Job Announcement: English Language Specialists needed Feb-Mar

Fri Jan 11 21:53:28 UTC 2008

This is for U.S. Citizens with M.A.s or Ph.D.s, overseas experience, and teacher training experience. It's an exciting and lucrative opportunity if you have the time.  This version, which includes the full text of the program descriptions, supercedes the previous version.

Bridget Goodman
University of Pennsylvania
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Dear Colleagues,

Greetings from the English Language Office at the U.S. Department of State!  This is a recruitment notice to locate an appropriate Eng. Lang. Specialist for an upcoming projects in Palestine / West Bank and the Philippines. Please see attached descriptions for each project.  Due to the relatively short amount of time we have to recruit, contact me immediately if you’re interested and available.  

Our office can offer reimbursement for a pre-approved coach class international airfare, an honorarium of $200 a day (including int'l travel days), $150 book allowance, $100 miscellaneous expenses payment, $100 final report payment, any entrance visa fees, and basic medical insurance for the duration of the program.  The Public Affairs Section of the receiving embassies together with the hosting institutions that you’d work with cover all in-country expenses and would be in communication with you about these arrangements separately. You can consider all of your local travel expenses plus food / lodging covered for the duration of the program.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of these last minute requests.  I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Julia

Julia Walters
Program Officer, English Language Specialist Program
Office of English Language Programs
U.S. Department of State - SA-44 
301 4th Street, S.W., Room 304
Washington, D.C. 20547
WaltersJL at state.gov
Tel: 202-453-8842
Fax:  202-453-8858
Find out more about our office at http://exchanges.state.gov/education/engteaching/

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1) Palestinian Territories, West Bank

PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND JUSTIFICATION
Project Name: English Language Capacity Buliding for Bir Zeit University and the Ministry of Education

--Reason for Project:--

Bir Zeit University (BZU) has requested assistance in developing its English Language Teaching curriculum and the capacity of its EL teaching staff. Post will apply in the fall for a long-term English Language Fellow to assist the University in its curriculum development needs. Right now, though, the English Language Department has an urgent need for staff development in this area. The opportunity to work with an EL Specialist would give them the head start they need to make full use of a long-term Fellow next year. 

Also, due to a policy shift, the US Consulate in Jerusalem has only just begun to reengage with the Ministry of Education. The visit of an EL Specialist would provide an invaluable opportunity to show our support for the English Language teaching program in public schools. The Ministry has requested our assistance in this area and we are working with them to arrange a series of English Language trainings for teachers and supervisors.
MPP Goals: Information Resources, Mutual Understanding

--Project Objectives and Relationships to MPP Goals above:--

To encourage and further develop English Language teaching at these two key Palestinian institutions while at the same time building vital links between the institutions and the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem and positive views of the USG in general.

HOST INSTITUTIONS // ACTIVITIES // AUDIENCES
#1: # 1 Languages and Translation Department-; Bir Zeit University, West Bank; (see comment section below for more info on BZU) // The University has specifically requested training and capacity building for its staff in the following areas:; --Task based syllabus development: nature of courses, materials design, assessment, and teaching methodology; --Utilizing the Internet in teaching English as a foreign language: practical sessions for teachers on how to help students utilize the Internet for self-directed learning; Post would like the Specialist to conduct at least 6 workshops in the above topics, and provide consultancy services individually and in small groups to staff from BZU in other areas related to English language teaching, such as reviewing and editing teaching materials, assessment workshops, etc. // English Language Teachers and Trainers and other relevant staff at Bir Zeit University

#2: # 2 Ministry of Education of the Palestinian Authority // Post would like the Specialist to conduct at least 6 workshops on EL teaching on topics such as: use of active-learning teaching methods, curriculum development, incorporation of critical thinking skills, writing and reading skills building, assessment. Post also requests that the Specialist provide consultancy services individually and in small groups to staff from the Ministry in other areas related to English language teaching. // EL supervisors and teachers from the Ministry of Education and Palestinian public schools in the West Bank and Gaza
#3: // // 
#4: // // 
#5: // // 
PREFERRED PROJECT DATES
Arrival Date: 10-Feb-2008 Morning +/- 0 Days
Departure Date: 23-Feb-2008 Morning
Programmed Days: 10-11 days

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2) Mindanao, Philippines

PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND JUSTIFICATION

Project Name: Mindanao English Language Education Enhancement Project

--Reason for Project:--

Following the successful program of English Language Specialist (ELSpec) Alan A. Seaman on February 28 - March 11, 2007, the ELSpec program in the Philippines for FY-08 will again support the Mindanao English Language Education Enhancement Project (MELEEP). MELEEP is a project of PAS Manila and the U.S.-Philippine Fulbright Commission (known locally as the Philippine American Educational Foundation - PAEF) aimed at strengthening English language skills among Filipino students within the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and neighboring communities. In close coordination with similar efforts being implemented by the Philippine Department of Education and USAID, MELEEP seeks to improve the quality of English language instruction in predominately Muslim, conflict-affected areas of Mindanao. Enabling schools in those areas to do a better job of teaching English will help students improve their fluency in English, a valuable skill that will help
 them increase their earning power and their ability to participate in the national and international economy -- thereby reducing the likelihood that they will see themselves trapped in an economic dead end in which radical ideology and terrorism become attractive options. Three (3) of the four (4) seminars the ELSpec will lead during his / her visit to the Philippines will take place in three (3) key cities in Mindanao and will strengthen the English teaching skills of tertiary, secondary, and elementary-level teachers who work in Mindanao. The fourth seminar to be led by the ELSpec, the one organized by the Ateneo Center for English Language Teaching (ACELT), will take place in Metro Manila. Though it will not have direct impact on Mindanao, the program at ACELT is significant as English language proficiency is declining in the Philippines. ACELT is a center for education and development in English language and literature teaching. This seminar will
 provide an opportunity for about fifty (50) English teachers from the greater Manila area to learn the latest techniques and approaches in English teaching. 
MPP Goals: Combating Terrorism, Information Resources, Mutual Understanding, Open Markets

--Project Objectives and Relationships to MPP Goals above:--

The bulk of the ELSpec's program in the Philippines will focus on improving English teaching in Mindanao, and will therefore (as explained above) directly support Embassy Manila's top priority MPP goal: "to reinforce the Government of the Philippines' efforts to secure a lasting peace in Mindanao" so that "the Philippines no longer serves as a base for terrorist activities against U.S. citizens and interests in the United States or abroad." Addressing regional disparities in education is an important way of diminishing the potential for terrorism. Expanded learning opportunities and improved instruction in English will reduce the economic and social marginalization of Muslims in Mindanao, which will in turn lessen their sense of political isolation and their susceptibility to radicalism and violence. Since fluency in English is a key factor in being able to connect successfully with the global economy, the ELSpec program will also support Embassy
 Manila's MPP goal of "fostering economic growth and development" in the Philippines. Finally, the ELSpec's program will certainly contribute to the MPP goal of "mutual understanding," and the fact that it will do so primarily in Mindanao, the geographic focal point of our Mission's efforts, is particularly valuable.

HOST INSTITUTIONS // ACTIVITIES // AUDIENCES

#1: Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro (Mindanao) // A. The ELSpec will lead a two-day seminar-workshop entitled "Critical Thinking in Teaching English Language and Literature Skills." The ELSpec will use the interdisciplinary approach in introducing critical thinking in teaching English language and literature skills. He / She will present the nature, elements, and process of critical thinking in teaching English language and literature. Through the interdisciplinary approach, he / she will facilitate the interaction and workshop of the participants.; B. Through structured presentations (including PowerPoint), informal interaction with participants, and the fostering of small group discussions in which participants actively use the concepts and ideas presented by the ELSpec. // About fifty (50) to sixty (60) English language and literature teachers from Cagayan de Oro and other areas in Mindanao

#2: Ateneo de Zamboanga University; (Mindanao) // A. The ELSpec will lead a one-and-a-half day seminar on the same topic: "Critical Thinking in Teaching English Language and Literature Skills." The ELSpec will use the interdisciplinary approach in introducing critical thinking in teaching English language and literature skills. He / She will present the nature, elements, and process of critical thinking in teaching English language and literature. Through the interdisciplinary approach, he / she will facilitate the interaction and workshop of the participants.; B. Through structured presentations (including PowerPoint), informal interaction with participants, and the fostering of small group discussions in which participants actively use the concepts and ideas presented by the ELSpec. // About fifty (50) English teachers from Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Basilan, Jolo, and Tawi-Tawi

#3: Ateneo de Davao University; (Mindanao) // A. The ELSpec will lead a one-and-a-half day seminar on "Making Grammar Interesting." The seminar will focus on the strategies on how to teach grammar. He / She will talk about current strategies in teaching grammar. He / She will demonstrate how to teach a grammar lesson. At the end of the seminar, the participants should be able to apply the strategies learned through a demonstration teaching. They should be able to create a strategy / activity to be used in teaching a grammar lesson.; B. Through structured presentations (including PowerPoint), informal interaction with participants, and the fostering of small group discussions in which participants actively use the concepts and ideas presented by the ELSpec. // About fifty (50) English teachers from Ateneo de Davao University and other colleges and universities in Davao

#4: Ateneo Center for English Language Teaching (ACELT) // A. The ELSpec will have a three-hour presentation on "Making Grammar Interesting" at Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City (located in Metro Manila). The seminar will focus on how to teach grammar. He / She will talk about current strategies in teaching grammar. He / She will demonstrate how to teach a grammar lesson.; B. Through structured presentations including (PowerPoint) and informal interaction with participants. // About fifty (50) teachers of English from the Metro Manila area

#5: // // 

PREFERRED PROJECT DATES
Arrival Date: 25-Feb-2008 Evening +/- 1 Days
Departure Date: 08-Mar-2008 Morning
Programmed Days: 10

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