PD LAUNCHES ENGLISH CONVERSATION GROUPS

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000235

SIPDIS

State for AF, AF/E, AF/PD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO PGOV SCUL DJ
SUBJECT: PD LAUNCHES ENGLISH CONVERSATION GROUPS

REF: DJIBOUTI 180


1. (U) SUMMARY: This week, the Public Diplomacy section
began implementing its plan to establish English
conversation groups throughout the city. In addition, the
section's poster show moved to a busy commercial venue, and
the Embassy continued to receive excellent media coverage on
its Black History Month and USAID projects. END SUMMARY


2. (U) Due to the popularity of English language learning,
and the comparative lack of native speakers and English
language products in Djibouti, the Public Diplomacy section
has begun to establish a series of conversation groups, or
"oral nights," through the city's 10 private English
schools. The first of these groups recently commenced at the
English Teacher's Association of Djibouti (ETAD),with the
PAO participating as an example of native speaker.


3. The English language groups are scheduled to expand
into the night schools next month. PD intends to supply
native speakers for each of the groups on a bi-weekly basis
in cooperation with volunteers from Camp Lemonier. We expect
30-60 people in each of the 10 schools will participate. The
backgrounds of the students vary, but teachers estimate the
majority of students are between the ages of 18-40.


4. In addition, PD has volunteered to assist the groups,
which will be run by Djiboutian students or teachers, by
providing printed articles in advance of each of the
meetings. These articles will be available for each
participating student and will serve as the framework for
each discussion.


5. The PAO and PD Assistant also met with the director of
Radio Television Djibouti this week to begin negotiations
for a version of the English language conversation group for
the radio. This weekly program would focus on American life
and be moderated by an Embassy representative. It would
accept questions via post that would be read and answered on
the air by a native English speaker. There has been some
discussion of tying the weekly theme of the program in with
the weekly theme being pursued at the conversation groups in
the private schools.


6. ETAD and PD efforts to bring the private school
teachers together have also resulted in a working group
about English language curriculum reform for the private
night schools. The Public Diplomacy assistant is
participating in that working group, in conjunction with the
school directors.


7. PD this week closed its Black History month traveling
poster show with its final installment at Djibouti Telecom
(reftel). The Embassy is currently in negotiations with
Djibouti Telecom, the government-owned phone and internet
company, on a commercial matter. We believe the poster show,
and the Ambassador's appearance at its inauguration, were
useful good faith gestures. In addition, Djibouti Telecom is
a very high traffic area for the public.


8. PD facilitated coverage of the March 2 inauguration of
USAID's rehabilitation of Gabode Secondary School. The
ribbon cutting by the Ambassador and the Minister of
Education, Abdi Ibrahim Absieh, was showcased with nearly
five minutes of coverage on the evening news and in a half
page article in the local press.

Ragsdale