Introduced in 2000, this program launches and supports activities that promote the English language as well as improve the quality of English teaching to children and teenagers in small towns and rural areas. Thus it also promotes their equal access to educational opportunities. At the same time, the program contributes to professional development of English teachers working in villages and small towns.
Over the years 2000-2019, 1,036 projects were funded through grant competitions addressed to schools and non-governmental organizations in villages and small towns.
By promoting studying English the program stimulates and develops variety of civic initiatives. The results often transcend the original objectives what demonstrates itself in general activation of local communities. The program is mainly addressed to English teachers of elementary schools and kindergartens in rural areas and small towns. In the past many projects were implemented at junior high schools. The program’s offer includes training for teachers coupled with a possibility to implement projects with their students, as well as training and consultation at the stage of project preparation.
Over the years 2000-2020, 1,116 projects were funded through grant competitions addressed to schools and non-governmental organizations in villages and small towns. As a result, clubs of friends of Anglo-Saxon culture and English language, little libraries of English-language books and press, as well as theater circles were set up in many schools. Numerous contests of knowledge about English writers, culture and history as well as song festivals were held. Children and young people had a chance to watch English-language films in their original versions and take part in lessons conducted by native speakers. In the projects financed through the grant competitions ca. 72,000 students and 4,700 teachers participated directly, while over 170,000 parents and other members of local communities were engaged indirectly.
The program offer includes also Weekends with English Teaching methodological training sessions for English teachers at schools in villages and towns of less than 20,000 residents. Up to now 142 such training sessions have been conducted for 6,513 participants.
The most active teachers participating in the program have a chance to improve their qualifications at a three-week Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Summer Institute, organized by Gonzaga University in the USA.
Under the program, 17 annual nationwide English Teaching Market meetings have been organized for teachers of English as well as interested institutions, organizations, schools and publishers. They were participated by almost 9,000 people. These annual meetings are aimed among other things at developing a cooperation network of English teachers working at schools in villages and small towns; they are supported by the community portal and regular e-news on other educational initiatives such as grants for projects, training sessions, or competitions.
Since 2015 the English Teaching Nationwide English Teachers Association has been in operation. It was established at the initiative of the English Teaching Program Ambassadors – the most active teachers participating in the program. The objective of the Association is to carry out professional training for English teachers, especially those from villages and small towns, as well as advocacy activities on behalf of them.
The Foundation has disbursed $8,269,849, including $247,468 for the current edition of the program.
