RELO AMMAN NOMINEES FOR TESOL 2003 CONVENTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001462

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR STATE ECA/A/L/W KERR/JENSON, NEA/PPD
MACINNES/BOURGEOIS
JERUSALEM FOR PAO HUNTER, CAA MARROUM AND ACC CA STEIN
BEIRUT FOR PAO PUTNAM AND PAA BITAR
DAMASCUS FOR PAO DIBBLE, CAO SCHAPIRO, AND CAS ADWAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL JO
SUBJECT: RELO AMMAN NOMINEES FOR TESOL 2003 CONVENTION
IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, MARCH 24-29, 2003

REF: SECSTATE


1. Amman-based Regional English Language Office
(RELO) would like to nominate the following nominees:
Ms. Shireen Bawab from East Jerusalem, Mr. Abdul Bari
Muhajer from Aleppo, and Ms. Samia Abou Hamad from
Beirut to attend the TESOL 2003 convention in
Baltimore, Maryland, March 24-30, 2003.


2. MS. SHIREEN BAWAB - EAST JERUSALEM. Ms. Bawab is
one of the leading English as a Second Language (ESL)
professional in East Jerusalem. Because of the unique
situation of schools in East Jerusalem, Ms. Bawab works
closely with Arab sector of Israeli Ministry of
Education and the PA Ministry of Education. The Public
Affairs sections of both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem support
her nomination. Ms. Bawab has extensive knowledge and
experience in teacher preparation (pre-service) and
teacher development (in-service) and teacher mentoring
at David Yellin College of Education and the Hebrew
University. In addition, she has participated in
research projects in English language teaching
innovation, assessment and evaluation and the use of
new technologies at Bethlehem University. In addition
to her 20 years of ESL experience, she has also taught
history and music and coordinated special events at the
College des Freres in East Jerusalem.


3. MR. ABDUL BRAI MUHAMMAD MUHAJER MEEN - SYRIA. Mr.
Muhajer is a senior inspector in the Directorate of
Education, Ministry of Education, Aleppo, Syria to
attend the TESOL 2003. He has been instrumental in
facilitating the work of the RELO in the training of
secondary English teachers in the Aleppo Directorate.
With nearly 30 years of experience in EFL he has taught
in the classroom, supervised and evaluated teachers,
and is currently responsible for the day to day
management of over 300 teachers in his district. In
this key position he is responsible for carrying out
the national curriculum, making sure that his teacher
follow the prescribed methodology, and upgrading the
skills of his teachers. The amount of training
available to him in Syria has been minimal. He does
attend the national conferences and has participated in
training sessions organized by both the British Council
and the American language center, but he has relied on
his own initiative and resources to carry out his
responsibilities. These efforts have earned the
respect and admiration of the teachers, university
professor, and ministry officials. Attending TESOL will
enable him to expand his network of resources, deepen
his own understanding of theory and methodology and
gain first hand knowledge of life in the United States.
The multiplier effect of his trip will be immediate and
far-reaching. He is an ideal candidate for this
program.


4. MS. SAMYA ABOU HAMAD - LEBANON. Ms. Abou Hamad is
the Head of the English Department of the Educational
Center of Research and Development, Ministry of
Education, Lebanon to attend TESOL 2003. Ms. Abou Hamad
has the following responsibilities:

A. Curriculum Development
i. Coordinator and General Executive for Curricula
design for Basic Education and Secondary Education in
Lebanon.
ii. Curricula design coordinator for Normal Schools
(teacher training institutions) in Lebanon.
iii. General Executive of the National Textbook Project
Series in Lebanon (Teacher's Guide, student's book and
workbooks, Grades 1 through 12).

B. Evaluation and Curriculum Development.
i. Member of the Official Examination Committee in
Lebanon for the Grade 9 official certificate and the
Grade 12 official certificate.
ii. English Language Coordinator of the Evaluation
Committee at the CERD.

C. Teacher Preparation and Teacher Development
i. Coordinator of the In-Service Training Program for
English Language teachers in both the public and
private sectors
ii. ESP Coordinator and Instructor at the Faculty of
Business and Economics at the Lebanese University
iii. Coordinator of English Language Methodology books
for students' teachers at the normal schools in
Lebanon.
Because of these responsibilities and the fact the
Ms. Abou Hamad never has been to the States, her
attendance of TESOL will be a tremendous step in
professional development.


5. ECA/A/L/W support is appreciated.

GEHNEM