Ahmed Fahad, Highline College faculty member in the English Language, Career and Academic Prep (ELCAP) department, is currently leading an English Language Specialist project in Oman, at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS).
The Bonney Lake resident was selected by the U.S. Department of State to take part in the program, which offers the best opportunity for leaders in the field of teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) to enact meaningful and sustainable changes in the way that English is taught abroad.
Only a small number of U.S. educators are selected each year to lead these projects around the world.
Fahad, who is in Oman until September 22, has started delivering in-person workshops at the university's four branches across the nation: Muscat, Ibri, Ibra and Al-Musannah. Most of the faculty he is working with are in the STEM fields.
The goal of the project is to build faculty confidence and skills in English Language academic research writing—from structuring manuscript to selecting journals, using AI tools ethically, responding to reviewer feedback, and navigating the publication process.
The U.S. Department of State and the Regional English Language Office in Bahrain (RELO Gulf) identified Oman as a place where faculty would benefit from professional development in academic English writing and publishing.
“Supporting Omani faculty in sharing their research with international audiences strengthens academic exchange and builds bridges between the U.S. and Oman through educational exchanges,” Fahad said.
Fahad, whose native language is Arabic, was born and raised in Iraq before moving to the United States and becoming a U.S citizen.
Empowering learners to find their voice in English and share their ideas globally is something he is passionate about.
“As a multilingual scholar, I know the challenges of academic writing and so I focus my teaching on building confidence, providing tools, and fostering collaboration,” Fahad said.
Through projects developed by U.S. Embassies in more than 80 countries, English Language Specialists work directly with local teacher trainers, educational leaders, and ministry of education officials to exchange knowledge, build capacity, and establish partnerships benefiting participants, institutions, and communities in the United States and overseas.
Fahad said, “My selection reflects Highline College’s strong commitment to global engagement, equity, and excellence in education.” He continued, “I am excited to represent Highline and the United States while contributing to the professional development of Omani faculty and building lasting connections through education.”
Since 1991, the English Language Specialist Program has supported in-country, virtual, and mixed projects in which hundreds of TESOL scholars and educators promote English language learning, enhance English teaching capacity, and foster mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries through cultural exchange.