U.S. Embassy in Georgia Hosts First Caucasus English Language Teachers Conference

On April 25-27, 2003, the U.S. Embassy in Georgia hosted the First Caucasus English Language Teachers Conference in Tbilisi. The conference was initiated by the Kiev Regional English Language Officer, Patricia Sullivan, and realized through the efforts of the three Caucasus U.S. Embassies, the British Council, and the English Language Teachers Associations of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The conference brought together 120 English language teachers from the three Caucasus countries for a series of presentations and workshops on all aspects of English teaching -- theories, methods, textbooks, audio-visual aids, Internet, even humor in the classroom. Public Affairs Officer Sharon Hudson-Dean and Georgian Minister of Education Alexander Kartozia made welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony.

On the first day of the conference, Deputy Chief of Mission Patricia Moller (below -- center, in black) hosted a reception at her residence in honor of participants. The conference concluded with a sightseeing tour to Mtskheta, the old capital of Georgia, where participants had a chance to enjoy a traditional Georgian "supra" banquet and wound up having an impromptu singing and dancing competition between countries. [Photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Tbilisi]