SURINAME'S INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK PROGRMAMING --

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000410

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL NS KPAO
SUBJECT: SURINAME'S INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK PROGRMAMING --
RELEVANT AND WIDELY ATTENDED

REF: 09 STATE 114869


1. (U) SUMMARY. Three International Education Week (IEW) programs
showcased to Surinamers the value of studying foreign languages and
studying abroad. Post organized two American Corner "English
Language Story Hours," one for elementary school and one for junior
high/high school students. Post also hosted an International
Education Week program at the Embassy, which featured three
speakers who highlighted opportunities for Surinamers to study,
learn, and participate in exchange experiences in the United
States. The International Education Week programming reached a
total of 200 youth and 30 teachers and educational administrators,
as well as a wider audience through television coverage. The
demand for the event at the Embassy exceeded maximum room capacity,
and Post is planning to hold additional, follow-up sessions in
order to meet that demand. Post also organized an English Language
Specialist-led project to develop an English language text book
with local English teachers, and will soon host a conference on
approaching the accreditation process with Suriname's only
university and its Fulbright Senior Specialist - both IEW-friendly
initiatives that did not occur during the week. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Post coordinated two American Corner "English Language Story
Hour" events with the Cultural Center of Suriname (CCS),which
houses the American Corner. Poloff and Econoff read two children's
books to approximately 50 elementary school students, and discussed
the importance of reading and English language learning. Following
the reading, the American Corner staff provided the children with a
tour of the American Corner and its library.


3. (U) We geared our second "English Language Story Hour," to
junior high/high school students, which featured Ambassador John R.
Nay as the guest reader, reading an excerpt from Steinbeck's A
Wayward Bus --- one of the books on the Ministry of Education's
suggested high school reading list. The Ambassador discussed the
joys and challenges of reading with the forty-six secondary school
students and two teachers. Afterwards, the Ambassador delivered 35
books from the suggested high school reading list to the American
Corner, and American Corner staff provided tours of the Corner to
the students. The "Youth Journal," a popular youth-oriented daily
ten-minute news program, covered the event and interviewed the
Ambassador about reading and language learning.


4. (U) Post also organized a special three-part program on
international education opportunities at the Embassy. The program
consisted of a Digital Video Conference (DVC) with Dr. Gail Dobbs
Tidemann, Dean of Continuing and Extended Education at South Dakota
State University, on "Distance Learning Opportunities for
International Students"; a presentation by Suriname's primary Youth
Exchange and Study Program Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES)
Coordinator, Mr. Dave Abeleven, on how to apply for the 2010 YES
Program; and a presentation by EducationUSA Advisor Judith Dijks on
"Studying Abroad in the U.S." The program highlighted
opportunities for Surinamers to study physically or remotely in the
United States. This event was filled to maximum capacity with 75
individuals, consisting of high school and university students,
teachers, representatives from the Ministry of Education, and other
embassy contacts who had expressed an interest in U.S. educational
opportunities. This event was advertised to key contacts and
generated more interest than capacity. Post's EducationUSA advisor
plans to organize follow-up events due to the high demand for
information, especially on distance learning opportunities.
NAY