Professional Development Training for English Language Educators in Kirkuk

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad invites eligible organizations to submit proposals to develop and implement a year-long English language and methodology training program for English language educators (primary, secondary and post-secondary levels) in the Kirkuk province. The purpose of this program is to provide direct professional development opportunities and training for a minimum of 10-15 English language educators in the Kirkuk province to improve their English speaking skills, learn English language teaching pedagogy and best practices to use in the classroom and to train other English language educators, and to be exposed to English language curriculum development and American culture. Proposals must include elements of all the following as part of the training program as well as instruction by native English speakers with experience in the following areas: • professional development instruction in teaching English as a second language, to include instruction on current English language teaching methodology, such as student-centered teaching, project-based learning, and communicative instruction, and classroom management, including lesson plan development, microteaching and team teaching; • best practices in English language pedagogy with Kirkuk-based English teachers, based on hands-on experiences in developing lesson plans, giving presentations and conducting lessons using developed lesson plans; • teacher training exercises and development of a strategy by which participating educators will share the knowledge and expertise they gain during the program to train their fellow teachers at the conclusion of the program. • Intensive English courses for Kirkuk-based English teachers that provide opportunities for the participants to engage with native English speakers in formal and informal situations to help them refine their communication, teaching and presentation skills. Proposals may include trainings, workshops, seminars or conferences hosted in Iraq for Kirkuk-based English teachers and/or (four to six-week) immersion exchange programs in the United States that include all the required components outlined above. Immersion exchange programs in the United States should be scheduled during times that are conducive to participants’ teaching schedules. Virtual and online Internet training may be included as a component of the training however, due to frequent power outages and low Internet penetration in Kirkuk and the lack of first-hand exposure to native English speaking English language educators, the Embassy will not consider proposals in which the bulk of the training requires the participants to have access to the Internet and/or is done virtually vice in person. Participants should also receive certificates after the successful completion of the trainings and/or exchange programs.