The U.S. Department of State announced the selection of UIUC ESL Senior Lecturer John Kotnarowski for an English Language Specialist project focusing on teaching academic writing in Kazakhstan. Kotnarowski is part of a select group, as his project is one of over 250 that the English Language Specialist Program supports each year.
To learn more about John's work and this exciting opportunity, take a look at the following interview:
What are you currently working on in your role at UIUC?
As a Senior Lecturer and the ESL Undergraduate Academic Writing Course Specialist, I do three things: I teach our undergraduate academic writing courses (ESL 111, 112, and 115), I help coordinate the curricula and develop materials for those courses, and I support other instructors assigned to teach them. A big project I’ve been working on for the last few years is helping oversee our electronic textbook, “Academic Writing for English Language Learners”. From writing a few chapters to copyediting the work of other authors, integrating it into our curriculum, and troubleshooting technical issues, I’ve done a little of everything for our book.
What will you be working on as an English Specialist in Kazakhstan?
I will be creating and delivering a workshop series to Kazakhstani English teachers in Astana, Kokshetau, and Almaty. The participants will be selected by regional English teacher organizations. The goal of these workshops is to share strategies and “best practices” for teaching academic writing, especially at the high school level. Hopefully, if the participants find the experience useful/valuable, they will consider taking the materials and sharing them with their colleagues at the home institutions. In addition to these workshops, I will also have the chance to present at a regional conference of English teachers and participate in conversation clubs and other fun extracurriculars. I am scheduled to be in Kazakhstan for three weeks and I’m sure the time is going to fly!
What are you most looking forward to about this opportunity?
I’m excited to travel to Kazakhstan, a place I never thought I’d have the chance to visit, and get to work with and learn from Kazakhstani English teachers. I hope to take some of the lessons I’ve learned teaching at UIUC for the past 9 years and share them in a way that is useful to the specific needs and interests of the people I’ll be working with. Finally, I hope to learn as much as possible and embrace this as a once-in-a-lifetime chance for cultural and educational exchange!
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 that 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 United States 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 their 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.
We look forward to hearing more about John's work in Kazakhstan!
