SIT Graduate Institute Alumni Selected by U.S. Department of State for Prestigious 2017-18 English Language Fellow Program

November 6th, 2017   |   Careers, SIT Graduate Institute

Five alumni from SIT Graduate Institute have been selected by the U.S. State Department for the English Language Fellow Program, a 10-month project training English teachers abroad.

The five are all graduates of SIT’s Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) master’s degree programs. They are among 140 U.S. citizens selected for the 2017-18 English Language Fellow Program. Their SIT graduation year and English Language Fellow project locations are:

Gregory Abrahams, 2012, Dagon University, Burma
Chad LaRoche, 2016, Universidade Lurio, Mozambique
Michael Gatto, 1997, The Indian Centre for Research and Development of Community Education
India Elizabeth Browning, 2008, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Mexico
Riah Werner, 2017, Institut Pedagogique National de l'Enseignement Technique et Professionnel, Cote d'Ivoire

“School for International Training extends warmest congratulations to our graduates on their acceptance into this prestigious fellowship program,” said SIT President Dr. Sophia Howlett. “I would also like to thank our excellent TESOL faculty for leading programs that are recognized and respected throughout the world. I believe SIT’s representation of five Fellows among a national group of 140 is a testament to the high quality and competitiveness of the education our students experience.”

SIT offers TESOL master’s degrees in two formats: a full-time program on campus for one year in Vermont, followed by a teaching internship; and a two-year low-residency program offered online with brief residencies in Vermont and a teaching internship.

The U.S. State Department’s Language Fellow Program is the premier international exchange program that allows experienced U.S. English teachers 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, Fellows work directly with local teachers, students, and educational professionals to improve the quality of English language instruction offered at prestigious universities and other academic institutions.

English Language Fellows are among more than 50,000 individuals participating in U.S. Department of State exchange programs each year. 

Since 1969, the English Language Fellow Program has sent thousands of TESOL scholars and educators abroad to promote English language learning, enhance English teaching capacity, and build relations between the United States and other countries. On assignment, Fellows conduct teacher training, teach English, develop resources, and organize events and conferences. These projects are challenging and the teachers 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 back home.