International Education Week (IEW), November 14-18, 2005: English Language Learning Worldwide

To promote English language learning and teaching outside the United States, the Department of State supports English teaching activities and provides a wide range of services and products worldwide. Among these is a network of Regional English Language Officers (RELOs); the English Teaching Forum, a quarterly journal with more than 65,000 copies distributed in over 100 countries; and a range of exchange programs, including the English Language Fellow Program that sends American teachers abroad on ten-month assignments, as well as the dynamic new English ACCESS Microscholarship Program for underprivileged youth in predominantly Muslim communities around the world. (For more information, visit http://exchanges.state.gov/education/engteaching/.)

Throughout International Education Week (IEW), many diverse activities and events are occurring around the world to highlight the importance of English language learning and teaching. A sampling of these events includes:

• Senegal - Two Department of State RELOs are accompanying two Fulbright exchange teachers to primary schools, middle schools, and high schools around Senegal, to conduct activities and discussions with students, and professional development workshops for English teachers, as well as present books and other Department of State materials, November 14 – 18;
• Thailand – An inaugural Digital Video Conference (DVC) with the University of Oregon is taking place November 18, to train Thai EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers;
• Mexico - U.S. Embassy Mexico City is conducting a cooperative program involving two web-based conference presentations, to reach out to U.S. institutions interested in exploring educational exchange opportunities in Mexico or expanding linkages with Mexican institutions, as well as to other U.S. embassies to promote U.S. government-funded educational activities;
• Syria – ASenior English Language Fellow at the University of Damascus is conducting an in-service teacher training workshop on curriculum development and has organized an English Club; and
• Lebanon – TwoSenior English Language Fellows are training English teachers in Beirut; another is working throughout Lebanon for the Makassed Schools, a philanthropic Islamic group.

International Education Week is a global event, with students, educators, and community leaders participating in a wide range of activities to recognize the benefits of international education and exchange in classrooms and educational systems. Visit http://iew.state.gov/ for more information.
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