CRDF Global
1530 Wilson Boulevard, 3rd Floor
Arlington, Virginia 22209
Tel (703) 526-9720  Fax (703) 526-9721
Seeking Applications for the Central Asia English Language Intensive Training (ELIT) Workshop
For Scientists
June 14-24, 2011
National Center for Scientific and Technical Information (NCSTI)
Almaty, Kazakhstan
*Sponsored by CRDF Global
and
the National Center for Scientific and Technical Information (NCSTI), Republic of Kazakhstan*
I.
Overview
CRDF Global is currently accepting applications for The Central Asia English Language Training for Scientists.
The training is a 9-day event sponsored by CRDF Global, with generous funding from The US Department of
State and will take place at the National Center for Scientific and Technical Information (NCSTI) in Almaty,
Kazakhstan from June 14-24, 2011.
The training will focus on real world applications of communicating scientific knowledge in English. This includes
giving scientific presentations at an international standard, speaking effectively and answering questions about
one’s scientific research areas and forging international collaborations in one’s field of research, all in English.
Please see Section II of this announcement for greater details on course and curriculum topics. Also note that
the training is not intended to teach the participants something new in their scientific research field, but to
assist them in effectively communicating what they already know about science and their research areas in
English.
We are accepting applications from scientists in all natural science disciplines, though preference will be given
to applicants who have experience and/or expertise in one or more targeted scientific disciplines: Biology,
Chemistry, Engineering, and Physics. Please see Section III of this announcement for greater information on
specific eligibility requirements and selection criteria. Applicants will be competitively selected by CRDF Global.
Up to 25 people will be selected.
Attendees will receive free training with native English speakers from the US. Also included in the training are
course materials, a professional pre- and post-assessment of their English language level and a certificate upon
completion. Lunch will be provided every day as part of the training. Participants are responsible for their own
living arrangements and transportation. However, participants are NOT expected or required to stay at
the facility and may commute from their own homes.
The application deadline for this ELIT Workshop is 11:59 PM EDT, May
not be accepted after this date. Application instructions are located
applications must be submitted via email to Mr. Steve Bergen, CRDF
(sbergen@crdf.org). Inquiries about the program should be sent to the
Almaty Office, Mr. Kanat Shakenov (kshakenov@crdf.org)
1, 2011. Applications will
in Section V. Completed
Global Program Manager
Director of CRDF Global’s
1
II.
Course Topics and Curriculum
The training will provide participants with the opportunity to develop their English-language skills in several
areas relevant to their scientific research. Topics to be covered during the workshop include, but are not limited
to1:
 Presentation Skills (Speaking and Listening)
 Reading Comprehension and Analysis: Scientific Texts and Regional Literature
 Listening and Speaking Skills: Situational Contexts (international conferences, working in a foreign
laboratory)
 Information and Computer Science (general)
 Writing Skills: Preparing Scientific Abstracts; Publications
III.
Eligibility
Minimum Requirements:
Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:





Citizenship and residence in Kazakhstan2;
Existing intermediate-advanced level of spoken English as determined by the attached initial selfassessment and verified by a phone or in-person interview3;
P.h.D or equivalent in one of the scientific disciplines outlined in Appendix 1;
Current full-time employment in a civilian research environment; and
Availability for the full duration of the training and all of its sessions in June 14-24, 2011 (inability to
attend all sessions or failure to participate once selected will result in disqualification from the program).
Additional Selection Criteria:
The evaluation of each proposal will also take into account the following selection criteria:
 International Collaboration: Previous experience participating in international conferences and/or
international collaborative research projects
 Targeted Scientific Disciplines: Though open to all scientific disciplines, preference will be given to
applicants who have experience and/or expertise in one or more of the following: Biology, Chemistry,
Engineering, Physics
IV.
Grant Support
Grant support includes all classroom and training costs including course materials, a professional pre and post
assessment of English language level and a certificate upon completion. Lunch will be provided each day as part
of the training. All participants will be expected to cover their own costs associated with accommodations,
ground transportation, and meals. Again, however, please note that participants are NOT expected or
required to stay at the facility and may commute from their own homes. Grant support does not cover
salary.
Selection for this training will be determined by CRDF Global staff. All decisions of CRDF Global are final.
Specific topics subject to change; a complete list of topics will be provided closer to the commencement of the
training.
2
Availability for the program will be limited to approximately 25 total participants, selected on a first-come, firstserved basis of qualified applicants and in consideration of additional selection criteria listed above.
3
For guidelines on English language proficiency, please see Appendix 3 of this announcement before
completing the attached self-assessment.
1
2
V.
Application Instructions
Each application must include all of the following:
1. Cover Sheet (below) - The cover sheet collects a basic overview of information about the applicant.
2. Current Curriculum Vitae – CVs should contain all pertinent information including full name (as
written in your passport), current address, email and other contact details, complete histories of both
employment and experience and educational background (post-high school level), current and previous
institutional affiliations with dates, scientific area(s) of expertise, and, if applicable, a brief list of your
most recent publications.
3. Narrative - Please address the following in a paragraph for each question for a total of no more than
two pages. For guidance, please see the CRDF Global evaluation criteria listed above in Section III.
Introduction
Please describe your current level of spoken English.
Please describe what you expect to gain from attending the training.
Section on Scientific/Commercial Merit
Please describe how improving your English would enhance your current scientific
position.
Section on International Collaboration
What kinds of professional goals/projects would you like to pursue with possible
collaborators? How would you like to enhance or collaborations with Western
scientists and how would that contribute to your research?
4. English Language Self-Assessment (please see Appendices 3-4)
VI.
Checklist
Please use this checklist to ensure that your application is complete before submitting to CRDF Global:
Proposal Item
Cover Sheet
Current CV
Narrative
English Language Self Assessment Form (Completed in either in Russian or English)
Complete?
Y
N
Y
N
Y
N
Y
N
VII.
About the sponsors
CRDF Global:
CRDF Global is a nonprofit organization authorized by the U.S. Congress and established in 1995 by the National
Science Foundation. CRDF Global promotes international scientific and technical collaboration, primarily
between the United States and Eurasia, through grants, technical resources, and training.
National Center for Scientific and Technical Information:
JSC "National Center for Scientific and Technical Information, was established by Government Resolution №
929 of 20 September 2005 on the basis of the Kazakh State Scientific Research Institute of Scientific and
Technical Information (KazgosINTI) and through the merger of the Republican Scientific-Technical Library
(RLST). The Center is involved in the establishment of public resources, supporting the development of science
and technology in the country, and providing access to scientific and technical information.
Specifically, the Center is responsible for the collection, processing, and analysis of documentary flows –
including maintaining Kazakh doctoral and master's theses, reports on research, science and technology
programs, deposited scientific papers, and publications from Kazakh scientists (the Center receives more than
10 thousand units annually). Additionally, the Center provides access to domestic and global information
resources to collective and individual patrons (including the government of Kazakhstan) through the provision of
a full range of information services.
3
English Language Intensive training (ELIT) Application
COVER SHEET
Full Name As It Appears on
International Passport or
Interim Travel Document
Position/Title
Citizenship
Institution Name and
Complete Mailing Address
Email Address
Telephone Number
Fax Number
Gender (Male or Female)
Passport Issue and
Expiration Dates
Highest Degree Earned
Field of Degree (Refer to
Appendix 1 of Program
Announcement.)
Degree Institution and Year
Awarded
Previous CRDF Global Award?
(Yes/No)
Institute Director (Name)
SIGNATURES
Award Number
Institute Director
Email Address
(Required for ALL applicants)
By my signature below, I hereby attest that the information contained in this application form is true and accurate, to the
best of my knowledge.
*All applicants MUST have permission from their Institute Directors to participate in this event. Upon acceptance into the
program, CRDF Global will notify both the applicant and Institute Director via email.*
Applicant Signature
Date
Institute Director Signature
Date
4
Appendix 1
List of General Scientific Areas and Sub-Disciplines
Biological & Biomedical Sciences & Engineering
Agriculture & Agronomy
Bacteriology
Behavioral Biology
Biochemistry
Biophysics
Biotechnology
Botany (Plant Biology)
Cardiology
Cell Biology
Conservation Biology
Developmental Biology
Entomology
Environmental Health
Epidemiology
Genetics
Hematology
Immunology
Marine Biology
Medicine
Molecular Biology
Molecular Medicine
Mycology
Neurology
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Physiology
Population Biology
Radiology
Toxicology
Microbiology
Virology
Zoology
Chemical Sciences and Engineering
Analytical & Surface Chemistry
Biochemistry
Catalysis
Chemical Engineering
Inorganic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry: General
Physical Chemistry: Kinetics
Physical Chemistry: Physical Organic
Physical Chemistry: Reactions/Mechanisms
Physical Chemistry: Theory & Dynamics
Polymer Chemistry
Electrical, Materials, and Manufacturing Sciences
and Engineering
Aero/Astro Engineering
Ceramics
Composite Materials
Electrical Engineering
Electronic Materials
Instrumentation
Lasers
Magnetic Materials
Manufacturing
Materials Science
Mechanical Engineering
Metallurgy
Nuclear Engineering
Optical Material
Polymers
Power Engineering
Superconducting Materials
Geological Sciences and Engineering
Atmospheric Science
Civil and Mechanical Engineering
Environmental Science
Geochemistry
Geological Engineering
Geology
Geophysics
Hydrology
Meteorology
Mineralogy
Oceanography
Paleoclimate
Petroleum Geology
Radioactivity
Remote Sensing
Seismology
Soil Science
Volcanology
Mathematical Sciences
Abstract Algebra
Applied Mathematics (non-physics)
Complex Systems & Chaos
Computer Science
Geometry & Topology
Mathematical Logic & Number Theory
Mathematical Physics
Mathematical Statistics and Probability
Modern Analysis
Numerical Methods
Physical Sciences
Acoustics
Astronomy/Astrophysics
Atomic and Molecular Physics
Beams
Condensed Matter: General
Condensed Matter: Magnetic Properties
Condensed Matter: Structure
Condensed Matter: Superconductivity
Condensed Matter: Theory and Transport
Electronics
Fluids
Holography
Hydrodynamics
Lasers
Mechanics
Medical Physics
Nonlinear Optics
Nuclear Physics
Optics and Spectroscopy
Particles and Fields
Plasma Physics
Space
Theoretical Physics
Quantum Computing and Cryptography
Quantum Statistic
5
Appendix 2
English Language Intensive Training (ELIT) Curriculum
The following list includes possible course topics to be covered during the English-Language Intensive
Training (ELIT) in Almaty, Kazakhstan (June 14-24, 2011). Please note that the curriculum has not
yet been finalized and this list is not meant to provide an exhaustive description of ELIT courses. A
final list will be confirmed closer to the event.
Please do not hesitate to contact Steve Bergen, Program Manager (sbergen@crdf.org) with any
questions or concerns.
The 2011 ELIT in Almaty, Kazakhstan may include the following topics in its curriculum:
 Presentation Skills (Speaking and Listening)
 Reading Comprehension and Analysis: Scientific Texts and Regional Literature
 Listening and Speaking Skills: Situational Contexts (international conferences, working in a
foreign laboratory)
 Information and Computer Science (general)
 Writing Skills: Preparing Scientific Publications
Appendix 3
English Proficiency Level Descriptions
Proficiency
Level
Intermediate
Advanced
Low
High
Low
High
Listening
Understands most
questions and
conversations on familiar
topics spoken
distinctively at normal
speed; requires
occasional restatement
or clarification.
Understands most
informal questions,
statements, and
conversations at normal
speed. Comprehends
lectures on familiar topics
with some difficulty.
Understands most
conversations and most
lectures on familiar topics
spoken at normal speed.
Understands academic
topical conversations and
most lectures without
difficulty.
Speaking
Handles with confidence
but not facility most daily
speaking tasks. Can
handle limited academic
language and will need
help for most tasks.
Vocabulary is limited.
Participates effectively
and sometimes hesitantly
in social and academic
conversations. Makes
occasional errors in
idioms and structure.
Speaks English in most
situations. Comprehension is
quite complete for a normal
rate of speech. Makes
occasional errors in idioms
and structure obscuring
meaning.
Uses the language fluently
on all levels normal to
professional related needs.
Understands and participates
in almost any conversations
within the range of
experience with a high
degree of fluency.
Reading
Understands simple
material (messages,
greetings, popular
advertising, letters, and
invitations). Can guess at
unfamiliar vocabulary if
highly contextualized.
Understands short
discourse on familiar
topics. Misinterpretations
still occur with complex
material. May have to
read material several
times and may need
clarification.
Reads simple printed
material within a familiar
context. Can read
uncomplicated prose on
familiar subjects in
frequently used sentence
patterns. Reads the facts
but cannot draw
inferences.
Understands most factual
information in non-technical
prose as well as some
discussion on concrete topics
related to special events. Able
to read for information and
description, to follow
sequence of events, and to
react to that information.
Able to separate, locate, and
interpret main ideas and
details.
Reads standard newspaper
items addressed to the
general reader, routine
correspondence reports and
technical materials. Gains
new knowledge from
materials in unfamiliar topics
in areas of a general nature.
Can interpret hypotheses,
support opinion, and
conjectures. Able to “read
between the lines.” May be
unable to appreciate nuances
or style.
Writing
Composes short
paragraphs or takes
simple notes on very
familiar topics. Evidence
of good control of basic
sentence construction
and inflections
(subject/verb
agreement) and straightforward syntactic
constructions in present,
past, and future tense
though errors
occasionally occur.
Takes notes in some
detail on familiar topics
and responds to personal
questioning using
elementary vocabulary
and common structures.
Expresses fairly accurately
present and future tense.
Produces some past verb
forms, but not always
accurately or with correct
usage.
Writes simple social
correspondence, takes notes,
writes summaries, describes
factual topics. Makes common
errors in spelling and
punctuation. Shows control of
most common conventions.
Joins sentences in limited
discourse. Difficulty in
producing complex sentences.
Paragraphs are reasonably
unified and coherent.
Uses written English in most
exchanges. Writes short
papers & expresses
statement of position, points
of view and arguments.
Good control of structure,
spelling, & vocabulary. Uses
complex & compound
sentences and structures to
express ideas clearly &
coherently. Some problems
tailoring writing to a variety
of audiences and styles.
Appendix 4
Self-Assessment of spoken English
Choose a number from 1 (lowest; not at all; never; disagree) to 5 (highest; completely; always; agree), in
response to the question. (Indicate your responses in the right-hand parentheses.)
1. I interact regularly with native English speakers and have no trouble expressing myself.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
2. I can use spoken English in almost all professional and social settings without difficulty.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
3. I can easily speak in English about things directly related to my scientific field.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
4. I know the vocabulary to deal with most situations that are likely to arise when traveling in a
country where English is spoken.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
5. I can use simple phrases and sentences in English to describe where I live and people I know.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
6. I can present clear, detailed descriptions in a wide range of subjects in English.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
7. I can express my moods and feelings to native speakers of English without significant difficulty.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
(
)
8. I understand the basic pronunciation rules for British or American English.
1
2
3
4
5
9. I can easily speak about my specialized field in science in English without great difficulty.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
(
)
10. I am shy and have trouble speaking in front of crowds (1=very; 5=not at all).
1
2
3
4
5
Самостоятельная оценка уровня разговорного английского.
Выберите цифру, наиболее соответствующую ответу на поставленный вопрос: от 1 (меньше
всего; категорически нет; никогда; категорически не согласен) до 5 (да; совершенно верно; всегда;
абсолютно согласен). (Укажите выбранную цифру в скобках справа).
1. Я часто общаюсь с иностранцами, говорящими на английском языке. Общение происходит
свободно, проблем с пониманием не возникает.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
2. Я свободно говорю по-английски, как на общие темы в кругу друзей, так и на профессиональные
темы в официальной обстановке.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
3. Я свободно говорю по-английски на темы, непосредственно связанные с моей научной
деятельностью.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
4. У меня достаточно словарного запаса, чтобы объясниться в большинстве ситуаций, которые могут
возникнуть в поездке по англоязычной стране.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
(
)
5. Я смогу объяснить, где живу, и рассказать о своих знакомых по-английски.
1
2
3
4
5
6. Я могу четко и достаточно глубоко рассуждать на самые разнообразные темы по-английски.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
7. Я могу достаточно свободно рассказать о своих впечатлениях, чувствах, настроении, по-английски.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
8. У меня имеется представление о правилах произношения, принятых в британском (американском)
английском.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
9. Я свободно, без каких-либо затруднений, обсуждаю по-английски темы, относящиеся к кругу моих
профессиональных интересов.
1
2
3
4
5
(
)
10. Признаться, я не очень люблю выступать перед большой аудиторией. Чувствую себя крайне
неловко. (1=именно так; 5=совсем не так).
1
2
3
4
5
(
)