Resources for Learners

• American English Learner MOOCS: These Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) help pre-intermediate, intermediate, and advanced level learners improve their English skills in five major career fields: English for Media Literacy, English for STEM Fields, English for Business and Entrepreneurship, English for Journalism, and English for Career Development. Each MOOC is self-paced and is five weeks long.
• American English Website: Discover podcasts, videos, games, and American culture resources for practicing English from Voice of America Learning English, Smithsonian, the National Park Service, the Library of Congress, and more! Popular items for learners include
  • • American English E-Books: Read anytime, anywhere — on the go or in the classroom! Free, American English E-books are available to download in both .pdf and audio files. Titles are adapted from American classics by Mark Twain, Jack London, and Edgar Allan Poe and are intended for intermediate learners of English.
    • American Teens Talk: Interviews with American teenagers give learners a view into the lives of adolescents in the U.S. Through the written and audio format of the interviews, learners can increase vocabulary, practice reading and listening skills, and learn more about U.S. culture.
    • Web Resources for Language Learning: Find numerous high-quality online tools for your independent study of English in this guide of web resources.
    • Sing Out Loud: Children’s Songs, Sing Out Loud: Traditional Songs, and Sing Out Loud: American Rhythms: These high-quality collections of songs are designed for learning English. Download the songs, listen along, and amplify your vocabulary and language skills.

Resources for Teachers

Online Professional Development

• The Online Professional English Network offers virtual learning opportunities to foreign English language educators, professionals, and learners worldwide and provides free access to teaching and learning materials which can be reused, adapted, and shared. OPEN professional development opportunities are developed by U.S. academic institutions and experts in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
• American English Live Events:  American English Live offers three event series each year for English language educators around the world. At the end of each session, participants can complete a short quiz to earn a digital badge. Series events take place every other Wednesday.
• Previously Recorded American English Webinars: Search and watch recorded videos on methodological topics that foster interactive, student-centered language instruction. Each webinar includes corresponding downloadable presentations and additional resources.
• OPEN MOOCs: These free online courses are designed for English language teachers and open to an unlimited number of participants. The program is ongoing and offers various courses that are facilitated and self-directed. Grab some teacher friends and start up a MOOC Camp!
• OPEN Global Online Courses This program offers English teaching professionals in the region the opportunity to take innovative, online university-level classes. Administered by well-known U.S. universities and educational institutions, OPEN courses introduce and explore methodology, connect participants to U.S. English language teaching experts, and create a professional network of international teachers. Participation is a competitive scholarship process. To learn more, contact the RELO office.
• American English YouTube Channel: This resource includes over 650 videos, divided into sections for learners and teachers. More than 15 thematic playlists consist of full-length professional development webinars or teaching tips.

Materials and Resources for Teaching

• English Teaching Forum: Since 1962, English Teaching Forum has been a useful, friendly magazine for English Teachers. English Teaching Forum is available online with an archive of searchable articles. Most articles  are submitted by its readers, and the journal solicits submissions from teachers on a wide variety of topics in second/foreign language education.
• The American English Website: American English is a resource center for teaching and learning about American English language and culture. This website provides a variety of engaging materials and resources for professional development and the classroom.

Resources for Institutions and Partnership

• The English Language Specialist Program: The Specialist Program recruits U.S. academics in the fields of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Applied Linguistics for short-term projects that focus on teacher training, materials development, curriculum design, or assessment.  Projects occur throughout the year and can include face-to-face and virtual components. Email the RELO office for more information on submitting a proposal.
• The English Language Fellow Program: The Fellow Program places talented, highly qualified U.S. educators with Master’s degrees in TESOL or Applied Linguistics at universities and teacher training institutions throughout the region. Fellows share their expertise, gain international and professional experience, and learn about the cultures of their host countries. The RELO office, in conjunction with host embassies, solicits proposals for Fellows annually.
• The English Access Microscholarship Program: This learner-centered program provides a foundation of English language skills to learners from economically disadvantaged sectors through extracurricular classes and intensive sessions. Access provides participants with improved English skills that may lead to better jobs and educational prospects, including future exchanges and study in the United States. Originally conceived for teenagers from non-elite communities, the global Access Program has provided scholarships to over 180,000 students in 86 countries since its inception in 2004. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Russia, and the U.S. Embassies in Estonia and Belarus are currently hosting Access Programs.
• Professional Development Seminars and Workshops: The RELO office provides workshops and professional development sessions in partnership with teachers associations, schools, and English language teaching professionals. To find out more about upcoming events or to request a speaker, contact the RELO office.
• Support for Innovative Projects and Small Grants: The RELO office provides a limited number of small grants on a very competitive basis to support professional development opportunities in the field of English language teaching in Russia. Grants are typically used to help start, support, or expand professional groups for English teachers, develop English language teaching materials that build a better understanding of American and Russian cultures, or support unique professional development projects that have a deep and lasting impact on the English language teaching community.