Co-facilitate English Club for Students in Technical School

Job Description
Colegio Técnico Profesional Uladislao Gámez Solano (CTP), located in Tirases de Curridabat, Costa Rica, was established in 2006 to provide technical education and improve employment opportunities for youth in the area. With over 1,300 students, including those attending night school under the National Plan, CTP serves a population that often faces socio-economic challenges such as violence and abuse. Despite these hardships, the students are described as affectionate, motivated, and determined to succeed, recognizing that their education is a pathway to better economic conditions for themselves and their families.

To support students' development, CTP and Peace Corps Costa Rica have developed a virtual English conversation program for students aged 16–18. Through weekly English clubs, students will engage with native English speakers to enhance their language, communication, and vocational skills. These sessions aim to improve students' confidence and employability while also fostering cross-cultural understanding. The initiative is expected to have a positive ripple effect, benefiting not only the students but also their families and communities.

CTP is seeking four Virtual Service Pilot Participants (VSPPs) to lead these English conversation sessions. Each VSPP will work with two small groups of students from grades 10–12, providing two one-hour sessions per group each week. The VSPPs will collaborate with each other and local counterparts to ensure effective facilitation and feedback. This model has already shown success in 2024 and 2025, with students demonstrating increased confidence and ease in both academic and professional settings. During orientation, VSPPs will be assigned to their respective small groups of students.

CTP has partnered with the Peace Corps since 2023 and understands the unique role of VSPPs compared to traditional Volunteers.

Desired Qualifications
Education: Master's degree in education or in any relevant field and/or relevant certification: TEFL, TESOL, Cambridge, or similar

Language: Advanced Spanish

Experience:

• Virtual engagement and communication

• 3 years of TEFL/English teaching for primary or secondary school students

• Teaching life skills to youth and/or vocational skills to youth

Required Skills
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

Host Country Partner's Mission and Goals
Colegio Técnico Profesional Uladislao Gámez Solano opened its doors to students in the community of Tirases de Curridabat (southwest of San José) in 2006 as a technical high school in order to provide quality job opportunities for the educational community in general. This high school has more than 1300 students and offers night school shift, National Plan for students with special needs, and a technical school.

Mission: Provide the best opportunities for the training of professional leaders capable of inducing and driving the required changes in the economic, environmental, sociocultural and political development of the country.

Vision: To be a leading institution in the comprehensive training of professional human beings that responds to the demands of the labor market.

Virtual Service 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 English club session plans

• Co-facilitate two, 1-hour English conversational clubs twice per week for 4–5 students with activities that strengthen the students' ability to express themselves in English and develop life and vocational skills. Estimated time: 4 hours per week

• Collaborate with counterpart and other VSPPs 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, and email for regular communication and collaboration.

Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0–18), two adults must be present

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