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:

April 17-18, 2007
Odesa In-Service Teacher Training Institute

April 19-20, 2007
Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy

April 21-22, 2007
National Academy of Management, 12th TESOL-Ukraine National Conference

April 24, 2007
Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy

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: Lisa Harshbarger
Tel: (380-44) 490-4125
Email: kyivrelo@state.gov