Government Of Tamil Nadu Inaugurates English Language Fellow Program In Chennai

Dignitaries on the dais (left to right) – Dr. Papa Shankar, Principal, Quaid-e-Millet College for Women; Dr. Nalini Ravindran, Director, Collegiate Education; Mr. Frederick Kaplan, Public Affairs Officer; Dr. K. Ponmudy, Minister for Higher Education; Ms.

On November 24, 2008, with Tamil Nadu Minister for Higher Education Dr. K. Ponmudy presiding, the U.S. government sponsored English Language Fellow (ELF) program was formally launched by the Directorate of Collegiate Education (DCE) in Chennai. Since it’s inception in India in 2005, the ELF program has placed American academics in Ahmedabad, Kolkata, New Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Jaipur, Hyderabad and now in Chennai. Addressing an audience of over 200, comprised of college level English instructors, academics, policymakers and media, Ms. Frances Westbrook, Senior English Language Fellow, announced her year long training program designed to upgrade the teaching skills of English language teachers and trainers at Tamil Nadu government colleges. While releasing the study material for the workshop, the Minister thanked the U.S. government for support for the State’s goal to improve English proficiency among students. Applauding Frances Westbrook’s quick start on the 3-week “train the trainer” (first in the series) program from November 25, Dr. Nalini Ravindran, Director of Collegiate Education, said that the program will eventually allow over 2000 English language instructors across the state to deliver ESL to several thousands of students at 670 government and aided colleges. Chennai PAO Frederick Kaplan and CAO Ragini Gupta highlighted the success of the previous ELF program in Hyderabad.