Members of Greensboro College's Faculty Selected by U.S. Department of State for Prestigious English Language Specialist Project

by Matthew Johnson

Greensboro, NC (03/14/2024) — The U.S. Department of State recently announced the selection of Dr. Michelle Plaisance and Professor Paula Michelle Wilder of Greensboro College for a eight-month, English Language Specialist project focusing on the impact of English Programs in Vietnam. Plaisance and Wilder will be conducting an in-depth needs analysis for the course creation of a permanent program on instructional differentiation delivered through the Vietnamese Ministry of Education. Plaisance and Wilder are part of a select group, as their project is one of over 250 that the English Language Specialist Program supports each year.

At Greensboro College, Dr. Michelle Plaisance is a professor of English and TESOL (Teaching English to speakers of other languages), Dean of the School of Humanities, and Director of Graduate Students in TESOL. Professor Wilder is the Director of International Programs at Greensboro College and an instructor of graduate students in the TESOL program.

The English Language Specialist 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.

Since 1991, the English Language Specialist Program has supported in-country, virtual, and mixed projects in which hundreds of TESOL scholars and educators promote English language learning, enhance English teaching capacity, and foster mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries through cultural exchange. During their projects, English Language Specialists may conduct intensive teacher training, advise ministries of education or participate in high-level educational consultations, and offer plenary presentations at regional, national or international TESOL conferences. These projects are challenging and those selected represent the best of the U.S. TESOL community. In return, the program provides professional development opportunities to help participants experience different cultures and build skills that can greatly enhance their TESOL careers at home.

English Language Specialists are counted among the more than 50,000 individuals participating in U.S. Department of State exchange programs each year. The Specialist Program is administered by the Center for Intercultural Education and Development at Georgetown University.

Greensboro College provides a liberal arts education grounded in the traditions of the United Methodist Church and fosters the intellectual, social, and spiritual development of all students while supporting their individual needs.

Founded in 1838 and located in downtown Greensboro, the college enrolls about 1,000 students from 29 states and territories, the District of Columbia, and seven foreign countries in its undergraduate liberal-arts program and six master's degree programs. In addition to rigorous academics and a well-supported Honors program, the school features a 17-sport NCAA Division III athletic program and dozens of service and recreational opportunities. Learn more at greensboro.edu.

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