HOW Member
From AFSWiki
Hosting Orientation Workgroup (HOW) Member
Contents |
Responsible to:
Works with:
HOW Leader, former and current host parents, volunteers and returnees and others interested in the target culture.
General Description:
The Hosting Orientation Workgroup Member is part of a group of people responsible for creating a handbook and case studies which highlight cultural differences between the home and the target culture. The purpose of the documents is to improve the quality of the hosting experience for both participants and host family members.
Time Required:
- 2-3 hour-long conference calls per month for 12 months, excluding July and August
- Wiki training: 2 hours
- Data analysis: 2-6 hours
- Literature Review: 6-8 hours
- In-person interviews: will vary (optional)
- Draft and refine handbook and related presentations: 15-30 hours
- Travel:
- HOW Intensive – Two meetings of approximately one week in length, (one in the home country and one in the target country)
- HOW - One or two domestic, in person meetings; decided on a project-by-project basis
- Hosting: In-person meetings are usually preceded by a homestay experience. All HOW members are responsible for hosting visiting HOW members during that time.
Competencies Required:
- Extensive experience with the target culture
- Basic Excel and Word skills or equivalent
- Ability to work both independently and as part of team
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Excellent English language and writing skills
- Computer and email access, including a Skype account
- Target language skills very helpful but not required
- Familiarity with creating and editing articles on a Wiki helpful but not required
- Proof read and editing experience helpful but not required
Materials/Resources Provided by AFS:
- Wiki Tutorials for New Users and related training
- Training in Intercultural Education and other related concepts including but not limited to the AFS Orientation Framework, AFS Educational Objectives, the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity, Bennett’s Five Frameworks of Culture, Conflict Styles, Multiple Intelligences, Learning Styles, etc.
- Access to country-specific resources provided by the organization
Responsibilities:
- Data Analysis - Review host family comments, other data provided by AFS staff, and country-specific information accessible via the AFS Wiki and elsewhere to identify key intercultural differences between the US and target cultures.
- Identify topics for handbook. At a minimum, these should include communication styles, school systems, food and food culture, traditions and rituals, and relationships (including formality/informality of language).
- Conduct literature review for topics identified.
- Present findings related to target topic/s to fellow and target country group members.
- In cooperation with Leader and other HOW Members, draft and revise handbook
- Perform occasional administrative tasks such as recording meeting notes, summarizing evaluations responses, assisting in the creation of summary reports, etc.
- Help plan and facilitate in-person meetings in home and host country
Benefits to Volunteer:
- Develop skills in creating and editing articles on a Wiki
- Develop leadership and team building skills
- Develop greater intercultural competence through familiarization with AFS Orientation Framework and related Intercultural Education resources
- Contribute to the development of intercultural competence in others
- Utilize, share and develop knowledge of target culture
- Opportunity to build relationships with Leader and fellow groups members from home/target country
- Opportunity to travel to/within the USA and in the case of the HOW Intensive project, to the target country.
