Photo: Collected
The closing ceremony of the six-month-long teacher training workshop on AI-enhanced English teaching approaches was held at the Chattogram city’s Premier University on Monday.
The training programme, titled "Empowering Educators: Implementing AI-Enhanced Inquiry-Based Approaches in English Language Education in Bangladesh," was sponsored by the U.S. Department of State through the Meridian International Centre. The programme was jointly implemented by Global Aid for Sustainable Development (GASD) and the Chittagong South chapter of the Bangladesh English Language Teachers Association (BELTA).
The programme resulted from the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Impact Award 2024, won by Dr. Md. Mohib Ullah, General Secretary of BELTA, President of GASD, and Associate Professor at the International Islamic University Chittagong. Thirty English teachers from different secondary schools in Chattogram participated in the workshop.
The first of its kind in Bangladesh, the training programme ran from August 2024 to January 2025 and featured three day-long workshops, two virtual sessions, and a final best practices review.
Sadat Zaman Khan, a U.S. Exchange Alum (IVLP) and Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of English Language and Literature at Premier University, attended the closing ceremony as the special guest, while Professor Mobinul Hoque, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration at Premier University, attended as the guest of honour.
The workshop participants highly praised the initiative, stating that teachers of the 21st century should complement AI, not compete with it. They also emphasized that students must be given clear, specific instructions on tasks to effectively utilize AI-assisted educational technology tools and maximize their benefits.
Fahmida Begum, Senior Teacher (English) at Chattogram Government High School; Uma Sing Marma, Assistant Teacher (English) at Shaheed Shamsuddin Girls’ High School; Md. Hasan Hafizur Rahman, Assistant Teacher (English) at Maruf Model High School; Ms. Sadia Amrin, English Faculty at State University of Bangladesh; and Ms. Shahnaj Shahid, Senior English Teacher at Nasirabad Girls’ High School, shared best practices, experiences, and reflections on the training programme.
Messenger/SK/EHM
