NSLI-Y Evaluation Local Coordinator/Resident Director Interview Protocol

NSLI-Y Evaluation

Local Coordinator/Resident Director Interview Protocol

Thank you for agreeing to participate in an interview for the NSLI-Y evaluation. As you know, the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has contracted the Dexis Consulting Group to conduct an independent evaluation of NSLI-Y programs between 2008 and 2017. The purpose of this evaluation is to assess NSLI-Y’s progress to date and to provide ECA with lessons learned and recommendations to improve the impact and effectiveness of programs in the future. You have a unique perspective to contribute to this evaluation. We would like to learn about your observations of and experience with your NSLI-Y program to better understand the progress, successes, and challenges of NSLI-Y so far. This interview will take approximately 45 minutes to complete.

Please note that your participation in this interview is voluntary. You should be aware that:

• Any response you provide may be reported in the final report as part of aggregated qualitative analysis.

Thank you in advance for your time and input!

Before we start, please tell us a little bit about your role with NSLI-Y to date. [Probe on title, years of experience with the organization and with the NSLI-Y program, and role in the NSLI-Y program.]

The NSLI-Y Program Experience

1. Based on your experience with NSLI-Y, what aspects of the program are most beneficial to the participants? (EQ 1.a.i)

2. Now to flip the question, what aspects of the program are least helpful or beneficial to the participants in your view? (EQ 1.a.ii)

3. Were there any particular aspects of the program that you think the participants would change? What suggestions do you have for changes? (EQ 1.b)

4. Based on your experience with NSLI-Y [and other programs targeting the same age group], are there particular aspects of the program that you would change or new elements you would add to enhance the program? (EQ 1.c) If so, what are they? [Probe on pain points (logistics, organization etc), recruitment of participants, recruitment of host families, volunteer placements, etc.]

5. Can you tell us a little bit about working with host families? What were some of the major successes and difficulties and for the latter, to the extent that you could, how did you resolve them? (EQ 1.c) [Probe on whether families generally only hosted once or whether they hosted repeatedly and why.]

6. [Ask of all programs except Russia] Similarly, would you tell us about the community service activities identified for participants? What were some of the major successes and difficulties, and for the latter, to the extent that you could, how did you resolve them? (EQ 1.c) [Probe on characteristics of organizations that were more successful in hosting participants.]

Impact on Self

7. To what extent do you think performing this role had an impact on your personal development and growth?

   1. If so, would you please share with us the key areas of growth or change? [Probe on changes in self-awareness, development of interpersonal skills, development of intercultural skills, etc.]

8. To what extent, if at all, have you remained in contact with the NSLI-Y alumni after they return home? (EQ 6)

   1. If so, how frequently would you say you are in touch, and what kind of contacts do you have? [Probe on personal, professional/career-oriented, or other] (EQ 6.b)

   2. Are you aware of whether or not alumni remain in contact with their host families or others that they met while on their program after they return home? (EQ 6.b)

Impacts on Alumni and Communities

9. How would you describe the change in language proficiency for most participants over the course of their program? (EQ 2.a) [Probe on summer program and academic year program]

10. Other than increased language proficiency, what kinds of changes, if any, have you seen in the NSLI-Y participants? (EQ 5, EQ 2) [Probe on knowledge of host country, academic interests, career interests, community service interests, leadership skills, self-awareness, self-confidence, critical thinking skills, world view, etc.]

11. What are some of the ways in which NSLI-Y participants share information about the US and its culture during their program? Does the information change perceptions of the United States and/or American citizens? (EQ 4.a)

    1. In your experience, to what extent is that information impactful for instructors, host families, volunteer colleagues, and others? (EQ 5.b)

12. What kinds of changes, if any, have you seen in the host families, community service organization staff, and others that the NSLI-Y participants came into contact with? (EQ 5, EQ 2) [Probe on knowledge of host country, academic interests, career interests, community service interests, leadership skills, self-awareness, self-confidence, critical thinking skills, world view, etc.]

13. From your perspective, how, if at all, has NSLI-Y allowed alumni to benefit their international host communities and their home communities? (EQ 4) [Probe on increases in student exchange participation, international days celebrated, sister city arrangements (if known), increased enrollment in foreign language classes (in school/out of school), etc.)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!

OMB Control Number: 1405-XXXX Burden Estimate:  60 minutes Expiration Date: XX-XX-XXXX

PRA Statement Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 60 minutes per response, including time required for searching existing data sources, gathering the necessary documentation, providing the information and/or documents required, and reviewing the final collection.  You do not have to supply this information unless this collection displays a currently valid OMB control number.  If you have comments on the accuracy of this burden estimate and/or recommendations for reducing it, please send them to: Evaluation Division, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 2200 C St NW Washington, DC 20037.