Dr. Ivan Eubanks Selected by U.S. Department of State for Prestigious English Language Specialist Assignment

The U.S. Department of State announced the selection of Dr. Ivan Eubanks of the University College of the Cayman Islands for a three-week English Language Specialist project focusing on developing the national writing curriculum for universities across Pakistan, in collaboration with the Pakistani Higher Education Commission. Dr. Eubanks is part of a select group, as his project is one of 130 that the English Language Specialist Program supports each year.

Dr. Eubanks is Assistant Professor of Media Studies and Director of UCCI TV at the University College of the Cayman Islands. He served for eight years as Editor in Chief of the Pushkin Review, an international, bi-lingual, peer-reviewed journal. He has also served in an editorial capacity for Educational Studies, WR, and other publications. He has extensive training in curricular design and writing pedagogy, and has trained university faculty and administrators in those areas in Pakistan, Russia, Mexico, Honduras, and the U.S. In Pakistan, he will work with the Higher Education Commission and faculty from around the country to develop a sequence of three academic writing courses that will be required of all college and university students as part of the national curriculum.

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, EL 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 sent hundreds of TESOL scholars and educators abroad to promote English language learning, enhance English teaching capacity, and foster mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries through cultural exchange. On assignment, EL 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 back home.

English Language Specialists are counted among the more than 50,000 individuals participating in U.S. Department of State exchange programs each year. The Specialist Program is administered by the Center for Intercultural Education and Development at Georgetown University.

For further information about the English Language Specialist Program or the U.S. Department of State, please visit our www.elprograms.org/specialist, contact us by telephone at 202-632-6452, or e-mail ECA-Press@state.gov.