Language and Culture Facilitator

Language and Culture Facilitator (LCF)

Location: Outside of Kathmandu
Work Hours: The LCF will be required to follow a six-day work week and work during
holidays. Working hours are not limited to 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Reports to: Training Coordinator

Position Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the Training Coordinator (TC) and under the guidance and
coordination of Senior Language and Culture Facilitator (SLCF), the Language and Culture
Facilitator (LCF) conducts Nepali language training classes and helps Peace Corps Trainees
(PCTs) to learn about Nepali culture and gain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for
living and working successfully in Nepal. Under normal working conditions, LCFs work with
small groups of PCTs (4 – 5 per group) and live immersed in Nepali communities for the duration
of contract period. LCFs deliver one-on-one and small group language and culture sessions to
Peace Corps Trainees (PCTs) and Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) in person. LCFs follow a
prescribed curriculum and use a variety of language training techniques and methodologies.
They serve as a primary cultural bridge between the PCTs, PCVs, their host families, and the
broader communities in which they are living, and also provide emotional support to PCTs and
PCVs as they transition to life in Nepal.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: University Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
Language Proficiency: Professional oral and written English and Nepali proficiency.

Prior Work Experience:

• Minimum of 6 months of experience teaching or tutoring learners in a formal or nonformal setting.
• Willing to live with a Nepali family at the Training site outside of Kathmandu for the
  duration of contract period.
•  Computer skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint).

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Education

Prior Work Experience:

• Minimum of 6 months of experience teaching or tutoring learners in a formal or nonformal setting.
• Experience facilitating learning activities that promote collaborative, peer-supported
  learning.
• Experience partnering with individuals with marginalized social identities (caste, ethnicity,
  sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and so on) in Nepal.
• Experience navigating language and culture in a rural village community setting in Nepal.
• Experience in a cross-cultural setting with American or international organizations
• Experience with organizations that achieve their mission through volunteerism.

Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes:

• Communication: Strong communication and interpersonal skills, conflict management
  skills, diplomacy and tact with staff, Volunteers, Trainees, community members and
  members of the government. Is cross-culturally sensitive and strives to communicate
  openly.
•  Motivation: Ability to work independently and proactively, is self-motivated and
  adaptable to constantly changing situations, and accepts responsibility.
•  Professionalism: Maintains confidentiality regarding Volunteer issues and other
  information and possesses a strong sense of integrity. Sets a positive example for peers
  and PCVs in performance of professional duties (is punctual, diligent, well-groomed, etc.).
• Acts as a team member in a consensus-building atmosphere, encourages constructive
  feedback and accepts suggestions for improvement, and willingly responds to reasonable
  requests from both colleagues and supervisors in a timely manner.

Candidates will receive credit for all qualifying experiences, including volunteer experience. To
ensure full credit for your experience, please indicate dates of employment by month, day, and
year and the number of hours worked per week in your resume.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITTES

LANGUAGE AND CULTURE TRAINING:

1. Actively participates in the General Training of Trainers (GTOT) and the TOT for
Language and Culture Facilitators (LCF TOT) conducted prior to Peace Corps Trainees’
(PCTs) arrival.
2. Builds teamwork among fellow training staff and supports PC/Nepal staff and training
team efforts and decisions.
3. Creates or modifies daily language lesson plans using Peace Corps/Nepal (PC/N)
Language training curriculum and Lesson plan format.
4. Prepares all necessary training materials, visuals, activities, worksheets under the
guidance of the Training Coordinator and Senior LCF. Collaborates through the Senior
LCF with the Training Administrative Assistant (TAA) for any necessary reproduction or
purchase of training materials.
5. Coordinates with all other component trainers and Technical Trainers to effectively
integrate safety, health, technical and cross-cultural components into language training.
6. Conducts language classes at cluster sites, making appropriate lesson modifications
based upon the learning needs of the PCTs and feedback received from them, paying
particular attention to meeting the learning needs of adults.
7. Gives Nepali Language and Cross-Culture assignments to PCTs and PCVs to perform at
their PST and permanent sites respectively and follows up on assignments.
8. Monitors and evaluates individual PCT and PCV learning progress. Provides timely and
regular feedback using Shared Affirmation and Wrap up (SAW) to PCTs and PCVs
regarding their progress in language acquisition, cultural understanding and community
integration.
9. Uses coach approach and Nonviolent Communication to help PCTs and PCVs solve their
issues and does not prescribe solution.
10. Documents PCT and PCV performance in the language and cultural components, as
well as their personal attributes, and shares with the Senior LCF, TC and TM. Reports
potential issues to the TC and/or TM before they become problems.
11. Provides support to PCTs and PCVs on technical and cross-cultural/community
activities and during technical practicum. Participates in field trips and integrates
appropriate Technical Nepali Language.
12. Integrates ICDEIA (Intercultural Competence, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and
Accessibility) in all training events and sessions as appropriate.
13. Demonstrates respect to diversity that PCTs, PCVs, and staff bring by being inclusive
and provide required support to all.
14. Assists PCTs and PCVs in practicing classroom-based topics outside of the classroom,
encourages them to interact with community members, establish contacts with
institutions, and obtaining resources at the local level.
15. Assists PCTs and PCVs in developing skills and ability to achieve success by modeling
the use of incorporating available resources to meet training goals.
16. Participates in all plenary training group activities including field visits.
17. Submits all lesson plans, language/cultural materials and other documents to the
SeniorLCFs for future use.
18. Responsible for maintaining inventory of their cluster’s PST supplies and equipment,
andfor returning these supplies at the end of PST.
19. Actively participates in an end-of-PST evaluation, making recommendations for
improvement for the next PST.
20. Carries out additional duties as assigned by the Training Coordinator and/or Training
Manager.
21. Demonstrates creativity and accepts the changes in training events when required
during PST and other training activities.
22. If required, participates in discussion activities on the Volunteer competency model
and training alignment, and provides input based on teaching and learning experience.

TRAINEE SUPPORT:

1. Initially serves as the intermediary between host families and PCTs. Prepares host
families before PCT arrival.
2. Helps PCTs and PCVs to develop cross-cultural knowledge and skills by acting as a
language and cultural informant both formally (in class) and informally.
3. At a basic level, assesses the PCTs’ and PCVs’ health and well-being, and reports any
possible health issues to the appropriate staff
4. Maintains a high level of confidentiality when dealing with PCT and PCV health issues
and other concerns and shares on a need-to-know basis only.
5. Regularly conducts monitoring and evaluation visits to PCTs and their host families to
assess living conditions, food situation, and relationship between the family members
and PCTs, and assists them in resolving their own issues related to their home stay
experience.
6. Explains and interprets the actions and reactions of both parties (PCT and host family)
in day-to-day social interaction.
7. Conducts training sessions using a mix of in-person, online, live, and recorded sessions
and methods with online platforms that can include Zoom, Skype and Learning Space.
For in-person sessions, take all health-safety mitigation measures prior to any session
or interaction, as specified by the agency guideline.

OCCASIONAL MONEY HANDLER

The PSC may be required to courier cash and/or purchase orders to various vendors who
furnish supplies and/or services to training sites, or other locations as directed by the
Contracting Officer. The PSC may also be required to courier cash to PCTs or Volunteers. The
PSC will not be functioning as a procurement or disbursing official but will only be acting as an
intermediary between the Contracting or Disbursing Officer and the recipient. In the case of
dealing with vendors, the PSC will not exercise any procurement discretion concerning the
supplies or services to be purchased or the cost limits of these purchases; these will be
determined by the Contracting Officer.

SAFETY AND SECURITY:

1. Is knowledgeable of the Peace Corps Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and in the event of
an emergency conducts his/her role in helping to ensure the safety of Peace Corps
Trainees and Staff.
2. Assists the Training Manager and Training Coordinator in developing, assessing, and
redesigning competencies and training sessions as required.
3. Evaluates and reports Volunteer/Trainee acquisition of safety and security
competencies. Immediately communicates Volunteer safety and security concerns and
issues to theSafety and Security Manager (SSM) and Training Coordinator.
4. Supports the safety and security systems that are in-place for pre-service training,
including reinforcing Trainee roles and responsibilities related to personal safety and
security.
5. Knowledgeable and supportive of Peace Corps safety and security policies and
procedures, including the timely reporting of suspicious incidents, persons or articles.
6. Integrates into the community at the Training site, with a focus on developing positive
relationships with community members during PST.
7. Serves as a warden for the PCTs at his/her cluster site.
8. Strictly follows Peace Corps Nepal infectious disease mitigation protocols and guidance
including physical distancing, PPE, usage of mask, accommodation, number of
participants present at any event, as specified by the agency guideline.
9. Regarding infectious disease safety, staff monitor their own symptoms, manage risks,
and ensure that those around them are also following the correct procedures
10. The Contractor is required to follow any workplace health and/or safety rules indicated
for their position specified in a Peace Corps policy.

OTHERS:

1. As required and instructed by the Training Coordinator and/or Training Manager during
training.
2. In addition to the specific tasks outlined in this Statement of Work, the intermittent PSC
may support other related duties for Peace Corps/Nepal as assigned. These duties may
include but are not limited to supporting Volunteers during in-service training, providing
ad hoc site management support, and/or remote Volunteer learning.
3. Follows Peace Corps Policies and Guidelines for Professional Trainer/staff behavior.

HOW TO APPLY:

Carefully review the full advertisement and Statement of Work for the above listed positions
online at https://np.usembassy.gov/embassy/jobs/.

For your application to be marked as complete and considered for further review:

•  By email: Submit (1) your resume, (2) a brief cover letter in English, and (3) include the
  position to which you are applying for in the subject line to nepaljobs@peacecorps.gov.
• By mail or hand delivery: Provide (1) your resume, (2) a brief cover letter in English, and (3)
  include the position to which you are applying at the top of the cover letter and send to
  U.S. Peace Corps, P.O. Box 15150, Kathmandu, Nepal or hand deliver to our office in
  Maharajgunj. All applications must reach our office by the deadline as listed below:
•  July 3, 2024 for the Training Administrative Assistant, Training Site Secretary,
  and Training Driver
•  July 10, 2024 for all other advertised positions.
• All applicants: If you have ever served as a Peace Corps Trainee/Volunteer or a Peace Corps
  staff member please include the position location, position type, title, and starting and
  ending dates within your application.

Notes: Late applications will not be considered. Due to high volume, telephone inquiries will not
be entertained. Only shortlisted applicants will be notified for interviews.

Peace Corps/Nepal Diversity Statement:

Peace Corps Nepal is committed to embedding equity, diversity and inclusion into our core
business practices. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage
diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success, and good practice. We positively welcome and
seek to achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal
and fair treatment regardless of their background and personal characteristics. These include:
(but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, caste, gender identity and
expression, religion, ethnicity, disabilities, political affiliation, marital, pregnancy, maternity, or
indigenous status.

Peace Corps/Nepal Safeguarding Statement:

We define safeguarding as the preventive action taken by Peace Corps Nepal to protect our
volunteers, staff, partners, and communities we work with from harm. We are committed to
ensuring that all children and adult who come into contact with Peace Corps are treated with
respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced
selection process and a rigorous due diligence process.