Lao PDR Sabaidee!

(This highlight was written for  and uploaded to the Department of State's English Language Program's Community of Practice Web platform)  Titled “Negotiating Cross-Cultural Challenges of Fellows in Asia,” this panel discussion took place during the East Asia Pacific (EAP) English Language Fellows Midyear Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, in the week of January 26, 2025. The panel featured three Fellows—Merryl Kravitz (Cambodia), Maureen Rooney (Philippines), and Julie Dean (Laos)—each of whom shared personal missteps or challenges encountered in their current fellowship or past posts abroad. Despite being experienced educators and seasoned travelers, the Fellows highlighted how cultural differences can still surprise and challenge even the most prepared professionals. The discussion was framed with research on individualistic versus collectivist cultures to provide context for the stories shared. These academic insights helped illuminate the deeper dynamics at play in the Fel...

  From Syllables to Songs: A Pronunciation Project for First-Year English Majors (This highlight was written for  and uploaded to the Department of State's English Language Program's Community of Practice Web platform) For a first-year “English for Communication” major class at Champasack University, English Language Fellow, Julie Dean, led a 16-week course in “Phonetics and Pronunciation.” The course followed the university’s textbook and curriculum, enriched by the “Color Vowel” system and exercises from the COP (Community of Practice). Students systematically reviewed all English consonant and vowel sounds, building a strong foundation for clearer, more confident speech. To wrap up the term with energy and creativity, each of the 40 students across two classes selected a favorite English-language song to share. Some students gravitated toward the same songs, with popular choices including Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years and Die with a Smile by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. I...