Peace Corps partnership supports English language teaching

The IU School of Education has partnered with the Peace Corps to offer credits toward a Master’s International Program.

The program is combined with the master’s degree through the Department of Literacy, Culture and Language Education in the School of Education. A Peace Corps service assignment would count for six credits.

“The reason we’ve partnered with the Peace Corps is we are trying to prepare people to teach English abroad,” said Faridah Pawan, director of the program and associate professor in Literacy, Culture and Language Education.

“There’s a huge job market because there’s an explosion of interest abroad in terms of people who can teach English.”

The program is centered on educating new teachers about how to teach English as a foreign language and English as a second language.

“We’re looking for people with the skill set or degree within education who are hoping to gain valuable work experience abroad while serving their country and serving the community,” Laura Fonseca, regional recruiter for the Peace Corps, said in a press release.

To be accepted into the program, students go through a year-long interview process with the Peace Corps. While they are applying or once accepted, they are then eligible to apply for the Master’s International graduate program.

“What we look for is their ability first to handle the rigors of graduate school,” Pawan said. “We’re looking at their interest level in working and teaching English as a second or foreign language and their readiness to undertake the experience of teaching.”

Proficiency in another language could help, though its not necessary to be in the
program.

“It’s not a requirement at all, but if they have experience in a second language, that can sort of help them with their empathy in working in the profession,” Pawan said.
She said native English speakers might not be the best English teachers.

“There’s a huge misconception that if you speak the language natively you can teach it,” Pawan said. “You’ve not learned the language consciously. We want students to represent not just their language, but their country well.”
                  
 — Katie Dawson