Interview with Peggy Walton, November 5, 2021

Interview Summary

Peggy Walton, English Teacher Trainer, Ukraine 1994-1996, Response Volunteer, Ukraine, 2013-2014, 2015-2016. Walton left her position as an English teacher at a community college to serve as an English Teacher Trainer for 2 years in Dnipropetrovsk (now Dipro) and then for a year in both Lutsk and Uzhhorod. As such, her goal was to enhance teachers’ spontaneous speaking of English, as they read and wrote well. Using small and whole group strategies, she facilitated lessons in critical thinking, values clarification, group decision-making using active learning activities which got teachers up and out of their seats to talk with one another. By serving in Ukraine across many years, she had the unique experience of witnessing the economic and social changes of a country moving out of Soviet rule. One of her memorable experiences was in attending a rally in Lutsk where people advocated for joining the European Union; there was a palatable sense of agency and optimism in the air. Walton values the friendships made with Ukrainians, their generosity, their curiosity, their love of their country – which she shares.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) Ukraine (Country of Service) 1994-1996 (years of Service) 2013-2014 (years of Response service) 2014-2015 (years of 2nd Response service) Dipro (Service Site) Lutsk (Response site) Uzhhorod (2nd Response site) Maidan (Ukrainian protests) English Teacher Trainer (Peace Corps Assignment) Russian and Ukrainian (languages) evacuation older volunteer

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Interview Usage

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