Grant Brings Pakistani English Teachers to UNO

UNO’s International Program’s Center for Afghanistan Studies hosted 48 Pakistani English teachers for a six-week teacher training and cultural exchange program. The participants from five different provinces in Pakistan came to Omaha in two separate cohorts spanning from Spring to Summer 2022. The participants were eager and receptive to all that they experienced. Pakistan Excellence and Achievement (TEA) English Language Teacher Exchange is funded by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan and in partnership with Vision Building Future (VBF), a Pakistani NGO. The program promotes the development of English language skills, knowledge of current English Language Teaching (ELT) pedagogies, exposure to technology related to teaching and teaching management systems, and instruction in leadership skills. These professional development opportunities were accomplished through a blend of classroom and field experiences.

ESL specialists at the Intensive Language Program at UNO (ILUNO) led the way with engaging classroom experiences. Weekly American Language and Culture sessions provided a time for comparing & contrasting themes in U.S. and Pakistani culture. School visits around the Omaha metro helped put a practical lens on a variety of methods and technologies that were introduced. The participants were especially interested in learning how to incorporate more student-centered and task-based activities in their classrooms. Though their educational context is different, the participants believed this experience could broaden their vision and help them make effective changes in their respective contexts. Engaging media sources such as TED Talks, NPR, and VOA, were used to facilitate discussion on topics related to teaching methods as well as U.S. cultural traditions and holidays. The participants especially liked the topics covering race and ethnicity. In addition, participants developed pronunciation, oral fluency, and grammar through small group discussions and feedback from mentors. Weekly academic discussions included strategies for teaching listening and speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and critical thinking skills.

An important highlight of the program is that participants share with each other in a supportive community of practice that continues even after they return to their home country. One of the goals of the program is to encourage long-term professional mentorship opportunities with UNO instructors and faculty as well as among the cohorts themselves. Each participant returns home with a unique leadership plan to implement in their local schools and/or community. Topics for leadership plans included: the importance of E-Learning and technology, positive reinforcement in the classroom, taking care of the environment, random acts of kindness, women’s empowerment through education, summer and winter vacation camps for children, and professional development workshops.

In addition, visiting American homes, weekly cultural visits, and trips to South Dakota, Western Nebraska, and Washington DC, provided opportunities to engage in authentic communication with native English speakers, and reinforced content covered in the sessions.

Those involved with the grant project expressed their experience in their own words, read on for a few selected excerpts:

“The teachers provide a very comfortable atmosphere. They are pleasant and always helpful. I learned many new concepts to improve my teaching practices.”

-TEA Participant Misbah Batool

“Visiting local schools was a great experience! I, as a teacher, was greatly inspired by the method of teaching and the academic atmosphere.”

-TEA Participant Rahimullah Kakar

“It was a great experience to interact with individuals with different cultures and from different parts of the world. Great to learn about their perspective of life.”

-TEA Participant Zaib un Nisa

“Working with the TEA Pakistan groups has been a wonderful experience for me, personally. The participants are so willing to learn new ideas and teaching methods. They are passionate about improving their schools and making a difference in their students’ lives. They have been so gracious and kind. A real joy to work with!”

-Jessica Anderson, ESL Specialist, UNO Intensive English

“It has been a privilege and a pleasure to work with the first two cohorts in the TEA program. During their time here in the U.S., the participants had boundless energy and enthusiasm to learn about everything. They learned about U.S. culture - from Easter egg hunts to St. Patrick’s Day traditions, to conversations about race and identity. I learned about Pakistani culture – from Resolution Day to Pakistani hospitality to its diverse culture and delicious food!”

-Anne West-Leclou, ESL Specialist, UNO Intensive English

To learn more about UNO's Center for Afghanistan Studies and the ILUNO English language program, visit world.unomaha.edu.