adapt sessions accordingly.
Cross-cultural facilitation and coaching
• Acts as a resource person for trainees on cultural topics of interest. Strives to present objective, unbiased views of Vietnamese tradition and practices and encourage trainees to seek out answers to their own questions.
• Work closely with the LCC to implement valuable cross-cultural learning activities at the training site.
• Regularly incorporates culture-specific and cross-cultural discussions into language classes.
• Coach Trainees to help them develop their own learning and adjustment strategies.
Evaluation & Training
• Meets weekly with the LCC and other training staff for briefings on upcoming training topics and to develop new lesson plans and create new training materials;
• Participates in all PST staff meetings, providing detailed feedback and comments on trainees' performance and adjustment at site.
• Documents Trainee performance in language training (under the supervision of the LCC) to inform decisions to recommend or not recommend that a Trainee become a Peace Corps Volunteer.
• Submits Trainee evaluations and thorough reports in a timely manner.
Language immersion modeling
• Stays with Trainees to support their cross-cultural learning and increase the language and culture immersion opportunities.
• Encourages maximum use of Vietnamese among Trainees and regularly initiates Vietnamese conversations with Trainees.
• Models the authentic language and culture situations Trainees might face at sites while living with Trainees during PST.
Trainees Assessment
• Participates in Trainee formal assessment/feedback interviews, provides feedback related to PST learning objectives.
• Counsels Trainees beyond formal classroom hours as needed to address individual language learning needs or suggests such counseling to the LCC.
• Documents Trainees' behavior. Informs the LCC about Trainees' behavior.
• Assists in planning and administering the Language test - Language Proficiency Interview (LPI).
Integration of Language Training with other Training Components
• Assists programming and training staff in designing and implementing integration aspects between language, technical and safety-security components.
• Identifies Vietnamese vocabulary and conversation practice to include in technical and safety-security sessions.
• Performs other related duties, as necessary, for the smooth implementation of PST.
Post Pre-Service Training (Post PST)
• Contributes to the production of a final language report for the PST;
• Submits all lesson plans, language materials and other documentation to the LCC for future use;
• Participates in the compiling, modifying and storing of language training materials;
• Provides LCC and the Training Manager with recommendations for improvements in language training for future PST.
The Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitator PST shall
• Given that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic there will be a lengthy period where there are likely to be limited or no Peace Corps Trainees and/or Volunteers (jointly referred to as "Volunteers") at Peace Corps/[Vietnam], the PSC may be temporarily assigned during the COVID-19 pandemic, as determined by the Peace Corps Director, to carry out additional duties and responsibilities in furtherance of the goals of the Peace Corps in order to enhance the ability of Peace Corps Volunteers to perform functions under the Peace Corps Act, including facilitating a safe environment in order for the successful return of Volunteers.
• This temporary assignment may require the PSC to provide services and/or support beyond what is listed in their current Statement of Work (SOW). The services and/or support may take many forms, examples of which may include but are not limited to, training, providing administrative, technical, medical, and/or operational assistance, building on host country programs, etc. This temporary assignment also may require the PSC to provide these services and/or support to individuals/organizations other than those listed in their current SOW such as host country government, partner organization(s), community member(s), staff, and/or contractors.
• Performs other duties as assigned.