2006 Press Releases

The First International Teachers of English Conference in Turkmenistan

June 30, 2006

Today the U.S. Embassy and the Government of Turkmenistan opened the Fifth Annual International Teachers of English Conference (ITEC), "English Without Borders," at the President Hotel in Ashgabat. The Conference, which runs from June 30 to July 2, 2006, brings together over 250 teaching professionals from throughout South and Central Asia, the Caucasus, Turkey, the United States and Turkmenistan for professional enrichment and cultural activities. The conference sessions, which include over 60 workshops, 30 poster sessions and 20 paper sessions touch on development of teacher's associations, curriculum development, interactive classroom methodologies and other current trends in teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL).

The Conference participants will share their areas of specialization and best practices in English language teaching. The U.S. mission, including Peace Corps and its implementing partners, American Councils for International Education (ACCELS) and the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), are staffing informational booths with EFL materials throughout the conference.

Turkmenistan's Minister of Education Shemshat Annagylyjova officially opened the conference and expressed her gratitude for the Ambassador's support of this historic conference, as well as, for education in Turkmenistan. U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan Tracey Ann Jacobson then gave opening remarks and emphasized that, "this conference brings to Turkmenistan interactive methodology from international experts, and will boost the level of English teaching in this country as well as bring together English teaching specialists from throughout the region." Ambassador Jacobson expressed her hope that the conference be the first of many and that Turkmenistan would build on this effort by cooperating with other nations to expand educational access and opportunities for its citizens.

ITEC is modeled on the Central Asian Conference of English Teachers (CATEC) conference held in each of the other Central Asian states in previous years and is sponsored by the U.S. Government.