Georgia | Intensive Course for Teachers of English | 13 Aug 2013

After a two day pre-departure orientation in Tbilisi, 30 English Language teachers from seven regions of Georgia departed for the U.S for an intensive 18-day-long Training of Trainers Summer Institute (TOTSI) held on the World Learning - SIT campus in Brattleboro, Vermont.

During the pre-departure orientation TOTSI finalists attended a Social Media Training, registered blogs and wrote their first blog-posts. During their stay in the United States, TOTSI participants will keep online journals or order to share their American experience with their colleagues and students /local community during (through their blogs) and after they return to Georgia.

The on-campus program includes a series of educational and cultural activities organically incorporated as part of the training program. Living on campus with a number of other programs taking place simultaneously, the Georgian teachers rely on the use of English to interact with others. Participants experience American life and have opportunities to present the Georgian culture to others beyond campus as they take part in visits to local teacher training centers/English schools, outdoor activities, community encounters, culture-exchange events, and visits to historic places. To optimize their cultural experience and foster an ability to apply new awareness, knowledge and skills to engage in civic work in Georgia, World Learning/SIT Graduate Institute organizes group meetings with various civic and volunteer groups active in Brattleboro, such as West Brattleboro Association, Rotary Club, etc. Georgian participants get to meet with volunteers, share a meal and through real life examples learn about ways to employ personal and community resources to promote greater civic involvement.

The second part of the TOTSI is a four day study tour to Washington, DC. Meetings and sessions will be held in World Leaning /SIT Center in Washington, DC. Conveniently located in the center of the US capital (two blocks away from the White House) SIT Graduate Institute’s center in Washington, DC, is home to the Master of Arts in Sustainable Development: International Policy and Management program, and World Learning’s International Development and Exchange Programs. Participants will have an opportunity to enhance their cultural and professional learning in the nation’s capital through visiting major places of interest and American institutions such as the Capitol, the Washington Mall and its many monuments, and the Newseum; visiting American secondary schools, networking with American colleagues as they prepare for the upcoming school year, observing English language classes and delivering short talks about Georgian culture; and becoming familiar with activities of the largest international professional association of English language teachers, TESOL International, based in Alexandria, Virginia. There they will meet with staff, learn about the benefits of becoming a member of a large professional international community, and about the ways they can learn with and contribute to the community.

At the end of their stay in the USA, participants will reflect on their learning, conduct a joint needs analysis and prepare detailed individual and group action plans for the upcoming academic year. They will form peer support groups and commit in writing to running a minimum of three professional development events of their choice over the following year as part of their personal action plans. Upon successful completion of the Teacher Training Summer Institute, participants will receive the World Learning SIT Essentials in Teacher Training Certificate.