Regional English Language Office

The Regional English Language Office for Central Asia, which is based in the U.S. Embassy, Astana, serves the five Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.

In Kazakhstan and the other countries of the region, the Regional English Language Officer and Local English-language Program Coordinators provide information on U.S. Department of State English-language Programs, offer workshops and training for English-language teachers, and support the work of English-language teachers’ associations.

Download:  Astana Bookmark (PDF, 607KB)

Regional English Language Office Programs

1. English Language Fellow Program
 
The English Language Fellow Program is funded worldwide by the U.S.
Department of State through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by the Center for Intercultural Education and Development at Georgetown University.  American English-language teaching professionals participate in ten-month exchanges abroad at host country universities, ministries of education, and other institutions.  They share their expertise, engage with the community, hone their own teaching skills, gain international experience, and learn about other cultures.  EL Fellows model and demonstrate TESOL classroom practices that help foster thoughtful and responsible behavior in students and teachers of English.  On average, 140 English Language Fellows take part in the program yearly in over 80 countries. Examples of past EL Fellow projects include: Classroom Teaching, Teacher Training, In-Service and Pre-Service Training, Curriculum Development, Workshop and Seminar Design, Program Evaluation, Needs Assessment, Testing, and English for Specific Purposes.

We are currently accepting proposals for 2012-2013 English Language Fellow Program.  Please click here to download the application form.

2. English Language Specialist Program

The Department of State’s English Language Specialist Program recruits U.S. academics and professionals in the fields of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) to conduct programs overseas ranging from two weeks to four months.  Project topics may include Curriculum Design and Evaluation, Teacher Training, Textbook Development, or English for Specific Purposes.  In some cases, digital video conferences or webinars are used to deliver trainings or consultations.  The Office of English Language Programs provides funds for the specialist's travel and honorarium, but allowances for meals and lodging for the specialist must be provided by the host institution and/or the U.S. Embassy.

If your institution is interested in hosting an English Language Specialist you can contact the RELO office throughout the year.

3. E-Teacher Scholarship Program
 
The E-Teacher Scholarship Program offers English-teaching professionals living outside of the United States the opportunity to take seven innovative, online graduate level classes through the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and the University of Oregon.  The courses explore major areas of the academic specialty of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).  Courses that are currently being offered are: Critical Thinking in the EFL Curriculum; Assessment for EFL; Teaching English to Young Learners; Building Teaching Skills through the Interactive Web; English for Specific Purposes; Methods Course I: Survey of Best Practices in TESOL; and  Methods Course II: Developing EFL Literacy trough Project-Based Learning.  In addition to specific knowledge of each of the seven major areas of TEFL, each course introduces participants to the most recent TEFL methods and techniques, engages participants in an innovative distance-learning program employing the latest in modern technology, and provides participants with direct access to U.S. experts.
 
The Call for Participation in the E-Teacher Scholarship Program will be announced in early summer 2011 with all information regarding the application process posted on this website. 

4. English Access Microscholarship program

The English Access Microscholarship Program provides a foundation of English language skills to talented teenagers from disadvantaged sectors through after school/weekend classes and intensive sessions.  The program also gives participants the opportunity to gain an appreciation for U.S. culture and democratic values, increases their ability to participate successfully in the socio-economic development of their countries, and improves their chances of participating in U.S. educational and exchange programs.  Access is a two-year program, consisting of at least 180 hours of instruction per year. Selected participants are bright, economically disadvantaged 14- to 18-year-old students.  Since its inception in 2004, approximately 55,000 students in over 70 countries have participated in the Access Program.

The Call for Proposals for hosting English Access Microscholarship Programs will be announced in mid-summer 2011.  Institutions and organizations interested in becoming providers (hosts) will be required to complete proposal forms that will be available on this website.

You can also find information on all U.S. Department of State sponsored English Language Programs here.

Regional English Language Office Resources

English Teaching FORUM

English Teaching FORUM is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal for classroom teachers, written by English-language teachers, which has been published since 1962 and is distributed by the RELO office.  Current and past issues are available online.

English Teaching Forum accepts submissions of previously unpublished articles from English teachers, teacher trainers, and program administrators on a wide variety of topics in second/foreign language education.  If you are interested in submitting an article, you can view the Guidelines for Submissions.

E-Journals

You can also find online E-Journals for English-language teachers here.
These materials contain ready-to-use lesson plans and are suitable for students at the intermediate level.  The journal Language and Civil Society covers topics such as Civic Education, Environmental Education, Peace Education, and Business Ethics.  Units in the journal Language and Life Sciences cover Mapping the Human Genome, Controversial Issues in Gene Research, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, and Drugs of the Future.  Each chapter contains background information, classroom-ready activities, and related resources and references.

Our contact information:

Phone numbers: + 7 7172 70 23 11; + 7 7172 70 21 17
Fax: + 7 7172 70 23 88
E-mail address: RELO-Astana@state.gov
Address: 010010, 22-23 str., Ak Bulak 4,
U.S. Embassy, Astana, Kazakhstan