Overview
The Regional English Language Office (RELO), part of the Public Affairs Section of the United States Embassy in Bangkok, supports public diplomacy outreach through professional development opportunities for English language teachers in Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Pacific Island Nations, and Thailand.
The RELO works through the Public Affairs Sections of the U.S. Embassies and U.S. Consulates to create and implement projects and programs related to English language teaching methodology by providing training opportunities, expertise, and materials. The RELO Office in Thailand is one of 25 such offices around the world and is coordinated by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language Programs.
English Language Fellow Program
How to host the fellows?
The English Language Fellow Program provides American professional expertise in teaching English as a Foreign Language by sending U.S. experts on ten-month fellowships to overseas academic institutions. For universities who wish to become the host institutions, you can directly contact RELO Bangkok team to request more information.
English Language Training Workshop by English Language Fellows
English Language Fellow program also offers the opportunities for all interested universities and public educational organizations, throughout their ten-month fellowships, to host an in-person training workshop all around the country free of charge. The universities who wish to host the in-person workshop must meet the following requirements to be eligible to host the workshop:
1. Participants: Must have, at least, 15 participants or more
2. Training venue: The host university must provide the training venue e.g. at the university, at the hotel, etc.
3. Transportations: This is optional, but if the training venue is remote, it is recommended that the host institution provide transportations for the fellows.
How to request the training?
1. Please submit your request to RELOBangkok@state.gov
2. You will receive the Training Menus and ELF request form. Please fill out the form and select your interested courses listed on the menus.
3. Submit the form to RELOBangkok@state.gov
English Language Specialist Program
The English Language Specialist Program sends U.S. experts in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) to work on high-level, short-term projects that contribute to the host country’s capacity to teach English and post’s public diplomacy goals. English Language Specialists support 10-day to three-month projects at a variety of institutions and levels, mainly in the areas of teacher training, materials writing, and curriculum development. The program can also provide virtual Specialists, as a standalone program or as one element of a multi-phase program. Through the EL Specialist Program, English teaching professionals worldwide gain improved access to informed and diverse perspectives on a broad variety of pedagogical issues, enabling them to broaden their perspectives and convey concepts about American society, government, and values.
How to request an English Language Specialist?
All universities or educational institutions are welcome to submit the request to RELO Bangkok via email. The RELO Bangkok admin team will send the proposal template for you to fill out.
English Language Specialist program is very flexible, which can be adjusted based on the requesters’ needs:
Virtual program
Description: This option available for those who wish to host the webinars, virtual conferences, or online consultations.
Preparation time prior to the project commencement: 2 months
In-Person program
Description: Any interested educational institutions who wish to host in-person workshops, conferences, seminars and consultations. It is mandatory for the in-person specialist to be in the country for at least 10 working days with clear daily assigned tasks.
Preparation time prior to the project commencement: 3-4 months
Multi-phase program
Description: This can be a combination of In-Person program and Virtual program. This option usually applies for those who wish to do long-term projects such as curriculum development that involves virtual meeting, needs analysis, class observations and implementation.
Preparation time prior to the project commencement: 3-4 months
English Access Microscholarship Program
The English Access Microscholarship Program (Access) provides a foundation of English language skills to bright, economically disadvantaged students, primarily aged 13 to 20, through after-school classes and intensive sessions in strategic locations worldwide. Access programs introduce students to U.S. culture and democratic values, improve their potential to fully contribute to the socio-economic development of their countries, and increase their ability to compete for and participate in U.S. exchange and study programs.
Since launching as a pilot in FY 2004, the Access Program has reached more than 200,000 students in over 80 countries in all regions of the world. The Access Program is a high profile public diplomacy initiative that providers participating U.S. embassies an opportunity to demonstrate our country’s dedication to education and mutual understanding.
If you are interested in hosting the Access program or have questions regarding the proposal templates or programmatic requirements, please contact relobangkok@state.gov.
