Regional English Language Office

The Regional English Language Office (RELO) for Central Asia, based at the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, serves Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.  RELO works together with Public Diplomacy Sections at U.S. Embassies in these countries to provide professional development opportunities for educators and resources to support English language learning through exchanges, in-country events, online courses, and materials.

Contact us at TashkentEnglish@state.gov or RELOCentralAsia@fan.gov.   Follow us on Facebook.  For English teaching materials, visit AmericanEnglish@state.gov.

English Teaching Forum is an international, refereed, journal published by the U.S. Department of State for teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL). The mission of English Teaching Forum is to contribute to the professional development of its readers around the world by offering articles that reflect current theory and practice in English language teaching. This quarterly journal is distributed by the Public Affairs Section. To request the magazine for your institution, please email us at Tashkent-Program@state.gov. Visit https://americanenglish.state.gov/past-issues-english-teaching-forum to access and download current and past issues of online editions of the English Teaching Forum.

Submissions: English Teaching Forum accepts submissions of previously unpublished articles from English teachers, teacher trainers, and program administrators on a wide variety of topics in second/foreign language education, including principles and methods of language teaching; activities and techniques for teaching the language skills and subskills; classroom-based studies and action research; needs analysis, curriculum and syllabus design; assessment, testing, and evaluation; teacher training and development; materials writing; and English for Specific Purposes. Most of the articles published in English Teaching Forum are submitted by its readers.

English Teaching Forum Guidelines for Authors: English Teaching Forum focuses primarily on the teaching of English. Submissions that focus exclusively on linguistic theory or rely primarily on statistics and quantitative research may not be suitable for this journal. Also, articles that require knowledge of a language other than English or focus exclusively on teaching in a specific country may not be appropriate for the global readership of English Teaching Forum. Read past issues to see what topics have been included in recent issues and to see the length and scope of published articles.

Visit https://americanenglish.state.gov/submission-guidelines for additional guidelines on article submissions.

The Embassy of the United States in Tashkent is pleased to announce the competition for the 2023 summer term of the Online Professional English Network (OPEN) Program previously known as AE E-Teacher.

Program Overview

The OPEN Program offers 8-week professional development courses developed by U.S. universities on topics such as English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) TESOL Methodology, Professional Development for Teacher Trainers, and Integrating Critical Thinking into the Classroom.

Requirements

Candidates for OPEN program should be current ELT professionals (teachers who are working with one of the five subjects covered by the courses, teacher trainers, or program administrators). They should be highly motivated individuals who are dedicated to their own professional development and to sharing the knowledge, they will gain with colleagues through workshops or presentations.  In addition, candidates must:

  • Be a citizen of and reside in Uzbekistan for the entire duration of the course term;
  • Have strong English language reading and writing skills (minimum CEFR B2 or 70 iBT);
  • Have regular and reliable access to high-speed internet connection;
  • Be willing to spend 10 to 12 hours online each week for the duration of the 8-week course;
  • Be willing to be enrolled in a second or third course, if your primary choice is unavailable
  • Have an understanding of English technical terms
  • Have basic technology skills related to creating usernames and passwords, using credentials to log in to secured websites, using email, searching the internet, and accessing  and managing electronic files (e.g., pdf, MS Word, Excel), including downloading and uploading files.
  • Have the ability to type in English well enough to participate in online discussions and submit written assignments in a timely manner

IMPORTANT: Private English language tutors, teachers employed at educational centers and schools that serve a primarily expatriate population are not eligible.

Online Professional English Network (OPEN) Programs
Summer term 2023 Global Online Courses
Fall term begins on July 11, 2023; Orientation available June 5- 30, 2023

Developing and Teaching Academic Writing

This course is delivered by Iowa State University

Course Overview

This course is for international educators of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). As a participant in this course, you will learn what academic writing is and how to develop courses that suit the writing needs of your students. During the 8 weeks of the course, you will develop an understanding of different approaches, types, and key components of academic writing courses. You will also learn important strategies for teaching academic writing skills in a student-centered classroom. Specifically, you will learn to teach students how to go through the writing process, how to search for and evaluate sources, how to develop arguments, how to follow the characteristics of different text types, how to consider the context/audience/culture, and even how to prepare an application essay for possible study abroad in the United States. You will also learn how to assess global and local aspects of writing and to give feedback. Different tools for designing course materials and tasks will be available to you as models to support your learning, and different experiential learning opportunities will allow you to apply your new knowledge and share it with other educators. Throughout the course, the topics and tasks will lead you to complete an Academic Writing Course (AWC) Development Project for your own context and students.

Creating and Implementing Online Courses (CIOC)

This course is delivered by Arizona State University

Course Overview

This course will give participants powerful tools to create and deliver hybrid and fully online courses for online learners. Using the ADDIE model for curricular design, participants will first analyze (A) students, stakeholders, and objectives by writing a learner story. They will then design (D) and develop (D) the course by creating a course geography and course outline. Finally, participants will develop an action plan to demonstrate how they intend to implement (I) and evaluate (E) the English language courses they develop. The main outcome of the course is to have participants apply tools and strategies for creating and delivering online courses in their contexts.

Fostering Student Motivation and Engagement (FSME)

This course is delivered by the University of Oregon

Course Overview

Fostering Student Motivation and Engagement (FSME) is an online course for English language educators who want to improve their teaching practices and increase their students’ level of motivation and engagement in learning English. Over the span of eight weeks, participants will develop skills to increase student motivation and engagement, acquire knowledge about differentiated instruction, develop skills to address students’ learning needs, and engage in reflection activities as a matter of professional practice. Throughout the course, participants will identify an area of need in their teaching contexts and will choose tools, strategies, techniques, and resources to try with a group of leaners to help meet that need. At the end of the course, this will become a collection of resources, or a “toolkit,” that they can use in their contexts and share with others.

Integrating Critical Thinking Skills into the Exploration of Culture in an EFL Setting

This course is delivered by World Learning- SIT Graduate Institute

Course overview

Exploration of culture in an EFL setting requires helping students engage in authentic situations to develop the ability to navigate across a variety of cultural. This intercultural ability requires language choices and awareness of oneself as a cultural being. It also requires critical thinking skills, which are themselves culturally defined. Using experiential learning as the organizational model, this course will engage participants in analyzing personal experiences, media, EFL textbooks, and classrooms to develop the capacity to think critically about the cultural assumptions and viewpoints embedded in their teaching content and process. After examining themselves as cultural beings and assessing learners’ needs and goals, participants will develop a concrete teaching lesson that reflects their view of teaching critical thinking and intercultural competence in their particular context.

Methodology for TESOL

This course is delivered by the University of Maryland Baltimore County

Course Overview

This course is designed to provide participants with current methodologies for teaching English learners (ELs) of different ages in many learning contexts. Participants will discuss and practice a wide variety of strategies and techniques for teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). While exploring best practices for teaching listening, speaking, reading, and writing, including grammar and vocabulary, participants will learn how to create an effective and communicative language classroom for all learners. In addition, participants will examine what best practices means in the context of teaching English in the 21st century, where English is an international language, and the use of English incorporates modern technologies.

Professional Development for Teacher Trainers

This course is delivered by Arizona State University

Course Description

This course, designed for both new and experienced teachers, gives participants methods for creating, presenting, and evaluating effective teacher training workshops. You will gain tools and techniques for promoting professional development in your teaching context. Through participation in this course, you will develop your skills for delivering engaging and relevant teacher trainings

Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL)

This course is delivered by George Mason University

Course Overview

Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL) is designed to introduce you to the theory and practice of teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) to young learners 3-10 years old. Through engaging videos and practical readings, you will explore approaches for teaching English to children that are not only effective but also fun and engaging. You will learn techniques for teaching new vocabulary and grammar that encourage student participation. In addition, you will gain new ideas for teaching listening, speaking, reading and writing in a meaningful context. Through learner-centered activities and group discussions, you will have many opportunities to share ideas with peers and apply course content to your learning environment. Get ready to learn about TEYL and be part of an international learning community with teachers around the world!

Teaching Grammar Communicatively

This course is delivered by World Learning- SIT Graduate Institute

Course overview

In this practice-oriented course, participants will explore how to adapt grammar instruction to meet their students’ needs. They will also focus on integrating grammar instruction with teaching language skills, varying grammar instruction meet the needs of large, mixed ability classes, and using available technology effectively to enhance grammar learning inside and outside the classroom. Participants will discuss different challenges their learners may have with learning grammar and discover how they can help learners use grammar to improve fluency and accuracy.

Using Educational Technology in the English Language Classroom

This course is delivered by Iowa State University

Course Overview

This course is designed to help English language teaching professionals around the world acquire and maintain basic knowledge and skills in technology for professional purposes through hands-on learning. It will help teachers integrate pedagogical knowledge and skills with technology to enhance their language teaching and learning through their reading, discussion, and creation of new learning activities. The course will help participants apply technology in record keeping, feedback, and assessment, and use technology to improve communication, collaboration, and efficiency by participating in online discussion and presentation.

How to Apply

Interested English language professionals must complete and email their applications (DOC 291 KB) to TashkentRELO@state.gov by Monday, May 1, 2023

Questions about the OPEN Program

Please email your questions to: TashkentRELO@state.gov with “OPEN Program” in the

subject line of all emails.

The American English team is pleased to offer American English Live: Teacher Development Series 12. The six online seminars of the series cover a variety of topics intended for teachers of English or future teachers of English around the world. At the end of each event, participants will have the opportunity to earn a digital badge that verifies their participation. Viewing group hosts, Public Affairs Offices, and Regional English Language Offices also have the option to issue e-certificates for those who attend four out of six sessions.

The series will take place from September 15 – November 24, 2021.  These 60-minute sessions will be held every other Wednesday at 17:00 p.m. or 22:00 p.m. Tashkent time. Participants can join the sessions by viewing the live posts at the above times here:  https://www.facebook.com/AmericanEnglishforEducators/

Though not mandatory, registration is encouraged. Registered participants will receive email reminders with links to pre-session readings and online discussions.

 

Presentation Titles

Session Dates

 

English for Specific Purposes: Tourism and Cultural Exploration

 

Teaching Hospitality and Tourism: Building Leadership, Communication, and Intercultural Awareness

Serena Chu-Mraz

 

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

17:00-18:00 Tashkent time

22:00-23:00 Tashkent time

 

21st Century Skills and
the English Language Classroom

ACTIVATE 21st Century Skills
with Board Games in the Classroom

Jennifer Borch

 

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

17:00-18:00 Tashkent time

22:00-23:00 Tashkent time

STAIR Framework for Interactive Online Activities

Stephanie Upadhyay

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

17:00-18:00 Tashkent time

22:00-23:00 Tashkent time

 

Teaching STEAM to English Language Learners

** Daylight Savings Time ends on November 7th in the US; your local broadcast time may be affected **

Integrating STEAM and English With Oral Language Routines

Amanda Fox

 

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

17:00-18:00 Tashkent time

22:00-23:00 Tashkent time

Getting Started With Project-Based Learning in STEAM

Catherine DiFelice Box and Anne Pomerantz

 

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

18:00-19:00 Tashkent time

23:00-12:00 a.m. Tashkent time

STEAM-Powered Instruction:
Practical Approaches for ELT Educators

Eileen Finn

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

18:00-19:00 Tashkent time

23:00-12:00 a.m. Tashkent time

English Language Fellow: The English Language Fellow Program promotes academic and educational exchanges between countries by sending experienced American Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) on ten-month fellowships to universities overseas. English Language Fellows serve as teachers of English as a foreign language and are involved in teacher training and professional and staff development activities in areas such as methodology, curriculum and textbook design, and English for Specific Purposes. Request forms are accepted year round. (Download Request Form: PDF 170 KB)

English Language Specialist: The English Language Specialist Program sends U.S. academics and professionals in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) to work on programs that contribute to the host country’s capacity to teach English. English Language Specialist projects can include intensive workshop presentations, teacher training, needs assessments, material development, curriculum development, and other English capacity building activities. Specialist programs can be carried out over a period lasting from two weeks to up to five months or be comprised of a series of short term visits, supplemented with online or virtual engagement. Request forms are accepted year round. (Download Request Form: PDF 103 KB)

If your institution is interested in hosting the Fellow or the Specialist, and is willing to work with the Public Affairs Section, please contact the RELO or the Public Affairs Section.

The American English website provides resources for teaching and learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL). This website provides a variety of engaging materials and resources for teachers’ professional development and for use with students in the classroom. Both teachers and students will find new ways to practice English and learn more about the United States.

Features of American English: On this website, you will find a large variety of high-quality resources to learn English, to teach English, and to discover more about American culture.

Downloadable Resources

  • Print and audio publications are available as free downloads.
  • Audio books and song collections may be played directly from the website.
  • Posters can be printed for use as visual aids in the classroom.
  • “Shaping the Way We Teach English” is a multimedia training program for teachers.

This funding opportunity seeks to improve the quality of English language teaching and learning in the country by: identifying key factors that promote innovative and interactive English teaching methods; training new generations of English language teachers; motivating students to excel at English learning; and establishing English programs that support economic growth and development. More specifically, this opportunity seeks English language educators to be creative and establish centers/clubs/programs that can boost not only English language ability of university students, but also develop their critical thinking and decision making skills, as well as show their potential. There are many talented students at universities and schools, and participation in extracurricular clubs or programs such as English language learning can be useful. This funding opportunity also seeks to find talented students who can develop and implement ideas to motivate their peers.

For further information, visit the English Language Program Grants Program page.