Embassy of the United States

Regional English Language Office

Public Diplomacy

The Public Affairs Section of the United States Embassy focuses on building mutual understanding between people through its informational, educational and cultural programs.  A key support for all these programs is the Regional English Language Programs Office.

The Regional English Language Office (RELO) assists the English teaching community in the host country to develop the language competency of professionals and students. It aims to ensure that there is an English competent cadre of professionals, students and officials who can participate directly in dialogues with their counterparts in the international community, participate in international exchange and research programs, and work with multinational companies and organizations that would like to do business with China.

Key Activities

• Working with host country universities with faculties and departments engaged in pre-service teacher education, American literature, study of the U.S., applied linguistics, linguistics, and other related fields.
• Working with professional teachers of English organizations and institutions at all levels of education in such areas as teacher professional development through national, regional, and local workshops, seminars, and conferences; program assessment; and materials and information dissemination (e.g., via the RELO web page).
• Working with the host country Ministry of Education assisting with such activities as in-service training, curriculum development, assessment issues and development, language policy issues, and trainer training, as well as classroom observation and assessment.
• Hosting a monthly webchat on language and culture, discussing issues of interest to teachers and future teachers of English.