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- Angola, Instituto Superior de Ciencias da Educação – ISCED, Lubango, Senior Fellow - Filled/ Renewal
- Angola, Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN), Fellow - Filled
- Burkina Faso, International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE) - Filled
- Cape Verde, University of Cape Verde/Ministry of Education - Filled
- Ethiopia, Ambo University - Cancelled
- Ethiopia, St. Mary's University - Filled/Confirmed Renewal
- Madagascar, University of Toamasina - Filled
- Mauritania, ENS - Teachers' College of Nouakchott - Filled/Confirmed Renewal
- Mozambique, Universidade Lurio, Fellow - Filled
- Republic of Congo, Ministry of Communications/CUUSA - Filled
- Senegal, FASTEF - Filled
- Rwanda, Catholic University of Kabgayi - Filled
- Rwanda, INES Ruhengeri - Filled/ Renewal
- South Africa, North West University - Filled
- South Africa, Teach South Africa, Fellow - Filled
- South Africa, University of the Free State - Filled/ Renewal
- South Africa, Rhodes University, Cape Training and Leadership Center, Senior Fellow - Filled
- South Africa, University of Pretoria - Filled
- Togo, DIFOP - Filled
- Uganda, Kyambogo - Filled
- Zambia, Evelyn Hone College, Fellow - Filled
- Zimbabwe, University of Zimbabwe - Filled
Host Country Angola
Host City Lubango
Host Institution Instituto Superior de Ciencias da Educação - ISCED, Lubango
Type of Project Senior Fellow
Project Dates March 2011 – mid-December 2011
Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Research, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques
Special Country/Project Requirements
English is not widely spoken and it can be difficult for someone with no Portuguese to live here. An EL Fellow who is extremely flexible, ideally with previous experience in Africa, with Portuguese (or at least with some Spanish) would be best for this position.
Project Description
The EL Fellow will assist ISCED Lubango English Department lecturers and trainers improving their current practice, through seminars, workshops, and In-Service Training. S/he will refresh the lecturers’ knowledge in research and teaching methodology, identify innovative and excellent learning and teaching practice in the Department, support events and projects of the Department, act as the main contact person for the Department concerns with US universities for possible links and support. S/he will assist with the design and creation of a TESL Master’s Program and teach one of the subjects in the final two years of the English Program (English III and IV) as to not exceed 20 contact hours a week.
Although this proposal is considered a new one, the EL Fellow herewith requested will continue the work of our Senior EL Fellow currently placed at ISCED Lubango due to change of host institution in our previous renewal proposal.
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, English Club Programming, Teachers Association/Organization, Workshops/Seminars. S/he will plan and facilitate professional development events for Higher Secondary and Teacher Training Institutions as part of the Program activities allowance upon approval from PAS. S/he will assist with the set up of an English Club that has secondary English students as the target members. S/he will liaise with members of ANELTA - Association of English Teachers of Angola. We would encourage the Fellow to travel to the provinces of Namibe and Benguela to consult with local universities on their English language programs.
Project Objectives
Due to its long colonial history and association with Portugal, Angola is heavily dominated and influenced by the Portuguese culture, particularly its language. Because of this legacy and the lack of good English-teaching programs, a very limited number of Angolans have a working knowledge of the English language. This directly impacts Angola’s ability to interact with its predominately English-speaking neighbors and the world beyond. Many US and foreign companies, attracted by Angola’s huge natural resources and economic potential, are showing insatiable demand for qualified employees that are conversant in English. Strengthening and expanding the use of English directly promotes US-Angola mutual understanding, helps strengthen democratic institutions, and enables the successful implementation of all other USG objectives in Angola. The Government of Angola and businesses are increasingly realizing the importance of English for Angola’s economic development, and are consistently requesting U.S. assistance in strengthening and expanding English programs in the country. There are very few English-teaching institutions and the few that exist suffer from lack of qualified teachers and resources to respond adequately to this growing demand. To address these problems, the US Embassy has partnered with the premier English teacher training institution in the country -- the Instituto Superior de Ciências da Educação (ISCED) in Lubango. The EL Fellow will assist this institute strengthen their capacity by conducting needs assessment, curriculum development, in-classroom teaching, and teacher training. In addition, the EL Fellow will assist in the design and creation of a TESOL Master’s Program.
About the Host Institution
Instituto Superior de Ciências da Educação (ISCED), the Higher Teacher Training Institute of Education Sciences in Lubango, Angola, is the institution responsible for the training of teachers in the Huíla province. Until 2009, ISCED- Lubango, Huíla was part of the country's only public university, Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN), but now is independent and autonomous. ISCED prepares teachers in thirteen teaching areas including in English. The English sector, under the Department of Modern Languages of ISCED Lubango Teacher Training Institute is the longest-established Sector of English in Angola. It was established in 1983 with the main objective of training teachers of English for Secondary Schools and Teacher Trainers for the Training Colleges and University levels. The wider objective is to train those Angolan cadres who need English to work and contribute to educational, economic and human development. With the country witnessing peace, it can be witnessed that the course is one of the most preferred by the university candidates. ISCED-Lubango has currently an enrollment of about 5,000 students, and the English Sector has 338 students. Up until now it has trained one hundred and thirty-three teachers of English and Teacher Trainers who are distributed in several schools and most Oil Companies in the country. Forty-four of these teachers have already written and defended their dissertation and awarded the Bachelor's degree. Currently the English Sector has a teaching staff of eight (all Angolan nationals, two with MA and others with a Bachelor's degree). Four of those with a Bachelor's degree are currently doing their MAs (in Applied Linguistics, TESOL and Sociolinguistics in South Africa). Regarding the teaching conditions, unlike in many other institutions which are often inadequately resourced and overcrowded, the teachers are somehow prima facie conducive to good teaching at ISCED. In the past the English Sector has been very generously supported by the British Overseas Development Administration (ODA), - the now Department for International Development - which contributed with regular inputs of books, teaching equipment, and scholarships. This support ended in 1997. In the last six or seven years it has been benefiting of some help from the American Embassy in Luanda, mainly regarding some general reading books and most recent teaching materials and references. Apart from that, the institution has one main library, generally sponsored by the Angolan Government and other Non-Governmental Organizations, with more than 98,000 books in different areas of knowledge and several of them in English.
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Host Country Angola
Host City Luanda
Host Institution Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN)
Type of Project Fellow
Project Dates Mid-February 2011 – Mid-December 2011
Special Country Requirements
English is not widely spoken and can be difficult for someone with no Portuguese to live here. An EL Fellow who is extremely flexible, ideally with previous experience in Africa, with Portuguese (or some Spanish) would be best for this position.
Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, and Teaching Techniques
Project Description
The EL Fellow will assist Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN) English Department lecturers and trainers improving their current practice, through seminars, workshops, and In-Service Training. S/he will refresh the lecturers’ knowledge in research and teaching methodology, identify innovative and excellent learning and teaching practice in the Department, support events and projects of the Department, act as the main contact person for the Department concerns with US universities for possible links and support. S/he will assist with the redesign of UAN English program, currently in progress, to better attend the needs of UAN English Department student body. S/he will teach one of the subjects of the English Program as to not exceed 20 contact hours a week.
Secondary project duties will include working with the following: English Club Programming, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars. English language assistance is the most frequently solicited request at all levels of the US Embassy and there are numerous secondary projects that the EL Fellow may work on, depending on their principal workload and their interests. The EL Fellow would work with the Angolan English Language Teacher's Association to create a one-year long capacity building program and be involved with the English Friendship Youth Club, a local key partner of our English Programs. Also, the EL Fellow would participate/organize a few workshops/seminars for secondary public school teachers.
Project Objectives
Due to its long colonial history and association with Portugal, Angola is heavily dominated and influenced by the Portuguese culture, particularly its language. Because of this legacy and the lack of good English-teaching programs, a very limited number of Angolans have a working knowledge of the English language. This directly impacts Angola’s ability to interact with its predominately English-speaking neighbors and the world beyond. Many US and foreign companies, attracted by Angola’s huge natural resources and economic potential, are showing insatiable demand for qualified employees that are conversant in English. The Government of Angola and businesses are increasingly realizing the importance of English for Angola’s economic development, and are consistently requesting U.S. assistance in strengthening and expanding English programs in the country. There are very few English-teaching institutions and the few that exist suffer from lack of qualified teachers and resources to respond adequately to this growing demand. To address these problems, the US Embassy has partnered with Paragon Angola and their parent company in Houston, AMEC Paragon in their initiative to support English language capacity in the Angolan work force. Paragon has been working with UAN in order to capacitate work force through exchange programs involving American universities. However, the lack of English is a major challenge. Therefore Paragon and the US Embassy have been collaborating with the view of improving the English Department at UAN.
About the Host Institution
The University Agostinho Neto, the largest public university in the country, has an English Department which is part of the School of Languages, Literature and Linguistics, created in 2002. The school prepares students in African Languages, English, French and Portuguese. The typical student of the School of Languages, Literature and Linguistics at UAN is a secondary teacher working in a public or private school (or both) or an employee in the private sector. After graduating they can work as teachers of languages, press attaches, interpreters and translators and in many social areas, whenever a language specialist is needed. The school has currently an enrollment of more than three hundred students and the English Department has approximately half of this number. Until now the English Department of the School of Languages has about 50 students who have completed their course work, but only 6 of them have concluded their end course project, a requirement to graduate; the others are looking for mentors in order to complete the project. Currently the English department staff counts with six teachers with BA, two with MA and one with PhD degrees, four of them directly hired by the university.
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Host Country Burkina Faso
Host City Ouagadougou
Host Institution International Institute for Water & Environmental Engineering (2iE)
Type of Project Fellow
Project Dates Mid-September 2010 – Mid-July 2011
Special Country Requirements
Visitors to Burkina Faso must have proof of Yellow Fever vaccination to enter the country. Visitors should show proof of vaccination with an international vaccination card with the date of Yellow Fever vaccination clearly indicated.
Project Focus
Engineering, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Proficiency Exams, Research
Project Description
The EL Fellow will continue to teach and train 2iE's own full-time head English instructor and part-time instructors to teach and manage English courses in the Bachelor's degree program (levels L1, L2, L3) and the Master's degree program (level M1). 2iE has implemented an English curriculum tied to TOEFL benchmarks. Degree candidates will need to attain a prescribed TOEFL score in their last year in order to be granted their diplomas. The EL Fellow will continue developing plans and program strategies to help students meet this requirement. The EL Fellow will help design and implement an intensive English course series for in-coming students to help get their English proficiency level up before the official start of regular academic courses. The EL Fellow will continue to develop a sustainable English-speaking community within 2iE by playing a lead role in the 2iE English Toastmaster's Club and by organizing courses and seminars to improve faculty English proficiency, including scientific seminars and/or lecture series. The EL Fellow will continue to oversee and guide the 2iE English club in their activities, including regular publication of their newsletter. To assure sustainability of the 2iE English program, the EL Fellow will coordinate the work of English instructors that 2iE has brought on board.
Secondary project duties will include working with: English Club Programming, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars. The EL Fellow will play a role in helping 2iE in their pursuit of developing scientific and academic exchange programs with institutions, professionals, and students from Anglophone countries. 2iE has already hosted a research student from Ghana and a Ph.D. student from Princeton University last year. This year, 2iE has two graduate students from Princeton doing research. Additional students are expected in 2010/2011. 2iE is also hosting an American Fulbright professor in engineering who will give subject courses in English. 2iE is also sending students abroad to Anglophone institutions and needs the EL Fellow's participation in jurying theses and other projects or reports produced by these students in support of their degree programs. 2iE is pursuing a collaborative project with Tuskegee, Princeton, and a consortium of African universities which has been given tentative approval by USAID and HED (Higher Education for Development). If the project is fully approved and funded, 2iE will be receiving many undergraduate and graduate students as well as young researchers and professors from the US. The EL Fellow will play a key role in helping 2iE carry out such a significant collaboration and interfacing with these Anglophone counterparts. The EL Fellow has been instrumental in establishing an English Club at 2iE and is needed to continue to guide this dynamic group. In addition, the EL Fellow will play a significant leadership role in the newly formed national association of English teachers in Burkina Faso (BETA). Working with national English teachers will also require the EL Fellow to organize and carry out some professional development workshops and/or seminars for English teachers.
Project Objectives
US support for Burkina Faso's agricultural development sector, particularly through sharing of new technologies has been a central goal. A strong and sustainable English program at 2iE will definitely support this effort. In addition, improved English capabilities and proficiency on both the part of the students and the faculty at this key scientific training institution will place 2iE in a position to work successfully with American partners, namely educational and research institutions in the US. 2iE is already demonstrating initial successes in this area and has immense potential to achieve more. A strong and sustainable English program at 2iE will also result in their graduates being more competitive on both the African and international job markets.
About the Host Institution
The International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE) is an international higher education and research institute in the domains of water, energy, environment, and public works. It is the pre-eminent agricultural science and training institution in Burkina Faso, a very poor and relatively arid country whose economy is still very agriculturally based. 2iE belongs to 14 member countries from West and Central Africa. Today it is moving to the international Bachelor/Master/PhD degree system. In addition to its current degree programs, 2iE also offers adult and continuing education plus engineering services on-line to the private sector. 2iE has two campuses which hold diplomatic enclave status. The institute is built on 12,000 square meters including classrooms, amphitheaters, laboratories, and experimental sites. 2iE enrollment is over 4,000 students. The institute employs over 40 permanent academic staff and about 15 visiting scholars. 2iE's main objective is to contribute actively to the economic development of sub-Saharan Africa through human capacity building and dissemination of knowledge. 2iE's five-year strategic orientation plan has opened the institution up to English speaking members states, English speaking teachers and students, and partnerships with US-based learning institutions.
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Host Country Cape Verde
Host City Praia
Host Institution University of Cape Verde/Ministry of Education
Type of Project Fellow
Project Dates October 2010 – July 2011
Project Focus
Business, Computers, Finance, Marketing, Teaching Techniques
Project Description
The EL Fellow will shift his/her focus towards the development of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) curriculum at the UniCV Business School in the AY 2010-11. The current EL Fellow has been focused on building the English Department at UniCV; however, there are two primary reasons for shifting the focus: first, business-related English ties directly to economic development goals. Second, the three Peace Corps Volunteers teaching in the English Department can carry the program established by the current EL Fellow, while the new EL Fellow could be better utilized in the Business School. S/he will have the opportunity to serve as an advisor on special projects, and a stronger emphasis could be placed on capacity-building (how to implement projects, professional outreach, and teacher training) vs. direct English teaching. The U.S. Embassy is seeking an EL Fellow who has taught or would be willing to teach ESP for students at UniCV Business School (ENG). The EL Fellow will work closely with his or her counterparts at ENG, focusing primarily on ESP teaching, curriculum and faculty development, teacher training, material preparation, and course/syllabus design. The EL Fellow will have 12 hours per week of classroom instruction. Class size will be approximately 15 students.
Secondary project duties will include working with: Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars. In addition to providing ESP classroom instruction, curriculum, and faculty development for UniCV Business School, the EL Fellow will also be expected to assist the Ministry of Education (MOE) with the revision of the Secondary English Curriculum and nationwide teacher training. Functional competency in English is severely lacking among high school students in Cape Verde. To address this issue, the EL Fellow will work with the Ministry of Education (i.e., the secondary host institution) to help revise the Secondary English Curriculum Development and lead a maximum of five teacher training in-service seminars for university and high school English teachers. These will be coordinated through Uni-CV and the Ministry of Education. More In-Service Trainings (ISTs) and support to the National English Teachers Association (NETA) are also needed. A website allowing members to share ideas and resources is currently being developed.
Project Objectives
The EL Fellow will significantly enhance written and verbal English skills and aid in career advancement opportunities for Cape Verdean students. The growth of the Business English program at UniCV Business School is helping to lay the groundwork for students’ long-term success in the global talent marketplace. The intention is to be able to offer 20% of the curriculum in English within the next five years. After nearly 35 years of independence from Portugal, Portuguese remains the dominant world language in Cape Verde, followed by French and then English. In order to enhance the competitiveness of Cape Verdean workers in the global marketplace and thus strengthen security, development and democracy in the country, greater English learning opportunities are needed.
About the Host Institution
The University of Cape Verde (Uni-CV) is the only public university in Cape Verde and was founded to advance the current national policy of economic development. Established in 2007, the University merged the former teacher training institute and colleges of education, fishing, and sciences into one public higher education institution. Over 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students attend the school, with approximately 250 majoring in English and English Education. Other degrees available include business administration, information technology, engineering, education and other social sciences. Its main campus is in Praia, the capital. Mindelo, on the island of Sao Vicente, houses a second branch. The current proposal reflects a unique opportunity for UniCV to strengthen and expand its Business School curriculum in collaboration with a visiting Dean from Bentley College (Massachusetts), a Cape Verdean-American. For the last two years, the MOE has been committed to the improvement of English language teaching and learning in Cape Verde. The MOE has made English a mandatory subject in all secondary schools and they have continually supported ongoing in-service trainings by contributing financially and logistically. It is expected that the MOE will be a reliable partner with all other institutions involved in the EL Fellow project.
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Host Country Ethiopia
Host City Ambo
Host Institution Ambo University
Type of Project Fellow
Project Dates Mid-August 2010 – Mid-June 2011
Special Country Requirements
Immunizations - the following are required: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Yellow Fever, TB Tetanus, Meningitis, and Rabies.
Pets - no pets will be allowed.
Dependents - there are very limited employment and educational opportunities for dependents.
Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, and Teaching Techniques
Project Description
The EL Fellow is expected to spend most of the time teaching English to teacher trainees. S/he will offer advanced ELT courses for English major students. The EL Fellow is expected to develop teaching materials for all the courses s/he is expected to teach in collaboration with local staff. The English language department has a plan to launch an M.A. program in ELT (currently it offers B.A. only), and the EL Fellow is expected to collaborate with the staff of the department in this task. The EL Fellow is also expected to serve as the main resource person for workshops organized to teachers who are involved in English Language teaching at various levels (high school, college, etc.). The El Fellow will participate in workshops (as a resource person) organized by other relevant bodies.
Project Objectives
Nobody can have a reasonable expectation of economic prosperity without joining the global market. The language of the global market is none other than English. The EL Fellow is expected to be an information source for the staff and students of the host institution on issues related to American culture, American history, the American educational system and other areas of interest. The presence of the EL Fellow among the university community will itself generate a collegial relationship, which will in turn motivate the local staff to develop a curiosity about American society in general and strive to get more information on the issue. This will lead to more opportunities for the EL Fellow to share American values and ideals with the staff and students. The EL Fellow will also have opportunities to learn about the Ethiopian society. Having accurate information about each other will definitely promote mutual understanding between the peoples of both countries.
About the Host Institution
Ambo University is located 112 km west of the capital Addis Ababa. It is one of the oldest higher learning institutions in Ethiopia. It began as an agricultural college but has been upgraded to a full-fledged university since 2008. The current enrollment stands at more than 10,000 students. One of the colleges is the College of Social Sciences, which has an English language and literature department. The department offers both pre-service and in-service undergraduate teacher training programs.
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Host Country Madagascar
Host City Toamasina (Eastern Madagascar)
Host Institution University of Toamasina
Type of Project Fellow
Project Dates February – November 2011
Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing
Project Description
The EL Fellow will be placed at the University of Toamasina (Eastern Madagascar) in order to provide first year students across disciplines and departments within the University with English skills they need to actively participate in Madagascar’s economic growth. The EL Fellow will co-teach up to 20 hours a week of English classes to first-year undergraduate students. The EL Fellow with Malagasy counterparts will ensure shared information and decision-making regarding English language education, curriculum standards, and learning objectives. The core aims of the project are to assist the University of Toamasina:
- To upgrade the English levels of all first-year undergrad students by teaching and establishing a methodological approach for monitoring the quality of English language education within the university regardless of disciplines and departments;
- To establish standards for learning outcomes for English language learning.
The U.S. Embassy is strongly committed to the promotion of English teaching in Madagascar as a global language. In line with that commitment, and in an attempt to ensure that all young people develop the English language skills required to participate in the regional and global economy, GOM launched an educational reform process including the promotion of English teaching at all levels. English is therefore unavoidable and universities have a crucial role to play in this whole process of educational transformation. The EL Fellow will be a major asset in this joint effort to contribute to a sustainable development of this country through English teaching.
Secondary project duties will include working with: Workshops/Seminars. The EL Fellow will assist university teaching staff to write standardized curricula, develop materials, and train university faculty to use these materials and develop their own. The EL Fellow will aid in providing teacher training to English teachers at the University of Toamasina in order to improve their teaching techniques and methodologies. The EL Fellow will provide advice on how to design assessment tools. The EL Fellow will also help build capacity, skills and technical expertise needed in monitoring the quality of English language learning through providing training and capacity building workshops, seminars. At the end of the EL Fellow's tour, the Embassy will collaborate with the University of Toamasina in sharing the designed curriculum with the other five public universities.
Project Objectives
In a country with a small but significant Muslim population with connections to larger populations in the eastern Africa region, English teaching has proven to be one mechanism for positive contact with this population. Supporting the University's work in this area contributes to this. Support for English teaching also provides strong support for Madagascar's economic development by increasing ability to interact with the larger world economy and in particular with the potential--Anglophone--trading partners in eastern and southern Africa. Importantly, it also facilitates U.S. investment and cooperation in Madagascar's economic development and enhances the country's tourism potential by making tourist services friendlier to Anglophone visitors.
About the Host Institution
The University of Toamasina is a public university in Madagascar, in the port city of Toamasina, which will soon become the economic capital of Madagascar owing to the substantial economic activities of the port and of a major mining company. The University of Toamasina was formerly part of the University of Madagascar system, along with the other five public universities in the island. In 1988, that system was reorganized and the member schools became separate, autonomous institutions. The University of Toamasina offers the following disciplines: Economics, Geography, History, French, Philosophy, Management, and Law to a student population of approx. 7,000 of which 40% are first year students. English is already taught to first year students in the following departments: Economics, Geography, and History. Current major challenges in English teaching at the University of Toamasina include overcrowded classes, lack of English teachers, disparities in students' English level. The University of Toamasina has not yet hosted an EL Fellow despite the strategic role it plays in the overall economy and national security of Madagascar.
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Host Country Mauritania
Host City Nouakchott
Host Institution ENS - Teachers' College of Nouakchott
Type of Project Fellow
Project Dates November 2010 – August 2011
Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, and Teaching Techniques
Project Description
The purpose of the EL Fellow program is to serve as a teacher trainer for students at Mauritania's "Ecole Normale Superieure" (ENS). ENS is the only recognized teacher training college in Mauritania. As of 2009, ENS had 47 students in its Department of English out of a student body of 400. All teachers in Mauritanian Public Schools must have an ENS degree to teach. The EL Fellow will guest teach, deliver workshops on methodology, lesson planning, and assessment and work with faculty to improve the current curriculum. The EL Fellow will also counsel student teachers during their practicums, focusing on how to manage large, multi-level classes. The goal is to improve the professional competency and capacity of Mauritania’s most important source of ET professionals. ENS students (and faculty) are expected to learn from the EL Fellow how to use contemporary approaches to teaching English to students at the secondary level and how to develop materials and lesson plans in institutions with chronic material shortages. The EL Fellow is expected to improve the quality of English-teaching at ENS. The EL Fellow will work with faculty members to review the curriculum and, if possible, make substantial improvements. These changes will have a tremendous long term impact on new generations of Mauritanian English students and their students.
Secondary project duties will include working with: Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars. In addition to his/her main duties, the EL Fellow will help run a vibrant Teachers' Association, currently in the early stages of development. This volunteer-led association is adding a new dimension to the English teaching community, energizing professional commitment with periodic networking opportunities, a regular venue for language practice, and innovative and challenging activities that continually renew their approaches to teaching.
Project Objectives
There has been an increasing recognition within Mauritania that it must more successfully integrate itself into regional partnerships, the international community, and the global economy, and that doing so will require a good education system that includes English in its curriculum as it is the key language of commerce and diplomacy.
About the Host Institution
ENS was established in 1970 to train secondary education teachers. It is a public institution that trains teachers and inspectors for junior and senior high school. Enrollment is open to holders of two-year and four-year university degrees. In 2008-2009, ENS enrolled 400 students, including 47 who are destined to teach English as a Second Language.
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Host Country Mozambique
Host City Nampula
Host Institution Universidade Lurio
Type of Project Fellow
Project Dates Mid-January 2011 – Mid-November 2011
Special Country Requirements
A yellow fever vaccination is required for travel to Mozambique.
Nampula is a two-hour flight or a six-day drive away from Maputo. There are a number of daily flights.
Project Focus
Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, ESP (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nutrition, Optometry, Biological Sciences, Computer Engineering and Agrarian Sciences)
Project Description
During the project period, Lurio University will utilize the EL Fellow to teach English, advise on curriculum and materials development, and conduct teacher and staff training in both English and methodology. The EL Fellow will be based in the Languages Department - English Section (department names currently under review), at the Nampula campus. S/he will also provide English and methodology training to teachers from the satellite university campuses - Pemba, Cabo Delgado and Lichinga, Niassa. Lurio is especially interested in having someone with a background in teaching English for specific disciplines; more specifically within the fields of the courses currently offered by the University: Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nutrition, Optometry, Biological Sciences, Computer Engineering and Agrarian Sciences. With regard to curriculum/materials development, the EL Fellow will work with the English teaching staff to develop discipline-specific curricula, in particular, sourcing materials related to the courses being offered and ensuring levels of activity according to the student year. The EL Fellow will also work with the English teaching staff to develop information technology-based English language learning via the University's intranet, in particular for weaker students or those who receive minimal language instruction in their course. In addition, Lurio University will benefit from the EL Fellow's ability to contribute ideas and possibly give lectures on pedagogic issues such as methodology, within the Mozambican context. Finally, in accordance with the University's mission to work within the community and with the community, it is hoped that, as well as providing teaching and training within the University as a priority, the EL Fellow will help promote links with other institutions in Nampula. The University encourages visitors from abroad to give lectures and participate in public events within the city and local communities.
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Corner Programming and American Culture. The EL Fellow will support the American Corner in the Universidade Mussa Bin Bique resource center as well as the Access English Microscholarship Program, both of which are located in Nampula. The American Corner moved to a larger location in downtown Nampula in March 2007 and benefited greatly from the leadership of an EL Fellow in Nampula who departed summer 2008 after two very successful years at the Mussa Bin Bique University. The Access program is in its fifth year of operation and has seen two groups of students graduate before provincial and city leaders and the local media. The Access program is very important to this predominately Muslim city, and having an EL Fellow there helps to solidify this program as well as the American Corner not only by providing technical and logistical assistance, but more importantly, by bringing an American face to these programs. Because of the Nampula Access program's success, the US Embassy has been able to expand it to Pemba, Mozambique's northernmost city. Time and resources permitting, the EL Fellow may also support Access in Pemba.
Project Objectives
At Universidade Lurio, the EL Fellow will be supporting the education of Mozambique's future doctors, dentists, and pharmacists at the only medical school in the remote Northern part of the country. The focus of much of Mozambique's health care infrastructure, and the bulk of US Embassy’s support for Mozambique is centered on health, particularly combating HIV/AIDS. Better trained health care professionals translates into better health care services for Mozambicans. The EL Fellow's work with all proposed groups - Lurio University students and staff, Access students, and American Corner users links directly to the Mission goal of improving economic growth and prosperity. Surrounded by English speaking countries, Mozambique knows its continued development depends on relations beyond its borders, and that this requires that more Mozambicans have English language ability. There has been a push to improve the English curriculum throughout the country for this reason, and interest in Mission English programs is growing.
About the Host Institution
Lurio University is the second public medical school to open in Mozambique, and it is the only public medical school located outside the capital city. Lurio opened in 2007 in Nampula and currently has students in their second year or third semester of training, as well as a new preparatory group of five classes which entered the University this year. The total number of students is nearly 200. Lurio currently offers courses in General Medicine, Dental Medicine, Nutrition, Pharmacy and Optometry. We also have plans to open a Faculty of Architecture and Town/Urban Planning in Nampula within the next few years. Additional Faculties are based in Pemba, Cabo Delgado province (Computer Engineering and Biological Sciences) which opened in 2008, and in Lichinga, Niassa (due to open this year with a course in Agrarian Sciences). According to the 2005 Human Development Report, there are currently two physicians for every 100,000 people in Mozambique. Shortages of other health providers (nurses, pharmacists and lab technicians) are comparable. This makes it especially difficult to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in a country where 16 per cent of the population is HIV positive. The EL Fellow at Lúrio will be on the ground floor of building a sustainable curriculum and training program that will enable the university to better achieve its education and development objectives in addition to advancing the fight against HIV/AIDS. UniLurio very successfully hosted an English Language Specialist in February 2009 demonstrating the University's ability to make excellent use of this program and ensure the specialist was content. This was due in large part to the personal commitment of University's Rector who is personable and hard-working.
Although it will not be formally serving as a host for the EL Fellow, it is worth mentioning the Instituto de Linguas. The Instituto is the language teaching branch of the Mozambican Ministry of Education and has been the Mission's implementing partner for the Access program since 2005. The Instituto has a campus of three buildings in Nampula city. In addition to providing instruction to two groups of 40 Access students in Nampula, its Pemba (Mozambique's northernmost city) branch is currently hosting the first group of 20 Access students in that city. The Access program includes two dedicated Access teachers in Nampula, one in Pemba, the Instituto director who oversees the programs in both cities, and a third back-up teacher in Nampula. In addition, the Instituto, and its director based in Nampula, have played a key role in bringing the YES program to Mozambique for the first time. With the director's support, two of five YES participants this year are Access students.
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Host Country Republic of Congo
Host City Brazzaville
Host Institution Ministry of Communications/CUUSA
Type of Project Fellow
Project Dates Mid-August 2010 – Mid-June 2011
Special Country Requirements
Yellow Fever vaccination required; procedures for importing pets include a mandatory rabies shot no more than one year old and administered no less than three months prior to travel, a USDA certified veterinary travel certificate, and a transit permit if traveling through Belgium. Check with airlines on specific requirements for shipping pets via air. Dependents other than spouses/partners will be difficult to accommodate in Brazzaville since the Ministry of Education has agreed to lodge the EL Fellow for ten months in a hotel/apartment setting with only one bedroom.
Project Focus
American Culture, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, and Journalism
Project Description
The EL Fellow in Brazzaville will be principally responsible for teaching a course for journalists through the Ministry of Communication. The course will focus on developing journalists to focus on international reporting in English. The EL Fellow will also be expected to contribute to the U.S. Embassy's functioning English language activities, including English Club and English classes at Villa Washington. English class is a volunteer-teacher based program offered by the Embassy each Saturday. Approximately 15 teachers donate their time to teach a curriculum modeled after the neighboring CALI institute levels 1-3. Students participate in discussion and reading, according to their levels. The EL Fellow will be responsible for organizing student enrollment, monitoring attendance, and training the teachers. The EL Fellow will also administer the placement test for students. English Club is a weekly event that takes place at the American Cultural Center, Villa Washington, each Thursday from 5-7:30 pm. Each week the English Club convenes to participate in a speaker-led session or a group activity. Invited speakers deliver a session on a various topic, ranging from environmental issues to American culture. Other activities, such as viewing documentaries or participating in debate or trivia, are also English Club. The EL Fellow will be expected to participate in organizing English club and working to make it its most effective.
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars. The EL Fellow will also work with capacity building for several English language teaching institutions in Congo, including the Marien Ngouabi University and the Embassy grant-funded English teaching program at the Congolese Alumni Association (CUUSA). The EL Fellow will work with the associations to evaluate their current programs and to devise methods to improve English teaching. This will include training of trainers, developing new English teaching resources, and creating a plan for sustainability so that these programs will continue to function in the long term.
Project Objectives
The EL Fellow's primary goal will be to enhance the level of education by providing classes to journalists, working with English language teachers to enhance English teaching, and by bolstering English activities offered by the Embassy. The general goal of all of the EL Fellow's training and involvement is to improve the quality of English teaching and English classes in Congo. By the simple virtue of being American, the EL Fellow will also serve as a cultural representative of the US. The EL Fellow will be involved in activities at Villa Washington that will help promote and explain U.S. culture. By teaching journalists, the EL Fellow will expand the journalists' abilities to operate in the international media. This opens up a number of opportunities for Congolese journalists who were formerly limited to only Francophone media. Journalists will be able to better understand and communicate openly, contributing to greater freedom of the press and democracy. The EL Fellow will also foster civic values by working with multiple members, including NGO and government contacts that participate in Villa Washington events on a regular basis. The EL Fellow will encourage civic participation in English activities and educational outreach.
About the Host Institution
The host institution is the Ministry of Communication. CUUSA is the U.S. Alumni Association. The U.S. Embassy sponsored a grant to improve English teaching at the association. Currently, the Association operates with around 50 students per academic quarter. Most students range from 10-25 years of age and all classes are offered in the afternoon or early evenings.
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Host Country Rwanda
Host City Muhanga
Host Institution Catholic University of Kabgayi
Type of Project Fellow
Project Dates January – November 2011
Project Focus
American Culture, American Literature, Business, Democracy/Civics, Economics, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Finance, Journalism, Marketing, Teaching Methodologies, and Teaching Techniques
Project Description
The EL Fellow will provide a great support to the English Language resources center of the Catholic University of Kabgay to achieve its objectives: teaching general English to the university community (faculty members, students) and Kabgayi community mainly business professionals. The EL Fellow will teach English for academic purposes to the first and second year students; s/he will be a great support to English clubs as well as to the community learning English; s/he will teach business English for a total of 15 hours per week. The average size of the class will be 40 (20-40 years old). Sometimes s/he will team teach with local teachers. CUK English Language Resource Center has some materials like a TV set and DVD reader, projector, ten computers, digital camera, a radio and some books.
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, English Club Programming, Support Mentoring, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars. The EL Fellow will organize workshops on syllabus design, facilitate English clubs as part of in-reach and out-reach programs whereby learners of English may get more opportunities to practice their communication skills in an informal setting.
Project Objectives
Since recently Rwanda has officially dropped French and adopted English making it the sole language used as a medium of instruction at all education levels, the placement of an EL Fellow at the Catholic University of Kabgayi will help this institution to achieve its mission in line with this new language policy. The EL Fellow will be a great resource for both students and faculty members to improve their English language proficiency in learning and teaching academic subjects. The presence of the EL Fellow will not only impact on the university community but also on the local community in the neighborhood (many primary and secondary schools). Rwanda has also joined different regional and international communities whose members use English as official language. The EL Fellow will help the university community to be competitive at regional and international markets. In brief, the presence of EL Fellow at CUK will underscore this institution's vision of being centre of academic and professional excellence through promoting English language teaching, learning. CUK has just hosted the first English Language teaching conference in Rwanda that included all partners. It was very successful. They plan to organize more programs of this kind if they get the requested support.
About the Host Institution
The Catholic University of Kabgayi is a private institution of higher learning located in Muhanga District, Southern Province of Rwanda. It was established by the Catholic Diocese of Kabgayi on October 21, 2002 and given recognition by the Ministry of Education in 2003. The Catholic university of Kabgayi has three faculties:
- The faculty of Sciences for Development
- The Faculty of Social Sciences, economics and Management
- The Faculty of Journalism and Communications.
In addition to above programs, the university also has three centres:
- The university Research and Professionalization Centre
- The Monsignor William A. Kerr English Language Resource Centre
- Career Advisory Centre
The urgent requirement for the English Language Resource Centre had come about as a result of Government of Rwanda’s directive in 2008 to use English Language as the only medium of Instruction at all levels of education. Hence, the centre was established with the mission of promoting English language teaching, learning and use at the university in particular and in the region in general.
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Host Country Senegal
Host City Dakar
Host Institution FASTEF
Type of Project Fellow
Project Dates Mid-October 2010 – Mid-August 2011
Project Focus
Computers, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, and Teaching Techniques
Project Description
The EL Fellow will be assigned to work at the English department of the Senegalese teacher training institute in Dakar, FASTEF. FASTEF has hosted an EL Fellow in the past and they are eager to have the opportunity to work with an EL Fellow again. The EL Fellow will teach courses that focus on ELT methods and practices, CLT, and critical thinking skills. S/he will teach 3-4 classes per week for no more than 12 hours/week. The EL Fellow will also observe trainees during practice teaching sessions and conduct follow up. S/he will be asked to advise students on their research projects. The EL Fellow will collaborate with colleagues at FASTEF to develop materials and plan lessons to improve the existing curriculum. If time permits, the EL Fellow will be asked to help develop materials on information/computer technology for the department.
Secondary project duties will include working with: English Club Programming, and Support/Mentoring. The EL Fellow will work with the English Club at FASTEF, helping coordinate special events such as Black History Month and International Earth Day. The EL Fellow will also serve on the executive committee as and advisor/participant for the newly established Senegalese chapter of Toastmasters, International.
Project Objectives
The EL Fellow can assist his/her colleagues at the sole teacher training institute in the country to train future Senegalese teachers of English, providing insight on new ELT innovations, resources, and methodologies. Teacher education is a highly successful medium for developing democratic practices in society at a grassroots level, and the presence of an EL Fellow at this institution will reflect U.S. Embassy’s commitment to consistent professional support to English language teaching and teacher training in this predominantly Muslim country.
About the Host Institution
Le Faculte des Sciences et Technolgies de l'Education et de la Formation, FASTEF, was established in 1962 and focused on the training of middle school and junior high school teachers. The institution has evolved over the past forty-eight years, incorporating teacher education for high school teachers as well as the training of school inspectors. Today, FASTEF has 15 departments and approximately 1675 students on site; an additional 1000 students participate in the institution's distance learning program, but this barely meets the demand of the thousands of untrained teachers who currently are teaching in Senegalese schools. The English Department consists of 11 professors. It has approximately 300 students on site this year and an additional 128 students in its evening program. Its distance education component has 400 students and focuses primarily on providing in-service training to previously untrained instructors of English.
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Host Country South Africa
Host City Potchefstroom
Host Institution North West University
Type of Project Fellow
Project Dates Mid-January 2011 – Mid-November 2011
Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, Content Based English
Project Description
The EL Fellow will teach six classes per week in the module English Medium of Instruction (training content teachers, e.g. Science, Geography, Foundation phase teacher trainees to teach through medium of a second language). In relation to this course, the EL Fellow will liaise with his/her counterpart on the Mafikeng Campus with regard to the content, assessment and teaching methods of the course. In conjunction with the classes taught, the EL Fellow will occasionally visit rural schools to follow up with student teachers and other teachers especially in the science, math and technology areas for 9th grade teachers. In addition to teaching one English Medium of Instruction class and the rural outreach, the EL Fellow will assist with the support of L2 students in the education faculty, specifically though writing center activities.
Project Objectives
To support the university’s dynamic education department. US Embassy’s alumni contacts in the department have a good understanding of the EL Fellow program and of the goals of the Embassy. This Fellowship offers a support to one of the most forward-thinking education faculties in the country. They will use the EL Fellow to improve the university’s ability to support students from underserved populations and to improve the education provided by public schools in rural areas of North West Province. In addition, it is hoped that the Fellow will be able to link teaching in the education departments of the campuses to better realize the university merger.
About the Host Institution
North West University in Potchefstoom boasts the second largest education department in South Africa, based upon the number of teachers graduated each year. North West University is a very old and traditional university. They have won research grants to study effective intervention in South African schools to help subject matter teachers use Content Based Instruction to teach non-native speakers of English.
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Host Country South Africa
Host City Grahamstown/Cape Town
Host Institution Rhodes University/ Cape Training and Leadership Center
Type of Project Senior Fellow
Project Dates January 2011 – December 2011
Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Research, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques
Special Country/Project Requirements
The EL Fellow will be doing a good deal of travel and will most likely need to buy a car in South Africa for transportation in country and as such must be comfortable driving in South Africa. Malaria prophylaxis, while not necessary in South Africa will need to be taken for some of the international trips. S/he will work in close collaboration with the RELO office and needs to be flexible in terms of scheduling and in their tolerance for venturing into potentially entering new areas of the profession. South Africa is a high crime risk country and staying safe is the priority. The EL Fellow must understand the threat of crime in South Africa and alter behavior accordingly.
Project Description
The EL Fellow will be directly assisting the RELO in performing priority professional development projects Southern Africa. The project will require extensive travel in South Africa and wider southern Africa. The EL Fellow will have two three-month host institutions, one in Western Cape at the Cape Teaching and Leadership Institute (CTLI) and one the Eastern Cape at Rhodes University. At both institutions the EL Fellow will assist in on-site professional development for teachers of English at the primary and secondary level. At both sites s/he will be doing follow up with teachers by visiting the schools and classrooms where the teachers work. In this way the EL Fellow will be adding major impact in the form of follow through which currently is rare. If time allows the EL Fellow may also provide in-service support to teach South African teachers through classroom visits and through teacher seminars.
Secondary project duties will include working with: Teachers Association/Organization, Workshops/Seminars. In addition to the teacher professional development activities at CTLI and Rhodes, the Fellow may embark on three international projects in Southern African countries--most likely, Angola, Mozambique, Madagascar, Namibia, or Zimbabwe--to run short term intensive workshops for English teachers catering to the specific needs of English teachers in these countries. Also, the Fellow may visit the Access programs in South Africa in these countries in order to enhance the American content of the Access program.
Project Objectives
English is one of eleven official languages in South Africa, but it is the only language that gives access to higher education to those previously locked out during Apartheid. In other words, English teaching is the door to further education and the development of the skilled citizens that South Africa so desperately needs. In this way, improving the quality of English teaching in South Africa is key to improving the economy and improving the vitality of the democracy. The EL Fellow will improve the quality of English teaching in the region through hands on professional development and just as importantly will enhance the long-term performance of two important in-service teacher professional development institutions through an intercultural dialog and cooperation.
About the Host Institution
Rhodes University hosts the Institute for the Study of English in Africa (ISEA) which has a grant from the South African Government to perform Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE) training for teachers around Grahamstown. Rhodes University's web site is http://www.ru.ac.za/
CTLI is the primary in service training center for teachers in the Western Cape. The Center has lodging facilities for teachers and trainers and hosts regular sessions for teacher development.
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Host Country South Africa
Host City Johannesburg
Host Institution Teach South Africa
Type of Project Fellow
Project Dates Mid-January 2011 – Mid-November 2011
Special Country Requirements
The EL Fellow will be driving a good deal in Gauteng Province. The EL Fellow needs to purchase car and be comfortable driving around Johannesburg and environs.
Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Content Based English (Math and Science), Teaching Methodologies, and Teaching Techniques
Project Description
The EL Fellow will be working in the classroom (primary and secondary) with the Teach South Africa Ambassadors in order to further the professional development of these new teachers. In addition to helping the English as a First Additional Language teachers, the EL Fellow will work with Science and Math teachers to construct English language scaffolding around those subjects. The EL Fellow will travel regularly to as many as ten schools in Gauteng Province and make less regular visits to other sites around South Africa. The EL Fellow will have a good understanding of the South African curriculum and Matriculation Exam. With the Umlambo Foundation, the EL Fellow will give English Skills Workshops to 12th grade students in preparation for the Matriculation exam.
Secondary project duties will include working with: Teachers Association/Organization and Workshops/Seminars. The EL Fellow will design training sessions for the English language "Ambassadors," both in service and pre-service. The EL Fellow will design materials that can be used across the schools where "Ambassadors" are placed. The EL Fellow will also participate in Umlambo professional development workshops for English teachers and serve as a consultant for the Umlambo Foundation in improving their English teaching support.
Project Objectives
Ambassador Gips and his wife have listed education as their highest priority in South Africa and see the work of NGOs in the sector as key to solving the numerous challenges there. The progress of South Africa and continued transformation relies upon a strong education system to give skills to a population long locked out of opportunity. Without a strong education the 25% unemployment rate will only get worse, the devastating crime will continue, and wealth will stay concentrated in the hands of a few.
About the Host Institution
Based upon the Teach America model, Teach South Africa is an important new education NGO in South Africa that is getting young, enthusiastic teachers into struggling schools. The RELO Office has worked in the training of the Teach Ambassadors and the Ambassador is very interested in continuing to support this NGO.
From the Website: http://www.teachsouthafrica.org/
TEACH South Africa is building a national movement to eliminate educational inequality. TEACH South Africa recruits and trains top university graduates to teach Math, Science, Technology and English in disadvantaged schools, in urban and rural areas, for a period of two years. Participants, called TEACH Ambassadors, will help South Africa and give back to communities, while developing critical leadership skills for the classroom and beyond. With TEACH South Africa’s support, TEACH Ambassadors become lifelong leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity. Started by the former vice president of South Africa, this important NGO focuses on whole school development in 20 schools across South Africa. RELO office has been involved in working with English teacher development and direct English teaching in these schools.
From the Website: http://www.umlambo.com/node?homepage=1
Umlambo Foundation leverages the goodwill of people and institutions to invest in leadership and management development of school principals to improve the quality of education in public schools; giving learners a chance to WIN against poverty.
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Host Country South Africa
Host City Pretoria
Host Institution University of Pretoria
Type of Project Senior Fellow
Project Dates Mid-January 2011 – Mid-November 2011
Special Country Requirements
Extensive travel is required for this project.
Project Focus
English for Reading, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, Teaching Techniques, working with NWP (National Writing Project)
Project Description
The EL Fellow will be teaching writing and reading to students, student teachers and teachers. The EL Fellow will be based in Pretoria but will travel to Durban, Limpopo, Free State, and Western Cape. The EL Fellow will work in various schools but will also hold activities for larger communities of students and teachers. Activities include significant planning and conceptualizing, networking with universities in South Africa as well as teaching.
Secondary project duties will include working with: Teachers Association/Organization and Workshops/Seminars. The EL Fellow will be coordinating a network of host sites for professional development activities focusing on intensive writing workshops. The EL Fellow will facilitate intensive, three or four week-long writing workshops for teachers. The EL Fellow will create the groundwork for a sustainable network of professional development activities in South Africa. Extensive experience with the NWP (National Writing Project) in the U.S. is required for this position and there will be coordination with the U.S. organization.
Project Objectives
Summarize the expected impact of the EL Fellow project as related to the MSP goals*:
Professionalization of the teaching corps in SA is crucial. The lack of motivation and expertise makes SA teachers is the weakest link in the education system. The NWP model is effective because it empowers and includes teachers rather than correcting and lecturing them. One of the best models of Professional Development to come out of the U.S., it has been well received when tested in pilots in South Africa.
About the Host Institution
University of Pretoria is the leading research university in South Africa and one of the largest in the country. The University has six campuses and a number of other sites of operation such as the Pretoria Academic Hospital. Central administration is located at the Hatfield campus. The University of Pretoria offers its more than 1800 academic programs in two of the official languages, namely Afrikaans and English. (Some programs and modules are offered only in English.) In 1996, the University of Pretoria became the university with the highest research output in South Africa and we have maintained this status. The academic programs of the University are offered in the following nine faculties and a business school. The faculties comprise a total of 140 departments and 85 centers, institutes and bureaus. UP is at the forefront of tertiary education in the country and we collaborate with world-class partners to ensure continued excellence in learning and teaching. (http://web.up.ac.za/)
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Host Country Togo
Host City Lome
Host Institution DIFOP
Type of Project Senior Fellow
Project Dates Mid-September 2010 – Mid-July 2011
Project Focus
Teaching Methodologies, and Teaching Techniques
Project Description
The Regional EL Fellow will work with teacher training colleges and tertiary-level institutions that offer ELT pedagogical instruction in Togo, Benin, Niger, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and other West African countries. The EL Fellow will provide teacher training and training-of-trainer seminars to teachers of English throughout the region. The EL Fellow will be based at the Head Office of Training (la Direction de la Formation) at the University of Lome. The EL Fellow will work with this group to improve the quality of ELT methodology for Togolese teachers of English. The EL Fellow will assist the previously mentioned institutions with program design, providing information on modern ELT methods, developing relevant materials for the EFL classroom in the African context, and revising curriculum guidelines through consultations and presenting workshops and seminars.
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Corner Programming, Support/Mentoring, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars. The Regional EL Fellow will prepare workshops and presentations based on the requests from U.S. Embassies in the region, as well as provide needs assessments during initial visits. The EL Fellow will also make recommendations to Embassies and the RELO about future English language programming. The EL Fellow will work closely with English teachers' associations in the region and advise teachers who are interested and motivated to create such professional support organizations. The EL Fellow will participate in local and regional ELT conferences and seminars. The EL Fellow will present seminars on a variety of topics at American Corners throughout the region at the request of Embassies and the RELO.
Project Objectives
Due to innumerable requests that RELO-Dakar and U.S. Embassies in the region receive for English language teaching and learning programs, there is a need to place a regional EL Fellow in Lome. Having a senior-level ELF assigned to this part of the region will provide Embassies and the RELO the ability to fulfill many more of the requests they receive for English language teaching assistance. A Regional EL Fellow will provide programming continuity across the region, which has significant Muslim populations who are eager to increase their abilities and exposure to English. Teacher education is a highly successful tool to develop democratic practices in society at a grassroots level, and the presence of the EL Fellow will reflect commitment to consistent professional support to English language teaching.
About the Host Institution
Founded in 1979, la Direction de la Formation (Head Office of Training-DIFOP) is located on the University of Lome campus. DIFOP is the teacher training institution that trains Togolese teachers for all academic subjects, including English. The English Section has four permanent teacher trainers who are involved in the yearly pedagogical training of Togolese teachers of English and the Ministry of Education's Regional Inspectors for English. The trainers have continually asked for the Embassy's assistance to help them be more familiar with current trends in ELT methodology and practices. There are approximately 2,100 teachers of English in the Togolese secondary educational system. The vast majority of them desperately need training, especially the 160 newly recruited teachers of English. The majority of the 2,100 have not received any additional pedagogical training since they were recruited 10 to 15 years ago.
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Host Country Uganda
Host City Kampala
Host Institution Kyambogo
Type of Project Fellow
Project Dates September 2010 – June 2011
Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, and Teaching Techniques
Project Description
The EL Fellow will teach two classes over the two semesters of the academic year, Freshman English Composition and Teaching Methods for second year student teachers. The English Composition consists of a lecture component and a tutorial component. The lecture component is three hours a week with up to 150 students in the class and tutorial break-out session of smaller size each week for a total of ten hours a week in the composition classroom. The Teaching Methods course is also three contact hours a week with tutorials. The Methods course may well be team taught with another teacher in order to closely collaborate with permanent faculty for sustainable curricular improvement.
Secondary project duties will include working with: Workshops/Seminars. In addition to the teaching duties, the EL Fellow will plan and implement a workshop for faculty and teachers at four of the satellite campuses of Kyambogo. The workshop can address any aspect of teacher professional development but should include aspects of teaching reading and writing. This regional out-reach will allow for professional developments in the rural areas of Uganda. Other priorities of the host include using technology in the teaching of English and the implementation of support programs for Academic English such as writing centers.
Project Objectives
Kyambogo University graduates nearly all of the secondary school teachers in Uganda. By teaching at this university, the EL Fellow has the potential to influence the faculty and directly work with the future teachers of the country. The university has shown its receptivity to implementing new methods and curriculum and is eager to host an EL Fellow. Through the amelioration of English teaching, the EL Fellow will have an impact on the nation's ability to meet its skills needs and effectively participate in the global economy
About the Host Institution
Kyambogo University is a relatively new University created with the main aim of promoting and advancing knowledge and development of skills in Science, Technology and Education and such other fields having regards for quality, equity, progress and transformation of society. Kyambogo University is Uganda’s third public university established by the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001 and the Universities and Other Tertiary institutions’ (Establishment of Kyambogo University) instruments of 2003. It is a merger of the former Uganda Polytechnic Kyambogo (UPK), the Institute of Teacher Education, Kyambogo (ITEK), and the Uganda National Institute of Special Education (UNISE). Although Kyambogo is a new university, it has a rich history that dates as far back as 1928. UPK started in 1928 as a small technical school on the Makerere Hill and was transferred to Kyambogo Hill in 1958 as Kampala Technical Institute. It was renamed Uganda Technical College and finally UPK. ITEK started as a Government Teacher Training College in 1948 in Nyakasura, Fort Portal and transferred to Ruharo and then Ntare Hill all in Mbarara, western Uganda. It transformed into a National Teachers’ College and later ITEK as per the statue of parliament in 1989. UNISE on the other hand started as a Department of Special Education at ITEK in 1988, and later became an autonomous institution by act of parliament in 1998.
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Host Country Zambia
Host City Lusaka
Host Institution Evelyn Hone College
Type of Project Fellow
Project Dates February 2011 – December 2011
Project Focus
American Culture, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, and Teaching Techniques
Special Country/Project Requirements
Americans who wish to offer their services in Zambia, even on a short-term basis, must obtain a visa and a work permit. Both documents can be obtained upon arrival in Zambia. Visitors should be immunized for yellow fever.
Project Description
The EL Fellow will spend a minimum of 70% of his/her time and effort to teach two components of English as a second language, i.e. English language for teachers and English grammar as a second language. These two courses are offered in the Department of Communication Skills at Evelyn Hone College. The EL Fellow will focus on strengthening English language skills in both written and spoken English.
The proposed workload will be as follows: English Language grammar – 4 hrs/week and English language for Teachers – 6 hrs/week. The EL Fellow will be extremely valuable in supporting the Communications Department in curriculum design and implementation. S/he will be developing teaching modules, reviewing and grading assignments for continuous students' performance assessments. S/he will also be participating in final exams preparations and marking.
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Corner Programming, American Culture, American Studies, English Club Programming, Support Mentoring, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars. A maximum of 30% of the EL Fellow's time and effort will be spent on other professional projects such as conducting English language programs with teachers and students at the American Corner in Kitwe. The EL Fellow will also be working with the US Embassy’s outreach team that deals with sharing American culture and values with high school students. Since the Embassy has embarked on establishing English reading clubs in schools and other institutions of learning, including audio book clubs in media institutions, the EL Fellow will be encouraged to work with Embassy staff in the Press section to promote audio book discussions on radio, and also work with Information Resource Center (IRC) staff to spearhead English language programs that encourage public speaking. In addition to these extra-curricular activities, the EL Fellow will be offering mentorship to teachers of English so they can improve the delivery of their English lessons.
Project Objectives
Although ostensibly an English-speaking country, Zambia suffers from sub-standard English instruction and skills at nearly every level, which impacts US Embassy’s ability to meet goals across all sectors – education, economics, health, and democracy. Evelyn Hone College is the only institution of higher learning in Zambia offering English as a second language to students, a critical audience for Embassy programming. Recognizing the dearth of English skills among incoming students, Evelyn Hone has also proactively implemented a basic communication skills class for all matriculating freshmen and is striving to improve the quality of instruction future teachers receive, to break the cycle. It is for these reasons the EHC Communications Department requests a native English speaker who will bring new ideas and new perspectives in the teaching of English as a foreign language. Students will benefit from regular interaction with an American instructor and will pass on what they have learned to others. As indicated in the proposal, the EL Fellow will not only teach but develop appropriate teaching materials, prepare and grade assignments and exams.
About the Host Institution
Evelyn Hone College was established on October 23, 1963, a year before Northern Rhodesia became the independent state of Zambia. The college has grown from a student population of 200 to 4,000. It is classified as Zambia's third-largest institution of higher learning in relation to the University of Zambia and the Copperbelt University. It is the only government-funded establishment that offers courses that cover English as a second language. The other institutions that offer similar courses are privately owned and not open to the general public. Among the 23 institutions that fall under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocation Training (MSTVT) it is the largest college. The English language learning curricula at EHC have been popular throughout Zambia, the southern region and across Africa.
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Host Country Zimbabwe
Host City Harare
Host Institution University of Zimbabwe
Type of Project Fellow
Project Dates September 2010 – June 2011
Project Focus
English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Teaching Methodologies, and Teaching Techniques
Project Description
The EL Fellow's primary duties will be to teach Communications Skills (reading, writing and speaking) at the University of Zimbabwe's Linguistics Department. The Department of Linguistics has a faculty complement of twenty staff members. The Linguistics Department formulates and offers a Communication Skills course that equips first year undergraduate students with English language academic skills. The Department of Linguistics faculty has contact with roughly 3,000 first year undergraduates in this course. Initially, the EL Fellow will observe Communication Skills classes to assess the content and teaching methodologies. Thereafter a series of roundtable meetings with the Department's Chairperson will provide a forum for the EL Fellow to present his or her observations. The EL Fellow, in collaboration with the departmental chair, will propose a way forward and be assigned classes as well as a teaching schedule to provide teacher training, especially to more junior faculty and teaching assistants. The teaching will be through formal lectures with assignments and in-class discussions and debates. There will be a review of progress by faculty every three months to ascertain whether the objectives laid out at the beginning of the program are on track.
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Corner Programming, American Studies, English Club Programming, and Workshops/Seminars. The U.S. Embassy will also invite the EL Fellow to travel to universities outside Harare to conduct short seminars for students and teachers at other universities and its American Corners. The Embassy envisions programming the EL Fellow at the Africa University American Corner for faculty who teach English as a second language as Africa University is a pan-African University with students from Lusophone and Francophone African countries. A second workshop at Africa University will target university faculty on the subject of teaching academic writing. At the Bulawayo American Corner, the EL Fellow will provide a workshop for Heads of High School English Departments on incorporating critical thinking in writing instruction. Two workshops will be provided at the National University of Science & Technology on academic writing followed by a workshop for journalism students at the same university. Visits to high schools to observe or be a guest speaker at English Clubs will also be included. The EL Fellow will also work with the Mission's Educational Advisor to review and/or develop test preparation materials for TOEFL and the verbal sections of the SAT and GRE for students interested in pursuing university education the U.S.
Project Objectives
EL Fellow activities will put him/her in direct contact with not only university students and faculty but also with the youth, civil society, media and community leaders through American Corner programming and outreach to high schools.
About the Host Institution
The University of Zimbabwe is in Harare, the country's capital city. It is situated about five km north of the city centre and is set in the beautiful suburb of Mount Pleasant on 180 hectares of land. Transport to and from the campus is readily available in the form of commuter omnibuses and taxis. The Medical School which constitutes part of the Faculty of Medicine is situated at Parirenyatwa Hospital, about three km from the Main Campus. The university has ten faculties: Arts, Agriculture, Engineering, Commerce, Law, Science, Social Studies, Education, Veterinary Science and College of Health Sciences. With these faculties and a number of research centers and specialized institutes, the University of Zimbabwe is the largest and most complete institution of research and higher education in Zimbabwe. It offers internationally recognized higher degrees by research and a wide range of taught undergraduate and graduate programs geared both to the professional needs and to the intellectual development of academic disciplines. The University attaches importance to the development of its international profile through working with other dynamic educational institutions which have displayed an awareness of the benefits that derive from the internationalization of higher education. The University of Zimbabwe has been party to numerous exchange and linkage agreements with universities worldwide. Through these efforts, and in collaboration with other universities, the University of Zimbabwe has developed appropriate programs and courses that make effective use of the new and developing technologies to support the teaching and learning process. Emphasis is placed on sustaining quality in terms of the programs offered, student experience and institutional reputation.
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