Workshop for Youth Leaders in English Teaching

Descil, a alum who attended the Workshop for Youth Leaders in English Teaching this spring, started teaching a summer English class for elementary students in his home community in Sierra Leone. Amazing work, Descil! 🙌

Part 2/2: 🌍 Alumni Spotlight: Making Waves in English Education 🌟

We're delighted to highlight Puhiza's latest endeavors in English education! Her English projects is paving the way for brighter futures in learning. Join us in applauding her commitment to making a meaningful impact!

This summer, Puhiza is holding an English summer camp for children in her local American Corner in Kosova. Puhiza co-teaches with a Peace Corp volunteer, Cloe from Colorado. The camp focuses on speaking skills and doing activities in English. They also teach the students about the geography and culture of the US. Puhiza says that the students are interested in how Americans live and their culture, so she prepared peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for them to try! She shares,

“Education is the root to solve many social issues, and to impact people to do great things, WYLET taught me interactive ways to teach, how to make the classroom fun and how to make children motivated to learn. Once I was taught how to teach, I learned the power I had on my hands to share information, to give knowledge and to give new minds opportunities to grow and get creative. Apart from teaching, WYLET also touched upon drafting projects and making an impact on our communities and societies. The grass-root project part was one of the most productive where we had to create our own group grass root projects... WYLET enabled me to connect with so many amazing people, to create long lasting bonds, and when I came back from the US, I was able to keep in touch and meet with my WYLET friends. Our group chat is also very active, and we keep updating each other on our lives. The global network that we created and the international support we get from each other is priceless... I am planning to take a trip in Fall break with the roommate I had in Washington DC for this workshop. One of the alumni from Kosovo who completed WYLET 7-8 years ago, she just hosted one of the girls she met in WYLET! I think this is beautiful.”

Youth Exchange and Study (YES)
Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of State
American Councils for International Education

🌟 Alumni Spotlight 🌟

Exciting news! Vanessa, a alumna of the Workshop for Youth Leaders in English Teaching (WYLET), organized a two-part workshop in English called “Mastering Body Language: Enhancing Interactions” to seventh graders and their teachers from rural areas. The first part was focused on utilizing body language effectively in student and collegial interactions. Ten teachers attended the seminar which included engaging activities. The second part of the workshop focused on the students. Vanessa taught communication skills which the students then practiced in mock interviews. Vanessa shares that the mock interviews were a crucial step in the professional development of the seventh graders because they presented students with a platform to cultivate confidence, implement the newly acquired communication tools, and build new interviewing skills. Vanessa writes,

“Teachers working in underrepresented regions often miss on opportunities such as educational seminars and networking events. Hence, offering them a workshop centered on improving effective communication skills and increasing awareness of body language facilitated an easier navigation of their teaching careers as well as collegial interactions. Students growing up in marginalized societies often face challenges that can lead to feelings of timidity and insecurity. Therefore, their exposure to body language education was vital. The advice I provided empowered [the students] to overcome their fears and project confidence. By incorporating body language into our follow-up mock interviews, students practiced and prepared for future opportunities in multilingual environments, setting the stage for success in their lives.”



Youth Exchange and Study (YES)
Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of State
American Councils for International Education

Hasanah, and '23 alumna has been working on two English projects since she returned to her home country, Thailand. One is a camp called "Soft Skills for 21st Century," a project aimed at teaching practical critical thinking skills to local children. The camp had an impressive 50 participants! 🙌

The other project is a virtual English class with The Children and Youth Council of Thailand (CYCT) aimed at improving the English skills of the CYCT members. The class started in June and has 10 regular attendees!

Keep up the amazing work, Hasanah! 🎉

Youth Exchange and Study (YES)

Embracing the sunshine of a new school year! 🌞 Whether you're a seasoned educator or just starting out, here's to the endless possibilities ahead! alumni spark curiosity and ignite imaginations through their English projects and classes 📚 We look forward to following your journeys! Welcome to a year filled with growth, creativity, and making a difference! ☀️✨



FLEX Program Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State U.S. Department of State American Councils for International Education

"With 30 vibrant participants from 2 diverse programs, we harness the power of media to explore, share and celebrate culture. Making like 29 friends in a week from different parts of the world shared experiences, lifelong connections and trying to learn new words from their languages. I didn’t know meeting new people and becoming friends in just a week can bring tears in my eyes for like two days. Together, we break stereotypes and foster understanding by sharing our unique cultural perspectives. Paving the way for a more interconnected and empathetic world through English education. Together, we are not just learning to teach English; we are shaping the future of education with cultural understanding at its core."

Caption honorable mention media challenge submission: Humaida
📸 honorable mention media challenge submission: Liliia

FLEX Program FLEX Ukraine Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State

"Sharing about each other's culture while learning more about the American society and history is indeed one of the best things about WYLET!" Thank you for sharing, Paula! Congratulations on receiving Honorable Mention for your Media Challenge submission!

FLEX Alumni Moldova FLEX Program Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State U.S. Department of State American Councils for International Education Paula Frimu

know that the U.S. has many different accents and dialects but do you know how they came to be? What accent or dialect did you experience during your ? Did you learn to speak in that way?? Tell us about it!!

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-the-united-states-accents-and-dialects-180983591/?utm_source=smithsonian-weekender&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&spMailingID=49340786&spUserID=MTU1NzczNDAxMTE5NwS2&spJobID=2622099759&spReportId=MjYyMjA5OTc1OQS2

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A Brief History of the United States' Accents and Dialects Migration patterns, cultural ties, geographic regions and class differences all shape speaking patterns

What does Yusup say about in his honorable mention submission? "There is an atmosphere of unity and collaboration in the picture as Flex and YES students come together, perhaps reflecting the success of the unique workshop in strengthening connections and breaking down barriers. Their joint participation demonstrates a shared enthusiasm for learning and cultural exchange, creating a dynamic and inclusive environment. Thank you, WYLET for this great opportunity!"

FLEX Program Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State U.S. Department of State American Councils for International Education

Shoutout to Media Challenge honorable mention Humaida who shares the workshop's impact: “WYLET, the English teaching workshop in Washington, DC, offers unparalleled opportunities for educators. Through the workshop we gained practical strategies and techniques to enhance their English teaching abilities, leading to more effective instruction in the classroom. Our goals include fostering inclusive teaching practices, enhancing language proficiency, and promoting cross-cultural understanding. Throughout the workshop, participants engage in dynamic activities such as interactive language labs, collaborative lesson planning sessions, and cultural immersion excursions across the vibrant city. Feeling inspired and empowered, I’m eager to apply these newfound skills in my classroom. Overall, WYLET transformed my approach to teaching, leaving me motivated to make a positive difference in students’ lives by fostering language proficiency and cross-cultural understanding.”

FLEX Program Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State