FACULTY KUDOS: U.S. State Department selects Dr. Christopher Hastings for specialist assignment
Dr. Christopher Hastings (front row, center) gathers with English teachers from Pakistani Madrasas.
Congratulations to Southwest’s English as a Second Language (ESL) Coordinator Dr. Christopher Hastings who completed his assignment to train English teachers in Islamabad, Pakistan this past December. Hastings was one of 80 United States citizens annually selected by the Department of State for the 2-week ESL assignment.
Hastings worked in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad to deliver a series of training sessions for English language teachers from Madrasas (colleges for Islamic instruction) across Pakistan. Many of the teachers were from remote regions in Pakistan with under-resourced classrooms.
“Working with English teachers from Pakistani Madrasas was an opportunity to learn about a culture that is misunderstood and often misrepresented here in the U.S.,” Hastings said. “I was overwhelmed by the hospitality and respect that I was shown as a foreign guest.”
The program provided participants with instruction in current issues in English language teaching methodology. It sought to improve participants’ knowledge and professional skills in practical pedagogy through engaging activities that participants could use in their classrooms.
The state department’s ESL Program is the premier opportunity for leaders in the field of teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) to enact meaningful and sustainable changes in the way that English is taught abroad. Through projects developed by U.S. embassies in more than 80 countries, English language specialists work directly with local teacher trainers, educational leaders, and ministry of education officials to exchange knowledge, build capacity and establish partnerships benefiting participants, institutions and communities in the United States and overseas.
Hastings conducts an ESL training session for participants in Islamabad, Pakistan.
In This Issue...
- FROM THE PRESIDENT
- Southwest Foundation takes center stage at cityCURRENT Signature Breakfast
- Welcome aboard, new team members
- Human Resources to kick-off redesign of employee experience in 2020
- MENTAL HEALTH CORNER: Charting a new path
- HIPs teaching methods a ‘game changer’ for student success
- Project M.O.S.T. hosts “De-Stress” fest during finals
- SGA Angel Tree Program brings holiday spirit to Alton Elementary students
- FACULTY: Schedule Library Instruction session for your students today
- STUDENTS: Print 2019 Tax Forms in My.Southwest portal
- AACC names Chef Steven Leake a 2020 Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty recipient
- KUDOS: Memphis Grizzlies select VP of Student Affairs Jacqueline Faulkner for annual HBCU Empowerment Award
- US Secret Service trains Southwest SERT team on workplace security
- U.S. State Department selects Dr. Christopher Hastings specialist assignment
- THEC awards Southwest and TCAT-Memphis $145K Veteran Reconnect grant
- Writers series showcases works by Southwest faculty
- Students travel to state capitol to learn law-making process
- Early FAFSA completers win book scholarships
- Culinary arts graduate opens ‘Cool Beans’ coffee shop in Cordova
- Southwest and TCAT-Memphis tout growth and expansion at 2020 Legislative Luncheon
- Southwest establishes Innovation Funds to fuel success; Now accepting grant applications
- Scholarship recipients thank Foundation donors for making dreams come true
- Southwest celebrates the holidays with faculty and staff open house
- Women of Worth accepting new members
- Shelby County Government and Southwest Allied Health and Sciences drill nursing students on disaster triage
- Business and Technologies joins National Cyber Watch Center
- SALUQI CORNER: Saluqis start new year with impressive wins
- Southwest: In the News
- 32nd Annual Carter G. Woodson Award Ceremony is Feb. 13