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Regional Teacher Development School in Zhytomyr
English Language Specialist Promotes Regional Security through Targeted Language Training for Ukrainian Border Guards
On June 25-27, English Language Specialist Kristen Danek provided teacher training workshops for the staff of the English Language Department at the Ukrainian State Border Guard Services Academy. The focus of these workshops was to raise participant awareness of effective English teaching techniques and to develop students' listening and speaking skills without resorting to translation during the instruction process. During her workshops, Danek focused extensively on helping participants identify current authentic English teaching resources online.
Regional Caucasus Conference Promotes Professional Development, Regional Tolerance
On June 11-13, the Regional English Language Office at U.S. Embassy Kyiv, hosted 24 English teachers from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia for a three-day conference focused on teaching English to young learners. Eight teachers from each country spent three intensive days working with Margaret Cholodecki, an English Language Fellow in Poland who has set up five Young Learner Resource Centers with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw.
Cholodecki guided conference participants through classroom management techniques and basic language learning activities for this age group. At the end of this conference each teacher had a folder filled with age-appropriate stories, songs and activities to enhance their teaching and make the process of learning English more engaging.
Ukrainian English Language Teachers Gather for Thirteenth Annual Convention
From April 14-16, 2008 190 pre- and in-service English language teachers from all regions of Ukraine gathered in Poltava for their traditional nation-wide professional event. The XIII Annual TESOL-Ukraine convention was held at the Poltava University of Consumer Cooperatives in Ukraine. The event was sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and the Poltava University of Consumer Cooperatives. The opening ceremony included greetings from the Deputy Rector for Science Irina Markina, the Head of the Business Foreign Languages Department Valentyna Ishchenko, and the Regional English Language Officer Lisa Harshbarger.
The keynote presenters were Ms. Kristen Danek from the University of North Carolina who spoke on Strategies for Reaching a Higher Language Proficiency Level and Ms. Katherine Reynolds, a Fulbright scholar from Kharkiv, who shared her ideas on Easy Development of Interactive Activities.
hspace=5 src="images/relo_events.jpg" align=right>TESOL-Ukraine, a Ukraine affiliate of TESOL International, continues to be the biggest professional association of teachers of English in the country.
Annual national conference is the major event that brings the teachers together and allows to keep the network alive, to upgrade teachers' professional knowledge, to discuss burning educational national level issues, to listen to invited international speakers as well as to present themselves and share unique classroom experience. English for Ukrainian Border Guards
From November 12-16, the RELO Office, in cooperation with the National State Border Guard Services Academy of Ukraine, organized a week-long workshop for English language instructors at the Academy. The purpose of this workshop, led by the invited English Language Specialist Debra Lee, was to help develop a course outline for a three-month English language training course that all Border Guards will be required to take beginning in February 2008. Eight Border Guards currently working at border posts in different regions of Ukraine also participated in this workshop by providing accurate information about their English language needs on the border, and trying out training activities in demo classes. EL Specialist provides expertise on using technology in ESP classrooms
From November 19-22, 2007, Debra Lee from the University of Tennessee, an American expert on teaching English for Specific Purposes, conducted a series of presentations and workshops in Kharkiv and Kyiv. Ms. Lee met with the EL faculty of four universities that teach future lawyers, managers, police officers, and aviation engineers. She provided the teachers with guidelines on how to match ESP students' needs with effective technically supported task-based language instruction and how to design a successful ESP program. Teachers were demonstrated LANGUAGE4LAW, a new online multimedia law and language program that uses a case-study approach to introduce the language of the law to students. ESP professors were also given the chance to compare diverse ESP programs in the U.S. and discuss the similarities of the successful ones that teach effective communication in the situations connected with professional needs. The participants of the workshops were familiarized with terms like wiki, podcasts, blog, and open source course management systems. They were encouraged to use technology in their ESP classes to increase student motivation. Interactive workshops provided the teachers with basic strategies on how to create ESP materials using the free authentic resources on the Web. RELO-Sponsored English Language Summer Day Camp Promotes Communication Skills, Student Initiative From August 8-19, 80 high school and
community college students from Mykolayiv participated in an International
Outreach Camp hosted by Mykolayiv State Petro Mohyla University for the
Humanities and funded jointly through the RELO and the FLEX Alumni Grants
Program. Throughout the two-week day
camp, Peace Corps volunteers and U.S. and Ukrainian trainers from the
California-based NGO "International Outreach Coalition" led participants
through an extensive series of activities that provided them with the
English language skills needed for discussion and debate of local and
global issues with larger audiences.
At the end of the camp, outstanding participants were awarded small grants to carry on similar projects in their schools during the next academic year.Both participants and trainers at this Day Camp noted that one of the most important English language skills that participants learned during their two weeks together was how to support one's claims in a disagreement with logical and fair-minded discussion. Teacher Development Summer Institute on Academic Writing
From June 18-22, 26 English language professors from throughout Ukraine participated in a RELO-funded Academic Writing Institute in Alushta, Crimea.
Throughout the week, Senior English Language Fellow Jennifer Herrin and Fulbright Scholar Lisa Morgan, based at Minsk State Linguistics University, led the participants through an extensive series of activities based on academic writing criteria at American universities.
The goal of the course was to help them in turn develop more effective courses for their own students. Both trainers guided participants through techniques that help prevent plagiarism in the classroom. This included extensive input on standard forms of citation and rhetorical organization, as well as theory about submitting multiple drafts of written work for both peer and teacher evaluation before turning in a final product.
3d Regional English Teaching Caucasus Conference on Curriculum Development
On May 14-15, 2007 the RELO Office hosted a conference on English language curriculum design related to the Bologna Process and the Common European Framework. 27 teachers and administrators from Ministries of Education, secondary schools, and universities in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia participated in the event.
Senior English Language Fellow Kristine Fredrick from Chisinau, Moldova led participants in setting up a variety of interactive brainstorming activities, putting them in groups to develop materials and activities on topics of interest to all such as promoting communicative speaking and writing skills.
Each group was then responsible for coming up with a long-term professional development plan that they could implement upon their return home.
All participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to meet and work with each other, and stated that they would like this kind of event to be held every year.
XII Annual English Language Teacher's Conference in Kyiv
On April 21-22, 2007, 250 English teachers from throughout Ukraine met at the National Academy of Management for their 12th National Conference. RELO-funded presenters English Language Specialist Christine Canning, ELF Jennifer Herrin and Fulbright Scholar Lisa Morgan, gave popular presentations on ethical and effective test design, lesson planning, effective classroom management methods, and how to write proposals for international conferences to packed classrooms of 75-100 participants in each room.
TESOL-Ukraine membership is growing steadily. Many young professionals attended the
conference, and were able to join the community of associates, to upgrade their knowledge and to listen to the invited international and local speakers. Ukrainian Teachers Learn the Truth About Testing
Ms. Christine Canning, American Specialist on English language testing and assessment
from the Berkshire Community College, conducted a series of workshops and intensive
two-day trainings for tertiary and secondary level teachers. English language teachers
from Kyiv, Poltava, Lviv, Melitopol, Mykolayiv, and Odesa, as well as a group of
methodologists from the Ukrainian Center for the Quality of Education Assessment in Kyiv,
were introduced to qualities of language tests, to ways of creating effective
measurements, and preparing students for taking high stakes exams. Participants learned
how to use statistics to get information about their students' performance on a test and
to check the test's reliability. The following trainings were held throughout Ukraine:
50 English Teachers in Sevastopol Discuss Testing Reform, Helping Learners Learn
On January 9-14, 2007, 50 English teachers from throughout Ukraine participated in a Winter School at the Sevastopol University of Economics and Law, supported by the Regional English Language Office and TESOL-Ukraine association.
They had a chance to learn more about Ukrainian language testing reforms intended to fight corruption in education, and motivating their students to learn English effectively. University professors and secondary school teachers of English were provided with an opportunity to gain exposure to innovative teaching techniques and classroom activities that their colleagues use. New Regional English Language Resource Center opens in Yalta, Crimea On
September 22, 2006, a new Resource Center for teachers of English opened at
the Crimean University for the Humanities in Yalta as a result of the
competition, announced in April 2006 by the RELO office. About 45 local officials, teachers of English, students, and media representatives gathered at the Crimean University for the Humanities to launch the center and to see the collection of English teaching materials, equipment and furniture, awarded to the University's library.
The Rector of the Crimean University for the Humanities Alexander Gluzman and
the Regional English Language Officer Lisa Harshbarger spoke at the ribbon
cutting ceremony. The opening was followed by the methodology seminar "What
Works in the English Language Classroom", conducted by RELO Lisa Harshbarger.
Like other RELO supported English Language Resource Centers, the Yalta Center
will function as a reading library and seminar room for teachers of English,
students, and anyone interested in English language teaching.
English Language Leadership Camp From July 12-21st,
60 gifted, but underprivileged English language students from Slavyansk district in
Donetsk region had the opportunity to practice their English, learn more about the
United States and discuss civic leadership with eight Peace Corps Volunteers and local
teachers of English at the Svyatogorsk English Language Leadership Camp. This project,
organized by "Success," a Raihorodk-based educational NGO, was the winner of the RELO
Office's Summer English Language Camp competition. Teachers of English gather in Alushta for Second TESOL-UKRAINE and IATEFL Ukraine Joint Teacher Development Summer Institute From June 25-July
6, 2006 fifty teachers from Ukraine, Belarus', Azerbaijan, and Moldova gathered at the
Alushtinski Sanatorium in Alushta, Crimea for the Second Teacher Development Summer
Institute entitled: " Teaching, Learning, Assessment: Issues and Challenges." The event
was jointly sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and the British Council Ukraine.
The Institute consisted of three strands: Assessment, Teacher Development, and English for Specific Purposes. Teams of professional trainers from the U.S., Georgia, and Ukraine worked in these strands. In the Assessment strand, Dr. Christine Coombe, English Faculty/Assessment Leader (USA) and Ms. Olha Yashenkova, Professor and Associate Chair, Linguistics Faculty, Kyiv National University (Ukraine) focused on aspects of assessment such as the test development and specifications process, assessing the four skills, statistics, and test-taking strategies.
Their work was based on the aims, objectives and content of
the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and its relationship to
English language teaching in Ukraine. At the end of the Institute, Assessment strand
participants made recommendations as to the content and format of the school-leaving
tests that will be developed as part of Ukrainian testing reform.
Participants in the Teacher Development strand became more aware of effective classroom management techniques and ways of incorporating writing and reading activities into the curriculum. The ESP strand focused on motivating students to learn English by focusing on their immediate need to communicate in English in professional contexts. The recently introduced university module system and ESP course design based on this system was also discussed. More pictures Regional English Language Office - Events - Archive 3d Regional English Teaching Caucasus Conference on Curriculum Development
On May 14-15, 2007 the RELO Office hosted a conference on English language curriculum design related to the Bologna Process and the Common European Framework. 27 teachers and administrators from Ministries of Education, secondary schools, and universities in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia participated in the event.
Senior English Language Fellow Kristine Fredrick from Chisinau, Moldova led participants in setting up a variety of interactive brainstorming activities, putting them in groups to develop materials and activities on topics of interest to all such as promoting communicative speaking and writing skills.
Each group was then responsible for coming up with a long-term professional development plan that they could implement upon their return home.
All participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to meet and work with each other, and stated that they would like this kind of event to be held every year.
XII Annual English Language Teacher's Conference in Kyiv
On April 21-22, 2007, 250 English teachers from throughout Ukraine met at the National Academy of Management for their 12th National Conference. RELO-funded presenters English Language Specialist Christine Canning, ELF Jennifer Herrin and Fulbright Scholar Lisa Morgan, gave popular presentations on ethical and effective test design, lesson planning, effective classroom management methods, and how to write proposals for international conferences to packed classrooms of 75-100 participants in each room.
TESOL-Ukraine membership is growing steadily. Many young professionals attended the
conference, and were able to join the community of associates, to upgrade their knowledge and to listen to the invited international and local speakers. Ukrainian Teachers Learn the Truth About Testing
Ms. Christine Canning, American Specialist on English language testing and assessment
from the Berkshire Community College, conducted a series of workshops and intensive
two-day trainings for tertiary and secondary level teachers. English language teachers
from Kyiv, Poltava, Lviv, Melitopol, Mykolayiv, and Odesa, as well as a group of
methodologists from the Ukrainian Center for the Quality of Education Assessment in Kyiv,
were introduced to qualities of language tests, to ways of creating effective
measurements, and preparing students for taking high stakes exams. Participants learned
how to use statistics to get information about their students' performance on a test and
to check the test's reliability. The following trainings were held throughout Ukraine:
50 English Teachers in Sevastopol Discuss Testing Reform, Helping Learners Learn
On January 9-14, 2007, 50 English teachers from throughout Ukraine participated in a Winter School at the Sevastopol University of Economics and Law, supported by the Regional English Language Office and TESOL-Ukraine association.
They had a chance to learn more about Ukrainian language testing reforms intended to fight corruption in education, and motivating their students to learn English effectively. University professors and secondary school teachers of English were provided with an opportunity to gain exposure to innovative teaching techniques and classroom activities that their colleagues use. New Regional English Language Resource Center opens in Yalta, Crimea On
September 22, 2006, a new Resource Center for teachers of English opened at
the Crimean University for the Humanities in Yalta as a result of the
competition, announced in April 2006 by the RELO office. About 45 local officials, teachers of English, students, and media representatives gathered at the Crimean University for the Humanities to launch the center and to see the collection of English teaching materials, equipment and furniture, awarded to the University's library.
The Rector of the Crimean University for the Humanities Alexander Gluzman and
the Regional English Language Officer Lisa Harshbarger spoke at the ribbon
cutting ceremony. The opening was followed by the methodology seminar "What
Works in the English Language Classroom", conducted by RELO Lisa Harshbarger.
Like other RELO supported English Language Resource Centers, the Yalta Center
will function as a reading library and seminar room for teachers of English,
students, and anyone interested in English language teaching.
English Language Leadership Camp From July 12-21st,
60 gifted, but underprivileged English language students from Slavyansk district in
Donetsk region had the opportunity to practice their English, learn more about the
United States and discuss civic leadership with eight Peace Corps Volunteers and local
teachers of English at the Svyatogorsk English Language Leadership Camp. This project,
organized by "Success," a Raihorodk-based educational NGO, was the winner of the RELO
Office's Summer English Language Camp competition. Teachers of English gather in Alushta for Second TESOL-UKRAINE and IATEFL Ukraine Joint Teacher Development Summer Institute From June 25-July
6, 2006 fifty teachers from Ukraine, Belarus', Azerbaijan, and Moldova gathered at the
Alushtinski Sanatorium in Alushta, Crimea for the Second Teacher Development Summer
Institute entitled: " Teaching, Learning, Assessment: Issues and Challenges." The event
was jointly sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and the British Council Ukraine.
The Institute consisted of three strands: Assessment, Teacher Development, and English for Specific Purposes. Teams of professional trainers from the U.S., Georgia, and Ukraine worked in these strands. In the Assessment strand, Dr. Christine Coombe, English Faculty/Assessment Leader (USA) and Ms. Olha Yashenkova, Professor and Associate Chair, Linguistics Faculty, Kyiv National University (Ukraine) focused on aspects of assessment such as the test development and specifications process, assessing the four skills, statistics, and test-taking strategies.
Their work was based on the aims, objectives and content of
the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and its relationship to
English language teaching in Ukraine. At the end of the Institute, Assessment strand
participants made recommendations as to the content and format of the school-leaving
tests that will be developed as part of Ukrainian testing reform.
Participants in the Teacher Development strand became more aware of effective classroom management techniques and ways of incorporating writing and reading activities into the curriculum. The ESP strand focused on motivating students to learn English by focusing on their immediate need to communicate in English in professional contexts. The recently introduced university module system and ESP course design based on this system was also discussed. More pictures XI Annual English Language Teachers' TESOL-Ukraine Conference From April 25-27,
2006, English teachers from all regions in Ukraine, as well as guests from Moldova, met
in Kamyanets-Podilsky for the XI Annual English Language Teachers' TESOL-Ukraine
Conference. The event was jointly sponsored by Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy,
Kamyanets-Podilsky State University, and TESOL-Ukraine. Prof. Peter Master from San Jose
State University, San Jose, California, gave a plenary speech at the opening.
The conference brought together 280 teachers for their major event that allowed them to
upgrade their professional knowledge, to discuss burning educational national level issues,
to listen to invited international speakers as well as to present themselves and share
unique classroom experience. More pictures Ukrainian Methodologists Begin Professional Training Program Regional English Language Office in cooperation with the Ministry of
Education and Science of Ukraine organized the first of two trainings for 26 English
Language methodologists, one from each oblast, on September 22-23, 2005.
Senior English Language Fellow John Silver led the group through a series of activities
designed to familiarize the group with "English in a Box," a new Office of English
Language Programs resource consisting of a box of 30 English Language and American Studies
resources specifically designed for English teachers working in remote areas.
During the workshop, each methodologist had the chance to use these materials
to design training activities appropriate for English teachers in their oblast
and try out these activities with their colleagues. RELO and PAS Organize Enligsh Language Retreat for
Students and Teachers From
August 5-13, 2005, 60 Ukrainian youth aged 14-16 and 16 school teachers
of English from boarding and village secondary schools from 7 regions
of Ukraine came to the camp in Kyiv region for a 8-day retreat,
organized by joint efforts of PAS and RELO sections of the U.S. Embassy
and Peace Corps in Ukraine. The
retreat
provided an enriching and educational experience for underprivileged
young people in civics, healthy lifestyle, and community project
planning. The program was supplemented with the parallel track for
English language teachers of the participating youth. Ms. Corliss
Payne, invited American Specialist, conducted an intensive practical
training for the teachers, focusing on communicative methods of
instruction and teaching 4 skills. Teachers were given numerous ideas
and techniques on using songs, games, drama and poetry in the class. 2nd South Caucasus English Teachers Conference
“Sharing Across Borders” From
May 13-15, 2005, English teachers from the three South Caucasus
countries - Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan - met in Tbilisi, Georgia
for the Second South Caucasus English Language Teachers' Conference.
The event was jointly sponsored by the U.S. Embassies in Kyiv, Tbilisi,
Yerevan, and Baku; and the British Councils in the same three
countries. The planning and organization for this highly successful
event was shared by the English teachers' organizations in all three
countries (ETAG, AELTA, and AzETA). Approximately 150 teachers attended the conference. They had a chance to attend high-level seminars, workshops and two plenary sessions, delivered by Ms. Carolyn Graham and Mr. George Pickering. The conference brought together the expertise and knowledge of teachers of English from three neighboring countries, gave them another chance to share across the borders and plan future inter-Caucasus projects. Jazz Chants for Kyiv teachers and children After her
two conference presentations in Georgia, Ms. Carolyn Graham, American
Specialist on Jazz Chants methodology from New-York University,
traveled to Kyiv where she led two intensive sessions with 30 Ukrainian
secondary school teachers of English and 50 children. She first worked
with the teachers in instructing them on classroom techniques for
presenting jazz chants. Teachers were given suggestions for creating
and conducting their own chants. Later she modeled the techniques with
secondary school students.
Regional English Language Office Public Affairs Section 4, Hlybochytska St. Kyiv, Ukraine 04050 Tel: (380-44) 490-4125 Fax: (380-44) 490-4050 Regional English Language Officer: Thomas Santos Tel: (380-44) 490-4125 Email: kyivrelo@state.gov
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