AY 2007-2008 Projects - Central Asia

This project has been cancelled

Country                       Turkmenistan
City                              Mary
Host Institution           Mary American Corner

Project Description
Turkmenistan’s need for English language teacher training and curriculum development is difficult to overstate. President Saparmurat Niyazov has systematically scaled back education in all areas, including training for teachers, to the extent that the intellectual curiosity of students themselves has been dampened, threatening the country's prospects for stability and success in a post-Niyazov era. The presence of the current EL Fellow at the Professional Organization of English Teachers (POET), a civil society group for teachers and professors in Turkmenistan which is co-located with the U.S. Embassy s Public Affairs Section, proved to be an invaluable resource for post and the Regional English Language Officer, based in Tashkent, for assisting the only English teachers NGO in Turkmenistan to develop and build their capacity as the premier teacher-training organization. The EL Fellow interacts daily with Turkmen teachers working in an increasingly difficult environment, and through regular workshops and outreach events works to counteract the pressures teachers face in trying to improve conditions for their students. Posting the EL Fellow to an independent (non-state) host institution, paid off in the EL Fellow's greater mobility and creative space to design his/her own schedule and tailor his/her teaching to local conditions. It has also meant greater visibility for the EL Fellow, leading to greater public interest in the Program.  Bearing this in mind, the EL Fellow AY 2007-2008 will conduct pre-service and in-service teacher training and assist in curriculum development, particularly to help teachers to adapt and develop other materials for their lessons, which are required to be conducted according to the plan from the Ministry of Education. The EL Fellow will be based at the Mary American Corner and will lead regional English language outreach activities in coordination with the EL Fellow in Ashgabat and with the Public Affairs Section and American Corner. The EL Fellow will spend most of his/her time with Mary American Corner. From his/her base, the EL Fellow will conduct teacher-training workshops for teachers from all over Mary region. The EL Fellow will also travel throughout Turkmenistan to conduct workshops for local teachers at the American corners in Turkmenabat, Turkmenbashy and Dashoguz. The EL Fellow will conduct workshops on English as a Foreign Language for local students at the Mary American Corner and also work with language centers, and with the Pedagogical College in Mary. The EL Fellow will help local counterparts prepare small publications on English teaching methodologies designed for English language teachers at various teaching levels. Post is establishing the ACCESS Microscholarship program in Mary this year and would like to involve the EL Fellow with ACCESS program progress assessment and monitoring, as well as help ACCESS teachers with their teaching as needed. The Mary American Corner will be an ideal place for the EL Fellow and its audience will benefit greatly from the EL Fellow placement there, since the working environment in Mary is favorable and students and teachers are very actively involved in all American corner activities. At the Mary American Corner, the EL Fellow will work with English language instructors on professional development in teaching methodology by leading weekly workshops on methodology and regular discussion cafes to foster public interest in the work of the American corner. The EL Fellow will oversee the enrichment of existing American studies curricula through the highly motivated teachers who usually attend American corner teacher training events.

Project Objectives
Recent policy changes in Turkmenistan have created a great need for the development of English curriculum, teacher training, and educational reform at all levels. Though Ministry of Education started re-introducing English back into all schools, Turkmen Government policies do not value education or professional development for teachers. Local English teachers' language proficiency is low, and they need extensive teacher training as well as language development in order to fulfill their tasks and objectives as teachers.  

About the Host Institution
Mary is the capital of one of the country's five provinces. The Mary American Corner is the country's fourth American Corner, co-managed, as are the ones in Turkmenbashi, Dashoguz, and Turkmenabat, by American Councils (ACCELS) under an embassy-administered grant. Established on January 19, 2005, the Mary American Corner provides information on USG policies, programs and general resources, counseling on educational opportunities in the USA, and runs a library of paper and A/V materials for rent, as well as serves as the host for many embassy outreach events and programs. ACM serves the city of Mary (population of approximately 95,000), and nearby districts (Murgap, Sakarchage, Yoleten and Bairamaly). It is the only autonomous international information, cultural and education center in the region; no other diplomatic missions or international organizations in Mary implement such a broad range of programs for such a diverse audience. The American Corner is fully equipped with computers and audio/visual equipment, including one of the faster Internet connections in Turkmenistan. Currently over 800 visitors each month use the ACM and the largest constituent of the American Corner Mary s visitors is local youth aged 15-19. Local youth are very receptive to the opportunity to learn various skills, express themselves and enroll in seminars and workshops provided by the American Corners. There they learn public speaking, civics, leadership and critical thinking skills, writing and computer skills, and can improve their English language skills. The EL Fellow will be able to design and run any classes s/he wishes to assist American corner visitors in their pursuit to fill in the gaps of the local education system.