AzETA South Partners with Peace Corps Volunteers on Workshops
On July 16, 2008, Mariko Hughes, a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) from Gedebey, conducted a 4mat Lesson Planning (Motivation) workshop at the AzETA South Branch office. About ten teachers actively participated in the workshop. Mariko Hughes explained 4mat lesson planning and showed its components to the teachers.
The 2nd workshop was on August 24, 2008 at the AzETA South Branch office. Karen Wrightsman, 
a PCV from Ali-Bayramli, presented a workshop about teaching with books which uses speaking, listening, reading, comprehension skills. 8 teachers participated in the workshop and learned activities such as the Cloze exercise.
On September 7th, Erin Gockel and Rustin Johnson, PCVs from Xachmaz, conducted a workshop on Easy Activities for the Classroom and Conducting English Clubs, respectively. 
Eleven people participated and learned fun activities such as fruit salad, dialog cartoons, and Simon says. The group also gained tips on conducting conversation clubs, movie clubs, and book clubs.
AzETA South Branch will continue to invite PCVs to conduct more workshops in the future. By partnering with PCVs, the AzETA South Branch teachers can learn the differences between American and Azeri teaching methods and use these skills in their own classes.
Do you like watching movies in English?
Beginning July 2008, AzETA South Branch organizes a movie club for English teachers and students. It is held every other week on Sunday at 11a.m. at the office of the AzETA South Branch. English teachers have opportunity to choose the movie and watch it. English teachers have watched movies of various themes such as "I am a Legend", "School of Rock", and "National Treasure". After watching the movie, teachers discuss it and share their opinion about the movie with one another. Watching movies in the English language, the teachers have opportunity to improve their listening skills.
'Darien Book Aid' Donates Books to AzETA South Branch Schools
Through the generous donations of Darien Book Aid of Connecticut, USA, over 40 kilos of books (100+ books) were shipped from the U.S. to three AzETA South Branch institutions. The Astara Mashkan School, Lankaran Jill School, and Lankaran State University applied for the book donations through Tim Ong, Peace Corps Volunteer, and received various books such as biology,
science, children's literature, grammar, ESL, dictionaries, and fiction books.
Darien Book Aid is a non-profit, all volunteer organization that builds a foundation of peace, understanding, and friendship by distributing free books. Book Aid sends books in response to specific requests from Peace Corps volunteers, libraries and schools all over the world. Read More...
Election of South Branch Officers Held on June 15th
On June 15th, 2008, AzETA South Branch held its first election for officers. The following persons were elected for a one year term:
Branch Manager - Asuda Abdullayeva
Vice-Branch Manager - Lala Aliyeva
Secretary - Khlalisa Aleskarova
Treasurer - Gulnar Bayramova
Librarian - Rafael Heydarov
Public Affairs Officer - Aysel Aliyeva
Inter-regional Officer - Alim Aliyev
Editor-in-Chief - Ayten Kalbiyeva
Webmaster/IT Officer - Aygun Dadashova
Advisors: Joyce Hahn, Peace Corps Volunteer; Tim Ong, Peace Corps Volunteer; and Kathy Taylor, English Language Fellow. 
The election of officers plus the formalizing of a location for the South Branch office signals the official formation of the South Branch office. Currently there are over 20 members in this new branch. South Branch is the fifth branch of AzETA, comprising over 700 English language teachers throughout Azerbaijan. South Branch is the only AzETA office in the southern part of the country. Other branch offices are in Khachmaz, Sheki, Ganja, Mingechevir, and Baku. A formal ceremony will be held in the fall to recognize the status of this newly created branch of AzETA.
New Office for AzETA South Branch
As of June 12, 2008,Yegana Askerova, director of Lankaran School #4, and Ragsana Mammadova, AzETA president-Baku, signed a contract formalizing a partnership between the the two organizations. AzETA South Branch will move into a room on the first floor of the school in the near future. Prior to the move, the room will be painted, and bookshelves will be purchased to hold South Branch's growing library. Throughout the summer, regular meetings for the group will continue to be held every two weeks on Sunday mornings from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. at the school.
Astara School Begins Pen Pal Exchange with U.S. School
On June 1, 2008, the Globe Gazette newspaper of Mason City, Iowa, USA, published a news article about the Pen Pal exchange project between Anne Brown's students at Roosevelt Middle School in Mason City and Aygun Dadashova's students at Mashkan School in Astara. The Pen Pal project "was brokered by Kathy Taylor, a former Mason City resident who today teaches English at Lankaran State University in Lankaran, Azerbaijan." (Photo by DEB NICKLAY/The Globe Gazette) Read More...
In addition to an exchange of letters between the two schools, the Mason City students collected funds in order to purchase English books for the students in Mashkhan. On June 11th, Aygun Dadashova, the English teacher in Mashkhan, accepted 61 books to share with her students. They include titles such as Pele, The GIft of the Magi and Other Short Stories, Call of the Wild, Aladdin, Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, The Moon Valley, Snow White and Rose Red, Around the World in Eighty Days, and Robin Hood.
South Branch Participates in AzETA Regional Conference in Ismayilli
On May 24, 2008, eleven AzETA South Branch members participated in the 5th Regional ELT Conference in Ismayilli. The event was very well-attended with over 100 participants from throughout Azerbaijan. Special guests included Misir Mardanov, Minister of Education; Nizami Elekberov, Ismayilli Head of Executive Power; Nicole de Lalouviere, British Council Director; Andrea Kalan, IREX Country Director; and Kathy Taylor, U.S.
Embassy - English Language Fellow.
At the plenary session, Mr. Mardanov spoke of the importance of English language and the vital role of AzETA in developing English teachers. Kathy Taylor, a South Branch member, spoke about the U.S. Embassy educational programs and invited participants to visit the South Branch in Lankaran. Afterwards, participants attended various teacher-led concurrent sessions including a session on "Activities to Encourage Students to Write" which was presented by Asuda Abdullayeva and Kathy Taylor, South Branch members.
AzETA Conducts 2nd Workshop in Lankaran
On May 3, 2008, Huzura Agayeva and Mahbuba Islamova, both AzETA trainers from 
Baku, conducted a Teaching Grammar and Vocabulary workshop at Lankaran School #4. Thirteen teachers actively participated in the workshop including teachers from Astara and Lankaran village schools. Prospective new AzETA members were informed about the AzETA South Branch initiative and were invited to join the regular meetings. The participants also discussed their interest in inviting Peace Corps - English Teacher Volunteers for summer South Branch workshops.
AzETA President and Vice-President Visits Lankaran
AzETA President and Vice-President, Ragsana Mammadova and Hijran Huseynova, respectively, joined the April 20, 2008 AzETA South meeting to encourage the Southern members in their initiative to establish a South Branch. The AzETA officials congratulated the AzETA South members in their tremendous progress achieved in just 4 short months and re-emphasized the benefits of AzETA membership -- personal/professional development, enhanced teacher reputation, and Ministry of Education recognition. They also motivated the group by talking about the struggles and eventual successes of AzETA and outlined the steps to formalize the South Branch by electing branch officials and creating a 1-Year Branch Action Plan.
The AzETA officials, together with Kathy Taylor, also met with the Lankaran State University rector, Asef Iskenderov, to discuss a contract to house the AzETA South - Branch Office and English Resource Center.
AzETA South Institutions Shine in Trans-Caucasus Writing Olympics
The national results of the 2008 Trans-Caucasus Writing Olympics have been announced -- a big congratulations to the national winners from Lankaran State University, Lankaran School #4, and Jalilabad School #1. All 1st place national winners will have their essays and photos included in the Trans-Caucasus Writing Olympics book for 2008.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2008 Writing Olympics—it was a tremendous success! 89 college/university women, 13 college/university men, 195 boys, and 303 girls, 33 Peace Corps Volunteers and 78 Azeri counterparts participated from 21 rayons. The full national results and South regional winners are as follows:
6th form
National
1. Ruslan Yusilov – Mingechavir, School No. 3
2. Nargiz Agasafli – İsmailli, School No. 1
3. İnara Manafova – Lankaran, School No. 4
Regional First Place Winners
İnara Manafova – Lankaran, School No. 4
7th Form
National
1.Sabina Kurgunayeva - Mingechavir, School No. 3
2.Zumrud Yuhusova - İmishli, School No.5
3.Siraj Ahmadov - Ujar, School No. 3
Regional Second Place Winners
Akit Aliyarov – Lankaran, School No. 4
8th Form
National
1.Sevinc Semedzade – Tovuz, M.Elekbrov School
2.Turənə Novruzova - Barda, School No.2
3.Gunel Sifahanova - Jalilabad, School No. 1
Regional Second Place Winners
Gunel Sifahanova – Jalilabad, School No. 1
9th Form
National
1. Ramiz Shukurov - Mingechavir, School No. 15
2. Aytən Süleymanova - Goranboy, School No. 2
3. Elbəy İsmayılov – Shamkir, Fizuli School
10th Form
National
1.Gulnar Shahbazova - Neftchala, S. Vurgun School
2.Şüşəxanım Yaqubova - Neftchala, School No. 1
3.Humay Mazahir - Mingechavir, School No. 19
11th Form
National
1. Karina Bədəlova - Guba, School No. 3
2. Khumar Gasimli - İmishli, School No. 2
3. Konul Karimova - Sheki, School No. 10
College 1
National
1. İlahə Əliyeva – Lankaran, Lankaran State University
2. Mətanət Mustafayeva – Sheki,Sheki Teacher's Institute
3. Elvin Qarayev – Mingechavir, Mingechavir Teacher Training University
College 2
National
1. Cəmilə Əliyeva -Lankaran, Lankaran State University
2. Sabina Abdul – Ganja, Ganja State University
3. Gulnara Huseynova – Sheki, Sheki Pedagogical Technicum
College 3
National
1. Parvin Mammadzada – Ganja, Ganja State University
2. Nurana Radjabova – Lankaran, Lankaran State University
3. Tural Abbasov - Ganja, Ganja State University
College 4
National
1. Sevda Salayeva – Lankaran, Lankaran State University
2. İlaha Mammadova - Lankaran, Lankaran State University
3. Farid Baghırov – Ganja, Azerbaijan Technological University
2008 Trans-Caucasus Writing Olympics
U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers in the Caucasus are now presenting the 2008 English Writing Olympics. Students in each country will write essays in response to the same topics and winners will be selected by a panel of judges in each country. The Writing Olympics will award prizes and certificates for regional, national, and Trans-Caucasus winners for 1st to 3rd place for each form (6th to 11th in schools) and for each year (1st to 4th in universities).
If you are interested in participating by conducting a Writing Contest in your school or university, please contact Kathy Taylor or Tim Ong for more information. Local contests have to be conducted by April 15 and all essays must be received by the Baku Peace Corps Office by April 18. Please plan for 1.5 hours for the writing contest (30 minutes for rules/questions and 1 hour for writing). At the time of the contest event, each form/year will receive 3-4 pre-determined topics to choose from, but students must pick only one topic to write about. Essays are judged solely on creativity and content. Grammar and spelling mistakes are not important unless they inhibit understanding.
AzETA Influence Grows in Lankaran Region
On December 15, 2008, Huzura Agayeva and Mahbuba Islamova, both AzETA trainers from Baku, visited Lankaran to conduct a workshop entitled, “Classroom Management” at School #4. Anxious to learn new methods, the nine young teachers in attendance were very engaged with the topic presented. By the end of the afternoon, all who attended felt it had been a very successful and worthwhile presentation.
In addition to looking forward to another workshop in the near future, the teachers set a date to discuss organizing an AzETA branch in Lankaran. The Lankaran region, far south in Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea, is a rural area that has had little access to continuing education courses for English teachers. The principle goal of an AzETA branch would be to provide support for English teachers with more frequent professional development trainings, as well as by providing teaching method materials to use.
Until November 2007, Lankaran had only 3 AzETA members. Thanks to Kathy Taylor, an English Language Fellow who has been assigned to teach English as a Second Language at Lankaran State University, there are more men and women taking an active role in AzETA. She recruited 8 people to attend the 4th AzETA International ELT Conference held in Baku on 10-11 November 2007. She also helped facilitate the Classroom Management workshop held in December. One of her main goals while in the Lankaran region is to increase membership in AzETA, as well as to help the teachers establish a branch. Membership is growing. There are now 15 AzETA members, with anticipation of many more joining as the Branch becomes a reality.
On 10 February AzETA Lankaran members will hold a meeting to discuss the establishment of an AzETA branch in Lankaran. Kathy Taylor will host the meeting in her home.
Lankaran is also one of AzETA's EAMP (English Access Microscholarship Program) regions. The Program, launched in October 2006, will continue until August 2009.
AzETA included Lankaran in its other project titled Establishing Enjoy English Clubs in 5 regions of Azerbaijan. The Project was launched in December 2007 and will continue until September 2008.