Alumni Benefits

The English Language Programs’ Community of Practice is an online community where participants and Fellow, Specialist, or Virtual Educator alumni can connect with each other, access resources, share best practices, and search for jobs. Program staff also use the COP as a channel to communicate with alumni about important program updates and upcoming events.

If you don’t have access to the Community of Practice, request an account here.

To learn more about how English Language Programs supports the growth of alumni, visit the Opportunities page in the COP for information about regional, national, and virtual opportunities.

As a former or current participant in a U.S. Department of State exchange program, you are eligible to join the ECA Exchange Alumni community. This community is intended for and run by past and present U.S. government-sponsored exchange program participants and can be used to find tools to advance your community and our world.

Have you ever wondered how other English Language Fellow, Specialist, or Virtual Educator alumni have leveraged their experiences abroad to advance their TESOL careers? Many have gone on to find their dream jobs working in government, higher education, and the nonprofit sector. Read their stories by visiting the All Stories section on the Stories page and apply the filter for “Alumni”.

If you are interested in sharing your story, consider submitting an Alumni Impact Statement on the Community of Practice website.

As part of its professional development initiatives, English Language Programs offers professional-development courses—both online and hybrid—for program participants and alumni. Courses include general orientation for program participants and special-interest courses on current topics within the field of English language teaching, such as disaster management curriculum, sustainability education, and social-emotional learning. New courses are added every year!

Click to learn more about each course:

• English Language Fellow Orientation
• Virtual English Language Educator Orientation
• Alumni Benefits Orientation
• Fellow Training of Trainers Course
• 2021 Specialist Master Class – A Case Study in ESP: Content-based Instruction for Disaster Management
• 2022 Specialist Master Class – ESP for Climate Change & Sustainability: Implementing an Eco-PBL Framework
• 2023 Specialist Master Class – Social-Emotional Learning and Trauma-Sensitive Practices in English Language Teaching

These courses are available only to eligible English Language Programs participants and alumni on the Community of Practice.

For more information about opportunities for English Language Programs Alumni, please email outreach@elprograms.org.