American Language Center trains women English teachers

In honor of Women’s History Month, the American Language Center in collaboration with English Language Fellow Susan Strand, organized the second annual women’s English teaching workshop on Friday, March 21, 2008.  Twenty-two women English teachers participated in a half-day of work sessions in post’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Library.  They were introduced to the library’s services and resources, and learned how to exploit them to improve lesson planning.  Participants received an introduction to the Internet.  They were also received the ELP-created booklet, Model Women of the USA and BF, and discussed methods for using this resource for promoting women through content-based English instruction.  Lack of teaching resources is a major constraint facing English teachers in this French-speaking country.  In addition, women have particular social obstacles to overcome to increase their competitiveness and competence in this field.  This workshop then addressed multiple needs.  It served to increase awareness of the MLK, Jr. Library as a resource for English teachers and enabled participants to use those resources in creating a variety of classroom activities. Access to these materials will enhance their understanding of American life, culture, and cultural values.  Subsequently, they will share this with the more than 4,500 students they teach.  Participants also walked away with ready to use teaching materials which promote women.  Gathering together as women English teaching professionals was also an empowering exercise, as one participant forcefully pointed out, “We female teachers are not very confident because of our social/cultural background.  We need this kind of training opportunity so we can rise up as women and reinforce our value and power.”