Spencer Salas, an associate professor of middle, secondary and K-12 education in the College of Education, recently returned from India and Nepal where he served as an English language specialist teacher trainer.
In India, Salas primarily worked with secondary school teachers of English who work in New Delhi’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods. Salas’ global efforts in India were funded by a grant from the U.S. State Department Regional English Language Office program and hosted by the State Council of Education Research and Training, an autonomous body of the Government of Delhi.
After nearly a month in India, Salas traveled to Nepal to conduct five, three-day English teacher training sessions at three sites. He instructed 200 secondary school English teachers in Pokhara/Kaski, Damauli/Tanahu and Tansen/Palpa.
The sessions focused on principles and practices related to whole language literacy instruction for adolescent learners, said Salas.
“I loved working with my Nepalese counterparts. The biggest take-away for me was the pride Nepalese teachers of English bring to their professional identities as educators, and how that pride elevates their work as an engine for local, regional and national development,” Salas stated.
According to the U.S. State Department, the goal of the English language specialist grants are to support the philosophy that teachers are the centers of influence in every nation, and building bridges between peoples is an important way for the department to promote mutual understanding internationally.
Photo: Spencer Salas (fifth right) with a group of Nepalese teachers who participated in literacy workshops.