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Diana T Fritz  08/26/2006 04:54:25 PM  From  DB/Inbox:  Search Results

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UNCLAS        ABU DHABI 02955

SIPDIS
CXABU:
    ACTION: PAO
    INFO:   MEPI ECON POL AMB DCM

DISSEMINATION: PAO
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: PAO:OLSINHILARY
DRAFTED: PAO:AHOSHAN
CLEARED: PAO:THAMDI

VZCZCADI831
OO RUEHC
DE RUEHAD #2955/01 1991343
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 181343Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6219

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 002955 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; ECA/A/L FERNANDEZM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KDEM TC
SUBJECT:  Another Great Year: 2005-2006 UAE ACCESS MicroScholarship 
Program 
 
¶1.  Summary: The UAE ACCESS MicroScholarship Program provided 300 
non-urban, non-elite Emirati high school students with 
conversational American English skills and exposure to American 
culture.  From September 2005 to April 2006, extra-curricular 
activities and field trips gave added value to the classroom 
experience. In addition to improving their language skills, the 
interactive learning and opportunities to interact with Americans 
and embassy LES gave students the opportunity to learn about and 
voice their opinions on U.S. culture. End Summary 
 
¶2. The ACCESS MicroScholarship program for school year 2005-6 
operated in cooperation with ELS Language Centers.  Students were 
selected from ten secondary schools across the UAE: four in Abu 
Dhabi, two in Ajman, two in Sharjah and two in Ras Al Khaimah.  A 
total of eleven classes were formed, five for males and six for 
females.  300 students were initially enrolled in the program, with 
252 successfully completing it. 
 
Coursework and enrichment 
-------------------------- 
 
¶3. Coursework emphasized practical American English communication 
skills meant to complement the grammar-focused curriculum employed 
in public high schools.  Classes were held for two hours a day, four 
days a week over the course of six months, providing a total of 192 
hours of English instruction time.  Through the course, students 
were given opportunities to use English in practical speaking 
environments based around themed modules such as symbols and 
holidays, famous Americans and geography.  All the teachers of the 
program were native English speakers trained as ESL/EFL 
professionals. 
 
¶4. In addition to academic activities, students were provided with a 
number of unique extracurricular opportunities.  Field trips were 
arranged to locations ranging from the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, 
U.S. Consulate in Dubai, U.S. college fairs, and to performances in 
Duabi and Abu Dhabi by the ECA-organized New Orleans Mardi Gras 
Indian musicians.  In addition, a number of special guest speakers 
were brought in to interact with students, from the Ambassador to 
junior officers and family members.  On their field trips to the 
Embassy, students asked American Foreign Service Officers as well as 
locally employed staff (LES) about their religion, their loyalty to 
the US government, and their freedom to practice their faiths. These 
issues were of deep concern to the young Emirati students from 
remote areas with minimum exposure to western or American culture. 
 
UAE 24/7 Book 
-------------- 
 
¶5. Ten classes participated in a class project that produced a 
booklet titled "UAE 24/7". Each class selected a topic related to 
culture, history, famous people, and customs of the United Arab 
Emirates and produced a chapter. After experiencing an afternoon of 
American football, one group of students showed that recreation can 
bridge cultural divides.  They produced a five-page essay, in 
English, on the variety of racing sports in the UAE-cars, boats, 
horses, and, of course, camels.  Materials submitted by each class 
were bound in A4 booklet format. During the graduation ceremony, 
each student was presented with a copy along with the photo 
journalism booklet "America 24/7" which was a gift from the Embassy. 
A competition was held for the best cover design and the winner was 
awarded a scholarship to attend a 4-week, intensive English program 
at ELS in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. Three summer scholarship awards were 
given to students from each class. A certificate of completion was 
awarded at the end of the course at the graduation ceremony. 
 
English language skills gained 
------------------------------ 
 
¶6. ELS Language Centers evaluated the participating students at both 
the beginning and end of the program, and ranked them according to 
their English ability along a scale from 100 (lowest skill rating) 
to 109 (highest skill rating).  Initially 73.5% of the 252 students 
who successfully completed the program were placed in beginner and 
elementary level (100-103) classes, while 21.5% were placed in 
intermediate (104-106) classes and 5% in advanced (107-109) classes. 
 By the end of the program, only 23% of the participating students 
remained in elementary classes, while 61% were in intermediate 
classes and 16% were in advanced classes.  Only 9% of the students 
were not able to advance a level, while 66% advanced one or two 
levels and a full 25% advanced more than two levels.  Charts 
visualizing this progress are available on the intranet at 
http://abudhabi.state.gov/PAO_Page.htm. 
 
Comments from Students 
---------------------- 
 
¶7. Shaika Al Badi, from the Al Zait Secondary School for Girls in 
Ras Al-Khaimah, expressed her desire to study writing and civil 
engineering.  The class gave her the opportunity to learn about 
American government, but also the element of choice that permeates 
many aspects of American life: "I didn't know that American students 
can choose their own courses, just like they choose candidates in an 
election."  The American Revolution and the Boston Tea Party 
especially impressed her: it was an early example of a fledgling 
state reacting against a colonial power. 
 
¶8.  Khalid from Bani Yas said, "I'd like to learn more about the 
different cultures in the U.S. and their day-to-day life."  But 
readings in American history pointed out a surprising parallel 
between the first statesmen of the U.S. and the UAE.  Khalid would 
also like to learn more about American history, particularly George 
Washington: "He must have been a lot like Sheikh Zayed [the founder 
of the UAE and its ruler for over 30 years].  He must have known 
what had to be done to pull a country together." 
 
Summer in the US 
---------------- 
 
¶9. The top two students from the English Access Microscholarship 
Program in the UAE will join the English Access Microscholarship 
Program Workshop for a three-week educational tour of the United 
States, organized by the Intrax International Institute.  To deepen 
their understanding of American culture and continue to practice 
their English, the students will stay with American host families in 
Washington, D.C., Chicago, and San Francisco, cities that were 
specially chosen to expose the students to the geographic and 
cultural diversity of the U.S.  Their mornings will be largely 
devoted to English classes, while afternoons and evenings offer 
organized city tours to places of historic and cultural interest. 
 
School Year 2006-7 
------------------ 
 
¶10. For Academic year 2006-2007, ELS Language Center in Dubai will 
be the provider for the Access Microscholarship in the UAE. The 
program will award 300 scholarships to students from remote cities 
and rural areas who will participate for the first time. Post will 
target eleven graders (boys and girls) in Um Al-Qwain, Fujairah and 
the Western Desert Region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Each student 
will receive 200 hours of instruction per year, commencing after 
Ramadan and ending in May 2007. 
 
¶11. Post welcomes the opportunity to participate in the ACCESS 
program and values the chance to engage with young Emirati students 
from areas with limited exposure to the US beyond nightly news and 
Hollywood. 
 
SISON