Good morning! Thank you, Kay. And thanks to Scott Fleming, Christa Hansen, Magdalena Potocka [mag-dah-leh-nah poh-toe-kah], and our partners at the Georgetown University Center for Intercultural Education and Development (CIED), as well as my
State Department colleagues.
On behalf of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, welcome to Washington. And congratulations on being selected as English Language Fellows. It’s quite an honor. There are 178 of you this year—our largest class yet. Give yourselves a round of
applause!
Out of the 120 exchange programs that the State Department runs, this is one of my favorites. There’s a key reason we focus so many programs on English teaching and study. For our foreign students, speaking English is a critical skill and an unmatched
advantage. It opens a world of academic and professional opportunities, and provides a competitive edge in the international job market.
As Secretary Clinton has said, “societies move forward when the citizens that make up these groups are empowered to transform common interests into common actions that serve the common good.” The English Language Fellows Program exists to help leaders like you empower others all over the world.
By helping foreign students learn English, we also make the personal connections that will support and define our foreign relations for years to come. That’s why teaching English is at the top of our list of priorities. It’s critical to our mission—and to the State
Department, Congress, and even the White House.
When we can communicate, we build bridges of understanding with other countries, and the people in them. Soon, you’ll be living in a foreign country and immersed in its culture and institutions. Along the way, you’ll expand not only your world, but that of everyone around you.
You have a very important job: you’ll work side-by-side with your in-country counterparts to develop English teaching resources. Technology is one way to expand your impact beyond the classroom—and I encourage you to take advantage of online
resources in any way you can. One thing other groups have found effective is keeping a personal blog. You can tell your story better than anyone else, and doing it online connects you to a bigger audience.
As you’ll see, the conversations you have and the friends you make in person or virtually, are just as important as your work. You’re citizen ambassadors, teaching people in 83 different countries about the United States and our culture. And, you’ll learn from them. When you return home, you’ll leave a lasting impact on your host communities. That’s why, as participants, you have a key role to play in our shared future.
And that future starts the minute you get home. You’ll join over one million State Department alumni from over 150 countries. It’s an amazing network, and growing bigger every day!
Many alumni go on to lead their fields—in business, science, academia, arts and culture, and even politics. Collectively, people who participate in international exchange programs—like all of you—always leave a truly remarkable impact.
Recent fellows have taught English to former political prisoners in Burma, set up a teacher prep program in Afghanistan, and more.
We expect great things from each of you—and, I can’t wait to see what you’ll do. Our relationship doesn’t have to end after this summer! So please, keep in touch! Through Facebook and other sites, as you know, it’s so easy to reach out online. You can even find me on Twitter, at @AnnatState.
So, let me finish my formal remarks here. What I really want to do is hear from you and see what questions you have. Thanks again to each of you for your hard work and dedication. Congratulations, have fun, work hard, and enjoy! Thank you.
[Q&A]
Sorry, but it looks like our time is up! To everyone here, thank you for your service. Thank you. Back to you, Kay.