UGILKHON KAKILOVA (ASFIL)
DILNOZAHON BOYMIRZAYEVA (Vosiq International School )

TEN STRATEGIES FOR TEACHERS TO PREPARE FLEX PROGRAM WINNERS : TEACHER EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

How can you create winning FLEX program students? In this workshop, an Access teacher with 8 winning FLEX students from rural Uzbekistan will guide English teachers through the professional development of ten strategies to support their students in applying for and winning a FLEX Program scholarship. Future Leadership Exchange Program (FLEX) is a competitive, merit-based scholarship program funded by the U.S. Department of State. Over 35,000 students each year compete to earn a FLEX scholarship gaining leadership skill and knowledge of American society and exchange cultural values. (https://www.educationcorner.comhttps://www.discoverflex.org/). English teachers in Central Asia, particularly in rural areas of Uzbekistan, need professional development to prepare students for the FLEX program. Not only do students who participate in exchange programs get to travel but they develop higher degrees of awareness, acceptance for cultural diversity and an increase in their cultural capital” (Loveless, 2022). Unfortunately, not many teachers know how to guide their students through the challenging selection process to become a finalist for the FLEX program. In this workshop, an Access teacher with four winners for the FLEX program from rural Uzbekistan identifies ten key challenges teachers need to overcome in preparing winning Flex students. Participants will learn how to: 1. Interview students to share their key life experiences for their essays 2. guide discussion with students around plagiarism and disqualification 3. guide students in creating Gmail accounts, sending and checking messages 4. prepare students for proctored essays by introducing them to keyboarding on laptops 5. support students with recommendations 6. review the letter to their host families and guide in selecting photos 7. prepare students for the LTS test with listening, reading and grammar practice 8. support students in finding required info for medical form 9. alleviate parents’ anxiety and uncertainty about their gap year abroad 10. manage time for the many tasks required Not only does this workshop increase teachers’ knowledge of the challenges in preparing for FLEX program, but it provides information and guidelines to follow in managing time to create a winning FLEX student. Participants will take away links to FLEX program information websites.

I am an EFL teacher with certified in TESOL through the ESN project and passionate about teaching, I am currently pursuing a PhD. I also serve as an Access teacher and trainer for local educators. Additionally, I am the head of UZTEA (Uzbekistan Teachers of English Association) for the Andijan region in Uzbekistan.

She is an EFL teacher with certified TESOL within ESN project. She loves teaching and she is current doing action research in her classroom. She is also core trainer teacher and got master degree by Webster university in Uzbekistan.