Annabelle Royer ’13 Selected by U.S. Department of State for Prestigious English Language Teaching Fellowship

English and World Literatures and Education graduate Annabelle Royer ’13 has been selected by the U.S. Department of State for a 10-month fellowship project training teachers and teaching English in Montenegro at The University of Montenegro. Royer is one of only 200 U.S. citizens selected for the 2019-2020 English Language Fellow Program.

“Having a degree in English and World Literatures from MMC has made me a better teacher and learner in all my professional endeavors,” explains Royer. “I will forever be grateful for the training and expertise I gleaned at MMC and to the many teachers in the EWL and Education programs who exemplify the methodologies I employ daily in my own classrooms.”

From the Official U.S. Department of State Release

As a Fellow at the University of Montenegro, Royer will assist with the creation of new summer courses for international students by providing training in the creation of curricula using English as a Medium of Instruction. Additionally, she will be working as a professor of educational methodology with the Department of Philology and as a trainer for various State Department sponsored programs including Fulbright ETAs and Microscholarship Access teachers. She is a specialist in the field of English language with a Master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Royer’s prior work has focused on curriculum design, Content-Based Instruction, literacy, and teacher training. From 2013-2015, Royer served as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Taiwan. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Secondary Education from Marymount Manhattan College and has worked with grades K-12 students and teachers. More recently, she has focused on adult education, specifically with Catholic Charities’ El Centro Del Cardenal in Boston, where she taught immigrants and refugees while leading the curriculum design of their new academic and college preparation program.

The English Language Fellow Program is the premier opportunity for experienced teachers of English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) to enact meaningful and sustainable changes in the way that English is taught abroad. Through projects developed by U.S. Embassies in more than 80 countries, Fellows work directly with local teachers, students, and educational professionals to improve the quality of English language instruction offered at prestigious universities and other academic institutions. 

Since 1969, the English Language Fellow Program has sent thousands of TESOL scholars and educators abroad to promote English language learning, enhance English teaching capacity, and foster mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries through cultural exchange. On assignment, Fellows teach English, conduct teacher training, develop resources, and organize events and conferences. These projects are challenging and the teachers selected represent the best of the U.S. TESOL community. In return, the program provides professional development opportunities to help participants experience different cultures and build skills that can greatly enhance their TESOL careers back home.

English Language Fellows are counted among the more than 50,000 individuals participating in U.S. Department of State exchange programs each year. The Fellow Program is administered by the Center for Intercultural Education and Development at Georgetown University.

Congratulations, Annabelle!

Published: September 04, 2019