Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA236
2009-02-10 05:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTANI STUDENTS DISCUSS BORAT AND OBAMA
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000236
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SOCI KDEM KPAO KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTANI STUDENTS DISCUSS BORAT AND OBAMA
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000236
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SOCI KDEM KPAO KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTANI STUDENTS DISCUSS BORAT AND OBAMA
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: As part of our Public Diplomacy Outreach
program, PolOff recently gave a talk on American culture and
U.S.-Kazakhstan relations with students at one of Astana's elite
high schools. In general, the students had very positive views of
the United States. They were particularly interested in President
Obama. The students' ability to converse in English was impressive.
Though the school uses a Kazakh-language curriculum, some classes,
including the sciences, are taught in English. Only eight students
in the entire student body of 1500 are ethnic Russians. END
SUMMARY.
UNITED STATES: "SYMBOL OF FREEDOM"
3. (SBU) PolOff recently gave a lecture on American culture to 25
students, three teachers, and the school's principal at Astana's
School No. 48. This Kazakh-language high school, which is located
in a new and rapidly developing part of Astana, has more than 1500
students in 11 grades and appears to be well-funded, with many
English-speaking teachers and good facilities. Students were all
well-dressed in neat black and white uniforms.
4. (SBU) The 25 students from the ninth through eleventh grades,
who had been hand-picked for their strong English skills, told
PolOff that for them, the United States is "a symbol of freedom."
They enjoy watching American movies, and, in their view, the biggest
cultural difference between Kazakhstan and America is the freedom
that American youth enjoy to choose their careers and live on their
own. The students were particularly interested in whether most
Americans believe that the movie "Borat" represented Kazakhstan
accurately. The students were enthusiastic in demonstrating their
knowledge of U.S. history and current politics. One student asked
about the global financial crisis, and another student asked why the
United States sent forces to Iraq, but the questions were phrased
objectively, without a hint of a negative attitude towards U.S.
foreign policy. Only one student asked a question critical of the
United States, shouting out, "Why is the United States targeting
Russia by installing a missile defense shield in Poland and the
Czech Republic?" (COMMENT: The students seemed more interested in
asking ordinary questions, such as whether or not PolOff had tried
and liked besparmak, a traditional Kazakh horsemeat dish, than in
raising controversial topics. END COMMENT.) Some students asked
whether Americans would be able to understand the British English
the students are learning, and several inquired about study-abroad
opportunities available in the United States.
POSITIVE IMPRESSIONS OF PRESIDENT OBAMA
5. (SBU) The students were particularly interested in President
Obama. When PolOff asked students about their impressions of him,
the students were uniformly enthusiastic and positive, saying they
like Obama because he appears to be "open, friendly, and
peace-loving." Several students said they were glad McCain had not
won the election, because they felt his way of thinking was shaped
too much by the Cold War.
SCIENCES TAUGHT IN ENGLISH
6. (SBU) Following the class discussion, Principal Saule
Khozhamuratova met privately with Poloff in her office, where she
congratulated the United States on its historic election and
expressed her hopes for continued positive U.S.-Kazakhstan
relations. When PolOff congratulated Khozhamuratova on her
students' excellent English skills, the principal explained that
although the school is technically a Kazakh-language school,
biology, chemistry, and physics are all taught in English.
Khozhamuratova, who teaches all the physics classes, said that she
has lived most of her life abroad due to her husband's career in the
sciences. After having lived for long periods of time in the United
States, South Africa, and Israel, Khozhamuratova said she is
comfortable teaching the students in English, and also understands
western-style teaching methods. Khozhamuratova acknowledged that
since most classes are taught in Kazakh, there are very few ethnic
Russian children in the school. During this school year, there are
ASTANA 00000236 002 OF 002
only eight ethnic Russians among the entire student body. (COMMENT:
PolOff was very impressed the students' ability and apparent
comfort in conversing in a wide range of topics in English, as well
as the students' openness in asking questions and expressing their
personal opinions. END COMMENT.)
HOAGLAND
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SOCI KDEM KPAO KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTANI STUDENTS DISCUSS BORAT AND OBAMA
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: As part of our Public Diplomacy Outreach
program, PolOff recently gave a talk on American culture and
U.S.-Kazakhstan relations with students at one of Astana's elite
high schools. In general, the students had very positive views of
the United States. They were particularly interested in President
Obama. The students' ability to converse in English was impressive.
Though the school uses a Kazakh-language curriculum, some classes,
including the sciences, are taught in English. Only eight students
in the entire student body of 1500 are ethnic Russians. END
SUMMARY.
UNITED STATES: "SYMBOL OF FREEDOM"
3. (SBU) PolOff recently gave a lecture on American culture to 25
students, three teachers, and the school's principal at Astana's
School No. 48. This Kazakh-language high school, which is located
in a new and rapidly developing part of Astana, has more than 1500
students in 11 grades and appears to be well-funded, with many
English-speaking teachers and good facilities. Students were all
well-dressed in neat black and white uniforms.
4. (SBU) The 25 students from the ninth through eleventh grades,
who had been hand-picked for their strong English skills, told
PolOff that for them, the United States is "a symbol of freedom."
They enjoy watching American movies, and, in their view, the biggest
cultural difference between Kazakhstan and America is the freedom
that American youth enjoy to choose their careers and live on their
own. The students were particularly interested in whether most
Americans believe that the movie "Borat" represented Kazakhstan
accurately. The students were enthusiastic in demonstrating their
knowledge of U.S. history and current politics. One student asked
about the global financial crisis, and another student asked why the
United States sent forces to Iraq, but the questions were phrased
objectively, without a hint of a negative attitude towards U.S.
foreign policy. Only one student asked a question critical of the
United States, shouting out, "Why is the United States targeting
Russia by installing a missile defense shield in Poland and the
Czech Republic?" (COMMENT: The students seemed more interested in
asking ordinary questions, such as whether or not PolOff had tried
and liked besparmak, a traditional Kazakh horsemeat dish, than in
raising controversial topics. END COMMENT.) Some students asked
whether Americans would be able to understand the British English
the students are learning, and several inquired about study-abroad
opportunities available in the United States.
POSITIVE IMPRESSIONS OF PRESIDENT OBAMA
5. (SBU) The students were particularly interested in President
Obama. When PolOff asked students about their impressions of him,
the students were uniformly enthusiastic and positive, saying they
like Obama because he appears to be "open, friendly, and
peace-loving." Several students said they were glad McCain had not
won the election, because they felt his way of thinking was shaped
too much by the Cold War.
SCIENCES TAUGHT IN ENGLISH
6. (SBU) Following the class discussion, Principal Saule
Khozhamuratova met privately with Poloff in her office, where she
congratulated the United States on its historic election and
expressed her hopes for continued positive U.S.-Kazakhstan
relations. When PolOff congratulated Khozhamuratova on her
students' excellent English skills, the principal explained that
although the school is technically a Kazakh-language school,
biology, chemistry, and physics are all taught in English.
Khozhamuratova, who teaches all the physics classes, said that she
has lived most of her life abroad due to her husband's career in the
sciences. After having lived for long periods of time in the United
States, South Africa, and Israel, Khozhamuratova said she is
comfortable teaching the students in English, and also understands
western-style teaching methods. Khozhamuratova acknowledged that
since most classes are taught in Kazakh, there are very few ethnic
Russian children in the school. During this school year, there are
ASTANA 00000236 002 OF 002
only eight ethnic Russians among the entire student body. (COMMENT:
PolOff was very impressed the students' ability and apparent
comfort in conversing in a wide range of topics in English, as well
as the students' openness in asking questions and expressing their
personal opinions. END COMMENT.)
HOAGLAND