Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

OFFICE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAMS
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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the role of the Office of English Language Programs?

The Office of English Language Programs of the Department of State is responsible for many of the U.S.-government leading English teaching initiatives outside the United States. With over 30 Civil Service and Foreign Service personnel, the office provides a wide range of services and products throughout the world, most commonly through the U.S. embassy in the capital city of a host country.

2. What are Regional English Language Officers?

The Office of English Language Programs is the home of over twenty Foreign Service Regional English Language Officers (RELOs). Some are based in Washington, but the majority is posted outside the United States. In their public diplomacy role, RELOs work with embassy public affairs sections to support host-country English language teaching initiatives. In addition to providing oversight for English language programs run by U.S. embassies/consulates, RELOs plan, conduct, promote, and support, as well as engage in consultative services for, programs sponsored by host-country ministries of education, universities, binational centers and other English teaching programs and institutions affiliated with U.S. embassies. Besides lecturing and presenting workshops on EFL methodologies and practices, RELOs help design and conduct academic exchange programs between the United States and other countries to promote international understanding of American values, democratic representative government, free enterprise and the rule of law.

3. What are the exchange programs that come under the supervision of the Office of English Language Programs?

The Office currently operates several exchange programs, which you are invited to review at our web site. The English Language Fellow Program is an exchange program for U.S.-citizen TESL/TEFL graduates and experienced teacher trainers. The Program sends approximately 140 Fellows abroad annually and is currently administered by Georgetown University, Center for Intercultural Education and Development (CIED). The English Language Specialist Program annually sends approximately 120 U.S. academics overseas for short-term (2-4 weeks) programs. The office also brings foreign teachers of English and English students to the United States for short-term workshops under the auspices of the English Access Microscholarship Program.

4. Does the Office of English Language Programs produce English teaching materials?

Yes, the Materials Branch of the Office produces a wide variety of affordable, English teaching and reference materials. These titles are available only outside of the United States through U.S. embassies and consulates; legislative restrictions (the Smith-Mundt Act) prohibit the materials from being distributed in the Unites States. An exception is made for the Office’s flagship publication, English Teaching Forum (see questions 6, 7, and 8 below). Each U.S. embassy establishes its own policies regarding availability and pricing of English teaching materials. Anyone interested in obtaining these materials, which include print, audio, and video titles, should contact the Public Affairs and/or Cultural Affairs section of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

5. What is English Teaching Forum?

English Teaching Forum is probably the best-known product of the Office of English Language Programs. English Teaching Forum is a peer-reviewed journal with articles by and for practicing English teachers. It is the most widely distributed publication of its kind in the world. More than 75,000 copies of each issue are distributed annually in over 100 countries.

6. How can I subscribe to English Teaching Forum?

For subscription information, please review the ET Forum page on our website.

7. Can I read English Teaching Forum articles on the Internet?

Yes, English Teaching Forum has an online edition. English Teaching Forum includes nearly all Forum articles dating back to 1993. Access to English Teaching Forum Online is in the public domain and free to all users. Issues of Forum do not appear online until at least two subsequent issues of the print edition have been sent to subscribers.

8. Does the Office of English Language Programs offer any online materials?

The Office has a large number of resources available online for teachers and learners of English. Our selection of resources can be accessed through our online resources page or our links pages.

9. What is the State Department’s relationship with TESOL?

The Office of English Language Programs and the association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. (TESOL) have long had a cordial, professional relationship, although there is no official connection between the two. Outside the United States, the Office of English Language Programs can usually be found in action when members of TESOL affiliates come together at national ELT conferences.

10. What is the State Department’s relationship with the British Council?

The Office of English Language Programs maintains a cooperative relationship worldwide with our colleagues from the United Kingdom. In many countries, the Office of English Language Programs/U.S. embassies and the British Council are joint sponsors of a wide variety of English language projects, such as national English teaching conferences.

11. I’d like to work as an English teacher in another country. Can you give me some general advice?

You can find useful information regarding worldwide English teaching opportunities on the webpage of the global education association for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

12. Where should I go for TEFL training?

The Office of English Language Programs does not maintain lists of graduate schools in TEFL. Most state-supported universities have some kind of graduate (M.A, Ph.D.) programs. TESOL provides a reference page for emerging teachers that may be useful for researching available training programs in the United States.

13. Can a RELO help me find a job teaching English outside the United States?

RELOs do not hire or recruit teachers, nor do they provide employment services. If you are interested in a teaching job in a specific country, it is best to contact an institution in that country directly. You can also try contacting that country’s nearest embassy or consulate for information. If you fit the criteria for any of the exchange programs operated by the Office of English Language Programs (see question #3), we encourage you to submit an application. You can also check out our page with job links. In addition, you may want to look at the Peace Corps website for information on becoming a volunteer or at the Fulbright page for applying for a grant through the Teacher Exchange Program.

14. I have a friend abroad who wants to study English in the United States. What should (s)he do?

U.S. embassies support or maintain Education Advising Centers, which have directories of college- and university-based ESL (English as a Second Language) programs, as well as undergraduate and graduate programs. These directories can provide potential students with most of the critical information needed to make a school selection. A prospective student can also contact an academic institution directly for information and clarifications. Another source of information on this topic is a publication by the U.S. Department of State, titled If You Want to Study in the United States.

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