U.S. Embassy In Nicaragua

Program Overview

The U.S. Embassy in Managua announces the offering of its E-Teacher online courses that train Nicaraguan English language professionals in the latest U.S. methods of teaching language teaching via distance education. Tuition and materials will be covered by the Mission.

Courses

Content-Based Instruction This course is delivered by World Learning

This course is designed for teachers who are already teaching — or are preparing to teach – content-based instruction (CBI) courses in English. CBI courses present teachers with the challenge of balancing the teaching of both language and content. The ideal way to strike this balance will differ, depending on the teaching context. This course is intended to help its participants meet those challenges by guiding participants through a series of practical, hands-on activities, which are supported by the necessary background and theoretical information, to prepare participants for future decision-making and problem-solving in the area of CBI.

Integrating Critical Thinking Skills into the Exploration of Culture in an EFL Setting. This course is delivered by World Learning- SIT Grad Institute

Exploration of culture in an EFL setting requires helping students engage in authentic scenarios to develop the ability to navigate across a variety of cultural situations. This intercultural ability requires language choices and awareness of oneself as a cultural being. It also requires critical thinking skills, which are themselves culturally defined. Using experiential learning as the organizational model, this course will engage participants in analyzing personal experiences, media, EFL textbooks, and classrooms to develop the capacity to think critically about the cultural assumptions and viewpoints embedded in their teaching content and process. After examining themselves as cultural beings and assessing learners’ needs and goals, participants will develop a concrete teaching lesson that reflects their view of teaching critical thinking and intercultural competence in their particular context.

Methodology for TESOL. This course is delivered by the University of Maryland Baltimore County

This course is designed to provide participants with current methodologies for teaching English learners (ELs) of different ages in many learning contexts. Participants will discuss and practice a wide variety of strategies and techniques for teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). While exploring best practices for teaching listening, speaking, reading, and writing, including grammar and vocabulary, participants will learn how to create an effective and communicative language classroom for all learners. In addition, participants will examine what best practices means in the context of teaching English in the 21st century, where English is an international language, and the use of English incorporates modern technologies.

Professional Development for Teacher Trainers. This course is delivered by Arizona State University

This course, designed for both new and experienced teachers, gives participants methods for creating, presenting, and evaluating effective teacher training workshops. You will gain tools and techniques for promoting professional development in your teaching context. Through participation in this course, you will develop your skills for delivering engaging and relevant teacher trainings.

Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL). This course is delivered by George Mason University

Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL) is designed to introduce you to the theory and practice of teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) to young learners 3-10 years old. Through engaging videos and practical readings, you will explore approaches for teaching English to children that are not only effective but also fun and engaging. You will learn techniques for teaching new vocabulary and grammar that encourage student participation. In addition, you will gain new ideas for teaching listening, speaking, reading and writing in a meaningful context. Through learner-centered activities and group discussions, you will have many opportunities to share ideas with peers and apply course content to your learning environment. Get ready to learn about TEYL and be part of an international learning community with teachers around the world!

Teaching Grammar Communicatively. This course is delivered by World Learning- SIT Grad Institute

In this practice-oriented course, participants will explore how to adapt grammar instruction to meet their students’ needs. They will also focus on integrating grammar instruction with teaching language skills, varying grammar instruction meet the needs of large, mixed ability classes, and using available technology effectively to enhance grammar learning inside and outside the classroom. Participants will discuss different challenges their learners may have with learning grammar, and discover how they can help learners use grammar to improve fluency and accuracy.

Using Educational Technology in the English Language Classroom. This course is delivered by Iowa State University

This course is designed to help English language teaching professionals around the world acquire and maintain basic knowledge and skills in technology for professional purposes through hands-on learning. It will help teachers integrate pedagogical knowledge and skills with technology to enhance their language teaching and learning through their reading, discussion, and creation of new learning activities. The course will help participants apply technology in record keeping, feedback, and assessment, and use technology to improve communication, collaboration, and efficiency by participating in online discussion and presentation.

Requirements

They should be highly motivated individuals who are dedicated both to their own professional development and to sharing the knowledge gained with colleagues through workshops or professional presentations. Candidates should also be committed to fulfilling the program requirements (dedicating on average 10-12 hours of work per week) and completing the course. In addition, candidates should meet the following criteria:

• Be an English language professional
• Have strong English language reading and writing skills (minimum 525 TOEFL, 70 iBT, or CEFR B2)
• Be a citizen of the country in which you are living (your country of residence)
• Be living in your country for the entire duration of the AE E-Teacher term
• Have regular and reliable access to high-speed internet connection
• Be able to spend 10 to 12 hours online each week for the duration of the 8-week course
• Be willing to be enrolled in a second or third course, if your primary choice is unavailable

For further information please contact:

E-mail: PASManagua@state.gov