The NSLI-Y team at iEARN-USA traveled to Washington D.C. January 26 to 27 for the annual National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) Partners Meeting, held at American Councils. Two NSLI-Y international partners also attended the meeting: Juyeon Park from Better World in Seoul, South Korea and Sunita Bhagwat from iEARN-India in Pune, India.

All NSLI-Y program implementing organizations gathered at American Councils to share challenges and best practices. Carol Radomski, Program Officer for the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, opened the meeting with a welcome message. Topics for this year’s meeting included recruiting and retaining effective peer tutors, engaging Resident Directors in language learning, addressing diversity issues, and orienting and supporting host families. Jeanette Owen, the Director of the Critical Language Scholarship Program, also presented on integrating language instruction with cultural activities. The NSLI-Y team at iEARN-USA came away from the meeting feeling inspired and excited to begin planning for the 2017-2018 programs.

Prior to the NSLI-Y Partners Meeting, iEARN-USA welcomed Sunita Bhagwat, Director of iEARN-India to New York to spend a couple days together before traveling to D.C. Sunita gave the staff at iEARN-USA a presentation on iEARN-India and all the projects currently happening and being planned. Sunita was also able to meet individually with several staff members during her visit. We thoroughly enjoyed hosting Sunita in New York and welcome any visitors to the iEARN-USA office.