The Regional English Language Officer (RELO) is a position with the United States Department of State. The position serves under the

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the United States Department of State fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world. It is responsible for the Un ...

(ECA). RELOs are located throughout the world as career foreign service officers and participate in what can be considered

soft power In politics (and particularly in international politics), soft power is the ability to co-opt rather than coerce (contrast hard power). In other words, soft power involves shaping the preferences of others through appeal and attraction. A defin ...

diplomacy by the United States.

Background

There are currently 25 RELOs located around the world. Each officer has a budget of several million dollars used to enact programs that further the English language globally. These programs include, but are not limited to, distribution of the American literature, providing support to English teachers around the world, English teacher training, material support to public and private institutions that teach English, teacher exchanges, student exchanges, English language summer camps abroad, and more. The program was started in the 1950s.

References

{{US-diplomat-stub United States Department of State Diplomacy Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs