http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/index/ en U.S. Department of State 2012-05-20T23:11:38+00:00
Jointly hosted by the U.S. Department of State and TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages), our roundtable took place during TESOL's 2012 annual convention in Philadelphia. We invited 25 representatives from select commercial, non-governmental, academic, and governmental organizations to help us officially launch the TESOL-State Public-Private Partnership Consortium.

The demand for English language teaching is expanding rapidly around the world. Foreign governments, universities, and businesses need proficient speakers more than ever. U.S. Embassies from Brazil to Malaysia increasingly field requests for more English language learning and teaching resources.

Already, English programs run by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) are among the State Department's most sought-after and widely recognized public diplomacy tools. We work hard to ensure our programs are the best in the world, but given the scale of this work, we can't do that alone.

Working closely with partners in the industry and around the globe, we can more effectively expand and improve our English teaching programs overseas. The Department of State, TESOL, and other key English language teaching stakeholders will enhance our collective outreach and impact, thanks to this partnership. Also, through TESOL's network, we will also be able to connect more teachers and students to each other and to private and non-profit groups, foreign governments, and our wealth of online resources.

Today, we focused on building projects around tight business models, ensuring sustainability, and weaving two-way exchange into our projects. Some fantastic ideas came out of our discussions. The reception to our relationship with TESOL was deservedly positive at the Convention, and everyone in ECA is excited to be collaborating on the new and evolving projects that our connection with TESOL makes possible.

Follow the rest of this year's TESOL conference in the coming days with the Twitter hashtag #TESOL12. If you're in Philadelphia, I highly recommend you check out some of the convention programs that the State Department is hosting.

And, of course, I'd love to hear your ideas to improve English teaching -- connect with me via @aereli on Twitter!]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/english_language_partnerships/ 2012-03-30T21:53:30+00:00 First Lady Michelle Obama participated in a commemorative tree planting to mark this centennial milestone.

A century ago, First Lady Helen Taft and the wife of Japan's Ambassador, Viscountess Chinda, planted the first two trees in Washington -- a gift of Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo -- and the beautiful blooms still honor all that they stand for. For so many years, these trees have stood as a symbol of the great friendship between the United States and Japan, and as a reminder of our shared hopes, dreams, and values.

For decades, people of all ages from all 50 states, Japan, and nations around the world have come to our Tidal Basin each spring to marvel at their beauty. And despite the harsh, cold, and billowing winds of winter, these cherry trees stand tall and continue to bloom year after year.

So, on this historic anniversary, we should not just admire the beauty of these trees, but also their resilience against harsh conditions. In doing so, we are prompted to recognize the tenacity of the Japanese people. Over the past year, we have all witnessed their courage, unity, and grace as they have come together to rebuild from last year's earthquake and tsunami. Despite Japan's rightful need to focus inward, Japan has remained our steadfast partner on important regional and global issues, strengthening our friendship and deepening our alliance.

Over the decades, more than 35,000 people have participated in exchange programs sponsored by our two governments, helping to broaden their horizons. Exchange programs such as our Fulbright and Mansfield programs and Japan's Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) have helped our people experience the wonders of each others' countries. Our efforts continue today through the TOMODACHI Initiative, our effort to support Japan's recovery through joint public-private initiatives that invest in Japan's future generation of leaders.

We want to continue to strengthen our bonds, not only to support our friends in Japan who have worked so hard and been so brave in rebuilding their lives, but to learn from each other as well. Our exchange programs will help Japanese and American youth today continue to build on our relationship into the next hundred years. It is up to them to carry on the traditions our countries hold dear, and keep the friendship between them flourishing, and in full bloom.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/celebrating_the_cherry_blossom_centennial/ 2012-03-28T19:55:55+00:00
The U.S. and Iraq discussed these exchanges at a recent meeting of the U.S.-Iraq Joint Coordinating Committee for Cultural and Educational Cooperation in Washington, co-chaired by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Ann Stock and Iraqi Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ali Al-Adeeb. American and Iraqi officials spent a productive morning reviewing our exchanges in the areas of higher education, primary and secondary education, cultural heritage, and youth and sports.

On February 22-23, the Iraqi Embassy in Washington (with support from the State Department) organized a conference that brought together more than 100 representatives of Iraqi and American colleges, universities, and higher education institutions, including presidents of ten major Iraqi universities. This conference helped the visiting Iraqi educators learn more about the U.S. system of higher education, while giving U.S. university representatives a chance to know more about Iraq's educational scene and to explore opportunities for partnership with Iraqi universities. Hundreds of young, bright Iraqis are currently studying on U.S. university campuses with support from the U.S. Fulbright Program and Iraqi government scholarship programs. Minister Al-Adeeb stressed that his government wants more Iraqi students on U.S. campuses, and is committing Iraqi government funds for hundreds of new scholarships.

To learn more about these events and ongoing U.S-Iraqi cooperation on education and culture, please check out the fact sheet and joint statement.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/educational_cultural_iraq/ 2012-03-06T22:39:28+00:00