The University of Georgia will use new funding from the U.S. Department of State to offer adult learners abroad an online American English language program. The initiative builds on more than 15 years of UGA work in virtual language education, including the online Graduate Certificate in TESOL, which Victoria Hasko and Melisa Cahnmann-Taylor helped launch.

Hasko, of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, will serve as principal investigator and director. Cahnmann-Taylor, of the Mary Frances Early College of Education, will be academic director. The program will also employ UGA graduates with specialized training in TESOL and world languages, giving them practical experience in international education and public diplomacy.

The effort draws on a broader UGA commitment to intensive language learning. Hasko directs the Russian Flagship Program, where associate director Olga Thomason helps students build language skills through coursework and immersive experiences. Read more about the program.