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Telephone: 202-632-6452

Dr. Brandon Sherman Selected by U.S. Department of State for Prestigious English Language Specialist Project

The U.S. Department of State announced the selection of Dr. Brandon Sherman of the IUPUI School of Education for a 12-week English Language Specialist project focusing on Language Coaching in Russia through the American Center Moscow. Dr. Sherman is part of a select group, as his project is one of approximately 240 that the English Language Specialist Program supports each year.

Dr. Sherman (Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction, Penn State, 2016) combines over a decade of experience as an English language teacher and teacher educator with nine years of research and publication on instructional coaching in connection with federally funded professional development programs. He will design and conduct synchronous and asynchronous instructional activities to develop pedagogical coaching skills and knowledge for language educators across Russia.

The English Language Specialist Program is the premier opportunity for leaders in the field of teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) to enact meaningful and sustainable changes in the way that English is taught abroad. Through projects developed by U.S. Embassies in more than 80 countries, English Language Specialists work directly with local teacher trainers, educational leaders, and ministry of education officials to exchange knowledge, build capacity, and establish partnerships benefiting participants, institutions, and communities in the United States and overseas.

Since 1991, the English Language Specialist Program has supported in-country, virtual, and mixed projects in which hundreds of TESOL scholars and educators promote English language learning, enhance English teaching capacity, and foster mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries through cultural exchange. During their projects, English Language Specialists may conduct intensive teacher training, advise ministries of education or participate in high-level educational consultations, and offer plenary presentations at regional, national or international TESOL conferences. These projects are challenging and those selected represent the best of the U.S. TESOL community. In return, the program provides professional development opportunities to help participants experience different cultures and build skills that can greatly enhance their TESOL careers at home.

English Language Specialists are counted among the more than 50,000 individuals participating in U.S. Department of State exchange programs each year. The Specialist Program is administered by the Center for Intercultural Education and Development at Georgetown University.

For further information about the English Language Specialist Program or the U.S. Department of State, please visit elprograms.org/specialist-program/, contact us by telephone at 202-632-6452, or e-mail ECAPress@state.gov.

United States Department of State · Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs · Washington, DC · 20522 · https://elprograms.org/