YEREVAN, Armenia — In Spring 2026, the team from AUA’s Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (MATEFL) program launched a professional development program for English teachers, fully sponsored by the Armenian Educational Foundation (AEF). This program specifically targets full-time English teachers working in public schools outside of Yerevan, where access to advanced training opportunities is often limited.
Designed to strengthen English language instruction nationwide, the two-stage program begins with an online English preparatory course and continues with AUA’s long-established Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (CTEFL).
The first stage of the program, the English preparatory course, enrolled 42 teachers residing in 10 regions and 28 different towns and villages. Commenting on the English preparatory course, Dr. Irshat Madyarov, MATEFL program chair, noted: “A strong command of English is not only an admission requirement for the CTEFL. It is a core professional asset for English teachers working in communicative language teaching contexts, where they model and facilitate authentic communication. In addition, teachers who successfully pass the English exam within the voluntary attestation system qualify for salary increases, a system established by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia.”
Following the formal admissions process in June 2026, 20 selected teachers from the English preparatory course will join CTEFL to further advance their professional development in the pedagogy of English as a foreign language.
Reflecting on the collaboration with AUA, the AEF Board President George Issaians remarked: “Since 1950, AEF has supported Armenian students worldwide through scholarships and educational programs in the U.S., Armenia, and the diaspora. This partnership reflects AEF’s mission to expand access to quality education and invest in individuals who will shape Armenia’s future. By empowering educators with the skills, knowledge, and tools to deliver meaningful instruction, we are creating sustainable impact for their students and communities.”
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.