Exchange Program: Integrating Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in the English Language Classroom

Location:	District of Columbia
Posted:	Oct 22, 2024
Due:	Dec 5, 2024
Agency:	FHI 360
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	U - Education and Training Services
Solicitation No:	FY20-RFA-06_RFA_02
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Request for Applications (RFA)

Exchange Program: Integrating Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in the

English Language Classroom

This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural

Affairs Office of English Language Programs (ECA/A/L) under the FY 20 English Access

Scholarship Program

Proposal Due:

Questions Due:

Responses to Questions posted:

E-mail for submissions:

December 5, 2024

November 11, 2024

November 19, 2024

accessexchanges@fhi360.org

________________________________________________________________________________

SOLICITATION FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS

THIS REQUEST FOR APPLICATION (RFA) IS THE EXCLUSIVE, CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY

PROPERTY OF FAMILY HEALTH INTERNATIONAL (FHI 360). IT MAY NOT BE COPIED, TRANSMITTED,

OR DISCLOSED BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF FHI 360. BY

ACCEPTING A COPY HEREOF, RECIPIENT AGREES TO USE THE RFA (AND ANY RELATED

DOCUMENTS) SOLEY FOR RESPONDING TO THIS RFA, AND DESTROY THE RFA (AND ANY RELATED

DOCUMENTS) UPON YOUR DECISION NOT TO RESPOND TO THIS RFA

________________________________________________________________________________

About the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Office of English

Language Programs (ECA/A/L)

The Office of English Language Programs in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational

and Cultural Affairs (ECA/A/L) engages English Language (EL) learners and educators abroad by

funding and monitoring U.S. Embassy-sponsored EL programs that support curriculum and materials

development projects, facilitate teacher training workshops, and advise foreign ministries of

education, universities, and NGOs. The programs, overseen by Regional English Language Officers

(REOLs) abroad and Program Officers in Washington, foster mutual understanding, strengthen

teaching and language skills, develop critical thinking capabilities, and convey balanced and accurate

information about the United States. The Office of English Language Programs runs multiple

educational exchange programs focused on EL teaching and learning. These EL programs include

the Fellows Program, the Virtual Educator (VE) Program, the Specialists Program, the English Access

Scholarship (Access) Program, the In-Person Exchange (IPX) Program, the Virtual Exchange Program,

and the Online Professional English Network (OPEN) Program. In addition, the office engages

teachers and students on Facebook, YouTube, and the AmericanEnglish.state.gov website.

About FHI 360

FHI 360 is a global organization that mobilizes research, resources and relationships so that people

everywhere can access the opportunities they need to lead full, healthy lives. FHI 360 works to

address the complex challenges of human development with a unique mix of multidisciplinary,

integrated solutions. Our areas of practice include civil society, communication and social

marketing, economic development, education, the environment, gender, health, nutrition,

research, technology, and youth. Our staff of over 4,000 experts work in more than 60 countries

around the world.

Purpose

The Access-funded In-Person Exchange (IPX) Program offers non-U.S. citizen EL educators located

outside the United States the opportunity to engage in professional development to enhance

knowledge and skills around a theme related to EL teaching and learning through the exchange

experience and sharing of knowledge and expertise with American education professionals. FHI 360

invites applications from accredited U.S. universities and colleges to host a two-week professional

development program for international English as a Foreign Language (EFL) professionals including

teachers, teacher trainers, and curriculum/content designers in secondary education settings. The

program offers non-U.S. citizen English language educators located outside the United States the

opportunity to engage in professional development to enhance knowledge and skills around a

theme related to English language teaching and learning through the exchange experience and

sharing of knowledge and expertise with American education professionals. The purpose of this

professional development program is to equip international EFL professionals with tools, strategies,

and best practices for integrating social and emotional learning (SEL) principles in the English

language classroom to improve student academic and personal success and create inclusive

classroom environments. The exchange program must offer participants direct experience in a

university/college setting with access to campus resources and opportunities for forging potential

international partnerships with faculty members and the university/college.

This exchange program is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and

Cultural Affairs’ Office of English Language Programs (ECA/A/L) through a cooperative agreement

with FHI 360 for the Access Program. In issuing this Request for Applications (RFA), FHI 360

anticipates awarding sub-agreement(s) of up to $60,000 to U.S. university(s) for administration costs

to host approximately twenty-five (25) participants. Additional to the total administration costs, FHI

360 will reimburse the program/participant costs upon submission of proper receipts/vouchers.

To this end, FHI 360 is issuing this RFA that consists of:

• RFA document

• Application Checklist, Proposal Template, and Minimum Required Standards

(Attachment 1)

• Application Cover Sheet (Attachment 2)

• Budget Template (Attachment 3)

Interested institutions should electronically submit a complete proposal to FHI 360 at

accessexchanges@fhi360.org no later than December 5, 2024 at 5:00 PM EST.

I. Program Description

A. Overview

Participants will attend an intensive professional development program around the theme of

Integrating Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in the English Language Classroom.

Social emotional learning (SEL) is defined as “the process through which children and adults

understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for

others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions” (CASEL,

2020).

The program intends to equip participants with practical knowledge and skills for integrating social

emotional learning (SEL) techniques in English language teaching to improve learner success and

prepare learners to become socially and emotionally mature members of a global society.

Participants will attend an intensive professional development program with a focus on creating a

welcoming and culturally and linguistically inclusive classroom by integrating SEL competencies into

lesson planning, learner feedback, and assessment as well as incorporating restorative practices for

teacher well-being.

B. Program Dates

The program shall be two weeks (14 days) in length from July 14 – 27, 2025, taking into

consideration holidays and the possibility to visit in-session classroom settings. Travel days are

additional to the 14 program days (arrival on July 13 and departure on July 28). The program should

include one rest day for the participants in the middle of the two-week period.

Note: Please note that, following the completion of the university-organized exchange program, the

participants will travel to Long Beach, California to attend a program organized in conjunction with

the 2025 TESOL International Convention. This program will be organized separately by FHI 360 and

its local partner organization.

II. Program Guidelines

The applicant must use the attached Application Checklist, Proposal Template, and Minimum

Required Standards and should address all the items below, providing detailed descriptions.

The application should be organized in the order listed below in a single PDF document with the

exception of the application cover sheet (Attachment 2) and the detailed budget (Attachment 3),

which should be submitted in the excel template provided.

1. Application Cover Page (Attachment 2)

2. Program Narrative (Not to exceed 10 pages, double spaced)

• Vision

• Organizational capability statement

• Description of the exchange program

A. Academic Workshops

B. Site Visits

C. Cultural Activities

D. Participant Support and Logistical Arrangements

3. Number of Program Hours (A description using the proposal template)

4. Program Calendar

5. Program Outline for each day with activities, description, time allocation, learning

objectives, materials, and resources

6. Staff and Program Management Plan that defines the roles and responsibilities of staff (max.

2 pages)

7. Curriculum Vitae for key staff - program management team and faculty (no more than 2

pages each)

8. Letter(s) of Commitment from the institution that offers leadership support to the proposal

9. Budget Narrative

10. Fringe Benefits Rate Documentation and Indirect Rate Documentation (e.g., NICRA)

11. Detailed budget (Attachment 3)

This exchange program is sponsored by the United States Department of State, Office of English

Language Programs. The host institution should notify all participants, presenters and stakeholders

involved in this role explicitly to provide maximum transparency. Where possible and appropriate,

resources offered in the sessions should include materials from the Office of English Language

Programs (americanenglish.state.gov).

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Guidelines

Applicants must show substantive support to ECA’s and FHI 360’s priorities on Diversity, Equity,

Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA). Proposals must show a conscious and intentional effort to

incorporate DEIA in the different aspects of program administration, design, and implementation,

including staffing, exchange content, and program activities. Some examples might include:

• Use of inclusive language and culturally responsive teaching practices

• Creating a welcoming, inclusive environment with diverse staffing, setting cultural and

disciplinary expectations, and establishing guidelines for interaction

• Offering content on exchange themes from non-mainstream perspectives from

underrepresented professionals in the field

• Including activities that build rapport and allow participants to share their own experiences

and cultural values

• Use of multi-modal teaching resources that represent multiple perspectives AND allow for

variations in language level and technology resources

• Designing accessible presentations, handouts, and other material. Some examples include:

o Using consistent fonts, sizes, styles, and backgrounds

o Using high contrast between text and background

o Adding Alt-text for images, using descriptive text for hyperlinks, captioning for

videos, and transcripts for audio

The proposal should demonstrate how DEIA will enhance the program’s goals and the participants’

exchange experience. It is important that applicants clearly articulate their DEIA plan. Diversity

should be exhibited in the broadest sense and encompass differences including but not limited to

ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, social-economic status (e.g., limited access to

resources), and disabilities.

This exchange should incorporate site visits within the host community, intercultural dialogue with

American peers or students, and opportunities for participants to present on their home countries

to enhance their learning, as well as deepen their understanding of U.S. culture and democratic

values and Americans’ understanding of their cultures.

All aspects of the exchange should be delivered using the adult-learner model and incorporate EFL

content and opportunities to discuss U.S. culture and democratic values throughout the entire

curriculum. The content should meet a minimum English language proficiency level of intermediate

(B1) with the understanding that participants’ language skill level will vary.

Applicant should demonstrate flexibility in programming to accommodate a range of religious and

cultural needs as well as disabilities and outline a plan to accommodate participants with these

needs.

Participants of this program should be active learners and gain knowledge and skills through hands-

on approaches and activities. Proposals should encompass activities that address strategies for

incorporating subject matter into under-resourced environments.

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Exchange Program: Integrating Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in the English Language Classroom

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