The International Visitor Leadership Program

This program was two weeks long and was divided into two parts. The first one was the International Visitor Leadership Program which took place in Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania and the second one was the TESOL Conference which took place in Tampa, Florida.

The International Visitor Leadership Program:

This program gave our group a wonderful opportunity to actively participate in discussions with American ESL specialists and explore the US system of teaching English to nonnative speakers. It also gave us the opportunity to be personally acquainted with the USA society. It helped us to better understand the American culture and to establish relationships with Americans and fellow participants in the program. I have now acquaintances from Saudi Arabia , Sudan , Morocco , Tunisia , Thailand , Mexico , Romania , South Africa , Colombia , and of course America, and we kept in touch through e–mails and phones messages and calls . The advantages of such programs are obvious and numerous.


In Washington D.C
In Washington D.C., we visited the following places:
Thomas Jefferson high School for Science and Technology: There we discussed its curriculum & the special teaching methods they use to improve education in science, math, and technology.
The American University where we discussed the ESL support programs for international students at university level.
The Academy for Education Development, where we were introduced to the U.S. Culture.
The United States Department of States where we joined a reception and had the opportunity to meet our RELOS, exchange contacts with them and with other TESOL professionals around the world as well as with senior staff of the State Department Public Diplomacy and Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureaus.
The American Federation of Teachers where we discussed issues related to teacher’s rights and obligation such as collective bargaining, teacher certification and evaluation, and educational reform.
The Library of Congress where we saw the rarest and most interesting items related to America’s past such as the world’s oldest map. This visit also gave as the chance to learn how to access the library’s online exhibitions so as to benefit from them when returning back home.
In addition to that, we had home hospitality with the Alexander’s family with whom we spent a wonderful time at dinner. We also joined in a federalism tour around the major landmarks of Washington D.C. such as the White House, the Capitol and the memorials of U.S. presidents, in addition to various Smithsonians such as the National History , the Air and Space , and the American Indian Smithsonians .

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
We spent two days in Pennsylvania. There we stayed in Philadelphia, the safest city in U.S.A., and saw the famous Liberty Bell, the Independence Hall, and learned a lot of information about the Constitution, its history and contemporary relevance. Then we visited Penn University and discussed the current trends of TEFL, in addition to discussing online courses, distance learning, and American studies courses for foreign students. We also discussed the education system in USA, and the linkage between education institution and the society and how society support the educational system through giving funds and through taxation. In our free time, we visited the Human Body Museum and saw how plastination is done. We also went sightseeing and I was glad to see the Lebanese flag in Benjamin Franklin Boulevard. We also visited Kirkebride Elementary School and were greeted by a Japanese Folkdance done by seven year old students. There we discussed the No-Child-Left–Behind Act and how it affects the level of teaching. We also discussed how the American school raises funds and how teachers are evaluated. We also attended some foreign language classes for short periods of time .Our last visit in Philadelphia was to Drexel University English Language Center where we discussed American studies , the use of cross cultural training , and the new technologies of teaching English as a Foreign Language.


THE TESOL CONFERENCE

The sessions in TESOL I was especially interested in are the following:
1– Are they Good Speakers? Evaluating Conversation Skills.
2 - Games Students Play.
3 – Shifting Sands of English in the Middle East.
4 – Increasing ESOL Parent Involvement.
5 – Using Wordless Books in ESOL Classrooms.
6 – Practice from Research, How to Teach Conversation.
7 – Community Partners Creating an After School Program.
8 – Welcome to the Drama Club.
9 – Developing a Strong Teaching Portfolio.
10 – Reflective Journal Writing in Teacher Education.
11 – Using Films to Teach and Motivate.
12 – Using Literature Learning Centers for Teaching EFL.
I was also especially interested in getting future visions of computer assisted language learning CALL, and how to adapt CALL to support teachers and learners in the EFL classroom , especially that we have started in our school a program that integrates language instruction and technology. I spent lots of time at the Electronic Village, learned about new materials, and attended sessions on the following topics:
1 – CALL in Elementary ESOL Classroom.
2 – Intercultural Communication / Video and Digital Media.
3 - Using Technology to improve language learning Outcomes.
4 – Connect the Verbal and the Visual with PowerPoint.
On the other hand, this conference enabled me to develop my skills as a principal and a leader. I got the chance to attend sessions that discuss educational management issues such as:
1 – Issues in Student Teacher Supervision.
2 – Fundraising 101.
3 – Opening Communication between Administration and Teachers.
4 – Dealing with Difficult Principals/Teachers of ESL
The TESOL convention also gave me the chance of networking, exchanging messages with other TESOLers, and building relationships with them. These relationships continue till this day as I mentioned earlier in this report. Furthermore, this convention let me gain insight in research on language teaching and learning and gave me ideas of studies that could be conducted in Lebanon. I also had the chance to attend the book exhibition and buy supplementary materials. The Voice of America Radio Channel even conducted an interview with me at the book exhibition.

Thus, I can say that my participation in the program enabled me to:
Explore different methodologies, materials, and technologies.
Engage in meaningful interactions with American and international colleagues.
Develop intercultural understanding.