University English Teacher

The Kyrgyz Republic is looking for individuals interested in supporting English language acquisition at the higher education level.

The Kyrgyz government has ambitious goals for increasing economic and academic opportunities for its citizens, and the need to communicate in English is a national priority at the center of recent education reforms. Per the English First (EF) 2026 ranking of 123 countries by English skills, Kyrgyz Republic ranked #101, putting the country in the very low proficiency category. Limited English language practice combined with large classrooms have had a negative impact on students’ ability to develop strong communication skills. The country’s economic development goals depend on the government’s ability to improve teaching methods and language proficiency among teachers to deliver high-quality English language instruction to its students in all fields.

As an English Teacher, you will collaborate with staff at higher education institutions to strengthen English language instruction and proficiency. Through daily conversations, personalized support, and capacity strengthening workshops for teaching staff, you will enable students, teachers, and community members to become more confident in communicating in English as well as more knowledgeable of American culture.

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), English as a Foreign Language (EFL), or Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), or a master's degree in English or linguistics.
OR
MAT or master's degree in any foreign language.

Volunteers live and work in conditions along with local Kyrgyz citizens. All Volunteers live with a host family, which may be in an apartment, private house, or in a separate building within a family’s compound residence. Volunteers assigned to universities could be housed in a university dorm, depending on availability of other housing options.
All regions of Kyrgyz Republic have access to water, electricity, and mobile data, though some areas might experience limitations at certain times of the year.

Receive practical, high-quality training in teaching English as a second language.
Develop skills in project management, public speaking, and facilitation.
Learn up to three languages while being immersed in a culture influenced by ancient nomadic traditions and modern-day Silk Road geopolitics and economic development.

Plan and teach engaging lessons that support various proficiencies and learning styles.
Develop and support extracurricular activities for both faculty and students.
Lead skill-building workshops for faculty and community members, such as career building workshops on resume writing, statement of purpose development, and interview skills.
Help students prepare for regional, national, and international English language competitions.
Co-design and implement a grant project based on a community identified need.

You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as English clubs for community-based tourism groups.

As an English Teacher, you will be trained on core TEFL methodologies such as communicative language teaching, lesson planning and curriculum design, and strategies for coteaching and teacher capacity building and facilitating teacher trainings. Peace Corps/Kyrgyz Republic will teach you Kyrgyz language to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community. You can also receive language resources to learn Russian and Uzbek languages later in service.

After 11 weeks of training, you will move to a semi-urban or urban community where you will collaborate with higher education institutions. You will work with the community to assess the local needs and develop solutions based on best teaching practices and the goals of the ministry partners.