English Language Programs (SEAL/BEAR) | PAS GUA FY21 03

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS GUA FY21 03

The English Language Programs (SEAL/BEAR) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAS GUA FY21 03) is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Guatemala, through its Public Affairs Section. It is designed to support English language programming that fits into the Mission's broader English language strategy in Guatemala. That larger strategy is centered on the English Access Microscholarship Program (Access), but Access itself is funded separately. In practice, this opportunity is meant to strengthen the pipeline into Access and to expand practical, community-connected English learning and teaching skills through two complementary program models: BEAR and SEAL.

Applicants are expected to propose programming in at least one of the targeted locations, with the option to cover more than one. The locations named in the announcement are Guatemala City, Esquipulas, Coban, Quetzaltenango, Solola, Chichicastenango, and Huehuetenango. A key requirement is that proposals include both program components, BEAR and SEAL, in whichever location(s) the applicant chooses, rather than proposing only one of them. This structure signals that the funder wants an integrated approach where introductory English instruction feeds into longer-term opportunities and where advanced participants help sustain and expand local English learning capacity.

The BEAR component, which stands for Basic English for Access Recruitment, is a six-month after-school program that gives participants an introductory English language learning experience. Its main purpose is to prepare and identify strong candidates for the Access program. After completing BEAR, the most promising graduates are recruited into Access, a two-year program. BEAR is positioned as a foundational stepping-stone that increases the likelihood that students will succeed once they enter Access and that they will remain in the program through completion, improving retention and overall outcomes.

The SEAL component, described here as SEAL Teaching (Service Learning, English Usage, Alumni Engagement, and Leadership), focuses on developing English teaching skills so that graduates can pursue employment in schools and other educational institutions or even create their own income-generating ventures, such as English academies or private tutoring services. SEAL is organized around three core elements. First, participants carry out service learning projects where the class collectively identifies real community issues, researches them, designs a plan, prepares to implement it, takes action, and then reflects on results and presents outcomes. This is intended to connect English learning to civic engagement and practical problem-solving, making language use purposeful rather than purely academic. Second, participants take teaching methodology workshops that prepare them to teach English as a second language. These workshops cover the practical mechanics of instruction, such as lesson planning, selecting appropriate materials, and using different strategies to teach grammar, writing, speaking, listening, and reading. Third, participants complete teaching internships lasting six months, during which they practice teaching English in the BEAR program itself. That internship requirement reinforces the integrated pipeline: BEAR supports recruitment into Access, while SEAL helps create capable peer educators who can deliver BEAR instruction and expand local instructional capacity.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a grant funding instrument in the education activity category (CFDA 19.040). The opportunity listed an award ceiling of $24,999, with an expectation of up to 15 awards. The posting shows a creation date of August 3, 2021, and an original closing date of August 17, 2021. Eligibility is broadly labeled as "Others," with the announcement indicating that applicants should consult the additional eligibility information in the full notice for specifics. Overall, the grant is best understood as a set of targeted investments to (1) build an on-ramp into the Access program through short-term foundational English instruction and (2) develop a cadre of trained, community-oriented English educators through service learning, teacher-training workshops, and supervised teaching practice.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Guatemala in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "English Language Programs (SEAL/BEAR)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 03, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 17, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $24,999.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for PAS GUA FY21 03

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