Interview with Laura Ruth Ward, August 24, 2022
Project: Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Ukraine, 2009 – 2012, TEFL Laura Ward grew up in eastern Kentucky. With parents working in community services, she was exposed early to volunteerism. She received a master’s in English from the University of Louisville. Laura was invited to a TEFL teacher training project in Ukraine. Pre-service language training was practical, engaging and experiential. In retrospect, she felt more emphasis on practical introduction to progressive teacher training techniques would have been beneficial. Laura was assigned to a pedological school co-teaching with other English instructors. Co-teaching allowed Laura to model more progressive and engaging teaching techniques in contrast to the traditional rote learning being used. Laura participated in summer camps and developed original curricula for teacher training seminars. Laura stayed for a third year to complete the school year. She also assisted Peace Corps with assessing potential sites for in-coming PCVs and speaking at PSTs. Laura talked about challenges, memorable moments, relationships, and approaches to change.Interview Accession
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Ukraine TEFL Kentucky parents University of Louisville English Spanish volunteerism application reactions staging Philadelphia fear Chernihiv Pre-Service training apartment Ukrainian cross-culture safety apartment Chortkiv site Uchylysche teacher training school site mate dorm room mahazyn grocery store daily routine curriculum co-teach Ternopil oblast regional capital Summer camps PCVs socializing friendships Regional manager vacations third year coming home teaching challenges assumptions memorable moments relationships development culture JFK quote Peace Corps valuesInterview Rights
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Ward, Laura Ruth Interview by Randolph A. Adams. 24 Aug. 2022. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Ward, L.R. (2022, August 24). Interview by R. A. Adams. Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Ward, Laura Ruth, interview by Randolph A. Adams. August 24, 2022, Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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