Peace Corps

English Education Teacher

Peace Corps  •  Republic of Cameroon (Onsite)  •  4 months ago
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Job Description

Post

Cameroon

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

The most successful candidates will have the following qualifications and qualities:
• Bachelor's or master’s degree in education, English, TEFL or TESOL, or Applied Linguistics.

OR

• Experience teaching or tutoring primary, middle, high school or adult students in English, TEFL, TESOL, ESL, TESL, or a foreign language.

OR

• Experience planning and organizing extracurricular activities for children and youth.

OR

• Initiative, flexibility, resilience, and a commitment to serve.

OR

• Willingness to learn a local language of Cameroon and attain a working knowledge of French.

Living Conditions

All Volunteer assignments are in the French-speaking regions of Cameroon. Host communities range from approximately 500 to 40,000 people. Cameroon has a tropical climate with two main seasons: a wet season and a dry season. The climate varies by region, with the south being humid and equatorial and the north being semi-arid and dry.

Volunteer housing is modest and varies from community to community and region to region. Houses are usually built with cement blocks and a tin roof. Houses may have inside toilets and shower areas, but some have nearby or attached access to a private pit latrine and bathing area. Many houses do not have electricity or running water. Volunteers may need to use solar lamps for lighting. Water may have to be collected from nearby water sources. All water must be filtered before drinking and filters will be provided. While many Volunteers may have limited or no access to the internet, all Volunteer sites should have cell phone coverage within the community. A Peace Corps-subsidized local cell phone can be purchased by Volunteers shortly after arrival. Volunteers are encouraged to bring (if possible) an unlocked smart phone and a tablet or laptop to access internet at their sites (where available) or in a larger town or city. A “settling-in” allowance also allows Volunteers to buy furniture and set up their houses. Volunteers must be flexible, resilient, and prepared to adapt to the above-mentioned living conditions.

Your diet will include foods such as rice or (fufu) made of cassava, cornmeal or plantains. These are often served with a sauce made of tomato or greens and meat or fish. In most communities, there are markets and small stores where you can buy basic household items, food staples, and fresh vegetables and fruits. Some Volunteers may need to travel to another town to buy supplies. Vegetarians will face some challenges but should be able to maintain their diet.

Transportation to and from your site may be challenging at times, especially during the rainy season. Depending on the location of your site, you’ll likely travel by foot, motorbikes (as a passenger only), “bush taxis”, buses, or train. You may request a bicycle and helmet from Peace Corps. Volunteers quickly observe that personal appearance is important to people in Cameroon. During Pre-Service Training (PST), the standard dress code is business casual, except when working in the garden or field. Following PST, when you are placed in the community, you will need to dress appropriately for work and socializing in the community. Respecting Cameroonian culture and tradition by dressing appropriately helps you gain respect and credibility in your host community and facilitates integration.

Religion plays a central role in the lives of most Cameroonians. You may be assigned to a majority Christian or majority Muslim community. You may be asked to participate in religious or other traditional ceremonies. During PST, you’ll have the opportunity to explore how you might respond to such situations as part of your training in intercultural competence.

Language Requirement

None

Language Skills Additional Information

While there is no French language prerequisite for Cameroon, it is recommended that Invitees engage in intensive study of French in the U.S. before departing for Cameroon. Peace Corps will provide suggestions for online learning options and offer limited virtual French lessons prior to arrival.

While many people in Cameroon speak English, in the regions where Peace Corps operates, French is the predominate language and a working knowledge is necessary to travel safely and interact effectively with colleagues, neighbors, and others. Trainees will receive over 100 hours of French language training and will be required to attain a functional French level (“Intermediate-Mid”) by the end of PST. Volunteers who live in the Adamawa Region will also be expected to learn some Fulfulde during PST, as soon as they are informed about their site placement. No benchmark is set for Fulfulde, but Volunteers are encouraged to leave training with at least survival communication skills.

Indigenous languages in Cameroon are quite localized. For easy integration and a successful service, Volunteers will be expected to learn basic communication skills in the local language of their site during the first year of service and will be provided with resources to do so. Volunteers are also provided with additional learning opportunities to continue improving their French skills and after they go to their sites.

Primary Sector

Education

Accepts Couples

Yes

Couples Comments

During Pre-Service Training, we will try to accommodate couples living with the same host family, but we cannot guarantee that you will be housed in the same location. However, during your service you would be able to live together. Cameroon cannot accommodate couples within the same sector, and sector-specific technical training may be in different locations in the same town (but all Trainees will come together for core training sessions). Your partner must qualify and apply for:

Agriculture Outreach Volunteer
Community Health Specialist
Community Health Outreach Volunteer

The Peace Corps works to foster safe and productive assignments for same-sex couples, and same-sex couples are not placed in countries where homosexual acts are criminalized. At this time, Peace Corps Cameroon is only able to accept heterosexual couples. During the application process recruiters and placement officers work closely with same-sex couple applicants to find placement opportunities.

Language Requirements Information

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

Country

Cameroon

Assignment Length (months)

12

Accepting Applications?

Yes

Program

PCV

TEFL certificate program

No

Post to LinkedIn?

No

Identify as new initiative on PC website?

Shorter term service

Peace Corps

About Peace Corps

As the preeminent international service organization of the United States, the Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in Education, Health, Economic Development, Agriculture, Environment and Youth Development. Through their Peace Corps experiences, Volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a lifelong commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today's global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans of all ages have served in 142 countries worldwide.

Industry
Government & Public Safety
Company Size
5,001-10,000 employees
Headquarters
Washington, District of Columbia
Year Founded
1961
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