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AY 2009-2010 Projects - Western Hemisphere

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Argentina
City: Córdoba
Host Institution: National University of Cordoba/BNC Cordoba
Type of Project: Fellow 
Project Dates: March – December 2010

Country/Project Specific Requirements
Argentine law allows for the EL Fellow to enter the country on a 90-day tourist visa. At the end of each 90-day period, the Fellow must exit Argentina to renew this visa. As the duration for the Fellowship is for a total of 10 months, s/he will have to renew his/her visa 3 times. The US Embassy will cover costs incurred for visa renewal.

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

Project Description
The EL Fellow will spend 85% of his/her time at the Faculty of Languages at the National University of Cordoba (UNC) working in the 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 theses 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 can include: dealing with large classes, motivating students, and improving the teachers' English language skills.  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).

Secondary project duties will include working with: Workshops/Seminars.  During the winter semester break (July) at the University or as time permits, 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, conducting teacher training sessions, or assessing the needs of the BNC to determine ways of strengthening its English teaching programs. S/he will spend 15% of his/her time on projects at the BNC.
 
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 is particularly important as the USG seeks to improve relations with the Argentine government. This would be a strong step forward to bringing US English language 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; daily interaction with an American will foster mutual understanding and help diminish negative stereotypes Argentine youth may have 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 Languages was created ten years ago. It offers a five-year undergraduate program to obtain a degree in English Language Teaching and three graduate level degrees (Master's in Applied Linguistics, Master's in Anglo-American Literature, and a 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; 80% of those who study English go on 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 has an enrollment of 4,000 students (including at several nearby branches). The BNC offers other services to the community, such as student advising, visa information, and library services. It is also 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 received their degrees from the Faculty of Languages, National University of Cordoba. Additionally, they teach at this Faculty. There is a good relationship between the faculty teachers and the BNC.

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Brazil
City: Belo Horizonte
Host Institution: Instituto Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos -ICBEU-BH  
Type of Project: Fellow 
Project Dates: Late February – Late December 2010

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

Project Description
In this project, the EL Fellow will continue to help the Instituto Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos (ICBEU) in Belo Horizonte improve students’ English language acquisition through the implementation of methodologies and teaching techniques in the EL Fellow’s area of expertise. S/he participates in on-going community service projects for public school English language teachers that ICBEU-BH is conducting, as well as for disadvantaged public school students who attend immersion programs, study on scholarship, or study through other special programs offered through ICBEU-BH. The EL Fellow will continue to spend about 70% of his/her time at the host institution in Belo Horizonte giving and preparing classes to ICBEU students, and 30% conducting community service projects. The EL Fellow will have no more than 20 contact hours per week (15 for regular teaching assignments at ICBEU, and up to five for special workshops for teachers, both public school and from ICBEU and other Bi-National Centers). Each week, the EL Fellow will have 15 hours for preparation, grading, etc. and five hours for other community service projects, such as working with the BNC on cultural programs and new testing procedures, and for additional preparation time for teacher training workshops, if needed. At ICBEU-BH, the EL Fellow will give a course for advanced students in conversation, weaving in information about US culture when possible, such as reading American literature and discussing it, or reading magazine articles, etc. S/he will also give other courses at various proficiency levels to students at ICBEU. Regarding community service projects, the EL Fellow will enjoy full and active participation in all BNC projects related to 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 and ICBEU). Specifically, the EL Fellow will continue to provide a two-hour per week class to municipal public school English teachers to improve their language skills, as well as provide other workshops to teachers of ICBEU-BH and other Bi-National Centers located in Minas Gerais. This participation is expected to involve no more than one contact hour/week on average. Secondary project duties will include working with: Workshops/Seminars. Over the course of the academic year, the EL Fellow will also visit (at least once) each of the seven additional BNCs in MG with which the Embassy has a relationship with the purpose of giving a special class/lecture for students, a workshop for teachers, and participating in American cultural events organized by these BNCs. These trips are included in the 30% of time for conducting community service projects, activities that are expected to average no more than five contact hours per week.
 
Project Objectives
The goals for this project include developing human capacity through support to the educational system in Brazil, which will occur through the training for the public school English teachers and other community service projects, and fostering international understanding in the state of Minas Gerais and strengthening the teaching of English as a Foreign Language generally. 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 renewing 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. Finally, the EL Fellow will participate in projects that will benefit disadvantaged students through an immersion program for semi-finalists of US Embassy’s Youth Ambassador Program and through participation in various other programs offered by ICBEU-BH to disadvantaged students. ICBEU - Belo Horizonte is very enthusiastic about the possibility of continuing to host 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 has 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.

About the Host Institution
Instituto Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos - Belo Horizonte (ICBEU-BH) is a binational center working in harmony with the US 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 - June.
Second semester: August - December.
Intensive courses (a semester in a month) offered during January and/or July.
Website: www.icbeu.com.br

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Brazil
City: Salvador
Host Institution: Associação Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos/ACBEU Universidade Federal da Bahia   
Type of Project: Fellow 
Project Dates: Late February – Late December 2010

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

Project Description
The EL Fellow weekly hours will be distributed between the Associação Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos (ACBEU) and the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), in Salvador. At ACBEU, the EL Fellow will teach advanced courses for students and brush up language courses for teachers. S/he will teach one or two modules of our TTC (Teacher Training Course open to teachers in the community), and participate in occasional in-service trainings and Study Groups. One of the significant duties of the EL Fellow will be his/her involvement in cultural activities and community projects with the 87 public school students and the six ACBEU teachers who are participating in the Access program. Additionally, depending on his/her expertise, s/he may participate in one or more of the following projects:
1.Analysis of ACBEU's curriculum for the adult and teen courses, evaluating the alignment between the level objectives and assessment tools;
2.Curriculum development for young learners;
3.Teacher Development Course: help design a course for expert teachers from the community who wish to pursue professional development and deepen their knowledge through reflective teaching. This will be developed in the first semester and implemented in the second semester of 2010; 4.Revise ACBEU's advanced-level course in order to better prepare students who apply for the ECCE and ECPE certifications.
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, and Workshops/Seminars. At UFBA, the EL Fellow will work closely with future English teachers. S/he may offer mini courses and workshops to students in the English language department prepare and lead workshops and/or US cultural activities with local faculty, do some class observation, and peer-teach classes on Methodology and English Speaking Cultures. Thus, the EL Fellow will help improve the quality of future teachers in the state of Bahia.

Project Objectives
At ACBEU, the EL Fellow will help the binational center to achieve the highest standards in TEFL. S/he will renew discussions about best practices in TEFL and enhance teachers' perspectives. We believe that placing an EL Fellow at this BNC will bring new knowledge, motivation, and dynamism to both the local staff and students. Through the implementation of the projects mentioned above, the EL Fellow will also contribute to innovation in the teaching methodology and curriculum currently used. Additionally, the EL Fellow's contribution to the Federal University will be of great importance as s/he will teach many future teachers. ACBEU and UFBA are very enthusiastic about the possibility of hosting an EL Fellow and will provide him/her with opportunities for professional development.

About the Host Institution
Associação Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos (ACBEU) is located in Salvador, Bahia, and was founded in 1941. ACBEU is a not-for-profit, cultural and educational binational center. As the name implies, the institution's main goal is to strengthen ties between Brazil and the United States. ACBEU achieves this goal by promoting a broad range of bicultural enrichment programs and educational exchanges as well as teaching Portuguese and English as a Foreign Language. The PAS (Public Affairs Section) has classified the center as being one of the outstanding Cultural and Educational institutions of its kind in Brazil. Salvador has a population of close to 3 million people. With its exotic culture and vibrant social life, Salvador is a city that has a lot to offer: beautiful examples of colonial art and architecture; beaches; African culture and a very intriguing cultural life. Undoubtedly, an important part of its charm comes from the very strong African influence. As a tourist city, Salvador receives people from all over the world who use English as the international language for communication. Therefore, speaking English is a must for its inhabitants to be able to better interact with the visitors and as well as a source of income. Website: www.acbeubahia.org.br
The Federal University of Bahia is a premier, federally-funded university in the northeastern region of Brazil and the largest in the state. The faculty of Letters offers graduate courses in many different subjects, such as English Language, American Culture, and Literature. This institute was founded in 1941, first with a graduate course in Philosophy, then later adding other branches of Human Sciences such as the Letters Course, which was created in 1968. In 1991, it moved to its present venue, called Ondina University Campus. Website: www.ufba.br

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Chile
City: Valparaiso
Host Institution: Universidad de Playa Ancha/Instituto Chileno Norteamericano de Cultura  
Type of Project: Fellow
Project Dates: Mid-September 2009 – Mid-July 2010

Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, Content Based Instruction, CALL

Project Description 
For 70% or more of the time, the EL Fellow will work for three days per week at the Universidad de Playa Ancha (UPLA) and for two days per week at the binational center in Valparaíso. The maximum number of contact hours with teachers and students per week will be 20. At UPLA, the EL Fellow will assist the faculty of English Pedagogy to incorporate Content-Based Instruction, integrated skills, and Computer Assisted Language Learning in their courses. S/he will teach one or two elective courses to pre-service English teachers at the Valparaíso or San Felipe campuses, and give two to three presentations to faculty members. At the BNC, the EL Fellow will teach English language classes to students and give in-service training workshops to teachers on topics such as classroom management, teaching young learners, lesson planning, using educational technology, and developing the four skills.

Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, English Club Programming, Support Mentoring, and Workshops/Seminars.  For 30% or less of the time, the EL Fellow will prepare for his/her primary duties. Additionally, s/he will lead US cultural activities such as helping start an English conversation club, interacting with English Access Microscholarship students, creating a reading circle, and/or contributing to TESOL Chile.

Project Objectives
Universidad de Playa Ancha (UPLA) is the only state-owned institution in Valparaíso, a vital and economically-challenged port city that is training future school teachers. It has a huge impact on its community, and the US Embassy is committed to helping it improve. Roughly 6,700 students study at UPLA, 10% of whom are preparing to become teachers of English. The university’s English Pedagogy department is one of the strongest and most active within the Faculty of Education. Its faculty have participated in several projects initiated by the Chilean government in order to improve the quality of higher education, and its student association organizes a national English teaching conference every two years. Furthermore, UPLA was one of the two universities that participated in a student-teacher exchange program in 2008 funded by the State Department and the Chilean Ministry of Education. Eleven UPLA English Pedagogy students spent a semester at Eastern Washington University deepening their knowledge of English teaching, developing effective ways to incorporate technology in their classes, and gaining practical teaching experience. Among other tasks, the EL Fellow will provide some follow-up with these alumni. Additionally, the binational center in Valparaíso has always been a key Embassy partner. They have a new director and are working to improve the quality of their programs. The BNC was selected to host one of Chile’s three English Access Microscholarship programs in 2009, and the Embassy wants to continue to work with them to improve their English teaching capacity.

About the Host Institution
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 has a strong English Pedagogy Department which offers daytime and evening classes on its main campus and daytime classes at its branch campus in San Felipe. UPLA graduates approximately 100 English pedagogy students each year. In 2007, it hosted a national conference for pre-service English teachers and it plans to host another one in 2009. 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.

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. It hosts one of the three English Access Microscholarship programs in Chile.

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Chile
City: Iquique  
Host Institution: Universidad Arturo Prat  
Type of Project: Fellow 
Project Dates: Late February – Late December 2010

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 teach classes for undergraduate pre-service teachers as well as classes in the new Master´s degree in English Teaching at the Primary Level at the Universidad Arturo Prat. The EL Fellow will assist and provide training for faculty of the English Pedagogy department (graduates from this program teach English at Chilean schools). The areas in which the EL Fellow will be working - for both the undergraduate and graduate programs - will be in the teaching of: Methodology, Writing, Critical Thinking, Young Learners, and Multi-level Classes. Secondary project duties will include working with: Support Mentoring, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars. For 30% or less of the time, the EL Fellow will prepare workshops on special/additional topics for local public school English teachers who work with students at social risk. S/he will also lead US cultural activities such as brief presentations on relevant US writers or general literature, and may 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 at both primary and secondary levels. The Universidad Arturo Prat (UAP) is an excellent host institution for the EL Fellow because the Ministry of Education is making English language classes compulsory at increasingly younger grades, and UAP is one of the few Chilean universities that has a specific graduate degree for preparation of primary-level teachers. The EL Fellow's involvement in the foundational stages of this program has been 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 receives 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.

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Chile
City: Punta Arenas
Host Institution: Universidad de Magallanes  
Type of Project: Fellow 
Project Dates: Late February to Late December 2010

Project Focus
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 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 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. Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, Support Mentoring, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars.   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 U.S. cultural activities in the American Corners in Punta Arenas on topics such as U.S. literature, music, movies, or current events. S/he can also start a book club/reading circle.
 
Project Description
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. Currently, all UMAG undergraduate students are required to take one semester of English language classes. At some time in the near future, all students will be required to take four semesters. The UMAG English Pedagogy Department is starting to develop curricula for this expansion, and the Fellow will provide welcome assistance. The department is open to receiving our support and advice, and the region has become increasingly relevant to Post 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.”

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Colombia
City: Bogota
Host Institution: Fulbright Commission
Type of Project: Senior Fellow
Project Dates: September 2009 – June 2010

Project Focus
Training of trainers, Teacher Training

Project Description
The objectives for the EL Fellow will be as follows:
1.   To enhance and upgrade English Language Teaching skills in Colombia.
2.   To work to improve the existing in-service and pre-service teacher training.
3.   To incorporate resources and curriculum materials that would provide information on perspectives on US culture and values, including workshops on materials development, teacher-made materials, etc.
4.   To develop language enhancement activities for public school teachers, including workshops and materials.
5.   To work with the Fulbright Commission, the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, the Colombian Ministry of Education, and other entities to create new policies and working relationships which will increase access to English learning opportunities to low-income displaced Colombians, Afro-Colombians and indigenous populations.
6.   To work with English Teaching Assistants of the Fulbright Commission to investigate the impact of the different English scholarship programs funded by the US Embassy and to make recommendations for future programming.

Specific activities for this EL Fellowship will be:
•     To provide training workshops for teachers and English Teaching Assistants.
•     To visit English Teaching Assistants, Bi-National Centers, universities, and public schools to provide an assessment of the current English teaching programs.
•     To provide input on the diversity grants and other English teaching programs for Fulbright Scholars in Colombia.
•     To conduct an analysis of the effectiveness and attitude of scholarship recipients for both students and teachers related to US Embassy and Fulbright programs, English language scholarships, e-teacher courses, “Shaping” courses, etc.
•     To provide guidance on English teacher resource libraries and training centers/courses for public school teachers.
Secondary project duties will include working with: Assessment of Resource Materials.  The EL Fellow will help develop resource materials for English teaching for Fulbright.

Project Objectives
The Colombian Ministry of Education is making a concerted effect to promote English Language Instruction by instituting a Bilingual Colombia Program (BCP) for the period of 2004-2019. This is complemented by the efforts of the city of Bogota, whose education department has declared that all students should receive English Language instruction. 

The EL Fellow will have the opportunity to share his/her knowledge with teachers who then could transmit their learning to students.  In addition, both students and teachers would gain from exposure to American culture, particularly to the different educational approaches and perspectives which the TEFL/TESL Fellow could share with them.

About the Host Institution

Fulbright Colombia will be the host for the EL Fellow providing an office and administrative support during the academic year. Fulbright will host the EL Fellow in their new office space with a desk, telephone, and computer and provide additional technical and administrative support through their staff. Fulbright Colombia offers a total of 16 scholarship programs for international educational exchange. Each year the Fulbright Commission provides grants to between 40 and 50 Colombians for postgraduate studies, to conduct research, to lecture in universities and in secondary schools, and to participate in a variety of other academic and professional activities. At the same time, approximately 25 U.S. scholars, students and experts come to Colombia yearly with Commission sponsorship is order to study and engage in research in Colombian universities, research centers, and art institutes. Since the founding of the Commission nearly 50 years ago, roughly 2,000 Colombians and 1,200 U.S. citizens have received grants from Fulbright Colombia.   Fulbright Colombia was established in 1957 as the Commission for Educational Exchange between the United States and Colombia under an agreement between the governments of both countries. The Commission is a binational, non-profit entity. Its mandate is to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Colombia through its international academic and cultural exchange programs.  Fulbright Colombia is financed principally by the United States Congress, through the U.S. Department of State, and by the Colombian government through cost-sharing arrangements with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, The National Planning Office, and Colciencias. Other private and public institutions, namely U.S. and Colombian universities, also support the activities of the Fulbright Commission in Colombia.

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Dominican Republic
City: Santo Domingo
Host Institution: Secretaria de Estado de Educación Superior/Ciencia y Tecnología SEESCyT  
Type of Project: Fellow
Project Dates: Late August 2009 – Late June 2010

Country/Project Specific Requirements
Housing will accommodate a couple, but not children. Pets are not allowed.
 
Project Focus
American Culture, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques 

Project Description
The EL Fellow will work closely with the teachers of the English Immersion program offered by the Dominican Government Ministry of Higher Education. Forty-five percent (45%) of the time the EL Fellow will be training and modeling new methodologies and techniques in Interactive Learning, and alternative ways of teaching. The EL Fellow will also train teachers to use the Forum magazine and the English language teaching resources offered by US Embassy's Information Resources Center, to aid them in teaching their classes. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the time, the EL Fellow will be teaching English and discussing American values with students of the Immersion Program.

Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, Support Mentoring, and Workshops/Seminars. Thirty percent (30%) of the time, the EL Fellow will meet with ministry officials and the heads of the English Immersion program to revise the program curriculum and planning and offer constructive suggestions.  The impact of the EL Fellow is critical to the success of English language teaching nationwide. S/he will have opportunities to influence policy as well as assess and propose strategies to improve English teaching. Having a full-time representative at the Ministry will enable the US Embassy to better understand both the extent and success of the program, as well as to craft proposals for future collaboration.

Project Objectives
The US Embassy is eager to support the Ministry of Higher Education's long-standing efforts to improve the teaching of English in Dominican universities. This year it is providing an English Teaching Specialist to assist in the long-range planning for this work. The EL Fellow's greatest impact will be in his/her consultations with the Ministry's current Immersion English program, its administrators and teachers of teachers. The Embassy strongly supports the Ministry's efforts to support successor generations to adapt to the demands of the global economy. In particular, this country recently entered into a free trade agreement with the US -- DR-CAFTA -- that is increasing the demand for Dominicans familiar with American business and other institutions, as it deepens its economic ties to the U.S.
 
About the Host Institution
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (SEESCyT) regulates universities in the Dominican Republic. In 2005, SEESCyT initiated an English Immersion program, funded by the Dominican government, to teach English to talented undergraduate students. The immersion program teaches English to students four hours daily, with multi-media laboratory sessions and all text books and materials entirely free of cost to them. The program also incorporates training for the teachers. The Ministry has asked the US Embassy to provide assistance in the form of an English Language Specialist (April 2009) to assess and evaluate the program, and to provide an EL Fellow for longer term input and impact.

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Guatemala
City: Guatemala City
Host Institution: Instituto Guatemalteco Americano (IGA)  
Type of Project: Senior Fellow
Project Dates: September 2009 – June 2010

Project Focus
Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, TOT, Curriculum Design and Development 

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. The EL Fellow will help 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. S/he will participate in regional and national conferences of TESOL affiliates and other English teacher associations as a plenary speaker, featured speaker, or regular presenter.

Secondary project duties will include working with: Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars. The EL Fellow will prepare for workshops and presentations by keeping in touch with US Embassies in the region and the Regional English Language Officer (RELO) and doing the necessary research to conduct workshops. S/he will carry out special projects requested by and assigned by Central American US Embassies and the RELO; participate in the completion of a regional English language teacher training CD project the RELO began in 2006; reply to minor queries conducted via e-mail; provide reporting on activities to all Central American US Embassies and 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 the ability to respond in a timely and consistent fashion to requests for help delivering a consistent message of professional development and US Embassy support throughout the region and across the board from primary through university education. 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 US 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 US 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 US 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 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.

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Mexico
City: Mexico City
Host Institution: Benjamin Franklin Library  
Type of Project: Senior Fellow
Project Dates: September 2009 – June 2010

Project Focus
Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, 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 (Normal schools) throughout the country, especially at times when 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 participate in regional and national conferences of TESOL affiliates as a plenary speaker, featured speaker, or regular presenter. Secondary project duties will include working with: Workshops/Seminars. 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 Regional English Language Officer (RELO); and reply to minor queries conducted through phone or e-mail.
 
Project Objectives
The EL Fellow in Mexico allows the US Embassy to respond in a timely and consistent fashion to multiple requests. This position allows for a consistent message of professional development and Embassy support throughout Mexico. It allows 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 increases the Embassy's presence at regional events and allows for follow-up activities to earlier Specialist programs and other RELO activities. The renewal of this EL Fellow position will help the 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 US 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 advantage must be taken of the momentum to build on successes and push agenda still further. Current EL Fellow’s presence has allowed the training of trainers throughout the academic year, especially when Specialists are unavailable. Thus far the EL Fellow has presented at three national and regional conferences for 404 participants, and given six 2-5 day workshops for 228 participants. Nine additional workshops have already been scheduled throughout six states in Mexico during the remainder of the year. This position will impact a minimum of 1,000 teachers in 2009-2010. Additionally, the US Embassy expects to fulfill goals of Economic Development by expanding job opportunities via command of English language.
 
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.

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Mexico
City: La Paz
Host Institution: Secretaria de Educacion de Baja California Sur     
Type of Project: Fellow
Project Dates: September 2009 – June 2010

Project Focus
K-9 English, Needs Assessment, Teacher Training

Project Description
Following the pattern established by previous EL Fellows in Mexico, the EL Fellow will play a major role in developing the project. S/he will first be responsible for doing a needs assessment through meetings with educational authorities, school visits, teacher and student interviews, and any other means s/he considers pertinent. Based on the information collected during the needs assessment, the EL Fellow will then create an individualized action plan for the rest of his/her fellowship in close coordination with the US Embassy Mexico and the host institution. The project will be based on classroom observations and teacher training workshops for classroom teachers in a combination of primary and secondary schools. The EL Fellow will support these teachers in replicating similar workshops for their colleagues. 
 
Project Objectives
The Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) is looking into making English mandatory from preschool on in the near future, and this undertaking will require over 120,000 English teachers nationwide. This will place a heavy burden on the already existing programs, whose teachers do not always have a BA in English Language Teaching. During the past years, Regional English Language Office (RELO) has helped different state English programs train their teachers by providing a Specialist to conduct five-day workshops. The US Embassy expects that the placement of an EL Fellow will improve the quality of English teaching substantially in the host state.
 
About the Host Institution
The Secretariat of Education of the state of Baja California Sur started its English program in 2006, so it is one of the youngest in Mexico. The program currently covers two municipalities in the southern tip of the peninsula for grades 1-6, but also provides support to teachers of grades 7-9 throughout the state. RELO has worked closely with this program since early 2006, providing teacher training workshops on a roughly annual basis. However, the state government is keen to see the program grow and the placement of an EL Fellow would certainly be most welcome.

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Nicaragua
City: Managua
Host Institution: Universidad Centroamericana (UCA)   
Type of Project: Fellow
Project Dates: September 2009 – June 2010

Project Focus
Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques 

Project Description
The EL Fellow will collaborate with the faculty of Centro Superior de Idiomas (CSI) in the School of Humanities and Communication at Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) in Managua, Nicaragua in their implementation of a new TEFL curriculum at the undergraduate level. This curriculum is a week-day program for high school graduates who want to become English Teachers in a four-year period and get a BA Diploma. The EL Fellow will also teach one or two courses in the MA program in Applied Linguistics for English Language Teaching (MALELT) with a special modality (presence every other week and online) for English teachers at all education levels in Nicaragua.

Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, and Workshops/Seminars. The EL Fellow will conduct five teacher training seminars/workshops for UCA faculty members and for teachers in other universities with similar TEFL programs. The objective is to provide training in critical areas related to the new curriculum such as: Teaching Literature, American Culture, and Teaching Dynamics. An invitation to attend these seminar/workshops will be extended to the two other universities in Nicaragua offering TEFL degree programs. This will ensure that the opportunity to improve TEFL 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 to obtain their goal. The EL Fellow will reach close to 2,500 English teachers throughout the country. By including the other two universities (UNAN-Managua and UNAN-Leon) offering TEFL 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 Mission is to help Nicaragua reach its full development potential. Education is the first step in meeting this goal.
 
About the Host Institution
The Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) is a Jesuit private but subsidized university that offers 4-year university programs in Managua, Nicaragua. UCA’s main objective is to meet the needs of Nicaraguan high school graduates and to support professional development to those who want to carry out postgraduate studies in different fields. During the last twelve years UCA has conducted a TEFL degree-program with success. However, the university has been looking for academic assistance to complete and update the curricula, evaluate its programs and conduct teacher training. UCA has also embarked on a Master program in Applied Linguistics for English Language Teaching (MALELT) to meet the demand of training Nicaraguan English Teachers. 

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Panama
City: Panama City
Host Institution: English for Life/Universidad Latina de Panama  
Type of Project: Senior Fellow 
Project Dates: September 2009 – June 2010

Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Curriculum Development, Elementary School English

Project Description
The EL Fellow will work with Panama's Ministry of Education's English for Life Program, an intensive English language program for K-12 students. The EL Fellow will work primarily with the program directors and English teachers to review the programs curriculum for the elementary school level. The EL Fellow will advise the program's directors on changes that s/he finds necessary in order to achieve greater results and a higher command of the English language among children at the elementary school level. S/he will work with teacher trainers and regional coordinators to improve the curriculum in order to establish goals that are achievable within a reasonable amount of time thereby moving Panama closer to having a bilingual public school system.

Secondary project duties will include working with: Workshops/Seminars. The project's secondary focus will be to conduct monthly workshops for elementary and high school level English teachers involved with the English for Life program in order to improve methodology and command of the English language. Workshops will be conducted mainly in Panama City but the EL Fellow will travel periodically to English for Life regional centers in Panama's other major cities to conduct workshops.
 
Project Objectives
Panama is one of the region's fastest growing economies. This is largely due to foreign investment by citizens of English speaking countries. Panama's Ministry of Education realizes that there is a critical need for qualified English speakers in the job market. In response to this need, the English for Life program was created. This ambitious program began as an after school program for high schoolers. The program has now extended to the elementary school level and has graduated over 30,000 students. The main challenge this program faces is the need for qualified English teachers. EL Fellows in 2006 and 2008 have greatly contributed to the success of this program. The previous focus has been on teacher training. The fact that the Ministry is now focusing on curriculum development shows that they realize that all programs need to grow and change in order to be sustainable. The US Embassy has had a strong relationship with the English for Life program in the last four years and sees this program as a well planned and structured means of establishing bilingual education in Panama's public schools.
 
About the Host Institution
English for Life is a government program run by an executive board of English teaching professionals. The program is based at the Universidad Latina de Panama and is overseen by the Fundación Gabriel Lewis Galindo, an educational NGO who has had great success in teacher training.

Universidad Latina de Panama is one of Panama's largest private universities with campuses in all of Panama's major cities.

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Paraguay
City: Asunción
Host Institution: Instituto Superior de Educación Dr. Raúl Peña (ISE)    
Type of Project: Fellow 
Project Dates: Mid-February – Mid-December 2010

Project Description
American Culture, American Literature, 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 primarily responsible for teaching future English teachers attending classes at the Instituto Superior de Educación (ISE), which is the largest teacher preparation institute in Paraguay. The EL Fellow will teach English language skills (listening, reading, speaking, and writing) and critical thinking to the students from the first and second year courses, and EFL methodology to the students from the third year course. The EL Fellow will spend three to four hours per week teaching each group. The EL Fellow will plan classes, assign homework, provide feedback, prepare exams, and submit reports on each student’s progress. A teacher from the English department will work closely with the EL Fellow to help him/her with what s/he needs. The EL Fellow will also prepare teacher trainers for proficiency exams to upgrade their own language skills. The EL Fellow will work 40 hours per week. On a typical work day, s/he will spend either the morning or the afternoon at the ISE. Out of the 40 hours, up to 20 hours could be spent on teaching and the rest for planning lessons, researching, etc. Possible schedule could be mornings: from 7:30 to 11:30 or afternoons: from 1:00 to 4:00. The EL Fellow will have the flexibility to arrange schedules according to the tasks. Paraguay will benefit tremendously from having this EL Fellow in the country. The EL Fellow will help current and future teachers increase their communication skills in English and methodology. Furthermore, learning from a trained native English speaker will greatly improve the teachers’ speaking skills, allowing them to be a better model for their students. The students will learn not only the language, but also the American culture by interacting with the EL Fellow. Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, American Studies, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars. The EL Fellow will provide monthly workshops and seminars to PARATESOL members, Paraguayan Association of Teachers of English (APIP), the Higher Institute of Languages (Instituto Superior de Lenguas - ISL) of the National University of Asuncion on topics jointly chosen by the EL Fellow and the teachers, according to their needs; prepare cultural projects which involve the active participation of students and teachers, for special American holidays or similar events; assist with developing a curriculum for in-service English teachers from public and private schools who teach but lack a degree or qualification to teach; and prepare and provide workshops for public school teachers who are scholarship recipients from the US Embassy to help them improve their command of English.
 
Project Objectives
The English teaching situation in the Paraguayan public school system is highly deficient and full of challenges. The main reasons for this situation are the lack of well-trained English teachers, lack of materials, poor infrastructure, and large class sizes (50 or more students in one class). The US Embassy is committed to supporting the new government in Paraguay in the areas of education, youth, and economic prosperity. Improving the quality and quantity of English teachers in Paraguay’s public school system is a top priority for the Embassy. With this in mind, it started a very small English scholarship program for public school teachers, where these teachers improve their basic skills while learning a communicative methodology. The Embassy has provided scholarships to 40 public school teachers - a very limited number. An EL Fellow, however, will reach out and help many more future English teachers and teacher trainers at the ISE. The EL Fellow will definitively help develop within Paraguay the capacity to improve the educational system through the improvement of adequate human resources for English language instruction. The multiplier effect of this program is vast since most teachers hold down multiple teaching positions at various schools.

About the Host Institution
The Instituto Superior de Educación is the largest teacher training institute in Paraguay. It is funded by the Ministry of Education and is the institution that sets the trends in education within the country. It was inaugurated in 1974 with infrastructure donated by USAID. It has approximately 200 faculty members and 1700 students from all regions of the country. Most of its students come from the countryside, have graduated from public high schools, and lack economic resources. These students will be Paraguay’s future Pre-elementary, Elementary and Secondary school teachers in numerous disciplines, English among them.  The English Teacher Training Program started in 1989. This is an important area because there is a large demand for English teachers - English is taught for three years in high school and there are approximately 1300 secondary schools in the country. ISE’s English teachers training program is a three year long, 40 hours per week, curriculum that covers four areas:

  • Educational Science (in Spanish, Pedagogy, Didactics, Philosophy, Sociology, Evaluation, Management);
  • Specific English Knowledge (English Language skills, American Culture, British Culture, Literature, English Teaching Methodology, Design of Projects and Materials, and Linguistics);
  • Teaching Practice (it works with over 15 high school institutions where students practice their teaching skills); 
  • Instrumental Subjects (Spanish, Guarani and Computer skills).

In addition to formal training for future teachers, ISE provides seminars and workshops for supervisors, directors, and in-service teachers year round. This year ISE has worked with over 1000 in-service teachers. ISE offers undergraduate and post graduate training in Education. In its 40 years of existence, ISE had trained and qualified the great majority of teachers working within the system.

 


Peru
City: Lima
Host Institution: Fulbright Commission            
Type of Project: Senior Fellow  
Project Dates: Late August 2009 – Late June 2010

Country/Project Specific Requirements
This position will require travel within Peru. Obtaining visa extensions for family members is difficult and may not be allowed by the Peruvian government.  The academic year starts in March and ends prior to Christmas. There are breaks from December 20 to mid-March, and again in July for approximately 3 weeks. This position will not correspond to the regular academic year, but teachers are available for trainings during the breaks.

Project Focus
Curriculum Design, Teacher Training

Project Description
The Ministry of Education has mandated that secondary students now study English beginning in the 7th grade. Because this is a new law, public school teachers are not prepared. This EL Fellow position will work with the Ministry of Education to design a curriculum for these newly mandated English classes and prepare training modules for a cadre of teachers throughout the country. In Peru, there are 8.5 million students, 473,000 teachers and approximately 90,000 schools at all levels. Peru needs to improve the quality of education; the situation for non-Spanish speakers is dire. Having an EL Fellow work with Ministry of Education will demonstrate the keen interest of the U.S. in promoting English language education. Throughout Peru, English is seen as a gateway skill and is necessary to compete successfully in the global economy.

Secondary project duties will include working with: Workshops/Seminars.  Once a curriculum with training modules is designed, the EL Fellow will provide training to public school teachers throughout the country. More time will be spent in forming a cadre of teachers who would conduct training-of-trainers workshops. The EL Fellow will serve as the trainer and advisor to this cadre and to other ministry officials on an as needed basis.
 
Project Objectives
The US Embassy’s goal is to provide English classes to "promising students form outlying regions and disadvantaged classes". An EL Fellow will help ensure that even more students are offered more professionally trained teachers in public schools throughout Peru. The recent mandate to provide English classes in public school places a tremendous burden on the already overloaded educational system. Teachers, especially away from the capital, in the provinces are poorly trained and teach under inadequate conditions.
 
About the Host Institution
The Fulbright Commission is located near the US Embassy, outside the Embassy compound. The Fulbright Board is active and is now focusing on English language teaching with a new initiative. For the first time, the Commission is committed to providing two grants for English teachers to study for an MA in English language teaching. Throughout Peru, English is seen as a gateway skill necessary for study in the US. Located at the Fulbright Commission, the EL Fellow will have access to Fulbright resources and contacts. The EL Fellow will also bring English language expertise to the Commission and help promote more educational opportunity for teachers throughout Peru.

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Uruguay
City: Montevideo
Host Institution: National Administration of Public Education-ANEP  
Type of Project: Fellow
Project Dates: September 2009 – June 2010

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

Project Description
The EL Fellow will develop workshops and materials to support the nation-wide English curriculum at the secondary level. English has recently become a requirement for all secondary students. As a result, the number of English teachers has grown. In order to ensure that all of these teachers are prepared, ANEP delivers on-going teacher development workshops for teachers throughout the country. The EL Fellow activities include planning and delivering workshops, supporting regional peer coaches, and helping build self-sustaining teacher networks. The 2008 EL Fellow provided substantial support in building a peer coaching program and providing workshops on assessment and best practices of teaching English. However, there is still much to be done, specifically continuing to support the evaluation of student work, fostering a communicative approach to language instruction, and supporting the use of technology in the classroom.

Secondary project duties will include working with: English Camp, Support Mentoring, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars. The EL Fellow will adapt and help deliver the above-mentioned workshops to teachers in other divisions of ANEP such as the primary English program and the English program at the technical schools (UTU). Additionally, s/he will occasionally support the English Access Microscholarship classes and possibly teach English to Uruguayan diplomats at the Ministry of Foreign Relations.
 
Project Objectives
This is the last year of the present Uruguayan government administration, and the US Embassy is very proud of the accomplishments in the field of English teaching that have been possible during this period. English teaching has been implemented in more than 70 elementary schools and a US English language program has been implemented at the secondary school level. Although the current Uruguayan government is from leftist extraction, it has been very proactive in opening doors for the study of English as a secondary language and their goal is to leave a solid foundation in this field once they leave the administration. To this effect they have been working very hard and the EL Fellow has been crucial in Embassy’s relationship with Uruguayan National Education authorities and in achieving its goal of implementing US English in the public school system. One example of this is that the present EL Fellow has been actively helping the secondary English program inspectors to implement a degree that will certify that students leaving public secondary schools have a good knowledge of English. The idea behind this is that students leaving the public school system may have access to better job opportunities by demonstrating that they have a good knowledge of a second language. The Embassy considers it a success that this second language is English and, even more, US English with programs and materials provided by an EL Fellow. Continuing with this service to Uruguayan National Education authorities during fiscal year 2009 is crucial to Embassy’s long term plan described above. It believes that the presence of an EL Fellow in 2009 will complete this cycle and will leave very well-planted roots for the English teaching programs to continue no matter which administration takes over in 2010. The Embassy would also like to point out that public opinion polls in Uruguay show that approval of the US has risen over the past few years to 60 percent.
 
About the Host Institution
The National Administration of Public Education (ANEP) is responsible for all curriculum and teacher development at the public and private level since there is a centralized educational system in Uruguay.

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Venezuela
City: Maracay
Host Institution: Univ. Pedagogico Experimental Libertador - Maracay  
Type of Project: Fellow
Project Dates: Mid-October 2009 – Mid-August 2010

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 work 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. S/he would also give training workshops to the UPEL faculty. During the past two years, UPEL Maracay began offering a Master's degree in English Language Education. Though the EL Fellow would continue to focus on the undergraduate level, the university has requested that, if possible, the EL Fellow also be qualified to teach one or two Master's level classes during the course of the year.

Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, English Camp, and Workshops/Seminars.  Since April 2008 there has been an active American Corner (AC) in Maracay. As initiated by the State Government of Aragua (where Maracay is located), the Corner is a partnership between the government, the US Embassy and the Modern Languages Department of the UPEL. The EL Fellow will be asked to give occasional presentations at the AC Maracay. 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 the summer of 2007, the UPEL, Embassy and the Regional English Language Officer (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. The Embassy also encourages all EL Fellows to work together on secondary projects - in the past, EL Fellows have worked together on activities such as English Immersion Camps and thesis presentations; the same will be encouraged in 2009-2010. Other secondary duties will arise based on the needs and wants of the department at the university.
 
Project Objectives
Though relations between the Governments of Venezuela and the United States 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 United States 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 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 United States 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. S/he will 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. The graduates typically become teachers in elementary and secondary public schools. The English program at UPEL Maracay, serving approximately 700 students, falls within the Department of Modern Languages. Since last year, the UPEL has also offered a Master's degree in the Teaching of English.

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