Washington, DC - More than 400 Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FLTAs) from over 50 countries will gather for a workshop in Washington, D.C., December 11-13, to explore ways to increase English language globally.

As participants in the U.S. Department of State’s FLTA program, these early career English as a Foreign Language teachers have the opportunity to refine their teaching skills and broaden their knowledge of American cultures and customs on U.S. campuses. Developing English language capacity around the world expands access to job and educational opportunities, particularly among youth, women, and underserved communities.

Fulbright FLTAs strengthen language instructional capacity at U.S. higher education institutions by teaching courses in their native languages including Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Turkish, and Thai. More than 11,000 U.S. students at 215 American colleges and universities in 47 states are learning foreign languages from the current FLTA cohort. Upon completion of the program, Fulbright FLTAs return to their home countries to teach English with refined techniques, increased English proficiency, and expanded knowledge of U.S. culture and values.

Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Evan Ryan will open the FLTA workshop at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 11, at the Capital Hilton, 1001 16th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. Tom Healy, Chair of the Presidentially-appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, will address the participants on Friday, December 12, at 10:00 a.m. at the same location. An additional highlight will be an international culture fair showcasing FLTAs’ countries and cultures at the Capital Hilton on Friday, December 12, starting at 12:00 p.m.