Primary Education English Co-Teacher

Post

Rwanda

Required Skills

• Competitive candidates will have a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline and a strong desire to teach English.

Desired Skills

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

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in Preschool, Early Childhood, Middle School, or Elementary Education
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline with Elementary Education state certification
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline with 1 or more school year classroom teaching experience at the Early Childhood, Middle School, or Elementary level. Full- time Montessori teaching experience is also acceptable.

Living Conditions

Volunteers live in modest housing that vary both in size and resources depending on what is available in the host community. Some housing will have running water and electricity, some will not. Volunteers might use charcoal and/or gas stoves for cooking. Volunteers receive a modest settling in allowance from Peace Corps for basic household furnishings and accessories. Housing will be identified and approved according to Peace Corps safety and security standards.

Volunteers primarily travel on foot, by bicycle, or public transportation. Public transportation is available near most sites and in most cases goes several times a day to and from the nearest regional town with markets and banks. Public transportation is relatively inexpensive but can be crowded and require long waits. Volunteers traveling by bike are required to wear a Peace Corps provided helmet.

The climate of Rwanda is made up of two rainy seasons and two dry seasons. The lowest nighttime temperature is around 10° C (50°F) and the highest daytime temperature is about 34°C (94°F).

Rwandans are conservative in attire and grooming. In professional working environments in which Peace Corps is invited to serve, Volunteers are held to the same standards as their Rwandan counterparts. Rwandan men wear trousers such as chinos and button-down shirts in work settings. Jackets and ties are occasional requirements for certain activities. Men keep their hair cut short and well-groomed. Facial hair is kept neat and short. Rwandan women wear long dresses and skirts that fall below the knee or trouser suits with tunic style tops in both work and leisure environments. Women may wear their hair long, but keep it styled conservatively.

Tattoos, piercings on men, and long hair on men (including locs), are traditionally not accepted in professional environments, although trends are changing in urban areas. During PST, Volunteers must keep large tattoos covered. Male Volunteers must remove piercings and keep their hair cut short. After moving to their host community, it is recommended to maintain this practice but could change depending on specific work and community culture.

Volunteers will encounter different cultural and social mores that require flexibility and understanding. For example, communication in Rwanda tends to be very indirect, which can be difficult for Americans who have been taught to value direct communication.

Women, particularly young women, and younger Volunteers need to be aware of very different sex and age dynamics in Rwanda. Gaining the respect of colleagues and traditional leaders may require more effort than you expect.

Normal working hours for most public institutions are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, from Monday to Friday. Schools are mainly busy in the mornings until late afternoons (5:00 pm). Work schedules are developed in collaboration with your Rwandan counterparts and supervisor. As a Primary Education English Co-Teacher Volunteer, you will need a laptop to complete required TEFL assignments. If you would like a Peace Corps-issued laptop, you will be provided an allowance for local purchase upon arrival regardless of whether or not you bring a personal laptop. Please note that Peace Corps Rwanda will not reimburse for any laptops purchased elsewhere.

Language Requirement

None

Language Skills Additional Information

You will learn Kinyarwanda during training. In 2008, Rwanda changed its official language from French to English; thus some Rwandans will not speak much English. In the rural areas where Volunteers live, Kinyarwanda will be essential to daily life and work as a Volunteer. Visit www.kinyarwanda.net to become familiar with this language. Continuing to improve your language skills beyond training and through your service will be extremely important for your success in your community.

Primary Sector

Education

Accepts Couples

Yes

Couples Comments

Couples are welcome. You will be assigned to the same school or two neighboring schools. However, you can extend your work into the neigh