AY 2010-2011 Projects- South and Central Asia

• Afghanistan, Kabul Education University - Filled     
• Afghanistan, Kabul Medical University - Filled 
• Afghanistan, Balkh University's Education Faculty - Filled
• Afghanistan, Herat Education Faculty - Filled
• Bangladesh, BRAC U./Bangladesh Madrassa Teacher Training Institute - Filled 
• India – Directorate of Collegiate Education, Senior Fellow - Filled
• India, Patna University - Filled 
• India, Regional Institute of English, Chandigarh - Filled 
• Kazakhstan, Aktobe State Pedagogical Institute/English Language Teachers' Association (ELTA) - Filled
• Kazakhstan – Buketov Karaganda State University, Karaganda Association of English Language Teachers, Fellow - Filled
• Kyrgyzstan, Osh State University/Forum Language Teachers' Association - Filled/Confirmed Renewal     
• Kyrgyzstan, NGO Lingua - Filled
• Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek Humanitarian University - Filled
• Nepal, Nepal English Language Teachers Association (NELTA)/Tribhuvan University - Filled
• Pakistan, Government College University of Lahore - Filled 
• Pakistan, The U.S. Educational Foundation in Pakistan - Filled
• Pakistan, Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers - Filled
• Pakistan – Pakistan American Cultural Center, Senior Fellow - Filled
• Sri Lanka, The Wayamba University of Sri Lanka - Filled
• Sri Lanka, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka - Filled 
• Tajikistan, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA-ROLI) - Filled
• Tajikistan, Bactria Cultural Center - Filled
• Tajikistan, Gymnasium #74 - Filled 
• Tajikistan, Tajik State University of Commerce - Filled/Confirmed Renewal     
• Turkmenistan, Foreign Languages Training Center for Graduate Students, Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan/Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy - Filled 
• Uzbekistan, Institute for English Teacher Education (IELTE), Uzbek State World Languages University - Filled/Confirmed Renewal
• Uzbekistan, Urgench State University - Filled  

Host Country             Afghanistan
Host City                    Kabul
Host Institution          Kabul Education University      
Type of Project          Senior Fellow
Project Dates             September 2010 – June 2011

Special Country Requirements

• No dependents or pets are permitted in Kabul.
• Immunizations recommended: Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, MMR, polio booster, tetanus-diphtheria booster. Malaria prophylaxis is optional. Environmental conditions are extremely dry and dusty for most of the year. Resulting health problems ranging from dry skin to bronchial and sinus infections are common.
• Housing in Kabul is provided in housing units called hooches, which are approximately 8’ wide and 15’ long; bathroom is 8' x 3'. Although small, hooches are self-contained and have: a single bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, chest of drawers, air conditioning and heating unit, refrigerator, TV, Region 1 DVD player, a bathroom, and they are supplied with sheets, towels, and floor mat.

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

Project Description
The EL Fellow will:

• Provide ELT methodology training to Kabul Education University faculty members in the faculty of English Language Teaching;
• Teach an academic writing class to Kabul Education University pre-service teachers in their final year of matriculation;
• Improve the academic English program for Kabul Education University students via a thorough curriculum reform.

The Fellow will have up to 20 contact hours per week.

Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, American Studies, Support Mentoring, Teachers Associations/Organization, and Workshops and Seminars.  The EL Fellows in Afghanistan will work collaboratively with each other and with implementing partners on two secondary projects. The first project will entail the creation of a Master in Education (M.Ed.) with a concentration in English for Academic Purposes and providing support. The second project will focus on advising three to four teachers as they complete their Master's degrees. In addition, the EL Fellow may be requested to travel no more than once a month to various Provinces to conduct teacher training seminars. Travel is coordinated with the military-run Provincial Reconstruction Teams.
 
Project Objectives
Literacy and English language training are key themes in the U.S. Embassy's Communication Plan. By facilitating progress on these themes, the EL Fellow will help improve economic opportunities for the Afghan people, empower Afghans to access and evaluate a wider range of news and information, enhance communication linkages between Afghans and members of the international community in Afghanistan, build democracy, and combat terrorism. Through this project, the EL Fellow will work with teachers and educators who instruct thousands of students annually. S/he will contribute to the development of a new generation of Afghan professionals which is fully conversant in English.

About the Host Institution
Kabul Education University is the newest university in Kabul, although it is housed in an old building. First, it was established as Kabul Institute of Pedagogy and then in 2003, it became Kabul Education University. Until 1994, this institute was one of the main teacher training institutions which was running under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. Now, it is under the Ministry of Higher Education. KEU has six faculties, and 4139 students; 1602 are female and 2537 are male. It has 164 professors, of whom 122 are male and 42 are female.

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Host Country             Afghanistan
Host City                    Kabul
Host Institution          Kabul Medical University
Type of Project          Senior Fellow
Project Dates             March – December 2011

Special Country Requirements

• No dependents or pets are permitted in Kabul.
• Immunizations recommended: Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, MMR, polio booster, tetanus-diphtheria booster. Malaria prophylaxis is optional. Environmental conditions are extremely dry and dusty for most of the year. Resulting health problems ranging from dry skin to bronchial and sinus infections are common.
• Housing in Kabul is provided in housing units called hooches, which are approximately 8’ wide and 15’ long; bathroom is 8' x 3'. Although small, hooches are self-contained and have: a single bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, chest of drawers, air conditioning and heating unit, refrigerator, TV, Region 1 DVD player, a bathroom, and they are supplied with sheets, towels, and floor mat.

Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Medicine, Proficiency Exams, Publishing, and Research

Project Description
The EL Fellow will:
1. Provide general English language classes and other forms of English training to KMU faculty;
2. Provide faculty with courses in English for Medical Purposes, so they can move toward lecturing in English;
3. Improve the general English program for KMU students in their first two years at the university, primarily through professional development of the English language faculty.
The EL Fellow will have up to 20 contact hours per week.
 
Secondary project duties will include working with: Support Mentoring, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars. The EL Fellows in Afghanistan will work collaboratively with each other and with implementing partners on two secondary projects. The first project will entail the creation of a Master in Education (M.Ed.) with a concentration in English for Academic Purposes and providing support. The second project will focus on advising three to four teachers as they complete their MA degrees. In addition, the EL Fellow may be requested to travel no more than once a month to various provinces to conduct English language teacher training seminars. Travel is coordinated with the military-run Provincial Reconstruction Teams.

Project Objectives
The EL Fellow will help the US Embassy to improve economic opportunities for the Afghan people, empower Afghans to access and evaluate a wider range of news and information, enhance communication linkages between Afghans and members of the international community in Afghanistan, build democracy, and combat terrorism.  Through this project, the EL Fellow will work with teachers and educators who instruct thousands of students annually. S/he will contribute to the development of a new generation of Afghan professionals which is fully conversant in English.

About the Host Institution
Kabul Medical University (formerly known as Kabul Medical Faculty) is located in Kabul, Afghanistan, on the campus of Kabul University. The medical institution was initially maintained by collaboration with Turkish and French sponsors. KMF developed into a single self-autonomic University in 2005. It currently graduates professionals in fields of Curative Medicine, Pediatrics, Stomatology, and Nursing. All subjects are taught in Dari but most medical terms are either in Arabic, Greek, English, or French. 

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Host Country             Afghanistan
Host City                    Mazar-i-Sharif  
Host Institution          Balkh University Faculty of Literature and Humanities
Type of Project          Senior English Language Fellow
Project Dates             March 15, 2011 – January 15, 2012

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

Project Description
The EL Fellow will:

• Provide ELT methodology training in a mentoring and tutorial capacity to Balkh University Faculty of Literature and Humanities staff members in the Department of English;
• Teach an academic writing class to pre-service student teachers in their final year of matriculation in the English Department of the Balkh University Faculty of Literature and Humanities;
• Provide professional support for local donor-funded projects aimed at strengthening the Department of English.
• Provide periodic reporting to the US Embassy in Kabul.

The Fellow will have up to 10 contact hours per week.
 
Secondary project duties will include working with: Lincoln Learning Center Programming, American Culture, American Studies, the English Language Teachers Association for Afghans (ELTAA), and workshops and seminars for students and teachers at the Faculty of Education and at the Ministry of Education’s Teacher Training Center. EL Fellows in Afghanistan will work collaboratively with each other and with implementing partners on secondary projects. The first assignment will entail a study of a project leading to the creation of a local Master’s degree program (M.A or M.Ed.) with a concentration in English as Second Language in collaboration with potential donors and sponsors. In addition, the EL Fellow may be requested to travel no more than once a month to regional provinces to conduct English language workshops and seminars. Travel is coordinated with the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs).

Project Objectives
The EL Fellow will help the US Embassy to improve economic opportunities for the Afghan people, empower Afghans to access and evaluate a wider range of news and information, enhance communication linkages between Afghans and members of the international community in Afghanistan, build democracy, and combat terrorism.  Through this project, the EL Fellow will work with teachers and educators who instruct thousands of students annually. S/he will contribute to the development of a new generation of Afghan professionals which is fully conversant in English.
 
About the Host Institution
Balkh University is located in the north of Afghanistan, Balkh Province, which is the fatherland of famous people like Abu-Ali Sina and Maulana Jalaluddin Mohammad-e Balkhi. It is the largest educational institution in the Northern Provinces and the second largest university in Afghanistan. A new campus is being developed that may open for the 2011-2012 academic year.

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Host Country             Afghanistan
Host City                    Herat  
Host Institution          Herat University Faculty of Literature and Humanities
Type of Project          Senior English Language Fellow
Project Dates            March 15, 2011 – January 15, 2012

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

Project Description
The EL Fellow will:

• Provide ELT methodology training in a mentoring and tutorial capacity to Herat University Faculty of Literature and Humanities teaching staff members in the Department of English;
• Teach an academic writing class to pre-service student teachers in their final year of matriculation in the English Department of the Herat University Faculty of Literature and Humanities;
• Provide professional support for local donor-funded projects aimed at strengthening the Department of English.
• Provide periodic reporting to Georgetown University and to the US Embassy in Kabul.

The Fellow will have up to 10 contact classroom hours per week.
 
Secondary project duties will include working with: Lincoln Learning Center Programming, American Culture, American Studies, the English Language Teachers’ Association for Afghans (ELTAA), and workshops and seminars for students and teachers at the Herat University Faculty of Education and the local Ministry of Education Teacher Training College. EL Fellows in Afghanistan will work collaboratively with each other and with implementing partners on secondary projects. The first assignment will entail a study of a project leading to the creation of a local Master’s degree program (M.A or M.Ed.) with a concentration in English as Second Language in collaboration with potential donors and sponsors. In addition, the EL Fellow may be requested to travel no more than once a month to regional provinces to conduct English language workshops and seminars. Travel is coordinated with the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs).

Project Objectives
The EL Fellow will help the US Embassy to improve economic opportunities for the Afghan people, empower Afghans to access and evaluate a wider range of news and information, enhance communication linkages between Afghans and members of the international community in Afghanistan, build democracy, and combat terrorism.  Through this project, the EL Fellow will work with teachers and educators who instruct thousands of students annually. S/he will contribute to the development of a new generation of Afghan professionals which is fully conversant in English.
 

About the Host Institution
Herat University was founded in 1988. Approximately 3,000 students, of which 900 are women, study there. The university is still recovering from the long period of war and chaos in the country. The main campus is currently undergoing reconstruction, thus making it one of the newest university campuses in Afghanistan. The university has 12 faculties in the fields of Agriculture, Economics, Pharmacy, Islamic Studies, Law, Computer Science, Language and Literature, Science, Engineering, Journalism, Veterinary Medicine, Social Science and Fine Arts.

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Host Country             Bangladesh
Host City                    Dhaka/Gazipur  
Host Institution          BRAC U./Bangladesh Madrassa Teacher Training Institute  
Type of Project          Senior Fellow
Project Dates             September 2010 – June 2011

Special Country Requirements
Due to the component of the program at BMTTI, a male EL Fellow is requested; madrassa teachers are almost entirely male and are unlikely to be accepting of a female EL Fellow. Any trainings that would require the EL Fellow to stay overnight at BMTTI would also make the situation difficult for a female EL Fellow, as the dormitories are all male and there are no other accommodations nearby.

Project Focus
English for Listening, 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 serve as a resource to NGO BRAC's English teaching programs, both through BRAC University's Centre for Languages (CfL) and BRAC's PACE (Post-Primary Basic And Continuing Education) Program. Responsibilities at CfL will include conducting regular trainings for CfL staff in teaching methodologies and classroom technique; observing and mentoring CfL faculty in the classroom and providing constructive feedback on teaching, curriculum, and programs; teaching advanced English courses; and organizing programs with outside trainers provided by BRAC University or the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka. Responsibilities at PACE will include training in teaching methodologies to rural teachers who participate in BRAC teacher trainings; training of trainers who run BRAC teacher trainings; and contributing to projects such as national curriculum design, designing training courses, and assisting in organizing teacher exchange and professional development opportunities.
The EL Fellow will have no more than 20 contact hours per week.

Secondary project duties will include working with: Support Mentoring, and Workshops/Seminars.  The EL Fellow will devote 30% of his/her time to conducting workshops, seminars, and/or trainings at the Bangladesh Madrassa Teacher Training Institute (BMTTI), working both with madrassa teachers and with the trainers. Madrassa English teachers are given far less training (and often come from a weaker educational and training background) than teachers at government schools. English teaching is especially weak at madrassas, despite English being a key life skills needed for economic advancement in Bangladesh. These trainings will aim to give madrassa teachers the skills they need to prepare their students to become English speakers and engage with the language. Additionally, trainings with the institute's trainers will help give them the long-term tools to foster developed teaching skills among the madrassa teachers.

Project Objectives
English is crucial to most decent-paying jobs in Bangladesh, and yet the state of English teaching is abysmal, especially outside of Dhaka. The EL Fellow's work at BRAC and BMTTI with current and future teachers of English will promote more effective teaching of English around Bangladesh. Madrassas, with poor educational levels in secular subjects like English and a tendency toward conservative (bordering at times on extreme) religious ideology, can leave students more open to extremist ideology--but rural government schools also often have the same issues, being in conservative areas and offering relatively poor education to students who later end up with few economic options. Training rural and madrassa teachers to be more effective English teachers can have a huge impact on the skills their students learn in school and their future careers, giving them an alternative to extremism.
 
About the Host Institution
Host institution is a large private university that is part of the country's largest NGO, BRAC (formerly the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee). The Centre for Languages is part of the university and aims to train English language teachers. The EL Fellow will also have responsibilities at PACE (Post-primary Basic And Continuing Education), part the BRAC NGO that promotes teacher training among rural teachers.

The Bangladesh Madrassa Teacher Training Institute is a government training facility for teachers at madrassas (Islamic religious schools, which also teach secular subjects). The last EL Fellow to be hosted there left about five years ago.

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Host Country             India
Host City                    Patna
Host Institution          Patna University  
Type of Project          Fellow
Project Dates             Mid-October 2010 – Mid-August 2011

Project Focus
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, English for Academic Purposes, Teaching Methodologies, and Teaching Techniques 

Project Description
The main focus will be teaching English language to undergraduate and graduate students; teaching English through academic content-based materials, and mentoring in-service English teachers to follow similar communicative teaching techniques. A few specific subjects of content that Patna University students particularly need are:

• English grammar
• Speaking skills
• Writing skills
• Curriculum development

The students of Patna University need English for academic purposes, and their teachers need to improve their communicative language teaching skills. This type of English language teaching is not available through the traditional literature-oriented English classes. The EL Fellow will fulfill this need. The subjects listed above will be incorporated into the English teaching of the EL Fellow, and later by the teaching staff of the university. The EL Fellow project will be a teaching position, but as a model of English teaching, the EL Fellow will be observed by other teachers and lead discussions with the staff on how they can replicate the EL Fellow’s teaching model in their own English teaching. By getting a good model and videotaping some classes, etc., the EL Fellow will introduce this important aspect of ELT. Additionally, the EL Fellow will contribute to the curriculum development for an English as a Foreign Language course that Patna University which will begin in 2010. The EL Fellow will be a vital resource in providing specialized consultation for this curriculum development through teacher training, workshops, and seminars on learning English organized by the University. S/he can advise on the program schedule for teacher training and help by conducting workshops or seminars.  The EL Fellow will have up to 20 contact hours per week.

Secondary project duties will include working with: American Corner Programming, American Culture, American Studies, English Camp, Workshops/Seminars.  The EL Fellow will provide:

• Madrassa English teacher training: the RELO office is organizing workshops for Madrassa English teachers in which the EL Fellow will conduct one or two two-week training program(s) on communication skills along with one or two local trainers.
• Access Teacher Training: there are Access programs at several locations in east India. Whenever time permits, the EL Fellow will meet the students and give the Access teachers support on teaching techniques.
• As one of the RELO objectives is to support local English language teacher associations, the EL Fellow will participate in conferences/seminars held by these associations.
• American Corner support: the EL Fellow will participate occasionally in English language and U.S. cultural programs organized by the Corner

Project Objectives
There is a great need and demand for improving the training of teachers of English in Patna. The valuable inputs that the EL Fellow can provide will result in a positive vision to the teachers, furthering many new ideas to the teaching of the English language. English is widely used in this region, although efforts at increasing literacy and fluency need to be made. The US Embassy will propose an English Access Microscholarship program in Patna, and the EL Fellow will be a very important resource to both students and teachers for providing English-language skills to these groups. The EL Fellow can also play a vital role in popularizing the local American Corner through various English language programs organized by the Corner. The Embassy has collaborated with Patna University and its affiliate colleges for several years on a variety of themes including Education, Human Rights, Mutual Understanding, and Women's Empowerment. The proposed EL Fellow placement at the University will further solidify Embassy's relationship with the University, its affiliate colleges, and with the educated populace of Patna, in general.

About the Host Institution
Established in 1917, Patna University is the seventh-oldest university on the Indian Subcontinent. It is the only teaching and residential university in the populous State of Bihar. The University is closely linked with the history of modern Bihar and the saga of its educational, cultural, political, and economic growth. Patna University has been imparting quality education to its thousands of students, who hail from across India. This is amply reflected in the success of its students at the all-India level competitions. This university focuses on women empowerment and accords great significance to the education of women. To this end, the University initiated commerce education in the Patna Women’s College and Magadha Mahila College. Out of 13 constituent Colleges, three of them are exclusively meant for girls and the eight are co-educational institutions where the number of female students is fairly large. Patna University provides benefits to the socially and economically deprived groups, and differently-abled students. The University strictly follows the reservation policy of the Government and provides them facilities so they can develop their full potential as scholars and citizens.  According to the institution, one of the primary objectives of the University is to produce trained workers, which can accelerate sustained economic growth by harnessing science and technology. In order to face the challenges of globalization and liberalization. The University equips its teachers and students with modern techniques, skills, and makes them competent enough to face challenges and enhance the quality of teaching and research. For meeting these challenges, this University has already focused its attention and started a number of professional courses at the graduation and post graduation level. Patna University is in the process of starting a new course called "English as a Foreign Language."

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Host Country             India
Host City                    Chandigarh
Host Institution          Regional Institute of English, Chandigarh  
Type of Project          Senior Fellow
Project Dates             Mid-October 2010 – Mid-August 2011

Project Focus 
English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing, Other, Research, Teaching Methodologies, and Teaching Techniques 

Project Description
At the RIE (Regional Institute of English), the EL Fellow will support the teacher training programs to improve English Language Education in North India via the following responsibilities:

• Teach a module of the three-month Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching of English which includes topics such as action research, methodology, and materials development and adaptation. This is an in-service course. By teaching this module, the EL Fellow will not only help improve the course but will give the RIE staff hands-on training on how to improve the other modules of their course. This will serve as loop input and enhance the overall revision and development of the English training courses of RIE.
• Train in-service master trainers under Sarv Siksha Abhiyan (Education for All), a government of India scheme. The EL Fellow will provide guidelines and help the master trainers develop a teachers' manual for the textbooks they use (these are still in production). The two-fold outcome of this activity will be that the practicing teachers of English in north Indian schools will have supporting material to help them utilize the textbook effectively in class, and the master trainers will experience good pedagogical practice for sustainable professional development.
• Conduct short need-based orientation sessions for in-service teachers (primary or secondary schools) on their specific needs. The EL Fellow will do demonstration lessons for the teachers to observe and provide on-the-spot guidance to help teachers improve the language skills of their students.
• Conduct short need-based orientation sessions for in-service college teachers on their specific needs. The focus will be on the use of learner-centered pedagogy aimed at promoting the communication skills of students. Most college-level language teachers in India are literature oriented, and they need no official training to teach in a college. Therefore, this EL Fellow duty is important for the Institute as the college students that these teachers teach are about to enter the job market.
• Conduct language improvement courses for pre-service and in-service English teachers. A good number of teachers themselves need to strengthen their own English language skills. The EL Fellow will not only help the teachers improve their own proficiency; s/he will provide a model on how to teach to improve the communication skills of students.
• Support the RIE team on conducting a comparative analysis of the existing intermediate level General English Curricula of two to four universities in North India to ascertain the extent to which each curriculum meets the objectives specified in the National Policy of Education 1986, etc.

The EL Fellow will have up to 20 contact hours per week.

Secondary project duties will include working with: American Corner Programming, American Culture, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars.  The EL Fellow will provide:

• Madrassa English Teacher training: the RELO office is organizing workshops for Madrassa English teachers in which the EL Fellow will conduct two two-week training programs on communication skills along with one or two local trainers.
• Access Teacher Training: the US Embassy has Access programs at four different locations in northern India. Whenever time permits, the EL Fellow will meet the students and give the Access teachers support on teaching techniques.
• As one of the RELO objectives is to support local English Language Teacher Associations, the EL Fellow will participate in conferences/seminars held by these associations.
• Occasional presentations at the American library and American Corner on various aspects of language learning/teaching.

Project Objectives
Demands for education in English have seen an unprecedented rise in India in the last decade or so. For an institute such as the Regional Institute of English, which attempts to meet the demands of a wide region at different levels of education and in multifarious ways (teaching, training, producing educational material, etc.), it has become difficult to meet all government and public expectations. The Institute is trying to meet this challenge by training master trainers to perform various functions so as to trigger a cascade effect. The assistance provided by the EL Fellow will contribute significantly in meeting these objectives.  By presenting the current thinking on English language teaching and using contemporary resources, the program will contribute to the understanding of the U.S., its policies, social structures, culture and people, and simultaneously advance Indo-U.S. education collaboration - a foundational pillar in the Indo-U.S. relationship. The democratic values at the core of the American experience are both inherent and explicit in the teaching materials, curriculum development, and the presence of the EL Fellow. Through direct influence on the teachers and program administrators, and indirect influence on the growing mass of youth studying English as a tool for personal and national development, this program will impact generations of Indians.

About the Host Institution
The Regional Institute of English (RIE) is responsible for training teachers in five states of North India. It provides training courses at different levels for both in-service and pre-service English teachers. In addition, it conducts short need-based teacher training workshops for the English teaching community in North India. RIE was established in 1963 under a scheme of the Government of India to enhance the standards of teaching of English in the northern part of the country. It has been catering to the needs of Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. Its primary function is in-service training for teachers who work in government schools of the region at all levels of education through its three-month Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching of English Course (400 hours). Additionally, the RIE conducts numerous need-based short term courses throughout the year. The faculty also provides consultancy and works on projects of curriculum design and material production. In the recent past, some of the Institute's major projects include curriculum planning and teacher education in Functional English at the undergraduate level for the UGC (University Grants Commission) and several universities in the country and a four-semester course for students of polytechnic institutes of Haryana. It also works in collaboration with University Grants Commission, Central Board of Secondary Education, National Council of Educational Research and Trainings, National Council of Teacher Education, Indian universities, British Council, RELO, and other organizations.

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Host Country             Kazakhstan
Host City                    Aktobe
Host Institution          Aktobe State Pedagogical Institute/English Language Teachers' Association (ELTA)  
Type of Project          Fellow
Project Dates             Late August 2010 – Late June 2011

Special Country Requirements
Kazakhstan is a challenging environment, including severe winters.

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

Project Description
The EL Fellow will work at the Foreign Languages faculty of Aktobe State Pedagogical Institute and train future EL teachers with the purpose of the formation of competitive specialists mastering English language at internationally recognized level and meeting the requirements of the society of Kazakhstan. The EL Fellow is expected to conduct 20 hours/week to 3-4 groups of 12-15 junior- and senior-year students on the following subjects: English for Academic Purposes, Cross-Cultural Communication, Teaching English as a Foreign Language, American literature, and others. Each class lasts 50 minutes. Twice a year, the English Philology department organizes training courses for EL teachers of Western Kazakhstan. The EL Fellow is expected to take part in the course as a teacher trainer.
 
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, American Studies, English Camp, English Club Programming, Support Mentoring, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars.  English Language Teachers' Association in Aktobe (ELTA) is highly interested in cooperation with the EL Fellow to conduct trainings on methods of interactive English language teaching. The EL Fellow will attend meetings of ELTA and assist in developing Kazakhstani EL teachers' professional skills by giving a series of workshops to the teachers of local universities and secondary schools. The EL Fellow will travel around Western Kazakhstan (Aktobe oblast, Atyrau and Uralsk) to work with teachers and students of the English Access Microscholarship Program (the US Embassy has four providers of the program in Western Kazakhstan). The EL Fellow will also present at the annual conference of the National Association of Teachers of English in Kazakhstan (NATEK) and Central Asian Teachers English Conference (CATEC).
 
Project Objectives
The demand for studying English language is great in Kazakhstan since the President of the country draws attention of the young generation to this issue, pointing out that it could open doors to the future position of Kazakhstan in the world. The EL Fellow in Aktobe will be one of the major sources of American English language and American culture for the vast audience of people: EL teachers, students of the host institution and students of the English Access Microscholarship program and for all those who are interested in democratic values of the US. The EL Fellow will help to build mutual understanding between Kazakhstan and the US and exchange teaching experiences.
 
About the Host Institution
Aktobe State Pedagogical Institute was established in 2004 according to the Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan. The Institute has eight faculties where about 6,500 students are trained to be regular school teachers of different subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Computer Studies, Russian, Kazakh, English languages, Chemistry, Biology and others. The Regional Centre of Teachers' Development is located at the Pedagogical Institute and caters the teachers of Western Kazakhstan from three oblasts: Mangystau, Atyrau, Uralsk. The Institute organizes the educational process according to the credit system, which has been implemented for recent 3-4 years. In September of 2009 the Institute joined the Bologna Process and Rector of the Institute signed the Magna Charter. Now it's preparing for the international accreditation. According to the ratings, the Institute is 3rd among Pedagogical Institutes and 10th out of 23 state higher education institutions in Kazakhstan.

Aktobe Association of English teachers was established in 1998. The association provides opportunities for EL teachers to share and benefit from each other's practical experience, to enhance the professional skills of English language teachers. It organizes workshops and courses on methodologies of teaching English with the help of invited trainers and native speakers who teach in the region; organizes English clubs and speaking round tables for teachers and students; maintains close relationships with the teachers associations in other regions and with the foreign organizations, such as the US Embassy, British Council, Peace Corps, and others. The members of the Association often participate in the NATEK conferences and CATEC.

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Host Country             Kyrgyzstan
Host City                    Osh
Host Institution          Osh State University/Forum Language Teachers' Association      
Type of Project          Fellow
Project Dates             September 2010 – June 2011

Project Focus
Teaching Methodologies 

Project Description
The EL Fellow will:

• Establish collegial working relations with teachers of English at host institution through team-teaching approach;
• Support teachers from “American pilot schools” project methodologically;
• Observe teachers from pilot schools and give them feedback; identify areas for professional trainings;
• Conduct workshops and trainings for English language teachers at host institution; conduct regional trainings (Osh, Jalalabat oblast );
• Discuss methodology and language related issues;
• Participate in curriculum and teaching materials development;
• Participate in building networking schemes of agencies involved into teacher training process (Forum Teachers Association, other EL Fellows);
• Promote exchange of teaching ideas and best practices though newsletters.

 
Secondary project duties will include working with: Teachers Association/Organization.  The EL Fellow will support and develop Forum Teachers Association in Osh and Jalalabat; to conduct workshops on American studies; and expand understanding and knowledge of American culture and values in informal settings.

Project Objectives
The EL Fellow project is expected to increase mutual understanding through the representation of American culture and society and the promotion of the English language, which will allow Kyrgyz to access alternative forms of information about the world. Such information will spread positive new ideas and combat harmful ones like terrorism. These issues are of particular concern in the southern half of Kyrgyzstan where the EL Fellow will be based

About the Host Institution
Osh State university was established in 1951 as a Pedagogical Institute. Seventeen years ago it was reformed into Osh State University with 14 faculties. One of the faculties is the faculty of world languages. More than 1,200 students study there and more than 103 teachers teach different courses. The faculty trains teachers and interpreters. Teachers of this University together with English teachers Association FORUM organize and conduct trainings and workshops for secondary school teachers from remote regions. In 2008, Osh State University hosted National English language teacher’s conference, where more than 200 teachers participated.

The Language Teachers Association FORUM in Osh began to help teachers of English in Osh oblast acquire new ways of teaching and classroom management, learn American studies and implement the principles of tolerance and academic honesty at schools and their communities. For the last few years they successfully realized several projects. One of them was "Train teachers from rural areas.” In March 2008, Osh FORUM Association organized and successfully carried out the National English Language Teachers' conference

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Host Country             Kyrgyzstan
Host City                    Bishkek
Host Institution          NGO Lingua
Type of Project          Senior Fellow
Project Dates             September 2010 – June 2011

Special Country Requirements
Medical services in the Kyrgyz Republic are extremely limited. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities. The U.S. Embassy strongly recommends that travelers to the Kyrgyz Republic carry medical evacuation insurance in case of emergency.

Project Focus
Methodologies 

Project Description
The EL Fellow will:

• establish collegial working relations with teachers of English at host institutions through team-teaching approach; identify areas for professional trainings
• monitor the American English Pilot Schools in Chui, Issyk-Kol, Talas and Naryn oblasts and do any work necessary to implement the American English Pilot Schools Project
• train the English teachers at the schools, provide observations and give feedback
• assist in organizing a refresher and possibly other trainings
• support northern FORUM branches through teacher trainings and trainer trainings
• train regional teachers.

 
Secondary project duties will include working with: Support Mentoring, and Teachers Association/Organization.  The EL Fellow will:

• provide advice, consulting or assistance when requested to the Bishkek FORUM branch
• help the Bishkek branch design work plans, write grants, organize conference or conduct trainings, edit teacher training materials, conduct regular methodology trainings and workshops for school and university teacher-trainers
• prepare materials for the school olympiad, teach Academic Writing at Lingua
• provide the necessary mentoring, input, observations and feedback to support the local teachers
• participate in national conferences.

 
Project Objectives
The EL Fellow will increase mutual understanding in interacting with locals, and representing American culture and society. S/He will also promote the role of civil society and democracy more broadly in supporting an NGO like the Forum Teachers' Association. Finally, the EL Fellow will enhance the ability of Kyrgyz to access alternative sources of information, which should spread positive new ideas about the world and combat harmful ones like terrorism.
 
About the Host Institution
Lingua School was established as a not for profit organization in 2000 with the support from the Soros Foundation in Kyrgyzstan. The school mission is to support and foster the development of modern and effective English Language teaching. It's a self-sustaining centre for dissemination of modern methodology and teacher training in Kyrgyzstan. In support of their mission Lingua runs Methodology courses for public school and university teachers both in Bishkek and at regional level. In support of the wider mission, there is a well-stocked Resource Centre and high speed Internet that is available for use by English teachers. The School provides services in teacher training such as Basic Communicative Methodology Course, Advanced Methodology Course, Basic Teacher training Skills, How To Teach Academic Writing, etc. During 2005-2006 academic year, the school started a pilot on Basic Communicative Methods in EFL teaching in Karakol and Talas. The School website is www.lingua.to.kg .

The Language Teachers Association FORUM was begun to help teachers of English in the country acquire new ways of teaching and classroom management, learn American studies and implement the principles of tolerance and academic honesty at schools and their communities. For the last few years they successfully realized several projects, such as Celebrating Books in Talas Oblast (2003), Modern Technologies in Teaching English and Students Evaluation in Class (2004), foundation of two resource centers in Bazar-Korgon and Bakai-Ata. In the fall of 2006, the first nationwide FORUM newsletter was begun with articles submitted by teachers throughout the nation. At the same time FORUM organized many teacher and trainer trainings, workshops, and joint projects, the last of which were Rural project (Osh, Karabalta, Tokmok, Kant, Jala-Abad, Naryn and Talas), Shaping the Way We Teach English (Nizhnyaya Ala-Archa village, Ivanovka village, Moskovskyi rayon, Sokulukskyi rayon, Narynskaya and Issuk-Kulskaya oblast). Besides, active FORUM members have created the manual for English Language teachers who work at Kyrgyz secondary school and at the moment the trainings how to use the manual are being run. In June 2007, FORUM Association organized and successfully carried out the International CATEC-6 at the Issyk-Kul lake. More than 200 delegates from 12 countries participated in the conference events.

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Host Country             Kyrgyzstan
Host City                    Bishkek
Host Institution          NGO Lingua
Type of Project          Senior Fellow
Project Dates             September 2010 – June 2011

Special Country Requirements
Medical services in the Kyrgyz Republic are extremely limited. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities. The U.S. Embassy strongly recommends that travelers to the Kyrgyz Republic carry medical evacuation insurance in case of emergency.

Project Focus
Methodologies 

Project Description
The EL Fellow will:

• establish collegial working relations with teachers of English at host institutions through team-teaching approach; identify areas for professional trainings
• monitor the American English Pilot Schools in Chui, Issyk-Kol, Talas and Naryn oblasts and do any work necessary to implement the American English Pilot Schools Project
• train the English teachers at the schools, provide observations and give feedback
• assist in organizing a refresher and possibly other trainings
• support northern FORUM branches through teacher trainings and trainer trainings
• train regional teachers.

 
Secondary project duties will include working with: Support Mentoring, and Teachers Association/Organization.  The EL Fellow will:

• provide advice, consulting or assistance when requested to the Bishkek FORUM branch
• help the Bishkek branch design work plans, write grants, organize conference or conduct trainings, edit teacher training materials, conduct regular methodology trainings and workshops for school and university teacher-trainers
• prepare materials for the school olympiad, teach Academic Writing at Lingua
• provide the necessary mentoring, input, observations and feedback to support the local teachers
• participate in national conferences.

 
Project Objectives
The EL Fellow will increase mutual understanding in interacting with locals, and representing American culture and society. S/He will also promote the role of civil society and democracy more broadly in supporting an NGO like the Forum Teachers' Association. Finally, the EL Fellow will enhance the ability of Kyrgyz to access alternative sources of information, which should spread positive new ideas about the world and combat harmful ones like terrorism.
 
About the Host Institution
Lingua School was established as a not for profit organization in 2000 with the support from the Soros Foundation in Kyrgyzstan. The school mission is to support and foster the development of modern and effective English Language teaching. It's a self-sustaining centre for dissemination of modern methodology and teacher training in Kyrgyzstan. In support of their mission Lingua runs Methodology courses for public school and university teachers both in Bishkek and at regional level. In support of the wider mission, there is a well-stocked Resource Centre and high speed Internet that is available for use by English teachers. The School provides services in teacher training such as Basic Communicative Methodology Course, Advanced Methodology Course, Basic Teacher training Skills, How To Teach Academic Writing, etc. During 2005-2006 academic year, the school started a pilot on Basic Communicative Methods in EFL teaching in Karakol and Talas. The School website is www.lingua.to.kg .

The Language Teachers Association FORUM was begun to help teachers of English in the country acquire new ways of teaching and classroom management, learn American studies and implement the principles of tolerance and academic honesty at schools and their communities. For the last few years they successfully realized several projects, such as Celebrating Books in Talas Oblast (2003), Modern Technologies in Teaching English and Students Evaluation in Class (2004), foundation of two resource centers in Bazar-Korgon and Bakai-Ata. In the fall of 2006, the first nationwide FORUM newsletter was begun with articles submitted by teachers throughout the nation. At the same time FORUM organized many teacher and trainer trainings, workshops, and joint projects, the last of which were Rural project (Osh, Karabalta, Tokmok, Kant, Jala-Abad, Naryn and Talas), Shaping the Way We Teach English (Nizhnyaya Ala-Archa village, Ivanovka village, Moskovskyi rayon, Sokulukskyi rayon, Narynskaya and Issuk-Kulskaya oblast). Besides, active FORUM members have created the manual for English Language teachers who work at Kyrgyz secondary school and at the moment the trainings how to use the manual are being run. In June 2007, FORUM Association organized and successfully carried out the International CATEC-6 at the Issyk-Kul lake. More than 200 delegates from 12 countries participated in the conference events.

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Host Country             Nepal
Host City                   Kathmandu
Host Institution         Nepal English Language Teachers Association (NELTA)/Tribhuvan                                  University      
Type of Project          Senior Fellow
Project Dates             September 2010 – June 2011

Special Country Requirements
Nepal is a developing country. Power shortages are frequent. Travel to remote sections of Nepal is an integral part of the EL Fellow's portfolio, and accommodations and sanitation facilities may be basic. Strikes and political demonstrations which may close educational facilities and industries and paralyze transportation are commonplace and occur unexpectedly.

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

Project Description
The EL Fellow will work with two partnering organizations: 60% with Nepal English Language Teaching Association (NELTA), and 40% with Tribhuvan University. (The campuses at which the EL Fellow will be working are less than two miles from one another, so commute time will be minimal). NELTA works in close collaboration with university teachers in conducting its teacher training programs. Almost all teaching faculty members of TU are NELTA members, both at the central and branch locations. By working with both organizations, the EL Fellow will strengthen the capacity of the TU faculty and NELTA leaders who work together to enhance English language teaching in Nepal. The overall areas of expertise requested for this EL Fellow are Teacher/Trainer Training skills and curriculum development.  The specific topics that the EL Fellow is expected to address in his/her professional fora are:

• teaching language aspects such as vocabulary, grammar and language functions
• teaching listening, speaking, reading and professional/creative writing.

The proposed primary activities at the NELTA Center are:

• Develop standardized teacher training packages: NELTA runs regular teacher training programs for English teachers of all levels of education in Kathmandu and at its regional branches. In collaboration with the EL Fellow, NELTA would like to develop standardized teacher training packages after conducting a formal training needs assessment of teachers. The key focus areas of teacher training will be teaching language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), vocabulary, grammar, and conversational English.
• Conduct Training of Trainers: In order to deliver these teacher training packages, NELTA will need a core group of trainers who will travel to the branches and conduct the teacher training programs. The EL Fellow will lead the trainers' training (TOT) at NELTA Center to prepare the core group of trainers.
• Conduct professional development events for English teachers in areas such as publication writing, journal writing, teacher learning, creative writing, and conference presentations.
• Present sessions at NELTA conferences on themes related to his/her expertise.
• Assist with the publication of NELTA journal and newsletters.

The proposed primary activities at the NELTA Branches are:

• Analyze training needs of local English teachers at all education levels (primary, secondary, and University)
• Run 3-5 day needs-based teacher training programs and monitor subsequent teacher training programs
• Organize training of trainers (TOT) at the regional level, to develop the capacity of the local NELTA leaders to deliver teacher training packages developed by NELTA and ELF at the central level

The proposed primary activities at the TU Main Campus at Kirtipur are:

• Support faculty members in course development for MA and PhD degrees in English Education
• Support the English Education department to run trainers training (TOT) programs for teachers at its constituent campuses. The Department recently revised its B.Ed. and M.Ed. English Education curricula and will run regular teacher training programs throughout Nepal. This TOT will develop an effective cadre of trainers.
• Conduct orientation programs for faculty members on the revised courses
• Teach ELT courses at the post-graduate level

The proposed primary activities at the TU Constituent Campuses outside Kathmandu Valley are:

• Conduct faculty development workshops at regional campuses to develop their capacity to deliver the new courses
• Conduct professional development events for teachers in areas such as writing for publications, journal writing, creative writing and conference presentations
• Monitor trainers training programs

The EL Fellow will have up to 20 contact hours per week.
 
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, American Studies, English Camp, and Workshops/Seminars.  As part of the EL Fellow's duties with NELTA, the EL Fellow will provide support to the Access program, which is expected to begin in 2010 (funds permitting) in Nepal in three separate locales: Kathmandu, Gorkha, and Bhairahawa. The EL Fellow will conduct on-going teacher training workshops to the Access teachers at each locale at least twice a year and give sessions on American culture and society to the Access students. In addition, the EL Fellow is expected to play a major leadership/coordinating role in the Youth Leadership Institute that will be held for all Access students and teachers in Kathmandu half-way through the two year program's cycle.
 
Project Objectives
Through direct influence on teachers and program administrators, and indirect influence on the growing numbers of Nepalese youth studying English as a tool for personal and national development, the EL Fellow will support U.S. goals of establishing peace and democracy, of expanding economic opportunity, and of improving the mutual understanding between our two nations. The EL Fellow project will consolidate Nepal’s transition to peace and stability, advance and institutionalize democratic reform at the national and local levels, rebuild Nepal by investing in people’s education, and engage youth and civil society in the democratic process 

About the Host Institution
NELTA (Nepal English Language Teachers Association) was founded in 1992. The main objective behind its establishment was to establish a common platform for all the teachers of English language in Nepal in order to support their professional development. Members include teachers at all levels of the educational process as well as private and government funded schools and universities. The need to improve the teaching and learning of the English language, thereby keeping abreast of new developments in English Language Teaching, lays the foundation for NELTA. Several of Nepal's International Visitor participants are NELTA members. The US Embassy works very closely with NELTA throughout the year on a variety of projects, seminars, and conferences.

Tribhuvan University (TU), the biggest university in Nepal, was established in 1959. It offers diverse undergraduate and postgraduate programs in arts, science, medicine, engineering, agriculture, management and education. Altogether TU enrolled 290,833 students during the 2008-09 academic year at its 60 constituent campuses, 37 central departments and 561 affiliated colleges. TU currently employs 7,049 teaching faculty members and 5607 non-teaching staff. Under the Faculty of Education at TU, Department of English Education, Kiritpur is the largest department, enrolling about 1000 students every year from all over Nepal. The department now offers teacher education programs at all levels of education (B.Ed., M. Ed. and Ph.D.) through its main campus in Kirtipur and affiliated colleges throughout the country. The department has students from all 75 districts of the country, and over 90 percent of them are from rural public schools and colleges representing almost all ethnic groups of Nepal. The majority are from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. In the near future, the Department of English Education is planning to prepare courses for MA and Ph.D. programs in order to address the needs of its teaching faculty members of different campuses.

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Host Country             Pakistan
Host City                    Lahore
Host Institution          Government College University of Lahore   
Type of Project          Senior Fellow
Project Dates             Late August 2010 – Late June 2011

Special Country Requirements

• No dependents are permitted in Lahore.
• Female grantees are advised to dress modestly at all times.
• The EL Fellow should read the State Department Travel Advisories prior to arrival. S/he must have a valid U.S. Passport and a Pakistani visa. S/he should request a one-year, multiple entry visa, and bring 20 passport photos. It is also recommended that the EL Fellow obtain a multiple entry Indian visa before arriving in Pakistan.

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

Project Description
The primary focus of the EL Fellow will be to conduct training programs for English language teachers both in Lahore and throughout the Punjab Province. The training will cover a range of topics including methodologies, materials development and adaptation, communication skills, and curriculum development. The EL Fellow will be hosted at the Government College University of Lahore but will also conduct teacher training programs at other higher educational institutions throughout the province as permitted by the security situation.
 
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, American Studies, English Camp, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars.  The EL Fellow will spend up to 30% of his/her time on secondary projects including:

• supporting the English Access Microscholarship Program by conducting occasional teacher training sessions (including a two-week summer training camp for Access teachers), conducting classroom observations, and interacting with the students
• participating in the local branch of the Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (SPELT) by participating in monthly meetings and conducting workshops as requested
• conducting training with the Department for Staff Development (DSD), the training entity for Punjab government schools.

 
Project Objectives
In addition to improving the quality of teaching at the host institute -- the Government College University of Lahore -- the EL Fellow will also contribute to the understanding of the U.S. democratic process, its policies and socio-cultural features, and advance Pakistan-U.S. education collaboration. The direct influence on English teachers will also indirectly impact future generations of youth in the region.
 
About the Host Institution
The Government College University of Lahore is a co-ed, public university geared more to the average Pakistani rather than the elite. The University was built by the British in 1864 and has a pleasant campus environment centrally located on Lahore’s main thoroughfare, Mall Road. The EL Fellow will be based in the English Department on campus. The student body is approximately 6,000 students. Lahore is a dynamic city of approximately ten million people in Pakistan's largest province, Punjab. It is rich in culture and history. Lahore is known as the cultural and educational center of the country, and is home to numerous historical and educational sites and institutions.

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Host Country             Pakistan
Host City                    Islamabad
Host Institution          The U.S. Educational Foundation in Pakistan  
Type of Project          Senior Fellow
Project Dates             June 2010 – January 2011

Special Country Requirements
No dependents are permitted in Islamabad. The US Embassy recommends that female grantees dress modestly at all times. The EL Fellow should read the State Department Travel Advisories prior to arrival. S/he must have a valid U.S. Passport and a Pakistani visa to enter the country. S/he should request a one-year, multiple entry visa, and bring 20 passport photos. It is also recommended that the EL Fellow obtain a multiple entry Indian visa before arriving in Pakistan. EL Fellows should follow current CDC guidelines for vaccines and inoculations.

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

Project Description
The primary duty of the EL Fellow will be to conduct training programs for both secondary school English teachers and university ELT professors in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, AJK & Northern Areas. The training will cover a range of topics including methodologies, materials development, communication skills, and curriculum development. The host institute will be USEFP (also known as the Fulbright Commission) with significant coordination with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for conducting teacher training courses and workshops for university ELT staff in the region. Both institutes are located in Islamabad. The EL Fellow will have up to 20 contact hours per week.
 
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars.  The EL Fellow will spend up to 30% of his/her time on secondary projects including: participating in the Islamabad branch of the Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (SPELT) by participating in monthly meetings and conducting workshops as requested, and supporting the English Access Microscholarship Program by conducting occasional teacher training, classroom observations, and interacting with the students.
 
Project Objectives
By improving the quality of teacher training for local English teachers and professors through training on the use of contemporary methods and resources, the EL Fellow will contribute to the understanding of the U.S., its policies and socio-cultural features, and advance Pakistan-U.S. education collaboration. The democratic values of the American people will be clear through the presence of an EL Fellow and further augmented by the host institute itself, USEFP, being a vital source of information about the American experience.
 
About the Host Institution
The United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (http://www.usefpakistan.org/) was established in 1950 by the governments of Pakistan and the United States. USEFP is guided by a binational commission composed of an equal number of Pakistanis and Americans, the Chairman alternating each year between a Pakistani and an American. USEFP is one of 51 "Fulbright Commissions" located throughout the world. Since 1951 when the first group of Pakistani grantees traveled to America, and 1952 when the first American grantees visited Pakistan, the Foundation has fostered mutual understanding between the people of Pakistan and the United States through educational and cultural exchange. It is estimated that over 1000 Pakistanis have already had the opportunity to participate in this Program. The Foundation receives support and counsel from both the Pakistan and U.S. governments, but it is not an agency of either. The Foundation supervises a variety of programs that send Pakistani scholars to American campuses while bringing American scholars to universities in Pakistan. The goal of all the programs is to help Pakistanis learn more about the U.S. and to help Americans learn more about Pakistan and its people. The Foundation in Pakistan will provide housing, office space and transportation to/from work. Islamabad and adjacent Rawalpindi comprise a national capital area with a combined population of 3.7 million. Islamabad lies at the base of the Margalla Hills in the Punjab province. It became Pakistan's capital in 1959. Pakistanis are proud of Islamabad's planned quadrants, green spaces, and the modern design of the federal buildings.

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Host Country             Pakistan
Host City                    Karachi
Host Institution          Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers  
Type of Project          Senior Fellow
Project Dates             September 2010 – June 2011

Special Country Requirements
No dependents are permitted in Karachi. The US Embassy recommends that female grantees dress modestly at all times. The EL Fellow should read the State Department Travel Advisories prior to arrival. S/he must have a valid U.S. Passport and a Pakistani visa to enter the country. S/he should request a one-year, multiple entry visa, and bring 20 passport photos. It is also recommended that the EL Fellow obtain a multiple entry Indian visa before arriving in Pakistan. EL Fellows should follow current CDC guidelines for vaccines and inoculations.

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

Project Description
The primary focus of the EL Fellow will be to conduct training programs for English teachers in Karachi and throughout Sindh and Balochistan Provinces as permitted by the security situation. The training would cover a range of topics including curriculum design, program assessment, and materials development. The primary host institution will be the Society for Pakistan English Language Teachers (SPELT) in their headquarters building in Karachi.

Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, American Studies, English Camp, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars.  The EL Fellow will spend up to 30% of his/her time on secondary projects including supporting:
(a) the Pakistan American Cultural Center (PACC) by conducting teacher training workshops on topics mutually agreed upon by the Fellow and the PACC teachers,
(b) the English Access Microscholarship Program by conducting occasional teacher training (including a two-week summer training camp for Access teachers), classroom observation and interacting with the students.
 
Project Objectives
In addition to improving the capacity and quality of services of the only nationwide professional body of local English teachers in Pakistan--The Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (SPELT)--the EL Fellow will also contribute to the understanding of the U.S. democratic process, its policies and socio-cultural features, and advance Pakistan-U.S. education collaboration.
 
About the Host Institution
The Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (SPELT) is a teacher education institute committed to improving the quality of English language education throughout Pakistan and promoting professionalism among teachers. SPELT provides high quality pre-service and in-service teacher education and offers advisory services for school management, school development, and curriculum development. It also adds to the knowledge base of education through indigenous research and publications. SPELT also seeks especially to address the education needs of rural and female teachers and to promote education to underprivileged and marginalized sections of society. The Society is also committed to dissemination of information, and advocacy of appropriate policies and practices in education within Pakistan's current sociological and environmental context. Karachi is a dynamic city of approximately 18 million people in Pakistan's second largest province, Sindh. It is rich in culture and history. Karachi is known as the commercial, educational, and media center of the country, and is home to numerous historical and educational sites and institutions.

Host Country             Sri Lanka
Host City                    Kuliyapitiya
Host Institution          The Wayamba University of Sri Lanka  
Type of Project          Senior Fellow
Project Dates             September 2010 – June 2011

Project Focus
Computers, English for Listening, English for Reading, English for Speaking, English for Writing,Other,Teaching Methodologies, and Teaching Techniques 

Project Description
The EL Fellow will:

• Train 1/3 of the 150 academic faculty of the university to teach their subjects effectively in English. The university has four faculties: Applied Sciences, Business and Finance, Agriculture and Plantation Management, and Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition. All instruction should be in English.
• Design a compulsory course in English proficiency for all probationary lecturers (to be taken through the university's Staff Development Center).
• Train the Academic staff in the English Language Teaching Unit to teach English for Special Purposes. There are two ELTUs at the university, one at each campus.
• Help the faculty develop the curriculum and train the lecturers who conduct English through distance learning, a program designed for the working community outside the university.

The Fellow will have up to 20 contact hours per week. 
 
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, Teachers Association/Organization, Workshops/Seminars.  The EL Fellow will also work on a limited basis with Sri Lanka's new Access Microscholarship program, helping to train the teachers and bring more American culture and values to the program, and making occasional site visits to the Access Centers in Sri Lanka.
 
Project Objectives
In Sri Lanka, English has become the language of reconciliation and economic opportunity. It is the language of reconciliation because it is not associated with either side in the recently concluded war and can provide a means of communication between groups long isolated by ethnicity and language. It is the language of opportunity because it provides access to jobs in the tourist sector and in the professions. Unfortunately, the language policies of past Sri Lankan administrations have created multiple generations of university graduates with limited or no English and left the country with a major deficiency of qualified English teachers. The current administration has recognized the problem and last year instructed all universities to begin transferring to English medium, a momentous but necessary task with which they require ongoing professional assistance. Thus, all of US Embassy’s many efforts to improve and spread English language proficiency in Sri Lanka - especially the EL Fellow who is involved in many of them - contribute directly to the goal of helping Sri Lanka become a tolerant, prosperous democracy after three decades of terrorism and martial law.

About the Host Institution
The Wayamba University of Sri Lanka is located in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka. It is a new University with a history of only ten years. The medium of instruction in this university is English where most of the staff and the students have got their education up to secondary level in their mother tongue; i.e. Sinhalese or Tamil. The Wayamba University of Sri Lanka offers six degree programs in four faculties. Two faculties, The Faculty of Business Studies and Finance and The Faculty of Applied Sciences, are located at Kuliyapitiya where the main administrative building is situated. The Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management and the Faculty of Livestock Fisheries and Nutrition are located at Makandura approximately 15 km away. In all faculties, the student population is about 3,000 and the academic staff is approximately 50. The university operates in two locations, with approximate distance of 15 kilometers between the two premises. The two ELTU s at the Wayamba University are equipped with new language laboratories. Each lab consists of 25 networked computers. The Makandura premises of WUSL has successfully completed two projects, one with the British Council and one with the Information and Communication Technology Agency in Sri Lanka. This ELTU is also a recipient of the IBG- I of the IRQUE Project (World Bank). Both English Language Teaching Units offer external English Courses to the community outside the University, Kuliyapitiya premises for the 4th successful year of a Diploma in English Course and Makandura has completed a Course in English using e learning, which will be a certificate course in English in 2010.

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Host Country             Sri Lanka
Host City                    Belihuloya
Host Institution          Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka  
Type of Project          Senior Fellow
Project Dates             Mid-October 2010 – Mid-August 2011

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

Project Description
The EL Fellow will:

• Help the faculty design the curriculum for the new Department of English Language Teaching, whose graduates will go on to teach English as a second language in local high schools.
• Train instructors to implement, teach, and revise that curriculum.
• Introduce current methods of English language pedagogy, including the use of multimedia and computer technology to facilitate learning and best practices in assessment.

Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, Support Mentoring, and Workshops/Seminars.  The EL Fellow will:

• Conduct seminars for improving English medium teaching skills in three departments in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Languages, especially Economics and Statistics, Sociology, and Political Science.
• Conduct workshops for students (as the need arises and in accordance with the judgment and expertise of the Fellow).
• Work on a limited basis with Sri Lanka's new Access Microscholarship program, helping to train the teachers and bring more American culture and values to the program, and making occasional site visits to the Access Centers in Sri Lanka.

Project Objectives
In Sri Lanka, English has become the language of reconciliation and economic opportunity. It is the language of reconciliation because it is not associated with either side in the recently concluded war and can provide a means of communication between groups long isolated by ethnicity and language. It is the language of opportunity because it provides access to jobs in the tourist sector and in the professions. Unfortunately, the language policies of past Sri Lankan administrations have created multiple generations of university graduates with limited or no English and left the country with a major deficiency of qualified English teachers. The current administration has recognized the problem and last year instructed all universities to begin transferring to English medium, a momentous but necessary task with which they require ongoing professional assistance.
 
About the Host Institution
The University is situated in the outskirts of Colombo in the Rathnapura District. The University commenced in 1995. The student population of the University amounts to 2105 with the latest batch admitted in September 2005. This batch, consisting of 764 students, is the highest number of students in the ten-year history of the University. The University makes available for these students some 11 study programs through its five faculties. An academic staff of 191 is busy in all five faculties preparing a prosperous future for their students. The Department of English Language Teaching of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka was initially approved and established by the University Grants Commission in 2005. The Department of English Language Teaching offers English Language courses throughout a student's university career.

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Host Country             Tajikistan
Host City                    Dushanbe
Host Institution         American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA-ROLI)
Type of Project          Senior Fellow
Project Dates             September 2010 – June 2011

Special Country Requirement
Medical care in Dushanbe is very basic. The EL Fellow should not expect regular medical treatment for any preexisting condition. Dependents are welcome. English-language primary education is available. Pets are allowed, however, larger animals generally cannot be accommodated on incoming flights.

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

Background Information
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has instructed Ministers to increase English language capabilities among staff.   Ministers and agencies are trying to fulfill this directive, but need expert guidance in defining the level of English proficiency desired and in understanding the commitment necessary to achieve the desired level.  The EL Fellow will work with the Tajik agency leadership, teaching staff and students to put in place a language learning system that has both clearly stated goals and a reasonable, achievable path to achieve these goals.

Project Description
The EL Fellow will be hosted by local NGO ABA-ROLI (American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative) and will work with law enforcement agencies in Tajikistan to:

• Assist English language teachers working with university-level students who will become law enforcement officers with curricula, lesson-planning and pedagogical techniques.  The teachers were trained using Soviet-style methods, which emphasize rote learning and passive acquisition of knowledge.  They are willing to adopt new methods, but need instruction and support. 
• Provide feedback to these teachers.  The speaking abilities of the teachers vary, but have greatly improved during the last year, as a result of the work of our previous ELF.  The university-age students range from beginners to advanced. 
• Work with local contractors engaged to teach English to professional employees at the Ministry of Justice, the Council of Justice, and the Prosecutor General's office to standardize curricula, lesson plans, and pedagogical techniques to use in classes for current professional employees.  Most classes will be for complete beginners.  The class size will be a maximum of ten students each.

The EL Fellow will also further refine the instructor curriculum and the glossary of Russian-English law enforcement terms developed by his/her predecessors. S/he will work with the instructors on developing and implementing appropriate computer-based instruction. The EL Fellow will assist the Tajik law enforcement English language instructors with teaching basic English skills to the Academy cadets, and, in doing so, will demonstrate modern teaching methods and techniques in the classroom setting. The EL Fellow will assess the English language training abilities of the English language instructors at the beginning and end of the training. The EL Fellow will draft a final project evaluation at the conclusion of his/her tenure in Tajikistan with specific proposals for carrying the project forward.
 
 
Project Objectives
The general goal of the project is to create a sustainable law enforcement English language training program thus increasing the overall English language skills of officer cadre of the MVD and the other Tajik law enforcement/security services. Through the project, the MoI will be assisted by the USG and locally contracted implementers in the establishment of the Law Enforcement English Language Training Center at the MVD academy. Sustained law enforcement English language instruction will further the goals of training and professionalization in the furtherance of Tajikistan's long-term stability, improving its capacity to defend its borders and fight organized crime and terrorism. Additionally, English language skills will allow Tajikistan's law enforcement organizations access to international partners as they move beyond simple arrests and seizures to active pursuit of trans-border criminal networks.

About the Host Institution
The MVD Police Academy, a four-year service academy baccalaureate program, is similar in concept to a U.S. military academy. Academy cadets are commissioned as MVD (police) Officers upon graduation. (It should be noted that in Tajikistan, Police Officers are the command structure, and are not the uniformed policemen seen on the street.)  The MVD Academy campus is located southeast of downtown Dushanbe and was built during the Soviet era. The facility has been neglected since Tajikistan became an independent republic. The U.S. is in the process of rehabilitating several academy buildings.

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Host Country             Tajikistan
Host City                    Dushanbe
Host Institution          Bactria Cultural Center
Type of Project          Fellow
Project Dates             September 2010 – June 2011

Special Country Requirement
Medical care in Dushanbe is very basic. The EL Fellow should not expect regular medical treatment for any preexisting condition. Dependents are welcome. English-language primary education is available. Pets are allowed, however, larger animals generally cannot be accommodated on incoming flights.

Project Focus
American Culture, Computers, 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 placed at Bactria Cultural Center, a local NGO in Dushanbe that offers high-quality English classes to 240 students from ages 8 to 60. The EL Fellow's primary duties will include teaching English for speaking, reading, and writing. The EL Fellow will include instruction on composition, concise writing, and paragraph structure because no such classes exist in Tajikistan, but there is an enormous need. Because systematic corruption in the school system fuels rampant plagiarism, there is almost no concept of how to write well, even among university-level students or professors. The EL Fellow will also hold a class on communicative methods of teaching English and a special class on Business English.
 
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Corner Programming, American Culture, American Studies, English Camp, English Club Programming, Support Mentoring, and Workshops/Seminars.  As part of her/his duties at Bactria Cultural Center, the EL Fellow will offer classes on American culture, basic computer skills, and in-depth teacher-training. Bactria has a computer lab with 15 computers, and there is a huge demand for classes on basic computer skills. The EL Fellow will continue the very successful and popular discussion club at the Dushanbe American Corner and will also participate in the discussion club at Bactria, which is funded by the U.S. Embassy. In the fall, the EL Fellow will offer a teaching methods training session for advanced students at the Pedagogical University before they start their one-month practicum. This training would include information on lesson planning, communicative language teaching principles, and time to observe the classes of some of the local English Access teachers and possibly guest-teach an Access class.

Project Objectives
The English classes offered at Bactria currently benefit about 240 students of all ages, and a large proportion of the students are relatively young. There is a huge demand for English classes because the students know that learning English gives them a better chance to find good jobs or to pursue an overseas education. The ESL program at Bactria is nearly five times more popular and in-demand than any other language offered at the center. Additionally, Bactria intends to apply to host an English Access Microscholarship project, which would benefit greatly from an on-site EL Fellow. Access reaches the 14-17 age group, which is a vulnerable demographic in Tajikistan. Bright but disadvantaged young men, if not given an opportunity at a better education, have very little recourse to legitimate work in Tajikistan, and may be drawn to extremist sects, which have recently been flourishing in Tajikistan, due to its proximity to Afghanistan.

About the Host Institution
The Bactria Cultural Center is a well-established NGO in Dushanbe that offers cultural programs and high-quality ESL instruction. The main benefit of placing an EL Fellow with the Bactria Cultural Center, as opposed to a public university, is that NGOs are not controlled by the Ministry of Education or the bureaucracy of the public university system, so there is much greater flexibility in curriculum development, teaching methods, and enhancement activities. Even though many teachers and administrators may want to implement new methods of teaching, they are limited by the Ministry's requirements that certain texts be used. Corruption is rampant in the university system, which means that classes end up being very multi-leveled, since students often pay to pass from one class to the next without really learning. It is not uncommon to have students in the same advanced English class whose reading levels might range from kindergarten to 6th grade, making the task of teaching effectively for all students next to impossible. Additionally, because students at Bactria pay a nominal fee for classes and are passed or failed based on performance, they actually want to be there and have a greater motivation to work hard and succeed. 

Host Country             Tajikistan
Host City                    Dushanbe
Host Institution          Gymnasium #74      
Type of Project          Fellow
Project Dates             September 2010 – June 2011

Special Country Requirements
Medical care in Dushanbe is very basic. The EL Fellow should not expect regular medical treatment for any preexisting condition. Dependents are welcome. English-language primary education is available. Pets are allowed; however, larger animals generally cannot be accommodated on incoming flights.

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

Project Description
The EL Fellow will be placed at Gymnasium #74, a high school in Dushanbe where the English Language Department includes six very active alumni of the English Teaching Mentor Program. The EL Fellow will teach ESL to high-school age students and will work with the six ETM alumni on curriculum development, teacher-training, and other projects. The EL Fellow will team-teach with other ESL teachers and will offer instruction in American culture for students and teachers.
 
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Corner Programming, American Culture, American Studies, English Camp, English Club Programming, Support Mentoring, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars.  In addition to a full teaching load at Gymnasium #74, the EL Fellow will work together with the US Embassy to develop a curriculum for the English Teaching Mentor Program, which is unique to Tajikistan and offers a chance for a group of Tajik ESL teachers from all over Tajikistan to come to Dushanbe five times a year for intensive training, with the fifth training lasting up to three weeks and involving the participation of at least one English language specialist flown in from the US. The EL Fellow will also travel around Tajikistan to observe, team-teach, and personally mentor each participant in the ETM program in order to maximize the benefits of a mentoring program. The EL Fellow will also assist with Embassy-sponsored programs and activities as needed and will cooperate with other EL Fellows in Tajikistan on a variety of projects and events.

Project Objectives
An EL Fellow placed at a high school will have an enormous impact on the students, most of whom are extremely thirsty for knowledge about America and the English language because they know that a solid grasp of English will help them find better employment and higher education opportunities. Placement of an EL Fellow at the high school level makes sense for Tajikistan because there is much less of a problem with systematic corruption at this level than there is at the university level. Additionally, an EL Fellow working with high-school-age students will reach the 14-17 age group, which is a vulnerable demographic in Tajikistan. Young Tajik men, in particular, if not given an opportunity at a better education, have very little recourse to legitimate work in Tajikistan, and may be drawn to extremist sects, which have recently been flourishing in Tajikistan, or may fall victim to labor-trafficking to Russia.
 
About the Host Institution
Gymnasium #74 is a high school in Dushanbe where the English Language Department includes six very active alumni of the English Teaching Mentor Program who interact frequently with the Embassy. Gymnasium #74 has never hosted an English Language Fellow before, but the school's administration has expressed great interest and excitement about the prospect of working with an EL Fellow. An EL Fellow placed at Gymnasium #74 will get a great deal of support from the administration, staff, and ETM alumni, and will find it to be an extremely fulfilling placement.

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Host Country             Turkmenistan
Host City                    Ashgabat
Host Institution          Foreign Languages Training Center for Graduate Students, Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan/Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy  
Type of Project          Fellow
Project Dates             September 2010 – June 2011

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

Project Description
The EL Fellow will work at the Foreign Languages Training Center of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan (previous name Supreme Council for Science and Technology), which was established and opened officially on June 12, 2008 with the aim to teach English and other foreign languages to the first and second groups of Turkmen graduate students. The EL Fellow will continue working with six full time English teachers at this center on teacher-training and material development, and teaching graduate students. The curriculum at present includes conversation classes, academic writing, editorial advising, and so on. The US Embassy is also looking at possibilities for the Academy of Sciences to work together with a US University - previously plans included Texas A&M University’s Business School. Teachers’ current level of English language is not sufficient for them to start the English track program offered by the Business School. Therefore, the Embassy would like the EL Fellow to conduct more teacher trainings, particularly to help teachers adapt and develop materials for their lessons, in accordance with guidelines set by the Ministry of Education. There are not only teachers in need of training, but also graduate students, and this group needs to be acquainted with new interactive teaching methodologies and techniques. The Embassy will support the Fellow in developing his/her schedule and organizing these events.

Secondary project duties will include working with: American Corner Programming, Support Mentoring, and Workshops/Seminars.  As a second and minor duty, the EL Fellow will work with the US Embassy’s Public Affairs Section - conduct workshops on English as a Foreign Language for local students. These workshops could be done on a single-occasion basis, or as a series, as EL Fellow finds appropriate. Also, the Embassy would like the EL Fellow to be involved in various cultural activities that happen throughout the year, and are held at various locations, such as the Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan, English language centers, US Embassy, and other public and private locations. The Embassy would also like to have the EL Fellow involved with the Access Microscholarship program to assist in progress assessment and monitoring, as well as helping Access teachers with their teaching as needed. A few times during the 10 months that the EL Fellow is in Turkmenistan, the Embassy would also like him/her to visit the American corners, and conduct one-time teacher training workshops, and give presentations on various subjects - language, literature, culture, etc. Although placing an EL Fellow outside the capital city of Ashgabat is not very efficient, single-occasion presentations and workshops have a great impact on audiences, and are very useful for the teachers to refresh their skills, and just to communicate with a native speaker. In general, the design of the EL Fellow in Ashgabat gives an EL Fellow a lot of possibilities and a lot of room for creativity and flexibility in designing their own independent program of what they are good at doing and interested in pursuing.
 
Project Objectives
Turkmenistan's need for English language teacher training and curriculum development is difficult to overstate. Former President Saparmurat Niyazov systematically scaled back education in all areas, including training for teachers, to the extent that teachers are unable to perform satisfactorily. Because of the low level of professionalism, and the lack of adequate training and development offered by the Government, teachers lose interest in teaching and become indifferent to their profession, just going through the motions. This leads to a decrease of natural intellectual curiosity of students, threatening the country's prospects for progress and successful development in a post-Niyazov era. Although after Turkmenistan’s current president came to power there was a dynamic shift in attitudes towards education, it was rather short-lived and has by now reached a plateau. However, this neither lessens the need for English language professionals in the country, nor the demand for English speakers in the private and public sector. Placing the EL Fellow at the Academy of Sciences strengthens an important tie, and that this relationship could be very useful for future projects. The impact of the EL Fellow is, furthermore, significant, because this is the first time in a long period that graduate-level programs exist in the country, and teachers are able to get training from professional native language carriers. Through the US Embassy and the American Corners, the EL Fellow will be able to continue working with English teachers from secondary schools.

About the Host Institution
The Foreign Languages Training Center for graduate students at the Academy of Sciences has been open since June 2008. The main goal of this center is to teach Turkmen graduate students foreign languages  French, German, English. Graduate programs were re-introduced to the Turkmenistan education system 2008 after a ten year closure. Foreign language study is included in the core credit list for MA and PhD degree students. This program will also enable students to conduct research from foreign language sources, since materials in Turkmen language are very scarce and outdated. An EL Fellow will continue to work with a small group of English teachers to train them in teaching methodologies and techniques, specifically with development of the ESP curriculum and materials, as well as teach students conversational English. 

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Host Country             Uzbekistan
Host City                    Tashkent
Host Institution          Institute for English Teacher Education (IELTE), Uzbek State World Languages University  
Type of Project          Fellow
Project Dates             Late August 2010 – Late June 2011

Project Focus
Proficiency Exams, and Teaching Methodologies 

Project Description
In the 2010-2011 academic year, the Institute for English Teacher Education (IELTE) plans to focus on the development of the assessment and testing tools for both its skills development and content courses. At the present time, IELTE teachers feel that their tests do not adequately assess their students' proficiency and progress. In the program's skills development courses, teachers are unsure how to assess the language and study skills they are helping students to develop; as a result, their tests often assess what the students know about the skill, rather than how proficient they are in applying it. In the program's content courses, teachers are unfamiliar with approaches to testing that require students to infer from or apply what they have learned; thus, their tests tend to focus on factual details and teachers are unable to conclude from test results whether or not their students have acquired a true understanding of the course’s key concepts. The faculty also feel that their program's entrance and exit exams do not adequately assess proficiency. Thus, an EL Fellow with expertise in testing will be able to help the teachers develop appropriate and reliable assessment tools, and thereby greatly improve the quality of IELTE’s teacher-training program. The EL Fellow will also be of great assistance in revising and improving the IELTE program's Language Assessment and Testing course for senior PRESET students.

The EL Fellow’s primary duties will be guiding two groups of faculty (6-7 teachers each) through the process of developing tests for individual courses and the IELTE entrance and exit exams and piloting (with two assistant IELTE teachers) the newly revised Language Assessment and Testing course. There will be four groups of fourth-year students in this course (4 classes per week, 75 minutes each).

Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, American Studies, English Camp, English Club Programming, Support Mentoring, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars.  The EL Fellow will also work with the Uzbekistan Teachers of English Association (UzTEA), with much of this collaboration focusing on English Access Microscholarship Program (EAMP). The EAMP itself has successfully operated in Uzbekistan for five years. It began with one program site in the capital city of Tashkent. Then in 2006, the EAMP expanded to include two branches outside of Tashkent, in Bukhara and Fergana, thereby tripling the number of program branches. In addition, the US Embassy launched two new after-school English programs in the provincial towns of Urgench and Angren in fall 2009. Both programs are modeled on the EAMP and funded for two years through a grant from the Office of the Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Currently, over 180 students benefit from the EAMP in five diverse parts of Uzbekistan. The EL Fellow will play a key role in the teacher training component of Access by holding weekly sessions with the Tashkent-based instructors. Contact with the EL Fellow will help the Access teachers better understand and implement the learner-centered, fluency-focused approach that makes Access so unique. It will also help these teachers get new materials and ideas, many of which will highlight US culture and democratic values. Activities could include conversation classes, mini workshops, lesson planning, and new teaching techniques for approximately 1.5 hours a week for 8-10 teachers. Hopefully, the EL Fellow will also hold training sessions with the regional team of four teachers at each branch. In addition, as time permits, the EL Fellow could work directly with Access students. Finally, the EL Fellow could provide valuable assistance in expanding and improving the curriculum for the annual ten-day Summer Enhancement School, in which over 180 Access students participate. These activities will consume a total of 5-6 hours of the EL Fellow’s time each week (approximately 12% of the Fellow's time).  

Additionally, the EL Fellow could, depending on his/her interests and skills, provide support to UzTEA itself in a variety of ways, including initiating a weekly conversation class with approximately 20 UzTEA members (1-1.5 hours a week), conducting a monthly teacher training workshop for up to 80 UzTEA members (2-3 hours a month), assisting with planning the bi-annual UzTEA National Conference, and assisting with administering various teacher contests as a selection committee member (2-3 times a year). These activities will take approximately 4-5 hours a week (about 11% of the Fellow's time). The Uzbekistan Teachers of English Association (UzTEA) is the only national teachers’ association in Uzbekistan. It has 13 branches located in every region of the country. The mission of UzTEA is to improve the practice of English teaching in Uzbekistan, provide a means of pooling and exchanging resources and disseminating information about English teaching. Membership in UzTEA is open to all teachers of English at the primary, secondary, higher or vocational levels in Uzbekistan.

The current EL Fellow has been working with teachers at both UzTEA and Access with enormous success. Currently, the EL Fellow meets with Tashkent-based Access teachers to hone their writing skills. Last year, they received a basic writing course from the EL Fellow and now they are writing papers for him on a weekly basis. Also, once a week, the EL offers an English for Academic Purposes course to EAMP alumni. The EL Fellow has also made several trips outside of Tashkent to give intensive writing workshops to UzTEA members and EAMP teachers in remote areas.

Project Objectives
US Embassy’s collaboration with the University of World Languages, one of the most prestigious universities in Uzbekistan, has been especially successful over the past two years thanks to the current EL Fellow's professionalism and dedication. The EL Fellow has made positive contributions to the mission's strategic goals and the US Embassy believes that a new EL Fellow will continue to promote the understanding of American society, culture, values and policies through her/his commitment to the teacher training and English Access Microscholarship programs. Teacher training programs increase the skills of current and future teachers, enabling them to better promote these aspects of America in their classrooms to thousands of additional students. An EL Fellow will also provide a new window on American values and culture that can enhance trust and mutual understanding. The EL Fellow will particularly contribute to combating terrorism, as increased mutual understanding will help the US establish and maintain a foundation of international cooperation and trust with the citizens of Uzbekistan. Such trust can be instrumental in a young Uzbek’s choice not to become involved in activities aimed against the US. The US Embassy faces many challenges in all of its public diplomacy activities in Uzbekistan. Due to strained relations between the US and Uzbek governments, the Regional English Language Officer (RELO) position was transferred from Tashkent to neighboring Kazakhstan in 2007. Additionally, no Peace Corps volunteers currently work in Uzbekistan and only one American Fulbright Scholar is slated to teach in Uzbekistan in 2010. Therefore Uzbek teachers and students have few opportunities to interact with any Americans, much less with experienced teachers of English. Yet there is still great demand for English language education, and although the Government of Uzbekistan restricts many public diplomacy activities, officials are receptive to English language programs. The Minister of Higher Education himself has expressed his support for English teaching programs, and the Embassy has successfully programmed an EL Fellow in Tashkent and brought a number of English Language specialists to Uzbekistan for training programs during the past two years.

About the Host Institution
The Uzbek State World Languages University is one of the largest universities in Uzbekistan. It has eight departments, and the English Philology Department is the largest with more than 6,000 students. Of the 600 faculty members that teach at the university, 260 are teachers of English. In 2000, the US Embassy and the University of World Languages launched a joint project -- the Institute for English Teacher Education (IELTE) -- to reform the English teacher education curricula in university departments in Uzbekistan. The project studies the current curriculum to identify areas for improvement, incorporates modern approaches to language teacher education, and revises the curriculum to bring it in line with international practices.  At present, IELTE is the only four-year pre-service English teacher training program in Central Asia where all core subject classes are taught in English, and the curriculum is modeled on that of well-known universities around the world. The curriculum consists of four strands:

• Language Development (Integrated Skills, RWCT, Grammar, Vocabulary and Writing);
• EFL Methodology (Methodology, Language Teaching Practicum, Language Assessment and Testing, Materials Design, Course Design, General ESP Methodology);
• Linguistics (General, Sociolinguistics, and Psycholinguistics);
• Cultural Study (U.S. History and Culture, U.S. Literature)

Most of these courses are uncommon in Uzbekistan’s education system. Unique to the IELTE program’s curriculum, they are taught in English by teachers with specialized training. Over 200 students have graduated from IELTE since its establishment, and about 300 students are currently pursuing baccalaureate degrees. This 2009-2010 academic year, the IELTE faculty consists of 14 teachers. The IELTE has a resource center for teachers and a library for students. This university has hosted the current EL Fellow for two academic years: 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. The El Fellow has created a brand new curriculum for teaching English writing, which has not been previously taught as a separate discipline at any Uzbek university. In his first year at IELTE, the EL Fellow developed and implemented syllabi and new teaching materials for writing courses at all four levels of instruction, helped the teachers at the university to improve their teaching methods, and also introduced true critical thinking into the classroom. The university has been an open and enthusiastic host for the EL Fellow at all levels, from colleagues and co-teachers up to the rector of the university himself. In 2008, one of IELTE’s senior teachers also returned from an ECA International Visitor Leadership Program on Higher Education, and she is full of ideas and ways that her university can continue to utilize an incoming EL Fellow.

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Host Country             Uzbekistan
Host City                    Urgench
Host Institution          Urgench State University
Type of Project          Fellow
Project Dates             Late August 2010 – Late June 2011

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

Project Description
The main goal of placing an EL Fellow at Urgench State University (UrSU) is to support the university in developing new courses and teaching materials that will focus on improving students' English speaking and listening abilities. The courses currently offered in UrSU's English Department are still modeled on the grammar-oriented teaching methods of the Soviet period and they do not effectively develop learners' oral proficiency or fluency. The university plans that the EL Fellow will:

• reform the university's English language curricula from its current grammar-oriented style to focus on developing students' abilities in all aspects of English proficiency, especially speaking and listening;
• guide the UrSU faculty in developing curricula for these new courses;
• pilot these courses for a number of the third- and fourth-year students;
• prepare students to use their English skills in a global, interconnected world, which could include successfully competing for opportunities to participate in programs such as the U.S. Embassy-sponsored Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (UGRAD) and the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program.

The EL Fellow will teach 20 hours per week at UrSU. S/he will teach courses approximately 14 hours/week for students majoring in English Language Education within the World Languages Department. The EL Fellow will spend the remaining six hours working with students in the university's Talented Students Department. Besides assisting UrSU faculty in developing these courses, the EL Fellow could also observe other courses and offer suggestions for improvement, advise teachers in meetings, and make cultural presentations for various university departments, professors and students. The EL Fellow's presence at UrSU and the direct link with the US Embassy's Public Affairs Section (PAS) could also provide an opportunity to encourage new collaboration between UrSU and the Tashkent State University of World Languages in Tashkent. PAS has long collaborated with this university's cutting-edge Institute for English Teacher Education and has supported them in developing a curriculum that is firmly rooted in communicative approaches. Leveraging this relationship would save the EL Fellow from reinventing the wheel and allow him/her to focus more on training the current and future teachers on how to implement such a curriculum.
 
Secondary project duties will include working with: American Culture, English Camp, English Club Programming, Teachers Association/Organization, and Workshops/Seminars.  The EL Fellow will work with a brand new after-school English program that post has launched in Urgench in fall 2009. Thanks to a grant from the Office of the Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, PAS was able to replicating the highly successful Access program that post runs in three other regions of Uzbekistan and launch a new branch in Urgench which benefits 36 underprivileged students. Working with this program will complement the EL Fellow's primary work at the university, as the Access Program utilizes a communicative approach to teach English, which naturally develops students' speaking ability. The EL Fellow could play a key role in the teacher training component of this program by holding weekly or monthly sessions with the instructors. Contact with the EL Fellow will help the teachers better understand and implement the learner-centered, fluency-focused approach that makes the Access Program so unique. Activities could include conversation classes, mini workshops, lesson planning, and new teaching techniques for approximately 1.5 hours a week for the program's teachers. In addition, as time permits, the EL Fellow could work directly with the Access students. These activities would consume a total of 5-6 hours of the EL Fellow's time each week (approximately 12% of the Fellow's time).  Embassy’s existing Access Program has been successfully operating in Uzbekistan for five years. It began with one program site in the capital city of Tashkent and in 2006 was expanded to include two branches outside of Tashkent, in Bukhara and Fergana. Along with Urgench, the Embassy has also launched another new branch of after-school English program in Angren in fall 2009. Over 180 students currently benefit from the Access program in five diverse parts of Uzbekistan.

The Uzbekistan Teachers of English Association (UzTEA) is the only national teachers' association in Uzbekistan. It has 13 branches located in every region of the country. The mission of UzTEA is to improve the practice of English teaching in Uzbekistan, provide a means of pooling and exchanging resources and disseminate information about English teaching. Membership in UzTEA is open to all teachers of English at the primary, secondary, higher or vocational levels in Uzbekistan. The Khorezm Branch of UzTEA (where Urgench is located) has not been a very active branch for some time, so the technical and moral support that the EL Fellow could provide would help revitalize and jumpstart this branch. Depending on the branch's needs and the EL Fellow's preferences, s/he could meet once a week with the UzTEA members for a conversation class, conduct a monthly teacher training workshop (2-3 hours a month), and/or assist with planning the bi-annual UzTEA National Conference in Tashkent. These activities would take approximately 3-4 hours a week (about 10% of the Fellow's time).

Finally, the EL Fellow could assist Urgench State University in some of its enhancement activities related to English Language education for its Talented Students Department, including organizing a summer camp and a conversation club. Every summer UrSU holds a Smart Students English Camp, which consists of two different fifteen-day sessions.
 
Project Objectives
The EL Fellow will provide support and guidance to the university in developing a high-quality professional teacher training program. Such training programs are critical for promoting understanding American society, culture, values and policies, as they increase the skills of current and future teachers, enabling them to better promote these aspects of America in their classrooms to thousands of additional students. The EL Fellow will also provide a new window on American values and culture that can enhance trust and mutual understanding. The US Embassy is excited about placing an EL Fellow in the Khorezm Region, as it is an under-served region that is afflicted with chronic water shortages and soil salinization, which have led to many health problems for the population. Due to the region's distance from Tashkent, economic opportunities are limited and it is often overlooked by the government and foreign organizations. The Embassy faces many challenges in all of its public diplomacy activities in Uzbekistan. Due to strained relations between the U.S. and Uzbek governments, the Regional English Language Officer (RELO) position was transferred from Tashkent to neighboring Kazakhstan in 2007. Additionally, no Peace Corps volunteers currently work in Uzbekistan and only one American Fulbright Scholar is slated to teach in Uzbekistan in 2010. Therefore Uzbek teachers and students have few opportunities to interact with any Americans, much less with experienced teachers of English. Yet there is still great demand for English language education, and although the Government of Uzbekistan restricts many public diplomacy activities, officials are receptive to English language programs. The Minister of Higher Education himself has expressed his support for English teaching programs, and the Embassy has successfully programmed an EL Fellow in Tashkent and brought a number of English Language specialists to Uzbekistan for training programs during the past year.
 
About the Host Institution
Urgench State University (UrSU) is the only university in the remote Khorezm Region, which has a population of over 1.5 million people. UrSU has 10 different departments and confers degrees in 35 specializations. It also offers graduate level courses in 19 masters-level and 8 doctoral specializations. The university employs over 450 specialists, including 30 professors and 165 PhDs. Over 8,000 students study at UrSU, and of these, 6,000 students in 10 different departments are studying English. The World Language Department has 542 students, and 380 (80%) of them are training to become future teachers of English. Responding to a presidential decree that directed universities to offer special opportunities for gifted and talented students, UrSU established a new Talented Students Department in 1998. Over the years, UrSU's talented students have won eight prestigious Presidential scholarships and 30 State scholarships. The university is now particularly focused on ensuring that these students, who are majoring in a wide variety of subjects, will also have the opportunity to learn English in a way that will allow them to successfully communicate in a global marketplace after graduation. UrSU is an attractive site for an EL Fellow, as it is located near the ancient Silk Road city of Khiva, which presents many cultural opportunities. Khorezmians are also renowned throughout Uzbekistan for their hospitality, and this placement offers a chance to guide a university in reforming its curricula to take it into the 21st century. This fellowship at UrSU will undoubtedly present some challenges due to its remote location and lack of resources, but at the same time, it has the potential to be rewarding for a self-starter who would relish the opportunity to make a significant difference. The university's enthusiastic rector wants to reform and modernize his university, and he recognizes that the university's English language program plays in an important role in these plans. UrSU's international department is led by a determined teacher who is an alumna of two USG programs: the Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program and the Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP). Having returned from the JFDP in 2008, she is full of new ideas and has proven herself a reliable partner in collaborating with PAS on joint project.  It is important to note that the Urgench State University Rector is extremely supportive of US Embassy programs. He will do all that he can to make the EL Fellow's work a great success.

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