On June 16, 2023, representatives of the US Embassy, Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, ADA University, and North Carolina State University inaugurated a two-day workshop and conference for more than 500 Azerbaijani secondary school English teachers, Report informs.
The conference, titled Strategies and Innovation in English-Language Teaching is a culmination of the third iteration of the 14-week, online Masters-level English Language Training Certificate Program for Azerbaijani teachers of English administered by North Carolina State University and funded by the U.S. Department of State. The event brought together teachers from several regions of Azerbaijan and was an opportunity for participants to learn about pedagogical best practices while fostering techniques to build a professional network of peer educators. They also discussed topics such as communicative instructional methods, using technology in the classroom, and curriculum development.
Approximately 200 Azerbaijani teachers of English completed the initial years of the program from 2020 to 2022, and another 100 finished this year’s program. Several other English teachers from secondary schools across Azerbaijan, many of them beneficiaries of other US Embassy English language programming, also participated in the event. US Embassy expressed their delight for the opportunity to support English language programming in Azerbaijan, contributing to the US-Azerbaijan bilateral relationship and people to people ties, and underlined the motivation towards these professional development opportunities amongst the nation’s teaching corps.
In his opening remarks, Cultural Affairs Officer Salman Haji applauded the graduates of the program and commended the efforts of participants to enhance English language instruction in Azerbaijani schools.
The US Embassy in Azerbaijan and North Carolina State University, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, intends to continue this successful project for its fourth iteration from 2023 to 2024. This partnership has resulted in significant advancements in the teaching of the English language across Azerbaijan and supporting Azerbaijan’s goal of increasing English-language fluency throughout the education sector. Several graduates of this and other English-language programs of the US Embassy have successfully participated in international conferences, exchange programs, and achieved other noteworthy milestones.
Vice Rector of Academic Affairs of ADA University Vafa Kazdal also noted: “The enhanced language knowledge, methodology, and research skills teachers have acquired through this training will have a tremendous impact on thousands of students in their classrooms”.