Georgetown University, Center for Intercultural Education and DevelopmentCenter for Intercultural Education & Development, Georgetown University
EL Fellow Program
Site Navigation

EL Fellow Program
Application Links
Links of Interest


AY 2008-2009 Projects - Western Hemisphere

Full Project Descriptions

 

 

Argentina
City                              National University of Cordoba/IICANA BNC Cordoba   
Host Institution           Cordoba City
Type of Project           Fellow
Project Dates              September 2008 - June 2009

Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Materials Development, Teacher Training

Project Description
The Faculty of Languages at the National University of Cordoba (UNC) offers a five-year undergraduate program to obtain a degree as an English Language Teacher, and a three-year graduate program (Master’s Degree in Applied Linguistics, Master’s Degree in Anglo-American Literature, and a PhD in English Language Studies). The EL Fellow will spend 90% of his/her time at the Faculty of Languages working in these academic undergraduate and graduate programs. In the undergraduate program, the EL Fellow will help prepare pre-service training materials and workshops in Second Language Acquisition. Topics can include materials development, methodology, peer observation, using textbooks communicatively, classroom management, and improving the teachers’ own language skills. The EL Fellow may also conduct conversation or writing tutorials with advanced students who will become high school teachers upon graduation. In the graduate program, the EL Fellow will focus primarily on Writing. S/he will conduct workshops for students who are writing theses and dissertations. Most of these theses and dissertations deal with topics related to English Language Teaching (Writing process, Teacher Training, Materials Design, Curriculum Development, and American Literature and Culture.) When time permits, the EL Fellow will give in-service training workshops to teachers in the UNC’s English training department. Sample topics will include: dealing with large classes, motivating students, and improving the teachers' English language skills. During the three-month semester break (December - March) at the University, the EL Fellow will do project work at the binational center (BNC) in Cordoba. These projects will be subject to the skills and interest areas of the EL Fellow, but may include developing materials, teaching writing skills, or developing Content Based Instruction, such as teaching leadership skills through English. When time allows, s/he may offer workshops or seminars for EFL teachers in and around Cordoba city.   

Project Objectives
The National University of Cordoba is one of the few universities in Argentina that offers undergraduate and graduate teacher training programs in the area of English teaching. An EL Fellow would provide crucial assistance in developing and strengthening this program to the point that it could serve as a model in the future for implementation at other public universities in the country. Teachers graduating from this program are sorely needed at public schools, mainly at the secondary level, where the English language learners typically are not successful in even basic communication upon graduation. This is a huge concern in all educational government offices and priority number one for the new Minister of Education. An EL Fellow would have a significant impact by enabling new English language teachers to graduate with improved skills and better knowledge to teach young learners. An EL Fellow would be a tremendous contribution from the US Government to the Government of Argentina’s educational system, and this particularly important as the USG seeks to improve relations with the new Argentine government. This would be a strong step forward to bringing American English and culture to public schools as in the eighteenth century, when Horace Mann recruited US teachers from Boston to help former President Sarmiento establish the first public schools in Argentina. The host institutions expect that the EL Fellow will meet the specific teaching objectives, and daily interaction with an American will foster mutual understanding and help Argentine youth to break negative stereotypes about the US.   

About the Host Institution
The National University of Cordoba (UNC) was the first university established in Argentina by the Jesuits. The university has an excellent reputation, and it is located in Argentina’s second largest city. It is the first Argentine university to have a female President. The Faculty of Language created 10 years ago, and it offers a five-year undergraduate program to obtain a degree in English Language Teacher and three graduate level degrees (Master’s in Applied Linguistics, Master’s in Anglo-American Literature, and PhD in English Language Studies). This Faculty has an enrollment of 9,000 students who study 14 different languages –including Spanish as a foreign language—and 80% study English Language to become teachers. The UNC in general and the Faculty of Languages (English Language Programs) in particular have a long history in cultural programming in cooperation with the US Embassy and the Binational Center in Cordoba. Many EL teachers at the Faculty are former Fulbright grantees and or have done graduate study in the US.

IICANA is the binational center (BNC) in Cordoba city. It is one of the largest and oldest BNCs in Argentina. It was founded in 1931, and it has an enrollment of 4,000 students (including at several nearby branches). The BNC offers other services to the community like student advising, visa information, library services, and it is a testing center for the University of Michigan exams, TOEFL, TOEIC, etc. The BNC Academic Director and most of the 30 English language teachers on the staff got their degrees from the Faculty of Languages, National University of Cordoba. Additionally, they also teach at this Faculty. There is a good relationship among the faculty teachers and the BNC.   

[top]

 

Brazil
City                              Manaus
Host Institution           Instituto Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos (ICBEU)/Federal                                     University of Amazonas (UFAM)
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              March – December 2009

Project Focus
American Culture, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques 

Project Description
For 70% or more of the time, the EL Fellow will have 20 contact hours per week distributed between the Instituto Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos (ICBEU) and the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) in Manaus. The EL Fellow will spend four days per week at ICBEU and one day per week at UFAM. These institutions are about 15-20 minutes apart by bus. At ICBEU-Manaus, the EL Fellow will continue to develop the following activities:
(1) In-service training for ICBEU teachers: this in-service training program will be held once a month on Fridays.
(2) Curriculum development: the current EL Fellow will be analyzing new material for different levels and collecting data on curriculum to improve it.
(3) Cultural activities: the EL Fellow will participate in a series of cultural activities which involve students and teachers, such as poster presentations and recycling demonstrations; all activities developed are open to the community.
(4) Development of supplementary teaching materials: the Study Hall Project consists of a series of contextualized exercises for all levels (from youth to adults) involving all teachers; these teachers have the opportunity to work on written production that will enhance their teaching activities; the EL Fellow will also use his/her expertise to help select appropriate material for different courses.
(5) Teacher training course open to the community: the EL Fellow will be a co-instructor in a pre-service Teacher Training Course for advanced students from ICBEU and other schools.
(6) Research: the EL Fellow will help develop a language learning laboratory to be used by students with the orientation of the teachers; s/he will also help develop English for Specific Purpose Courses to be offered to the community; the current EL Fellow has begun research on the area of Business and Aviation.
(7) Teacher training for State public school teachers: ICBEU plans to offer a teacher training and professional development course to public school teachers, with the EL Fellow teaching one or two modules.
(8) Office hours: the EL Fellow will hold office hours for ICBEU teachers to exchange ideas and get suggestions for their classes; as an ongoing process, she will develop a pronunciation brush-up for teachers, with the objective of helping the teachers improve their pronunciation and teaching abilities.
At UFAM, the EL Fellow will continue working on the following ongoing projects:
(A) Teaching: the first semester the EL Fellow will peer-teach two classes in the English language department: Methodology and English Speaking Cultures; second semester, s/he will continue these courses and participate in workshops on teaching methodology offered to UFAM professors; this could be an ongoing project to be continued next year; working on pre-service teaching development at UFAM will improve quality of future teachers in Amazonas.
(B) Supervision of undergraduate students’ end of term papers: the EL Fellow will supervise a limited number of undergraduate students in the writing of their final papers.
While this proposal may seem rather extensive, in most of the proposed activities, the EL Fellow works as part of a team and does not carry out all of these activities simultaneously. Every effort will be made to put together a final schedule that makes the best use of the EL Fellow’s time and expertise.

Project Objectives
At ICBEU-Manaus, the EL Fellow will help in the continued commitment to achieving the highest standards in TEFL. S/he will renew discussions about best practices in TEFL and developing teachers’ perspectives. The EL Fellow will lead ICBEU teachers in several projects involving teacher training, curriculum development, and cultural activities. Additionally, the EL Fellow’s contribution to the Federal University will be of great importance, as s/he will bring a new perspective and leading reflection and discussion on teaching methodologies and techniques with both teachers and students.

About the Host Institution
Manaus, the capital of Amazonas, has a population of 2.2 million people. Surrounded by the Amazon Rain Forest and located right in front of the Meeting of the Waters (Rio Negro and Solimões Rivers), Manaus welcomes people interested in Eco-Tourism. Also, our Industrial Pole is growing with plants and factories, bringing business people and technicians from all over the world. To place oneself well in the competitive job market, it is paramount to learn another language, especially English. Instituto Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos - ICBEU - was founded in 1956 by a group of young idealists who created an English Speaking Club that became the Binational Center we are today. We are the most traditional English language school in the city and, fortunately, the most modern and prepared in terms of staff and technological supplies. Currently we have about 2200 students and 33 teachers. We are still working hard to develop our EFL teachers with in-service workshops and observations and supporting them in attending TEFL seminars and conferences. Website: www.icbeu.com

The Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) is a premier, federally-funded university in the northern region of Brazil and the largest in the state. The School of Arts & Letters, where the EL Fellow will work, has a laboratory with modern equipment. UFAM English Pedagogy graduates teach English in both public and private sectors, from basic to advanced levels. Website: www.ufam.edu.br

[top]

 


Brazil
City                              Belem
Host Institution           Centro Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos (CCBEU)/State                                       Technical College (CEFET-PA)
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              March – December 2009

Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, Needs Assessment, Curriculum Development, ESP

Project Description
For 70% or more of the time, the EL Fellow will have 20 contact hours per week distributed between the Centro Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos (CCBEU) and the State Technical College (CEFET-PA) in Belém. The EL Fellow will spend four days a week at the CCBEU, and one day a week at the CEFET-PA. These institutions are about 15 minutes apart by car. At the CCBEU, the EL Fellow will focus on the following activities:
In-service Training: in-service training for CCBEU teachers is held every Friday. CEFET-PA faculty may also be invited to participate.
Peer Observation/Classroom Management: observe and supervise teachers in the classroom to develop communicative and conversational methodology to improve students’ pronunciation and overall speaking fluency.
Assessment: help teachers to better assess student abilities.
Lesson Planning: help teachers develop practical materials to be used in class.
Other: CCBEU welcomes suggestions on new project proposals and overall program guidance from the EL Fellow and from the US Embassy.
At the CEFET-PA, the EL Fellow will work with faculty to integrate English language teaching with other professional courses of study to further municipal and regional development, focusing on the following activities: Needs Assessment, Curriculum Development/Lesson Planning, Tutoring, and English for Specific Purposes (ESP). Teachers at the State Technical College are in great need of support to increase their knowledge both in the theoretical and in the methodological areas of teaching. They need guidance to develop English for Specific Purposes (ESP) materials, as this institution deals with technological subjects. They are also trying to restore their Language Laboratory – if that’s viable for 2009, the EL Fellow will also be able to develop activities both with teachers and students there. The EL Fellow can also provide some teacher tutoring on an individual basis.
For 30% or less of the time, the EL Fellow will prepare and lead workshops and/or U.S. cultural activities with local faculty at the host institutions. Topics will be determined by the EL Fellow and his/her institutional colleagues according to their mutual professional interests.

Project Objectives
Brazil’s North and Northeast have the largest concentration of rural poor in Latin America. Many of US Embassy’s strategic goals are focused on this region, including outreach to non-elite audiences, such as disadvantaged youth, women, and indigenous groups. Belém, the capital of Pará, has a population of nearly two million people and serves as an urban magnet for surrounding rural populations. This large port city lies on the equator, at the mouth of the Amazon River, surrounded by Amazon Rainforest. The state of Pará and neighboring states face challenges in environmental management, unemployment, land disputes, and law enforcement. Eco-tourism, renewable energy, and multinational companies offer positive regional growth opportunities. Business and community leaders, including the Minister of Education, have explicitly asked the US Embassy for expanded English language programs to encourage employment, foreign investment, and economic development. The Embassy has established a U.S.-Brazil partnership to strengthen vocational education at Brazil’s CEFETs. There are five “poles” of the nationwide CEFET system, with the CEFET-PA in Belém currently serving as the northern pole. The presence of an EL Fellow here to assist the CEFET in developing and integrating English language into its other programs would greatly strengthen this partnership. The Embassy hopes to fortify its partnerships with binational centers nationwide, and the first–ever presence of an EL Fellow in Belém would advance this goal in a key regional hub. The CCBEU (a binational center) in Belém is enthusiastic, well-managed, respected in the community, and offers great opportunities for public outreach through mission events such as concerts, exhibits, presentations by USG officials, and Mission-sponsored speakers.

About the Host Institution
The Centro Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos (CCBEU) in Belém, founded in 1955, is a well-managed cultural and educational institution that promotes mutual understanding between the people of Belém and the U.S. through English language teaching and cultural events. CCBEU has 38 teachers. Facilities: 40 classrooms, library, Internet lab, self-access learning center, auditorium, movie theater, and art gallery.
Testing: TOEFL, MTELP preparation. GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, ECPE examination.
Activities: Individualized tutoring, lectures, seminars, exhibitions, concerts, plays, video presentations, arts & culture lessons, U.S.-Brazilian holiday commemorations, and Portuguese language lessons for foreigners.
Other: Exchange program with the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Hosts (twice a year) 15-20 American “Homestay” students through the School for International Training (SIT).
Website: www.ccbeu.com.br
Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica do Pará (CEFET-PA) will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2009. It offers technical, graduate, and post-graduate level courses in wide-ranging fields. Tuition is free. CEFET-PA also has three distance learning units in Marabá (pop. 157,100), Tucuruí (pop. 73,800), and Altamira (pop. 74,600). It currently serves as the northern “pole” of Brazil’s CEFET system. Current language courses include Letters and Portuguese at the university level, but they hope/plan to expand to provide English.
Website: http://www.cefetpa.br/index.php

[top]


Brazil
City                              Belo Horizonte
Host Institution           Instituto Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos (ICBEU)
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              March – December 2009

Project Focus
American Culture, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques

Project Description
This program has a dual focus: development of teaching excellence at the Instituto Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos (ICBEU) in Belo Horizonte and contribution to on-going community service projects for public school English language teachers and teaching assistants. The EL Fellow will spend about 75% of his/her time (approximately 15 hours of contact time per week) at the host institution in Belo Horizonte and 25% (approx. 5 contact hours per week) conducting community service projects. At ICBEU, the EL Fellow will divide his/her time between two major action research and development projects: one on oral assessment and the other on placement exams. This would involve some of the following:
1. Giving EFL classes to students at various proficiency levels, in order to have a better idea of the differences between these levels and to pilot and assess oral evaluation and placement examination techniques,
2. Working with the academic coordinator and supervisors to develop more meaningful oral evaluation criteria,
3. Training the teaching staff to implement the oral evaluation skills,
4. Working with the academic coordinator and supervisors in improving placement examinations,
5. Training the teaching staff to implement the new placement exams developed, and
6. EFL teacher development in any other relevant areas of expertise that the EL Fellow has to offer. These training sessions will be open to other binational centers (BNCs) from other cities and/or the teaching public at large.
Regarding the service projects, the EL Fellow will enjoy full and active participation in all BNC projects related to the US Embassy goals, such as professional development courses in partnership with the State of Minas Gerais (both in greater Belo Horizonte and some strategic cities in the state’s interior) and with the Municipal Public School System in the city of Belo Horizonte (in partnership with the American School of Belo Horizonte). The EL Fellow could also work with intensive language and training courses for potential leaders and teaching assistants from very poor neighborhoods (Project Abraham Lincoln) in partnership with the State Secretary of Education. In addition, over the course of the academic year, the EL Fellow will visit (at least once) each of the seven additional BNCs in Minas Gerais with which the US Embassy has a relationship with the purpose of giving workshops, special classes, and/or providing teacher training. These trips are included in the 25% contact hours for conducting community service projects.

Project Objectives
The goals for this project include fostering international understanding in the state of Minas Gerais and strengthening the teaching of English as a Foreign Language. The Instituto Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos (ICBEU) - Belo Horizonte has faced some difficulties due to the changes and demands of the English Language Learning market in Brazil, and we believe that placing an EL Fellow at this BNC will bring new knowledge, motivation, and dynamism to both the teachers and students. Through various projects, the EL Fellow will contribute to innovation in the teaching methodology and curriculum currently used. S/he will also develop activities with public school teachers, who are in need of support throughout the country; this project will provide them the opportunity to work with a native speaker and, at the same time, learn from a well-prepared professional in the teaching field. The EL Fellow will also visit, at least once during the contract period, seven other BNCs in the state, providing workshops and bringing new ideas and suggestions to teachers and teacher trainers, activities that will certainly have a multiplier effect both in the classroom and among the staff. ICBEU - Belo Horizonte is very enthusiastic about the possibility of hosting an EL Fellow and supportive of the additional projects of training public school English teachers and visiting the other BNCs in Minas Gerais. ICBEU staff have also participated in projects to train public school English teachers, and they have good relations with many of the other BNCs in Minas Gerais, so these projects are a natural fit. In addition, both the Municipal government of Belo Horizonte and State Government of Minas Gerais express to post a strong interest in improving the capacity of English language public school teachers and in cooperating with USG programs to do so. In short, an EL Fellow based at ICBEU - Belo Horizonte will greatly contribute to international understanding and improving English-language teaching in the second-most populous state of Brazil where post is also hoping to open an American Presence Post (APP) in the future.

About the Host Institution
Instituto Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos (ICBEU) is a binational center, working in harmony with the U.S. Embassy and State Department objectives, and a non-profit organization. Founded in 1949 in the cultural corridor of the city of Belo Horizonte, ICBEU strives to provide the best of traditional methods with the most modern approaches, making the learning process stimulating and effective. All of the professors have the Certificate of Proficiency in English from the University of Michigan and receive frequent training. ICBEU has excellent facilities, including a library, a theater, an educational advising center and an art gallery as well as three stories of classrooms. Currently, it has about 1,000 students and 24 teachers.
First semester: February (after Carnival) – June.
Second semester: August – December.
Intensive courses (a semester in a month) offered during January and/or July.
Website: www.icbeu.com.br

[top]

 

 

Chile
City                              Antofagasta
Host Institution           Instituto Chileno Norteamericano de                                                                      Antofagasta/Universidad Catolica del Norte
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              September 2008 – June 2009

Project Focus
Teaching:  American Culture, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, Teacher Training, Applied Linguistics

Project Description  
For 80% or more of the time, the EL Fellow will work for three days per week at the binational center (BNC) in Antofagasta and for two days per week at the Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN). S/he will have no more than 20 contact hours per week with teachers and students. The BNC has classes for both young learners and adults. At the BNC, the EL Fellow will teach conversation classes for adult learners and conduct in-service teacher-training workshops for BNC teachers on topics to be determined jointly by the EL Fellow and the Academic Director. Evaluation/testing is one topic that already has been identified. Additionally, the Fellow EL will give in-service teacher-training workshops for other English teachers in Antofagasta on subjects such as Critical Thinking Skills and preparing and conducting Needs Assessments. The participants for these workshops will be teachers both from high schools and universities, and the workshops will be held at the BNC. At the UCN, the EL Fellow will teach a course on Applied Linguistics to pre-service teachers. The University has a syllabus for this course which will be shared with the EL Fellow assigned to this project. Topics in the syllabus include an overview of methodologies, with a focus on affective factors, and principles in second language acquisition. The UCN is open to input from the EL Fellow on improvements and modifications for this course. For 20% or less of the time, the EL Fellow will prepare and lead U.S. cultural activities, and s/he can also start a book club/reading circle.

Project Objectives
The goals for this project include fostering mutual understanding in northern Chile’s largest city/principle mining region and strengthening English teaching at two important US Embassy partner institutions. The BNC teaches non-elite students and strives to stay current with its teaching methodology. The EL Fellow will be like a transfusion of fresh energy and expertise. The UCN prepares future teachers of Chile in a region where English is hardly spoken and much needed. The EL Fellow’s presence on campus as part of the faculty will provide a big boost to the motivation of the learners in their development as young teaching professionals.

About the Host Institution
The binational center (BNC) in Antofagasta was founded in 1982, and it was the only institution at that time that offered English classes to the community. When the BNC ceased receiving support from the US Embassy, the governing board decided to provide an additional service to the community and opened an elementary school on its premises. Some classes are taught in English and others are taught in Spanish. The students are from middle and lower economic backgrounds. This elementary school is quite successful. The BNC continues to offer English courses to adults as well, and the new recently-elected board is developing a variety of interesting cultural programs.

The Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN) is a prestigious higher education institution that is one of the 25 members of the highly-respected Chilean Council of Rectors. English Pedagogy has been offered since 2003 due to the high demand for qualified English teachers in the region. In addition to their Pedagogy Program, the English Department is responsible for English as a Second Language for students in all majors. Concerning research, a group of teachers in the English Department is involved in three major projects supported by the government of Chile: In-Service Training for High School ESL Teachers, Curriculum Design for Scholars who want to pursue doctoral degrees in English-speaking countries, and Certification and Linguistic Competencies in English. The UCN also offers an English specialization degree for Pre-school teachers. This is uncommon in Chile. Since the Ministry of Education is making English language classes compulsory at increasingly younger grades, the UCN is one of only a few universities that is helping prepare teachers to meet the developing need. The UCN hosted an EL Fellow in the late 1990s, and she had a very positive experience. The Rector of the UCN participated in a roundtable on higher education during Secretary Spellings’ recent visit.

[top]   

 

 

Chile
City                              Puerto Montt
Host Institution           Instituto Chileno Norteamericano de Cultura de Puerto                                     Montt/Colegio Chileno Norteamericano de Puerto Montt
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              Mid-February 2009 – Mid-December 2009

 

[top]

 

 

Chile
City                              Valparaiso
Host Institution           Instituto Chileno Norteamericano de                                                                      Valparaiso/Universidad de Playa Ancha
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              September 2008 – June 2009

Project Focus
American Culture, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Proficiency Exams, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, Young Learners, CALL

Project Description
For 70% or more of the time, the EL Fellow will work for three days per week at the binational center (BNC) and for two days per week at the Universidad de Playa Ancha (UPLA) in Valparaiso. Maximum number of contact hours with teachers and students per week will be 20.  At the BNC, the EL Fellow will give in-service training workshops in the areas of Classroom Management, Teaching Young Learners, Lesson Planning, Using Educational Technology, and Developing the Four Skills. At UPLA, the EL Fellow will assist the instructors of English Pedagogy students to incorporate technology information and communication (TICs) and computer assisted language learning (CALL) in their courses, and to develop online courses and web-enhanced activities.    For 30% or less of the time, the EL Fellow will repeat the above-mentioned workshops to pre-service and in-service teachers in the community, and lead US cultural activities such as helping to create book clubs (reading circles) and contributing to TESOL Chile.  

Project Objectives
Valparaíso is a vital and economically-challenged port city. Any economic support that can be injected into it for educational development will have a significant and measurable impact. The goals for this project include fostering mutual understanding in Chile’s second-largest city, and strengthening English teaching both at an important university that is training future public school teachers and at a key US Embassy partner institution.   

About the Host Institution
The Instituto Chileno Norteamericano de Cultura de Valparaíso was founded in 1946, and it is the oldest binational center in the region. Its main aim is to promote the local culture and the culture of the US. It is a non-profit organization that offers English language courses for children, teenagers, and adults; Spanish language instruction for foreigners; cultural events and exhibits; US educational advising for Chileans; and an information service. The teachers, who are from Chile, the US, and other English-speaking countries, are all qualified English language teachers. The Institute regularly provides professional development workshops and seminars to its teachers to ensure that they are familiar with up-to-date ELT theory and practice.

The Universidad de Playa Ancha de Ciencias de la Educación (UPLA) is one of the oldest and most prestigious higher education institutions in Valparaíso. It was founded in 1947, and its main focus is on forming future teachers in a variety of fields. It also offers courses in the areas of Science and Arts. In 2007, it hosted a national conference for pre-service English teachers. The University is an autonomous, state-owned institution, ruled by public law. It projects its activities within a universal, cultural dimension through a Latin American perspective, contemplating the different spheres of regional, national, continental, and global reality.  

[top]

 

 

Chile
City                              Iquique
Host Institution           Universidad Arturo Prat
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              Mid-February 2009 – Mid-December 2009

 

Project Focus
American Culture, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, Young Learners  

Project Description
For 70% or more of the time, the EL Fellow will teach classes for undergraduate pre-service teachers and assist and do training for faculty of the English Pedagogy program at the Universidad Arturo Prat (graduates from this program teach at Chilean high schools). The Universidad will begin offering a Master’s degree in English Teaching at the Primary level beginning in August 2008. The areas in which the EL Fellow will be working - for both the undergraduate and graduate programs - will be in the teaching of: Writing, Critical Thinking, Young Learners, and Multi-level Classes.  For 30% or less of the time, the EL Fellow will prepare workshops on special/additional topics for local English teachers according to their interests or needs. S/he will also lead US cultural activities such as brief presentations on relevant US writers or general literature, and can also start a book club/reading circle.  

Project Objectives
The goals for this project include fostering mutual understanding in Chile’s northern region and strengthening English teaching at an important university that trains future public school English teachers and is a key US Embassy partner institution. The Universidad Arturo Prat (UAP) will be an excellent host institution for an EL Fellow because the Ministry of Education is making English language classes compulsory at increasingly younger grades, and UAP is one of the few universities that will have a specific graduate degree for preparation of primary-level teachers. The EL Fellow’s involvement in the foundational stages of this program will be very helpful.  

About the Host Institution
Universidad Arturo Prat (UAP) is the only public higher education institution in this region of Chile. It was the first university outside of Santiago to make basic English language proficiency compulsory for undergraduates of all majors. For many years, English Pedagogy has been one of UAP’s strongest departments because the rector was previously an EFL teacher. This Department is still very active today. Most of its faculty members have published a textbook or academic work on English teaching or American Studies, and they are contracted to assess private universities' English programs in the region for accreditation. The EL Fellow will receive strong support from the University. Some US scholars who worked there on Fulbright grants have returned because their experiences at UAP were so positive. UAP was founded in 1967 as a branch of the Universidad de Chile in Iquique. Its main campus is located in Iquique, but it has branches in four other cities in the north and one in Santiago. It offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs that cover all disciplines. It also does an important amount of research through its specialized institutes and centers.  

[top]

 

 

Chile                  
City                             Concepcion
Host Institution          Universidad de Concepcion/Instituto Chileno                                                  Norteamericano de Cultura de Concepcion
Type of Project          Fellow 
Project Dates             Mid-February – Mid-December 2008

 

Project Focus
American Culture, English for Speaking, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques  

Project Description
50% of the time the EL Fellow will spend two days per week at the Universidad de Concepcion and two days per week at the Instituto Chileno Norteamericano de Cultura de Concepcion (the bi-national center in Concepcion, one of the best in Chile). These institutions are a 10-minute walk apart. At the Universidad de Concepcion, the EL Fellow will have 10 contact hours with students/teachers each week. S/he will: teach English language skills to 2nd and 3rd year students who are being preparing to become English teachers lead a once-a-week workshop on ESL/EFL methodology for 4th year students teach an elective in an area where 3rd and 4th year students need additional practice, such as speaking or writing. At the Instituto Chileno Norteamericano de Cultura de Concepcion, the EL Fellow will have 10 contact hours with students/teachers each week. S/he will: be one of the instructors in a pre-service methodology course open to advanced students from the BNC and other schools who would like to work as English teachers work with the BNC staff in the development of supplementary teaching materials related to the American Studies program hold office hours for teachers from the BNC and other institutions to get suggestions for their classes, or to exchange ideas related to teaching practices and problems. 50% of the time the EL Fellow will work on secondary projects such as: support the English theater club (Universidad) potentially create a new English conversation club (Universidad) develop teaching materials and conduct classroom observations (both)

Project Objectives   
Universities in Chile that offer majors in English teaching have five-year programs. Most students who enroll in these programs come from public schools, and they have little or no knowledge of English when they start. Therefore, they have to learn both English and how to teach it in those five years. The EL Fellow in Concepcion will have a significant impact on the language proficiency of the pre-service teachers. S/he will help them utilize modern communicative teaching methodology, and s/he will contribute to the Chilean administration's long-term goal of getting better prepared teachers into classrooms. The host institutions expect that the EL Fellow will meet the specific teaching objectives, and daily interaction with an American will foster mutual understanding and help Chilean youth to break negative stereotypes.   

About the Host Institution
The Universidad de Concepcion is the second most important public university in Chile. It has very competitive entrance requirements, and most of its approximately 35,000 students come from the middle class. The beautiful campus is home to the main biotech center in South America. The Foreign Language department is very good, and most graduates go on to teach in primary and secondary schools. The head of the English Department went on a USG Voluntary Visitor program in 2006 in order to network and sign exchange program agreements with universities in the U.S. The Universidad de Concepcion will provide the EL Fellow with office space, a computer with Internet access, and a local phone line.    

[top]

 

 

Chile                
City                              Punto Arenas
Host Institution           Universidad de Magallanes
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              Mid-February – Mid-December 2008

Project Focus
American Culture, English for Speaking, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques  

Project Description
For 70% or more of the time, the EL Fellow will teach classes for undergraduate pre-service teachers and assist and do training for faculty of the English Pedagogy program. Some of the main areas in which the EL Fellow could work with both groups are: Learner Motivation, Lesson Planning, Classroom Management, Assessment, Peer Observation, and Error Correction. S/he will also help teacher trainers to improve their skills in using authentic materials, adapting materials, and incorporating educational technology in their classes. Once a week, the EL Fellow will conduct one-hour speaking practice sessions with small groups of students in order to help them develop better oral language skills. S/he will have a maximum of 20 contact hours with teachers and students. For 30% or less of the time, the EL Fellow will prepare workshops on special/additional topics for local English school teachers according to their interests or needs. S/he will also lead US cultural activities in the American Corners in Punta Arenas on topics such as American literature, music, movies, or current events. S/he can also start a book club/reading circle  

Project Objectives
The goals for this project include fostering mutual understanding in Chile’s southernmost region and strengthening English teaching at an important university. UMAG already has a high quality English Pedagogy program, but it is facing a big challenge in the 2009 academic year. Currently, all UMAG undergraduate students are required to take one semester of English language classes. In March 2009, all students will be required to take four semesters. The UMAG English Pedagogy Department will be feverishly developing curricula this year for this expansion, and the EL Fellow will provide welcome assistance in the first year of implementation. The department is open to receiving our support and advice, and the region has become increasingly relevant to the US Embassy due to its environmental importance.   

About the Host Institution

The Universidad de Magallanes (UMAG) was founded in 1981 as a successor of the Universidad Técnica del Estado which was inaugurated in Punta Arenas in 1961. UMAG is located in the southernmost region of Chile with its main campus in Punta Arenas and its Technological and Research Center in Puerto Natales. It has over 3000 students in its four excellent faculties that offer 22 undergraduate courses and 16 technical courses. All students receive a high quality education and constant support and advising. As the most important academic and research institution in the region, UMAG contributes to the community through the development of projects in different fields such as Earth and Sea Sciences, Natural Resources, Energy, Environment and Social Sciences. Additionally, with the initiative and support of the US Embassy in Santiago, UMAG recently inaugurated an American Corner that is an exceptionally dynamic and well organized resource center for students, teachers and the whole community. The Embassy has conducted several programs at this American Corner, including train-the-trainer programs with the ECA materials “Shaping the Way We Teach English.”  

[top]

 

 

Chile
City                              Santiago
Host Institution           Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la                                                        Educación/Universidad de Santiago de Chile
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              Mid-February 2009 – Mid-December 2009

Project Focus
American Culture, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques  

Project Description
For 80% or more of the time, the EL Fellow will work for three days per week at the Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación (UMCE) and for two days per week at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH) in Santiago. These institutions are 20 minutes apart by bus. Maximum number of contact hours with teachers and students per week will be 20. At UMCE, s/he will teach classes in Oral Communication, Writing, and Methodology to pre-service teachers. On some Wednesday afternoons, s/he will support the cultural programming organized by the English Department by developing activities related to aspects of US society that are mostly unknown by Chileans, such as the election process, popular music, slang, Native American culture, immigration, and/or other areas that interest the Fellow, students and teachers. The EL Fellow will also be a resource for instructors of the English Department in the areas of Critical Thinking and Assessment. At USACH, s/he will assist instructors of the English Pedagogy Department to incorporate current methods and techniques in their courses, and s/he will teach a class in Writing to pre-service teachers.   For 20% or less of the time, the EL Fellow will prepare and give presentations on cultural topics that the students from both institutions are highly interested in, such as US music or films. These activities would be held once or twice a month and would be organized as presentations followed by discussion activities.  

Project Objectives
This EL Fellow project has three main goals: to promote mutual understanding, to provide strong support to two important public universities that are training many future public school teachers in Chile, and to supply a trained and enthusiastic native speaker of English who, through a rich cultural exchange, can help counter the negative image of the U.S. that is held by many young people in the capital city. The current EL Fellow works half-time at UMCE, so this part of the project is a renewal. Many of the faculty members at UMCE in particular use outdated methods and no longer update and refresh their course syllabi. Each week in her classes and training workshops, the current EL Fellow counters the multiplier effect of these weaknesses. By helping the pre-service teachers get a solid foundation in critical language skills and by providing an accurate and “real-life” US perspective to dialogues and exchanges of ideas, an EL Fellow will continue (in the case of UMCE) to have a distinctive and positive impact. Additionally, s/he will also further the ongoing educational partnership that the US Embassy is developing with key educational contacts in Santiago. The current EL Fellow interacts with teachers from the Chilean high school system who supervise student-teachers in UMCE’s practicum. The host institution sees this as a significant benefit.   

About the Host Institution
The Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación (UMCE) is currently co-hosting the EL Fellow to Chile. Since 1889 when it was founded as the Instituto Pedagógico of the Universidad de Chile, the UMCE has been one of the principal and most important public institutions in Chile that is responsible for educating future teachers. It prepares teachers to teach at pre-school and elementary levels as well as at special education schools for all subjects. In addition, the UMCE offers a variety of graduate programs including a degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Approximately 40 pre-service teachers graduate from the UMCE each year. Presently, the English Pedagogy department is facing many challenges, and it is the teacher-preparation institution in Chile where an EL Fellow can have the most significant and positive impact.

The Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH) is one of the three most traditional higher education public institutions in the country. It was founded in 1849, and its original orientation was strictly technical. In 1944, USACH started to incorporate other disciplines and it has now expanded into many different fields, one of which is Education. The English Pedagogy undergraduate program in USACH’s Faculty of Education has been in existence for more than 10 years. Approximately 50 pre-service teachers graduate from the USACH each year.

[top]

 

 

Colombia
City                              Manizales/Medellín
Host Institution           Centro Colombo Americano of Manizales/Centro                                                Colombo Americano of Medellín
Type of Project           Senior Fellow 
Project Dates              September 2008 – June 2009

Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, Information Technology, Curriculum Design  

Project Description
The EL Fellow will contribute to the quality of English teaching in Manizales by helping the BNC design and implement new Information Technology tools for the English classroom, both for the BNC and for nearly 20 public schools where a special program is being developed at the request of the Mayor of Manizales. An EL Fellow with a deep knowledge of Information Technology applied to the English learning process will devote his/her time during the period of stay in Manizales to the following main tasks: curriculum design to incorporate new technologies; media and information tools for the English classes (online collaborative learning; virtual forums; how to construct communities of interest to motivate kids and young students to use the English language; digital-based learning; and how to integrate technology in the curriculum to produce positive effects, promote cultural understanding, transcultural competence, promote tolerance to differences, among others); teacher training on the use of Information Technology and Media to enrich the English learning process (for BNC English teachers; and for a selected group of public school English teachers who will multiply and pass the knowledge to other teachers); and diagnose and recommend Information Technology tools to be added or implemented in the English learning processes, both for the BNC and for the public schools of Manizales. In addition, the EL Fellow will meet with Colombia Government officials and negotiate programs and strategies to better integrate US English into the GOC goals for creating a bilingual country.

Project Objectives
The overall goal is to counter the Colombian government tendency to prefer British English training and evaluation methods. The long term impact of the GOC adopting US English systems is that prospective college students to the US will be better prepared with the requisite US English training and testing. The immediate goals are: 1. Evaluate and diagnose the current situation of the use of Information Technology in the English classes at the BNC. 2. Based on the diagnosis, propose and design the fundamentals and specific activities to include Information Technology tools in the English curriculum at the BNC and implement a training program to engage BNC English teachers in the use of different IT tools. 3. Train forty BNC English teachers in the use of IT tools. 4. With the help of the trained BNC English Teachers, who will act as tutors, offer periodical (monthly) Workshops on “Information Technology for the English Classroom” to approximately forty public school English teachers. The project is intended to train forty BNC English teachers who will work closely with the EL Fellow in the curriculum design and with nearly twenty to forty public school English teachers who will benefit from the periodical workshops on Information Technology applied to the English classes. These 20 to 40 public school English teachers will be able to multiply and pass the knowledge to a total population of 130 teachers who have been participating in the “Programa Nacional de Bilinguismo: Colombia Bilingue 2010-2019”, led by the Ministry of Education. Thereafter, the population to impact will be the children and young students of public education in Manizales.   

About the Host Institution
The Centro Colombo Americano of Manizales is a not-for-profit cultural/educational organization whose main objective is to promote the academic and cultural exchanges between the US, Colombia and other countries. Young people in the area frequently fall victim to recruitment by hostile and terrorist organizations. Community leadership is striving to offer alternatives and the BNC has responded a major player in that effort. The activities of the BNC are diverse: the teaching of English as a second language, cultural activities including art exhibitions, concerts, seminars, and conferences. The BNC has a bilingual library with free access to the community, recently enriched with nearly 600 new titles. The BNC has a certified “Education USA” advising center that offers youngsters, university professors and young professionals unbiased information for high school exchange programs, scholarships and other opportunities to study in the US. Manizales is a middle sized city of 380.000 inhabitants whose main income depended almost exclusively from coffee growing for many years. In the last three decades, due to the fall of the international price and other facts that affected the coffee industry, the city leaders have been exploring other sources to develop the local economy and provide the inhabitants with opportunities to make a living. Nowadays, Manizales is developing as a strong Education center for young people, both, from Manizales and from surrounding cities of Colombia. Knowledge, and specifically the ability to communicate in English, becomes a priority for young people to access global information and be able to trade, network, and exchange services.

The Centro Colombo Americano is pioneer in teacher training and is recognized country-wide as a leading English teaching institution. For over half a century teachers have developed new skills and students have learned at the Colombo. Most recently, the Colombo has hosted numerous VIP visitors and congressional delegations, demonstrating the role that the BNC is playing in promotion of the Free Trade Agreement. Since FTA negotiations began, enrollment has skyrocketed, forcing the Colombo to open a satellite site addressing business needs. The English program has grown considerably; currently, there are 100 teachers and 2,000 students in the Adult Program and 3,000 in the programs for children and adolescents. The EL Fellow will conduct a workshop for 60 educators. Interaction of teachers with international professionals creates waves of change extending as far as their influence goes. Teachers come from different parts of the world, bringing different cultures; they come from Poland, Canada, England, the US, and Aruba among others; and of course from different Colombian regions. It is this multicultural environment that has enriched the Colombo, reflecting its true sense of pluralism and diversity. By supporting the arts and cultural activities, the Centro Colombo Americano of Medellín has contributed to the construction of a road, which within a context of tension and conflict has led to dialogue, social insertion, and individuals recognizing themselves in others. Likewise, the Colombo leads cultural-artistic processes for creating, reflecting, critiquing, researching, and making new aesthetic proposals, locally and internationally. These processes led by the Colombo are carried out with a broad-minded, humanistic attitude, without political, historical, geographical or thematic conditions.

[top]

 

 

Costa Rica
City                              Sabana/San Pedro
Host Institution           Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              September 2008 – June 2009

Project Focus
Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, Teacher Training, Curriculum Development

Project Description
Capitalizing on the CCCN’s outreach program with the Regional English Language Advisors from the Ministry of Education and teacher mentors at the CCCN, the EL Fellow will continue to organize teacher training courses. To date, the current EL Fellow has provided training to over 800 elementary and secondary public school teachers in nine of the twenty-two regions of Costa Rica, and has contributed to US Embassy goals of providing training opportunities, while offering exposure to democracy and US values within the Costa Rican public education sector. The EL Fellow will work on curriculum development projects to improve the language teaching and learning in Costa Rica. In the four months since arrival, through close contact with the Ministry of Public Education advisors, the current EL Fellow has participated in several meetings to evaluate the EFL curriculum currently implemented in public schools. The national English advisor has requested that the in-coming EL Fellow work more closely with the Ministry of Public Education in the coming year to strengthen the teaching of EFL. The EL Fellow will provide curriculum assessment and suggest revisions for existing CCCN programs, such as English Now, Integrated Skills, (the largest program the CCCN offers) and English for Call Center Representatives. In addition, the EL Fellow will be a key participant in the development of course modules for CCCN’s new associate degree program for teachers of English, to be launched in 2008-09. The EL Fellow will establish a conversational club at the CCCN to enhance the language skills of the journalists participating in the “English for Journalists Program,” sponsored by the Embassy.

Project Objectives
The EL Fellow will strengthen Embassy ties with local public and private university faculty, staff and students in English teaching degree programs. Through periodic visits, the EL Fellow will be a valuable resource for curriculum support and consultation. This project advances Embassy’s longstanding objectives of promoting effective English language teaching and learning and more importantly, gives great impetus to get the above-mentioned institutions to work together.    Through the EL Fellow, the Embassy will expand its efforts in promoting English language instruction in Costa Rica. The Costa Rican Ministry of Public Education is focused on enhancing the proficiency of English teachers in the country, and the CCCN has been supporting the Ministry by providing training opportunities in the teaching of English in a number of rural communities. Correspondingly, the US Embassy is committed to promoting the English language, democracy and US values within the Costa Rican public education sector. The development of English is especially important with the recently ratification of the US Central American Free Trade Agreement, the expansion of the tourism industry and the need of educated society to play a role in combating corruption and securing services from the government to the people. CCCN is one of Embassy’s primary target institutions for English teaching and continuing education for children and adults. Promoting English teaching provides a more receptive audience for information on the U.S. values, culture and policies which promote mutual understanding.   

About the Host Institution

Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano (CCCN Costa Rican Binational Center) CCCN, the binational center in San Jose, is a non-profit institution founded in 1945 and a key institution in promoting Post's cultural, educational, and English teaching programs. For many years CCCN has been the leading English-teaching institution in the city and has in the past years opened five additional branches to meet increased demand. They have also entered into three joint ventures with organizations to take their English programs to rural areas. With the advent of new requirements for English teaching in all public schools, CCCN is prepared to expand its role in English teacher training. The Embassy welcomes this initiative, as it ties into Embassy goals of expanding and promoting the English language, democracy and US values within the public education sector, and will also further the development of mutual understanding. CCCN is well-suited to housing this project, and we believe that with the continued assistance of an EL Fellow, they can make an important contribution to the public school English teaching program.   

[top]

 

 

Ecuador
City                              Guayaquil
Host Institution           Fundación Ecuador
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              September 2008 – June 2009

Project Focus
American Culture, American Literature, Democracy/Civics, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Proficiency Exams, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques

Project Description  
The EL Fellow will be expected to further the English language textbook project to support an ongoing "Aprendamos" educational television initiative by the Fundacion Ecuador in conjunction with the Municipality of Guayaquil. The current EL Fellow has spent considerable time developing the English language module for "Aprendamos," which could be adapted for use elsewhere in Ecuador and within the region. The EL Fellow will also perform as a tutor of the broadcasted program by giving personal advice and answering questions through a dedicated phone line that will work along with this program. Additionally, the EL Fellow will be requested to conduct workshops and conferences for the host institution.   The US Embassy may occasionally request the EL Fellow and the host institution to support special English language teaching programming for selected institutions that are being targeted as contacts. Universities in the coastal region have been receptive to EL Specialists in the past, and this could provide fertile ground for follow-up workshops and seminars for both high school and university instructors.

Project Objectives
Furthering the "Aprendamos" English language teaching television broadcast initiative of Fundacion Ecuador will help the US Embassy to gain positive publicity and further all the above mentioned goals. Ecuadorian audiences will receive increased exposure to American culture and ideas, and the emphasis on improved English instruction will allow Ecuadorian students to gain increased access to information, new technologies, and employment opportunities in the global economy.  

About the Host Institution
Fundación Ecuador is a non governmental organization that was originally created in 1992 under a private sector USAID initiative. Fundacion Ecuador has developed new areas of support to improve the level of understanding and opportunities for the general public. English language education is one of their latest areas of emphasis. This foundation is governed by a board that oversees all its projects. The "Aprendamos" English language initiative has received the support of the board. The prospect of hosting an EL Fellow fits perfectly in their strategic plan, since they believe that people from low income families will benefit and gain tools to become more active in the economic growth process of the country.  

[top]

 

 

Guatemala (and other Central American countries)
City                              Guatemala City
Host Institution           Instituto Guatemalteco Americano
Type of Project           Senior Fellow 
Project Dates              September 2008 – June 2009

Project Focus
Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, Teacher Training, TOT

Project Description
The EL Fellow will provide tailor-made training of trainers, as well as teacher training, in the form of three- to five-day workshops to federal and state secretariats of education, public universities, and teacher training colleges throughout Central America, especially at times when Specialists are unable to honor requests. S/he will help the institutions mentioned above with program design, updating of teaching methods, and revamping of curriculum by providing guidance, advice, expertise, and an outsider’s objective point of view. The EL Fellow will participate in regional and national conferences of TESOL affiliates and other English teacher associations as a plenary speaker, featured speaker, or regular presenter.   In addition, the EL Fellow will prepare for workshops and presentations by keeping in touch with US Embassies and the RELO throughout Central America and doing the necessary research to conduct workshops. The EL Fellow will carry out special projects requested by and assigned by Central American US Embassies and the RELO. S/he will participate in the completion of a regional English language teacher training CD project begun by the RELO in 2006. The EL Fellow will reply to minor queries conducted via e-mail and provide reporting on activities to all Central American US Embassies and the RELO with recommendations for future workshops/topics and a description of the participants to better hone future trainings.   

Project Objectives
An assignment of this type will allow US Embassies the ability to respond in a timely and consistent fashion to requests for help delivering a consistent message of professional development and embassy support throughout the region and across the board from primary through university. The model for this program was begun in 2006 in Mexico and has proven to be hugely successful. An EL Fellow for Central America will allow the US Embassies to have continuity of programming and base training and curriculum needs on knowledge gleaned from the EL Fellow’s perspective and familiarity with the region. An EL Fellow representing the Embassies and the RELO will increase the Embassies’ presence at regional events and allow for follow-up activities to former specialist programs and other Embassy/RELO activities related to English teaching-learning. The assignment of an EL Fellow to this position will help Embassies address effectively and timely the growing needs of English teaching in the region. Central American-Embassy offices and the RELO feel that the purpose of advancing US diplomacy in the region and fulfilling goals which specifically refer to English language teaching is better served by providing region-wide visibility than by assigning an EL Fellow to a single institution. Using the Mexican EL Fellow position as a model, an EL Fellow for Central America will allow multiple Embassies to work in a consistent fashion at a high level of professionalism in areas that are regularly requested: training of trainers, curriculum design, classroom management, and materials development. The presence of an EL Fellow will bring unified training to the region and help Embassies develop a new and higher level of professional competence in English language teaching.

Special notes: the EL Fellow will be posted in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and work at the bi-national center there when not in travel status to other Central American countries. Arrangements for travel requests for special trainings/specialist work will be made directly with the EL Fellow with concurrence by Guatemala US Embassy and the RELO. The EL Fellow travel and materials funds will be distributed throughout the region in concurrence with the regional Embassy offices and the RELO.

About the Host Institution

The Instituto Guatemalteco Americano (the US-Guatemala bi-national center known as IGA) is one of the most well-respected educational and cultural institutions in Guatemala. IGA employs more than seventy teachers to teach English to thousands of students of all ages in Guatemala City and in its satellite institute located in Quetzaltenango (known locally as Xela). In addition, IGA is considered the primary source of continuing education training for English teachers throughout Guatemala. Each year IGA organizes the National Teachers' Conference (NTC), which provides teacher training and Teacher Training Certificate (TTC) workshops to over 900 ESL teachers and soon-to-be educators. The Ministry of Education recognizes both the NTC and the TTC as fulfilling the national requirement for continuing education training and for certification of English teachers.

[top]

 

 

Honduras
City                              Tegucigalpa
Host Institution           Instituto Hondureno de Cultura                                                                              Interamericana/Universidad Pedagógica Nacional                                                Francisco Morazan
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              September 2008 – June 2009

Project Focus
American Culture, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies  

Project Description
The EL Fellow will work five months with each of two key partner institutions in promoting English teaching in Honduras: the Instituto Hondureno de Cultura Interamericana (Tegucigalpa binational center); and the English Department at the Universidad Pedagogica Nacional Francisco Morazan (UPNFM). The EL Fellow will also present at a workshop at the UPNFM San Pedro Sula campus's regional conference Sept. 25-27, 2008 and conduct a one-day workshop on teaching methodologies at the San Pedro Sula binational center.

IHCI requests the EL Fellow to carry out the following duties:
1. Teach 20 hours per week in the Intensive daily program, and/or the Saturday English programs, and/or the Tutorial Courses, at the three binational sites in Tegucigalpa.
2. Organize celebrations, festivals, conversation clubs, forums and publications to enhance the students' English language usage and promote U.S. culture among students and teachers.
3. Teacher observation to provide feedback on methodology, weaknesses and strengths.
4. Provide monthly in-service training to teaching staff. e.g. two-hour workshop on methodology, materials development.
5. Present monthly and final report to the Academic Director on goals and objectives.
Secondary duties at IHCI will include:
1. Assist the American Corner director to design a work plan to maximize usage of videos and audio-visual materials available to students and teachers.
2. Perform oral evaluations (placement tests) of potential students prior to enrollment.

UPNFM requests the EL Fellow to carry out the following duties:
1. Teach 10 hours per week in the English 4 level course (High Intermediate Level), which will include teaching the four language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) before students go into content classes.
2. Develop the “Foreign Language Learning Center” recommended by ELSpec Kenton Sutherland in May 2006 to include a Reading/Writing Corner, a Conversation Practice Area, an Audio-Visual Area, and a Computer Area.
3. Advise UPN English Department staff on the execution of the new study plan for the English Program, including follow-up, evaluation and creation of a database of results.
4. Present monthly and final report to the English Coordinator on goals and objectives.   
Secondary duties at UPNFM:
1. Reorganize the English Department's library with the help of students and to collect and validate supplemental materials for the new English Lab for students studying at all English levels.
2. Conduct monthly in-service training for English Department staff, e.g. a two-hour workshop on methodology and/or materials development.  

Project Objectives
Placing an EL Fellow at the two key institutions in Tegucigalpa will assist the US Embassy in meeting its goal of investing in people. In addition, with the full implementation of the Central America-Dominican Republic-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), the Millennium Challenge Account, the foreign debt relief approved for Honduras, and potential free trade agreements with other countries and economic blocs, there is an ever-increasing need for a better educated, English-speaking workforce to attract foreign investment to create jobs, diversify the economy, improve the infrastructure, boost the tourism industry, and generate a better living standard for the Honduran people. English, although the second mostly-wide used language in the country, is not available to all sectors, especially the 50% of Hondurans under 18 years of age. IHCI provides accessible English courses to both students and to those in the workforce seeking to improve their English skills in order to compete in a globalized world and market economy. The Embassy will hold a series of events to celebrate IHCI's 70th Anniversary starting in February 2008, and having an EL Fellow at the institution will demonstrate the importance we place on supporting English programs in Honduras. Through a variety of activities with both teachers and students, the EL Fellow can transmit the importance of citizen participation to strengthen democracy through transmittal of interactive teaching methodologies. An EL Fellow at UPNFM will greatly contribute to improving the quality of education at a key academic institution whose primary objective is to train the country's teachers. UPNFM alumni are the only teachers authorized to work in the public school system. It is imperative that they be well-prepared to meet the increasing demand to implement English at the elementary level.  

About the Host Institution
The Instituto Hondureno de Cultura Interamericana (IHCI - Tegucigalpa binational center) is an academic and cultural center founded in 1939 to strengthen friendly relations among the peoples of the Americas, with emphasis on Honduras and the US. It is one of Embassy's key partner institutions in promoting English teaching programs and the understanding of American society and values. Besides its main location in Comayaguela (considered a dangerous section of Tegucigalpa), it houses a high school, a secretarial school, English courses for all levels and the only lending library in the city with reference books, US periodicals, and other English-language materials. IHCI has two annexes - IHCI Florencia and IHCI Morazan - located in prominent business sectors of town. IHCI offers an off-site English teaching program at local private high schools, as well as at private and public sector institutions. In June 2005, IHCI started offering English courses on Saturdays in the southern city of Choluteca, a two-hour drive from Tegucigalpa. IHCI Morazan has an EducationUSA student advising office and the only American Corner in Tegucigalpa. IHCI also maintains a highly successful academic program of English, computer courses, and bilingual secretarial studies. IHCI has 80 teachers and approximately 4,600 students for all programs at its three locations. Besides its academic English program, IHCI is considered a leading cultural institution, offering two to three cultural events per month. The institution has established a strong link with the Centro Cultural Salvadoreno, the binational center in San Salvador. In October 2006 IHCI hosted the First Meeting of Central American Binational Centers, which provided a unique opportunity for the board members and executive and academic directors of the region's binational centers to share best practices and concerns. IHCI is continuously working to improve their English program and to market it as the best in town. They have hosted EL Fellows who have enhanced their program and served to offer an American teacher to market their program and provide their students the opportunity to come in direct contact with a native speaker. The US Embassy is programming several events with IHCI to celebrate their 70th Anniversary starting in February 2008, and placing an English Language Fellow at the institution support this effort.

The Universidad Pedagógica Nacional Francisco Morazan (UPNFM - National Pedagogical University Francisco Morazan) is the country's teacher training university responsible for preparing the teachers that work in the private and public sectors. Its alumni hold key positions in the Ministry of Education responsible for education and curriculum reform. At present, UPNFM is approving reforms to its study plan based on the national education reform and the new National Basic Curriculum, which contemplates a year of pre-basic school (kindergarten), six years of basic education, and two to three years of secondary education. English has been included as a subject beginning in the fourth grade of basic education (the second cycle) and the UPNFM is in charge of educating the teachers that work at this level. Also, the institution is committed to getting accreditation for its programs at the regional and international level. Thus, the English Department is taking action towards improving its study plan to satisfy the demands of teaching English as a foreign language in support of the Ministry's efforts. Hosting an ELF will be an important part of this endeavor. 

 

Mexico
City                              Mexico City
Host Institution           Benjamin Franklin Library
Type of Project           Senior Fellow 
Project Dates              September 2008 – June 2009

Project Focus
Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, Teacher Training, TOT, Curriculum Design

Project Description  
The EL Fellow will provide tailor-made training of trainers, as well as teacher training, in the form of three- to five-day workshops to federal and state secretariats of education, public universities, and teacher training colleges (Normal schools) throughout the country, especially at times when EL Specialists are unable to honor requests. The EL Fellow will help the institutions mentioned above with program design, updating of teaching methods, and revamping of curriculum by providing guidance, advice, expertise, and an outsider’s more objective point of view. S/he will also participate in regional and national conferences of TESOL affiliates as a plenary speaker, featured speaker, or regular presenter. In addition, the EL Fellow will prepare for workshops and presentations by keeping in touch with hosts and doing the necessary research; carry out special projects assigned by the RELO; and reply to minor queries conducted through phone or e-mail.   

Project Objectives
A EL Fellow in Mexico will allow the US Embassy to respond in a timely and consistent fashion to multiple requests. This position will allow for a consistent message of professional development and Embassy support throughout Mexico. It will allow the Embassy to respond to well-developed requests from primary through university levels, continuing work begun in 2006. An EL Fellow representing the RELO and the Embassy will increase the Embassy's presence at regional events and allow for follow-up activities to earlier EL Specialist programs and other RELO activities. The assignment of an EL Fellow to this position will help Embassy address effectively the growing needs of English teaching throughout a country more strongly than ever committed to expanding English language instruction across the curriculum. The Embassy and the RELO feel that their goals will be better served by providing country-wide visibility than by assigning an EL Fellow to a single institution. Great strides have been made by the RELO in Mexico, and the Embassy must take advantage of the momentum to build on past successes and push its agenda still further. The current EL Fellow’s presence has allowed the training of trainers throughout the academic year, especially when Specialists are unavailable. In 2006-2007, the EL Fellow served 12 different institutions in 10 states, with a total of 700 participants attending the training sessions. By December 2007, the word had spread and the EL Fellow had scheduled fifteen requests from normales, state secretariats of education, public universities and teacher associations in ten different states for the period between October 2007 and June 2008. This position is expected to impact approximately 1,000 teachers in 2007-2008.

About the Host Institution
The Benjamin Franklin Library, located in Mexico City, is part of the US Embassy in Mexico. The library has a strong reputation among English teachers and learners and has provided the RELO with invaluable contacts and increased visibility. In addition to disseminating information about the American society, values, and culture, the Library houses an Educational Advising Center of the IIE to promote study in the US. It is also only one block away from COMEXUS, the bi-national Fulbright Office.   

[top]

 

 

Mexico
City                              Jalisco
Host Institution           Secretary of Education of the State of Jalisco (SEJ)
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              September 2008 – June 2009

Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, K-8

Project Description
The EL Fellow will be responsible for teaching English to public pre-school and primary teachers in the State of Jalisco (20 hours per week). S/he will also provide direct English-language instruction to children (15-20 hours per week) to demonstrate English language teaching methodologies. Mexican teachers involved in this project will be expected to observe the EL Fellow and assist in developing an English language curriculum for use in Jalisco public pre-school and primary schools.   
The EL Fellow will be expected to be in close contact with teachers, acting as a guide and mentor when needed.   

Project Objectives
This program will provide a model for Jalisco as well as for other states in Mexico. Jalisco borders Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, and Nayarit. There is already a relationship between individuals at the Secretariats of Public Educations (SEPs) in Jalisco and Aguascalientes. The State of Guanajuato began English in primary in 2007, and Nayarit is looking to increase English language teaching in that state. The placement of an EL Fellow in Jalisco will also benefit the neighboring states and impact some of the other 25 states that now offer English in public primary schools.   

About the Host Institution
The Secretary of Education of the State of Jalisco (SEJ), specifically the Office of the Directorate of International Affairs, proposes to host an EL during the 2008-09 academic year. Recently the SEJ office has made a strong push for improving the speaking and learning of English throughout the State of Jalisco. During 2007 and into 2008, the SEJ office has hosted several English teaching seminars for all levels of English teachers and has signed a cooperative agreement with community colleges in the State of Washington. In order to fulfill the needs of students, a concerted effort to improve English language teaching in the public schools has taken on new urgency. The EL Fellow will be placed in the State of Jalisco at a location to be determined between the RELO office and representatives from the SEJ.

[top]  

 

 

Nicaragua
City                              Managua/Bluefields
Host Institution           National Autonomous University of Nicaragua-                                               Managua/Bluefields Indian and Caribbean University
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              August 2008 – March 2009

Project Focus
Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, Curriculum Design

Project Description
The EL Fellow will support the faculty of the English Department at UNAN-Managua in their review of the syllabus for the undergraduate TESL curriculum. The curriculum has two modalities consisting of a week-day program for high school graduates that want to become high school English teachers, and an intensive Saturday program for in-service English teachers who have experience but do not have an accredited diploma.  In addition, the EL Fellow will conduct four seminars for the 19 faculty members. The objective is to provide training in critical areas related to the new curriculum such as: American Culture, Teaching Literature, and Teaching Dynamics. An invitation to attend these seminars will be extended to the two other universities in Nicaragua offering TESL degree programs. This will ensure that the opportunity to improve TESL education for future English teachers will be offered throughout the country.   

Project Objectives
Since the signing of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) by Nicaragua and other countries in the region, the need for improving the quality of English education in public schools has never been more critical. The necessity of having a second language in various fields of work is compelling institutions of higher learning to improve and modernize programs that are over ten years old. Despite the limitations of Nicaraguan public universities, they have been making an effort to improve education. However, given the limited qualified human resources available, the universities are struggling to meet this important country goal. The EL Fellow will play a significant role in helping the universities obtain their goal. The EL Fellow will reach close to 2500 English teachers throughout the country. 40% of these teachers are in-service teacher students at UNAN-Managua. By including the other two universities offering TESL education, the EL Fellow will be able to help improve high school English education throughout the rest of the country. One of the main goals of the US Embassy is to help Nicaragua reach its full development potential. Education is the first step in meeting this goal.   

About the Host Institution
UNAN-Managua is the largest public university in Nicaragua. It has a current enrollment of 20,000 students. 6,000 of these students are part of the Education and Language School. This school provides more tuition grants, than any other, to students learning to be teachers of English. The purpose of this is to improve the high school-level educational standards in Nicaragua by offering future English teachers degree opportunities. During the last 5 years UNAN-Managua has been working closely with the Ministry of Education to develop programs that can improve high school education. However, limitations in human resources and the lack of graduate programs in education, including TESL, have severely impeded this effort. Bluefields Indian & Caribbean University is one of the only two universities on the Atlantic Coast that opened its doors at the beginning of the 90's. Although the Atlantic coast is part of the country, its culture, customs and development are far different from those of the Pacific region. 45% of the population are descendants of Africans and speak English Creole.

BICU is a private but subsidized university that offers 5-year university programs in the two main cities of the autonomous region. BICU also offers several community college programs to 7 multi-cultural and multi-lingual communities of the region. Its main objective is to meet the needs of the region and to support its development. During the last four years, the university has collaborated with the National Autonomous University (UNAN-Leon) to develop the education school and improve its other programs. Through these endeavors the TESL degree-program was created. Due to its limited resources, the university has been looking for academic assistance to complete the curricula, evaluate its programs and conduct teacher training. There are approximately 250 English empirical teachers that are taking night and/or Saturday classes at the undergraduate level. The school also offers regular programs for young students that have just finished high school and want to become English teachers.   

[top]

 

 

Paraguay
City                              Asuncion
Host Institution           Centro Cultural Paraguayo Americano
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              September 2008 –June 2009

Project Focus
American Culture, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Proficiency Exams, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, Teacher Training  

Project Description
70% or more of the time (not to exceed 20 contact hours with students and teachers/week), the EL Fellow will:
• Assist the trainers of the CCPA’s current pre-service and in-service training sessions (once every three months) to update their methods with the latest techniques in the areas of Cooperative Learning, Humanistic Approach, Natural Learning, and complimentary methodology; the EL Fellow will also teach some portions of these training sessions, focusing on the areas of his/her expertise
• Observe classes at the CCPA’s three branches, and occasionally at their new branches in Encarnación (in the south of Paraguay) and Villarrica, and provide constructive feedback to the teachers to help them upgrade their skills
• Teach one advanced level course to students
• Do preparation for above tasks

30% or less of the time, the EL Fellow will work on to secondary projects, such as:
• Monthly workshops and seminars for PARATESOL and/or other local teachers’ organizations and the ISL “Instituto Superior de Lenguas” of the National University of Asuncion on topics jointly chosen by the Fellow and the teachers
• Two workshops/seminars on American Culture at the “American Corner” in San Lorenzo town
• Help develop a new project to prepare a distance learning English course in a DVD format
• Cultural projects which involve the active participation of students and new teachers of all BNC branches.   

Project Objectives
The Binational Center (CCPA) is the premier English language teaching institution in the country, currently boasting an enrollment of more than 9,000 students. CCPA alumni provide a substantial number of our exchange program candidates, and they come from a wide variety of economic and social sectors in the country. The institution’s importance to Embassy’s mission cannot be overstated. The CCPA is also our principal partner in the Embassy’s flagship English Micro-scholarship program, through which about 500 outstanding 8th and 9th grade students from underprivileged communities (including many from sectors D and E neighborhoods) are studying in a fully-paid three-year program of English instruction. The Embassy has also partnered with the CCPA to launch a public school teacher training scholarship program, in which teachers from public schools are getting training in new methodologies while improving their language skills. As one of the capstones to the many programs that the Embassy carries out in alliance with the CCPA, the presence of the current EL Fellow in the CCPA and in Paraguay has resulted in rave reviews. The current EL Fellow has developed rewarding working relationships at all levels of the institution and dramatically enhanced the BNC’s cross-cultural components. By renewing the project, the EL Fellow will be able to continue assisting the CCPA academic staff in programs such as pre-service and in-service training and class observation. The EL Fellow will also continue as part of the training faculty, at the CCPA, PARATESOL, and other institutions through workshops and seminars, and he will continue supporting multiple Embassy goals through the infusion of American values and history into his classes and workshops.

About the Host Institution
The CCPA was founded in Asunción on February 13, 1942, by a group of Paraguayan and American citizens whose original intention was to promote cultural exchange between Paraguay and the US in order to neutralize the Nazi influence in the area and reinforce freedom of speech. Formed originally as the bi-national center by the US Information Agency, it is now a self-sustaining, nonprofit educational institution. For decades, the CCPA director was appointed by the Department of State through the US Information Service. Though the CCPA was privatized in 1989, the links it maintains with the US Government through the US Embassy in Asuncion continue to be fruitful and strong, encompassing both English teaching and cultural programming. The Centro Cultural Paraguayo Americano is now in its 65th year of teaching English to the youth of Paraguay and it is the main EFL Teaching Institution in the country. The CCPA enrolls over 9,000 students in more than 600 courses in four different teaching centers. Their Downtown Center is the largest with more than 4,000 students. Two centers in the suburbs, Villa Morra Center and San Lorenzo Center each serve 2,000 students and two new branches in Encarnacion and Villarrica, in the interior of Paraguay. Their students range from five-year-olds to adults. The great majority of their students are teenagers and young adults motivated by the opportunity to learn English to be able to communicate in the modern world community, to be able to use the Internet, to travel, and to improve their prospects on the difficult local and international job markets. Their staff of more than 250 teachers comes from many walks of life here in the city and most work on a part time basis. Their educational program is administered by professional teachers and coordinators who oversee the daily classroom activities and plan the materials used in each course. The CCPA has four academic programs: 1) CHILDREN: This program lasts three years for children between the ages of 6 and 11. 2) JUNIORS: This program lasts three years for adolescents between 12 and 16 years old. 3) ADULTS: This program lasts three and a half years not counting the ESP courses and students should be seventeen years old to enroll. 4) TEACHERS CERTFICATION PROGRAM: A two-year program, certified by the Catholic University of Asunción and the Ministry of Education, aimed at those who would like to become EFL teachers.

[top]

 

 

Peru
City                              Chiclayo
Host Institution           BNC Chiclayo - Instituto Cultural Peruano Norteamer
Type of Project           Senior Fellow 
Project Dates              September 2008 –June 2009

Project Focus
Teaching Techniques, Teacher Training

Project Description
The EL Fellow will provide support to both pre-service and in-service Teacher Training and Professional Development Programs at ICPNA Chiclayo and its branches. Overall, the goal of the EL Fellow Program is to assist teachers with their ongoing learning and reflective instructional skills and making sure all the BNC teachers are totally familiar with the ICPNA Chiclayo Approach and Philosophy. In order to accomplish this, the EL Fellow will purse one or more of the following initiatives: teach 2 advanced classes per month; conduct at least 2 pre and in service teacher training sessions per month; attend at least 2 meetings with the mentors per month; participate in and hold meetings on peer observation and self-observation; participate in Academic Observation as a mentor; conduct follow-up sessions with the teachers observed; develop teacher training and professional development materials; conduct other training sessions based on teachers request/need; and whatever else the EL Fellow will deem necessary or relevant for host institution’s academic growth. The actual number of assigned responsibilities may vary. In order to better understand the centers context and academic policies, the EL Fellow will: receive all relevant academic documentation and reports for the last 5 years; meet with the academic staff and teachers as a group and individually; observe classes; review teacher training and professional development material; read all pertinent documentation related to duties (prior to arrival and during the Fellowship); and read the needs analysis of 2003, its follow up of 2005, and the bi-annual training, evaluation and performance documents. BNC teachers will be able to suggest topics for academic training session. By offering the staff sessions that are of their particular interest and choosing, many of them will feel more motivated to attend. The sessions will serve to broaden the teachers’ background knowledge about key topics and issues in ELT and encourage them to engage in further research on their own. Some of the topics could include: Evaluation & Assessment; Classroom Management; Lesson planning & materials development; Grammar Instruction; Task- based Learning; Error Correction; Writing process; Pronunciation; ICPNA Classroom Interaction Approach. Once a topic has been selected, the EL Fellow will proceed to prepare a presentation. A date or dates will be scheduled in coordination with the academic director.   
Secondary project duties, if applicable:  Workshops/Seminars  

Project Objectives
The branches of BNC Chiclayo are small, new, and serve a growing need for English in the regions of Peru. The Chiclayo team has arguably the strongest outreach program of all the BNCs and involves its students in Project Citizen, which this BNC piloted and developed. Students identify a situation in their own communities, research existing laws and regulations and attitudes, and come up with project proposals which they often carry out. This is a unique opportunity to meet US Embassy goals of democratic practices both directly and through a multiplier effect.   
About the Host Institution
ICPNA Chiclayo was founded in 1957 by a group Chiclayo citizens. Their objective "was not only to promote cultural and academic exchange between the United States and Peru, but also to provide Peruvian people with a more informed understanding of what the United States and its people are about." ICPNA is a not-for-profit, bi-national center and operates under the auspices and in close co-operation with the US State Department and the US Embassy in Lima. ICPNA’s academic English program is a well-organized and effective English language training program serving the citizens of Chiclayo, Chepen and Cajamarca where we have established ICPNA branches. The quality of services and instruction has also improved. The program is more than meeting its goals and objectives. It has the support of a strong administration and is lead by a very capable academic team. The EFL faculty includes both experienced and inexperienced teachers. Because of its rapid growth, new teachers are being hired on a regular basis. They are highly motivated and professional. They, in most cases, have a very good command of English and work hard at providing quality classes for their students. In the last few years we have also tried to set a balance between Peruvian and foreign teachers which is usually at a ratio of 4:1.   

[top]

 

 

Uruguay
City                              Montevideo
Host Institution           ANEP - National Administration of Public Education
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              September 2008 –June 2009

Project Focus
American Culture, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques

Project Description
For 70% of the time, the EL Fellow will develop materials to support a new national curriculum of content-based immersion at the elementary level. These will include academic classroom activities, supplemental learning materials, and support materials for teachers´ ongoing professional development. The focus will be on 5th and 6th grade. The 2007 EL Fellow provided substantial support to the development of the new curriculum, but there is still much to be done, specifically exploring and creating appropriate evaluation and assessment mechanisms for this program, especially appropriate exit mechanisms for each grade level.    For 30% of the time, the EL Fellow will do secondary projects such as supporting the continued development of a peer coaching program and encouraging reflective teaching and constructive feedback.  

Project Objectives
This EL Fellow project has three main goals: to promote mutual understanding, to provide information resources by exposing more than 20,000 Uruguayan school children to English language education, and to counter the negative image of the US that students from underprivileged areas of Uruguay usually have. The families of many students in the public system belong to the hard left factions of the ruling leftist government. The US Embassy is competing with promises of millions of dollars in educational support from the government of Venezuela. By helping create the curriculum for the English language program and giving a US touch to each of the units that will comprise the English primary syllabus, the EL Fellow will have a distinctive and positive impact. The EL Fellow will also further develop the ongoing educational partnership that the Embassy is developing with the Uruguayan leftist ruling party. It is critical that this EL Fellow project be supported because this partnership is opening doors beyond the elementary level content-based immersion program. Work done by the previous EL Fellow in peer coaching and utilizing the reflective teaching model have been of particular value for the somewhat isolated teachers in the interior of the country. Many of these teachers are unfamiliar with current practices in teaching techniques and developing and adapting materials. There is a real need for more extensive support among teachers, especially in the content-based programs where many teachers float from one school to the next, and an EL Fellow could help develop a full-blown peer coaching system.   

About the Host Institution
The National Administration of Public Education (ANEP) is the state agency responsible for the planning, management, and administration of the educational system at all levels; pre-school, primary, secondary, technical and teacher training education. It administers all public education and controls the private system as well. The ANEP, through the Council of Primary Education (CEP), is responsible for all curriculum and teacher development at the public primary level. The Office of Bilingual Programs from the Council of Primary Education (main worksite location) is directly involved with English curriculum development and teacher evaluation for the whole country. The Uruguayan constitution gives the ANEP the autonomy to rule, organize, and administer the National Education, so it does not depend on the Ministry of Education.   

[top]

 

 

Venezuela
City                              Maracay
Host Institution           UPEL - Maracay
Type of Project           Fellow 
Project Dates              Mid-October 2008 – Mid-August 2009

Project Focus
American Culture, American Literature, Democracy/Civics, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing,  Research, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques  

Project Description
The EL Fellow will at the UPEL in Maracay at the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, where future generations of English teachers are taught. His/her primary responsibilities will be to teach upper level classes in English language, teaching, methodology, grammar, etc., to pedagogical students. The EL Fellow will also give training workshops to the UPEL faculty. This past year, UPEL Maracay began offering a Master's degree in English Language Education. Though the EL Fellow will continue to focus on the undergraduate level, the university has requested that, if possible, the EL Fellow will also be qualified to teach one or two Master's level classes during the course of the year.  Currently there is no American Corner in Maracay, though plans have been in the works to open one since last year. As initiated by the State Government of Aragua (where Maracay is located), the Corner would be a partnership between the government, the US Embassy and the Modern Languages Department of the UPEL. If/when this Corner opens, the EL Fellow would be asked to give occasional presentations. UPEL Maracay would also like the EL Fellow to continue the conversation club currently in existence. They would also like to continue their tradition of Immersion Camps. In the past the university has sponsored weekend immersion camps. In summer 2007 the UPEL, US Embassy and the RELO office sponsored an intensive 10-day camp that was very successful. There are plans to do this again in the future. As Embassy funds and local opportunities arise, the EL Fellow will also be asked to give presentations at the national VenTESOL conference.

Project Objectives
Though relations between the Governments of Venezuela and the US remain chilly, there is still ample warmth between the people. By highlighting areas of common interest, the US Embassy can still attract a wide group of people from a wide range of the population and offer them a chance to see the US and its people, up close. Education, and especially English-language education, is an excellent medium through which to work. By placing an EL Fellow in a public university in the city of Maracay, the US Embassy can touch portions of the population that would otherwise be hard to reach. EL Fellows help the Embassy pursue the goal of mutual understanding with the people of Venezuela. Everyday the people here wake up to more anti-US rhetoric from the president and his government. By reaching out and bringing English-language teaching, Americans, and genuine educational opportunities, the Embassy offers people a chance to make up their own mind about what the US actually is and the people that actually live there.   

About the Host Institution

The EL Fellow will be based at the pedagogical university in Maracay, Aragua State, approximately two hours driving time from Caracas. The US Embassy would like to continue providing pre-service training to the students of UPEL Maracay as well as in-service training to the professors there. This is a public, government of Venezuela-funded university that offers undergraduate teaching certificates to mostly middle class students. Their graduates typically become teachers in elementary and secondary public education. The English program at UPEL Maracay, serving approximately 700 students, falls within the Department of Modern Languages. Since earlier this year, the UPEL has also offered a Master's degree in the Teaching of English.   

[top]

Department of State
Department of State

Georgetown University
Center for Intercultural Education and Development
3300 Whitehaven St NW Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20007 cied@georgetown.edu