The Friendship Force of Whidbey Island and the Northwest Language and Cultural Center in Langley will welcome a group of educators from Indonesia from Oct. 8 through 10, for a seminar in teaching English as a second language.
The visiting teachers and high school principals, 15 in all, are in the United States from Jakarta, as well as other Indonesian islands. The group left Jakarta on Sept. 29 following an official dinner and send-off by the Assistant Cultural Attaché from the U.S. Embassy to Indonesia.
Friendship Force International chose Whidbey Island and the NWLA Cultural Center as the site for a three-day training seminar on techniques for teaching English as a second language. Margaret Hicks, a university professor from Greensville, S. C., will teach the class at the NWLA Cultural Center during the first three days of the group’s visit.
The teachers will be hosted in the homes of the local Friendship Force group led by Shirley Hauck. They will explore rural life and the Pacific Northwest environment, visiting Port Townsend, Coupeville and Deception Pass, taking a tour of Boeing, walking in the Saratoga Woods and exploring the Langley art scene.
There will be a potluck welcome dinner at the NWLA Cultural Center from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8. The center is located at 5023 Langley Road in Langley. The potluck will be followed by international folk dancing. The event is open to the public.
When the teachers return to Jakarta, they will complete the Consortium for Global Education course in English as a second language techniques online and receive a certificate.
For more information, call Shirley Hauck of Whidbey Friendship Force at 360-579-4799.
Northwest Language Academy and Cultural Center, established in 1998, is a nonprofit organization with the aim of providing cultural literacy, conversation-based language instruction and unique travel opportunities to adults and children. To learn more, visit www.nwlanguageacademy.com or call 321-2101.
