 During April and May 2006, thirty teachers from Bangladesh and East India participated in the Bangladesh-East India Teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Institute Program, which was organized by Relief International-Schools Online in partnership with Hamline University of Minnesota, with funding from the US Department of State.
 During April and May 2006, thirty teachers from Bangladesh and East India participated in the Bangladesh-East India Teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Institute Program, which was organized by Relief International-Schools Online in partnership with Hamline University of Minnesota, with funding from the US Department of State.
The goals of the EFL program were to promote understanding and implementation of best practices in EFL at the middle school level (classes 6-8) in Eastern India and Bangladesh, and to promote cross-cultural understanding and communication between Indian, Bangladeshi and American teachers.
The teachers spent six weeks in the US: five weeks in Minnesota and one week in Washington, DC. For the first two weeks, they participated in graduate-level studies at Hamline University, learning to develop curricula, materials and lessons. During the next two weeks, the teachers worked alongside US teachers in American middle schools, where they took part in group dialogue, worked with internet-based teaching methods, and observed classes.
 While in the US, the teachers were able to immerse themselves in American culture by participating in activities with volunteer cultural liaisons and living with host families. In Minnesota they enjoyed activities such as park cookouts, parades for various celebrations, museum visits. In Washington, D.C. they visited the embassies of Bangladesh and India, gave an interview to the Bangla Service of the Voice of America.
 Now that they have returned, the teachers will now share their experiences and new teaching methods with their colleagues by conducting trainings sessions over the next few months. Next January, they will again work with their American counterparts when the US teachers visit Bangladesh and East India. In the mean time, teachers in all three countries will continue their dialogue via online discussions on educational topics.
The program was made possible through a grant from the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, under the authority of the Hays-Fulbright Act of 1961, as amended.
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