Kudos: Bhattacharya selected for second English Language Specialist project; Kopcha publishes new book

Bhattacharya selected by U.S. Department of State for second English Language Specialist project

The U.S. Department of State announced the selection of Usree Bhattacharya for a five-month English Language Specialist project focused on project-based learning and technology integration for enhancing speaking skills among IT and technical university students in Russia. Bhattacharya is part of a select group, as her project is one of approximately 240 that the English Language Specialist Program supports each year.

Bhattacharya, an associate professor in the Department of Language and Literacy Education, will lead phase 2 of this initiative, building on the foundation she established in phase 1, which concluded in December 2024. From January to May, she will conduct eight bi-weekly virtual workshops for English educators from Russian technical universities. These sessions will focus on advanced pedagogical approaches, including AI-enhanced differentiated instruction, speaking assessment in technical disciplines, and cross-cultural communication strategies for STEM contexts.

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 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 U.S. 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 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 program is administered by the Center for Intercultural Education and Development at Georgetown University. For more information about the English Language Specialist Program or the U.S. Department of State, please visit the English Language Programs website.

Kopcha publishes new book

A new book published by professor and graduate coordinator TJ Kopcha, “Embodied Learning in the Schools: Designs that Link Brain, Body, and Technology in K-12 Classrooms,” explores how embodied perspectives of cognition can be used to improve learning with technology in K-12 classrooms.