During the fall semester of the 2025–2026 academic year, the English Language Fellow at Daugavpils University, Matthew ‘Joe’ Walther, delivered a range of academic, professional, and community-focused English programs designed to support students, faculty, teachers, and members of the wider public.

Community English Communication Class
The Fellow taught the Community English Communication Class, an interactive evening course open to members of the local community. The class met every Monday and Wednesday for 90-minute sessions and focused on introducing practical language and providing structured opportunities to use English in meaningful activities. A core group of committed participants attended regularly throughout the term, developing greater comfort and confidence in spoken English through collaborative tasks, guided practice, and discussion-based activities.

English for University Faculty and Researchers
The Fellow also taught English for University Faculty and Researchers, a morning course held every Tuesday and Thursday. This class brought together faculty members and researchers from across the university who wished to strengthen their spoken English for professional and academic contexts. Over the course of the semester, participants demonstrated noticeable growth in speaking confidence, particularly in discussion, explorations of everyday topics, and spontaneous interaction.

Professional English for Intercultural Relations and Strategic Communication
The Fellow taught Professional English for Intercultural Relations and Strategic Communication, a graduate course in the Professional Master’s Degree in Intercultural Relations program. The course examined how cultural frameworks, identity, and communicative norms influence interaction in international and multilingual settings. Students engaged with case analyses, discussions, and applied tasks that required them to analyze cultural perspectives and communicate strategically in English. Emphasis was placed on developing the academic and professional language skills needed for advanced intercultural work, along with reflective engagement suited to the program’s focus on international communication.

Teacher Training: “Teaching Writing and Presentation at B2 and C1 Levels”
In cooperation with the Daugavpils Education Department, the Fellow conducted an eight-session professional development course titled Teaching Writing and Presentation at B2 and C1 Levels. The course consisted of eight, three-hour sessions and focused on practical methods for teaching writing and speaking in secondary school contexts. Sessions emphasized collaborative and interactive classroom techniques and included guided exploration of how AI tools can be used responsibly as part of the writing process and as a speaking partner when practicing communicative tasks. The course also addressed strategies for teaching public speaking to high school students.

Academic Consultations and IELTS-Focused Speaking Practice
Every Monday and Wednesday, the Fellow held open academic office hours for university students, recent graduates, and members of the community. Due to strong interest, these consultations evolved into a regular, informal class and moved from an office setting to a classroom. Attendance varied weekly, with an average of eight to ten students per session. While the primary focus was on speaking and conversation skills, classes regularly incorporated IELTS-oriented practice to support students preparing for international English examinations. The participants ranged from A2 to B2 level of spoken English.

Special Lectures for Doctoral Students
The Fellow delivered two special lectures for doctoral students at Daugavpils University. The first session focused on effective academic presentations, introducing strategies for structuring research talks, designing clear and purposeful visuals, and delivering presentations with confidence in international academic settings. The second lecture examined the use of AI in academic research, providing an overview of current tools, their capabilities and limitations, and practical ways to integrate large language models into literature review, drafting, and revision processes while maintaining academic integrity. Both lectures offered doctoral students’ practical skills to support their scholarly communication and ongoing professional development.

Public Outreach at the USA Information Center
In addition to university-based teaching, the Fellow has been active on the Daugavpils University campus and in the community promoting US-Latvian cultural exchanges. He participated in the European Researchers Night in Latvia 2025. Additionally, he has led a series of workshops at the USA Information Center located in the Central Library. These sessions explored aspects of U.S. culture and offered practical suggestions for incorporating cultural content into English language lessons. The workshops supported both learners and teachers interested in strengthening the cultural dimension of English instruction. In early December, he participated in America Day hosted by Daugavpils Centra Vidusskola. This event celebrated the 250 anniversary of the United States as well as the 20^th anniversary of the USA Information Center.

Together, these activities reflect a sustained commitment to English language education, teacher development, and community engagement at Daugavpils University and across the city. Even more, they reflect the commitment to continuing the relationship between the United States and Daugavpils, Latvia.

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