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5th Cohort of Pakistani Teachers to Visit UNO

UNO’s International Program’s Center for Afghanistan Studies is preparing to host 34 Pakistani English teachers for a six-week teacher training and cultural program. The participants, from five provinces of Pakistan, are set to arrive in Omaha on August 19, 2023.

Grant Brings Pakistani English Teachers to UNO

UNO’s International Program’s Center for Afghanistan Studies is preparing to host 34 Pakistani English teachers for a six-week teacher training and cultural program. The participants, from five provinces of Pakistan, are set to arrive in Omaha on August 19, 2023. Pakistan Excellence and Achievement (TEA) English Language Teacher Exchange is funded by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad 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, and exposure to technology related to teaching and teaching management systems. Other key elements of the program are leadership and community engagement. These professional development opportunities are accomplished through a blend of classroom and field experiences. This will be the 5th cohort of Pakistani teachers that have come to UNO since Spring 2022. In the coming year and a half, 100 Pakistani teachers will be trained at UNO and return to their home country making great impacts in education and benefiting their local communities. Each participant returns home with a final leadership project plan of action. TEA alumni of the UNO program have returned with projects related to professional development workshops, teacher training, taking care of the environment, community engagement and service through volunteer clubs, women’s empowerment, and seasonal camps for children. In addition to the academic program, the participants gain cultural experiences through school visits in the Omaha area, visits to local museums and other places of interest, and trips to South Dakota and Washington DC.

The program partners with several departments at UNO as well as schools within the Omaha area and rural areas nearby. UNO university departments and programs partnered with are Intensive Language at UNO (ILUNO), International Professional Development (IPD), Teacher Education, Department of English, Service-Learning Academy, Community Engagement Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, Writing Center, Foreign Languages and Literature, and Educational Leadership. The program also partners with instructors from Omaha Public Schools who introduce participants to the U.S. school system, assessment practices, curriculum, and best practices in instruction. Local school partnerships in Omaha and the surrounding area included: Beveridge Magnet, Brownell Talbot, Bryan High, Burke High, South High, St. Pius X / St. Leo Catholic School, Hillrise Elementary in Elkhorn, and Oakland-Craig Public Schools. All these partnerships allow the UNO team to provide the best instruction in areas of ELT pedagogy and leadership – the two major academic components of the TEA program. One of the strengths of the program is its enduring impact. Mentors and instructors at UNO stay connected with and are available for continued mentoring and communications concerning professional development, teaching practices, and final leadership projects.

The coming group of Pakistani English teachers has already been engaging with UNO mentors and instructors through virtual programming which began in June. The virtual program provides orientation and introductory sessions for the major components of the in-person programming which will take place on the UNO campus this Fall. Participants have expressed their anticipation in the following quotes.

"To be a part of the TEA program is something I have been eagerly anticipating. Attending a six-week training program in the USA is a fantastic opportunity. I'm excited to grow as a teacher of the English language, discover new ways to use technology in the classroom, create more engaging lessons, and build bridges of understanding with my American colleagues. The potential for both personal and professional development that this program offers excites me greatly." – Sayyeda Sadaf from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

“I feel immense pleasure by attending the TEA virtual classes. I learned new techniques of collaboration. Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) was new to me and now I’m aware about my strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, I’m eager to learn new pedagogical skills in person at UNO and I am committed to share my newfound knowledge and skills with my peers and students to further enhance the quality of education in our community.” -Bherji Soother from Sindh

“Every session enlightens me and makes me more enthusiastic to get ready for coming sessions. I am quite happy to be part of this cohort and expecting to enhance my teaching skills in our face-to-face sessions ahead.” -Iftkhar Ul Haq from Islamabad Capital Territory

“I am eager to join the University of Nebraska at Omaha to further enhance my teaching expertise, explore advanced educational theories, and create inclusive learning environments that inspire future generations and also it will encourage networking and collaboration which is the demand of the 21st Century professionalism.” -Afshan from Sindh