8. The accidental english teacher.

One thing that always truly leaves me amazed when abroad is the cultural impact the United States leaves on almost every country throughout the planet. Our popular culture (mainly movies and music) and language have penetrated into remote villages from South America to mountain villages in Tajikistan. I worked at a summer camp for kids who were studying English to go to an American high school for a year. They came from all over the former Soviet Union. From Russia, Turkmenistan, Armenia, and Ukraine, of different faiths and lifestyles, yet every one of them knew the lyrics to Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift songs. This invariably leads to an intense desire for many people to learn English. Many know that it is an international language of business, a skill that can help them work abroad and open a world of education and career possibilities, but many youth simply want to be able to understand the words to American songs and movies. Thus, many Peace Corps volunteers get roped into teaching English in their free time.

As you can probably tell, my grip on the English language is suspect at best. My grasp of grammar is weak, and I generally rely on Microsoft word to correct all my inconsistencies. Thus, I was a bit reluctant to attempt teaching. However, I have come to enjoy this part of my week quite a lot. I think watching someone intent on learning, and helping them in the process is really a rewarding feeling. I currently have both adults and youth in my English club, all working on English for a variety of reasons. Thankfully, most will not need my assistance in advance grammar topics since they are beginners and I will not have to show my embarrassing shortcomings in my native language.

For future volunteers, I would say don’t shy away from the opportunity even if you are worried about your teaching credentials. It is a great way to integrate in the community and make friends, it will often be one of the few things your community actually actively wants you to do, and it will advance your foreign language skills while preparing. If you have a bunch of young girls in your English club, whether it be in Thailand, Mongolia, or Peru, analyzing the lyrics to Justin Bieber songs is a sure fire hit for your lesson plans.