Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ABUDHABI97
2005-01-05 12:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UAE ENGLISH LANGUAGE MICROSCHOLARSHIPS

Tags:  KPAO TC SCUL 
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Diana T Fritz 12/05/2006 11:49:48 AM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 00097

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

DISSEMINATION: PAO
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB:MSISON
DRAFTED: APAO:DEDGINTON
CLEARED: DCM: RALBRIGHT PA:HOLSIN-WINDECKER

VZCZCADI304
RR RUEHC RUEHZM
DE RUEHAD #0097/01 0051252
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051252Z JAN 05
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7573
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000097 

SIPDIS

NEA/PPD; NEA/ARP; NEA/EX:CKEITH; ECA/P:PIVES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO TC SCUL
SUBJECT: UAE ENGLISH LANGUAGE MICROSCHOLARSHIPS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000097

SIPDIS

NEA/PPD; NEA/ARP; NEA/EX:CKEITH; ECA/P:PIVES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO TC SCUL
SUBJECT: UAE ENGLISH LANGUAGE MICROSCHOLARSHIPS


1. (U) Summary: The inauguration of the English-language
Microscholarship Program in the UAE has generated goodwill
and a positive image for the US at a time when Emirati
students are bombarded with negative images from press and
television. This is the first program to reach out to UAE
youth in traditionally under-served areas in the emirates of
Abu Dhabi and Ajman. One hundred grade 11 UAE students (50
boys and 50 girls) were awarded microscholarships to take
200 hours of American English after their regular school
hours. The parents and government school students have been
highly appreciative of the chance to participate in a
special course with native English language teachers,
especially since they have few opportunities to interact in
English. Post urges continuation and expansion of this
program. End Summary.


2. (U) Action Request: Post requests $150,000 per year for
the continuation of this program in FY2005 and FY2006.

-------------- --------------
UAE Microscholarship Program: Innovative and effective
engagement with Emirati youth
-------------- --------------


3. (U) The program consists of language instruction
provided by English Language Services (ELS),and
supplemented by guest speakers and field trips to the
embassy. The program is offered at four (4) government-
operated schools, with the full cooperation of the UAE
Ministry of Education. The program has generated an
overwhelmingly positive response from administrators,
teachers, students and parents. This is the first time the
US Government has offered scholarships to young UAE
nationals ages 16-18. The participants are less advantaged
students who have little access to English language
training. Media coverage generated articles in both English
"Gulf News" and Arabic "Al-Khaleej."


4. (U) Ministry of Education officials have told post that
they will make a presentation on the program at the March
conference of TESOL Arabia, the English teaching
professional association, to give an overview of the
benefits of the microscholarship program. Abu Dhabi
Education Zone officials told post that they would submit a
special portfolio on the Microscholarship Program to compete
for an annual distinguished educational program award.


5. (U) The English instruction for the special scholarship
program is provided by ELS Language Centers. The teachers

are all native speakers who employ current communicative
language teaching methodologies, which incorporate games and
activities to offer students a motivating alternative to
more traditional approaches. The textbook used is "About the
USA," one of the Department of State English Language
publications that post provided to ELS for this program.

-------------- -
Abu Dhabi: Ambassador visits boys' and girls' schools
-------------- -


6. (U) On October 16 Ambassador presented Microscholarship
award certificates to students from the Abdul-Kader Al-
Jazaeri Secondary School for Boys in Al-Mafraq and the Al-
Mafraq Secondary School for Girls in Al-Shahama, two
secondary schools located in outlying areas of the Abu Dhabi
Emirate.


7. (U) Comments from students: One girl told the Ambassador,
"We feel important that the US government cares for us." One
of the boys told the Ambassador, "My friends are asking if
there are more opportunities in the future to get similar
microscholarships because they were not selected."


8. (U) As part of the Microscholarship guest speaker
program, APAO gave a presentation at the boys' school to
discuss US holidays and similarities with local holidays.


-------------- -
Abu Dhabi: Students take field trip to embassy


9. (U) On November 29-30 the Public Affairs Section invited
the Abu Dhabi emirate scholarship students to the embassy
for sessions on the history of U.S. immigration, tour of the
embassy and lunch. Four officers from the embassy assisted
in facilitating the discussion. The background of the
officers provided the boys and girls with examples of the
diverse nature of America. The group consisted of junior and
mid-level officers, including a young single female, a woman
married to a Sudanese Muslim, a military officer, and a
first generation Muslim-American born in Kabul. The students
toured the embassy to learn about the building's cutting-
edge environmental features and had lunch in the cafeteria.
A few days after the event post received a package of thank
you cards and posters from each of the schools.

--------------
Ajman: Boys' school is an Islamic institute
--------------


10. (U) On December 7 PAO and NEA/PD Desk Officer presented
Certificates of Award of Microscholarships for English
Language study to twenty-five UAE girls at the Sawdh Bint
Zamaa girls school and twenty-five UAE boys at the
Scientific Islamic Institute, both in the Emirate of Ajman.
Families of the students and officials from the Ajman
Educational Zone were present as well. The partnership with
the Scientific Islamic Institute is noteworthy as it is the
first USG funded program of this type operating in the UAE
at an Islamic educational institute for boys.


11. (U) Comments from Ajman: The Islamic Scientific
Institute Principal gave a warm welcome speech at the
opening of the ceremony. In his remarks to the students,
selected from five Ajman schools, he emphasized that
learning English will allow the UAE people to better
understand US society and culture, and enable them to
educate Americans about Islam and Arab culture.


12. (U) BPAO Dubai will visit both schools as guest teacher
and try to arrange a visit to the consulate for the
students. BPAO is arranging for UAE teachers that are part
of the Ajman Microscholarship Program to attend an upcoming
teacher-training workshop in the UAE conducted by the RELO.


13. (U) Post welcomes the opportunity for participating in
subject program during the 2005/2006 academic year and would
like to expand the program to include more students from
other emirates.

Sison