Job Discussion Forums

[corporatehuman]

I fully realize this is an ESL board, but I'm curious as to whether any members have gone through the Peace Core before or after they taught ESL?

I've been thinking about applying for a few reasons. One, the fact that everything financial (house, food) is taken care of. Two, that I'd do work that would hopefully, really help people.

The downsides, what I'm seeing is the 27 month contract. The fact that I am stuck wherever they send me (meaning I cannot specifically select a country, it just seems a region) And since I want to learn Spanish, there is a good chance I might end up in an area where it is not spoken.

Has anyone gone through the Core? Right now I'm pretty sure I'm going to teach ESL, so I can then decide exactly where I want to go, but I'm curious if anyone would advocate going through the Peace Core's process?

There is no doubt in my mind that it must be an ENTIRELY different experience than teaching in a language school. Being that many places may have no electricity, toilets, modern-day life comforts, but at the same time, what an intimate, and pragmatic way to travel.

I guess part of my fear right now is that I go to teach English in a big city, and essentially, I'm stuck in the universality, globalization of big cities (meaning everything will remind me of the States, modern-life). Whereas in the Peace Core, I could really disappear somewhere for awhile.

Anyway, your thoughts if any.



- Chris

[MELEE]

Chris,

I have seriously considered the Peace Corps at several different times in my life, but other things have kept getting in the way of it. I think it would be a great experience, and if you teach EFL with them they will give you free training. I know you are currently considering taking a course, so that might be a consideration. Keep in mind that the Peace Corps works in Spanish speaking countries, but their English teaching positions are not in those countries, so Spanish and teaching English are pretty much mutually exclusive Peace Corps experiences. They have a ton of info on their website, and depending on what city you are in it might be worth it to make an appointment with a recuiter, just to get more information and find out if its for you.

Cheers!

[Cdaniels]

Back in '92, soon after the Soviet Union had fallen, a friend of mine was able to go sight seeing in Moscow as part of a semester in Europe. Afterwards he desperately wanted to go back to Russia as a Peace Corp volunteer. He found out that minimum qualifications for working in Russia was a graduate degree and could not go. I'm not sure why, and what this all means, or how it might apply to your situation; but it did change my thinking about what the Peace Corp does and where they do it.

[M@tt]

there are a lot of cities in mexico where you will feel like you have disappeared for awhile! i think depending on your age, and the experience you have travelling abroad, you might want to skip the peace corps. if it's just the financial situation and the thought of helping people, you can certainly manage both of those outside the peace corps. you will also have more control of where you end up, the length of time, etc.

if you want some kind of behind-the-scenes support, some orientation, the "prestige" and networking of the peace corps, etc those might all be good reasons to choose the peace corps. however, i would recommend that you google around and read about other PCV's experiences. many people have wonderful experiences but many also have rotten experiences (my sister was one of them). i also thought about peace corps a lot but eventually decided on an MA instead.

[fraup]

I worked with the Peace Corps in Eastern Europe in the early 90's. The benefits of PC are: health support system--there's a medical officer in-country and they fly you out if you have problems that can't be treated there; a living allowance and free housing, plus a monthly $$ amount put into an account for you, which you get when you leave; like military service,PC service gives you an edge if you want to get a govt. job when you get out; and at least some of your fellow volunteers are going to become good friends. If you get stir crazy in your little village you can hop a bus to visit a buddy. And they do know how to train English teachers, been doing it for 40+ years.

I wasn't an English teacher then, but I recall that unlike my group, the teachers basically got summers off. Another plus.

[geaaronson]

It`s Peace Corps and not Peace Core.
You`re best answers are with the personnel of Peace Corps themselves. I have briefly asked some questions of them myself and have learned some interesting things about the Peace Corps.
First, it has changed significantly since the 60`s when idealistic young people straight out of college were joining. The peace corpsmen of today is more likely 58 years of age, has worked many years as an engineer, teacher, nurse or doctor.
More and more countries are asking for corpspeople to speak the language, especially in Latin America. In times past, the shorter commitments were hard on the client populations. A corpsmen would be in a village for 6-12 months, people would become dependent on him and then he would leave. The next corpsmen would do the same. Now the Corps is allowing for another 2 year stint because it is trying to encourage a stronger commitment.
If you are looking for social service for less than 27 months I suggest looking into other international relief organizations. There are many working in Latin America. Hang out at your local youth hostel and you will be sure to meet some. Or go to your local university and talk to job placement and find a list of students who have done the Peace Corps thing and meet with them. There are also several associations of former Corpsmen that you can contact.
From what I remember the Corps recruiter told me was that yes I could pick my country and region. They don�t want people backing out of a country and will make it a compatible match for you. But again, I would advise other short term volunteering and if you still like it go for the Corps, of course with some Spanish under your belt.