Thursday, October 28, 2010

Scholarships at the Monterey Institute

Betty and David Jones Language Scholarships
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Russian and Spanish
Application materials must be postmarked by February 1, 2011

The Betty and David Jones Scholarships offer up to 50 full-tuition scholarships for study during the summer 2011 at the Middlebury Language Schools, the Monterey Institute's Summer Intensive Language Program (SILP) or the Monterey Institute Intensive English Program. These scholarships are available to students intending to enroll at the Monterey Institute in Fall 2011. To be eligible for fellowships, candidates must be admitted to a degree program in international policy, public administration, nonproliferation and terrorism studies, international environmental policy, international business or teaching foreign language for Fall 2011. A limited number of top students will receive full scholarships including tuition, room, and board to attend the Middlebury Language Schools. Additional highly qualified students will receive tuition-only scholarships to attend SILP or the Intensive English Program at the Monterey Institute.

Kathryn Davis Fellowships for Peace
Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian
Application materials must be postmarked by February 1, 2011

The Kathryn Davis Fellowships for Peace offer up to 30 full-fellowships, including tuition, room, board, and books to attend Middlebury Language Schools during Summer 2011.
These scholarships are available to students intending to enroll at the Monterey Institute in Fall 2011. To be eligible for fellowships, candidates must be admitted to a degree program in international policy, public administration, nonproliferation and terrorism studies, international environmental policy, international business or teaching foreign language for fall 2011.

February 1, 2011 deadline for both scholarships

If your language is Arabic, Chinese, Japanese or Russian you are encouraged to apply to both scholarships. To be considered for both you must apply for both scholarships.

Learn more about both scholarships at http://www.miis.edu/admissions/financialaid/scholarships

Thursday, October 21, 2010

TUNISIA SUMMER 2011 TRAVEL COURSE

Loyola University, Chicago, Professor Peter J. Schraeder will be leading for the 6th year in a row his 22-day interdisciplinary and experiential learning summer travel course to Tunisia, “Arab World, Islam and U.S. Foreign Policy,” May 22-June 11, 2011.  

Fifteen (15) spots are reserved for non-Loyola students. Please visit its website (http://luc.edu/studyabroad/summer_tunisia.shtml) to view a syllabus with a detailed daily itinerary of activities, and further information about costs. A flyer about the program with details/costs is available in the NELC Department. 

Please do not hesitate to contact Professor Schraeder (pschrae@luc.edu) if you have any questions.
 
Mailing Address:
Department of Political Science
Loyola University Chicago
1032 W. Sheridan Road

Chicago, IL 60660  USA

Phone: 773-508-3070

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

2011 Critical Language Scholarship

The State Department is accepting applications for its summer 2011 Critical Language Scholarship program for overseas intensive institutes in 13 critical need foreign languages, including several South Asian languages. The programs provide fully-funded (including travel from the U.S., room and board) group-based intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences for 7-10 weeks. U.S. citizens who are current undergraduate and graduate students in any field are eligible. The deadline is November 15, 2010.


More information is available at: http://www.clscholarship.org/ .

Galiliee Institute: How is the Sunni-Shia Tension Connected to the Israeli – Palestinian Conflict?

“Chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has asserted that Iran gave Hamas $250 million in 2009 for refusing an Egyptian-arranged reconciliation accord with them. Mr. Abbas said Hamas could receive up to $500 million a year from the mullah regime in Teheran".
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/me_hamas0005_01_05.asp

What is the meaning of the connections between Hamas (Palestine) and Iran? Why is there tension between them? How is it related to the Israeli/Palestine conflict?

These questions and more will be discussed at the Galilee Institute winter session: "Two Nations and Three Religions in Israel and Palestine" that will be held on December 29, 2010 – January 10, 2011

Galilee Institute is currently offering tuition scholarships to eligible candidates.

For more information please contact Mrs. Shiri Salant, Programme Director at ssalant@galilcol.ac.il.

Kind regards & SHALOM



Shiri Salant-Fein
Programme Director (web page: http://www.galilcol.ac.il/page.asp?id=344 )
International Centre of Middle East and Religious Studies
Galilee International Management Institute
Israel
ssalants@galilcol.ac.il

CC: Shoshi Norman
Director Middle East and Religious Studies Centre
Galilee International Management Institute
snorman@galilcol.ac.il

Middle East/Central Asia Career Night

Wednesday, October 20th 6:30-8:30pm
Career Development Center – 625 N. Jordan Ave.

The Global Careers series, which is run by the Career Development Center, is devoted to providing information to IU students in an effort to increase their awareness of international career opportunities. These events allow students to form networking relationships with employers who have ties to the international sector as well as provide students with role models and information about global careers.

Please join IU students, faculty, and career professionals with interests in the Middle East/Central Asia at the Middle East/Central Asia Career Night for an evening of discussion and networking. Guest speakers will participate in a panel discussion focusing on their career paths, opportunities within their organization, and advice for students who wish to work in the region. Light regional refreshments will be served and the opportunity to network with the panelists will follow.

We ask that students please RSVP through their myIUcareers account, accessible at http://www.indiana.edu/~career/.

Panelists will include:

- Michael Bevers, Center for Democracy

- Fred Perry, Assistant Director of External Relations and Funding Opportunities at the Kelley School of Business

- Amy Brown, National Security Agency

- State Department Representative

- Peace Corps Alum

Don’t miss this great professional opportunity!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Arabic Language Opportunities for High School Students

This summer the University of New Mexico and the University of California, Los Angeles, are offering Summer language courses in Arabic.

University of New Mexico Summer Institute in Arabic and Chinese for High School Students

June 7th-July 2nd, 2010, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM

Students will cover the curriculum of a first year semester course in either Arabic or Chinese at the Unversity of New Mexico. The Program is open to high school students 16 and over, as well as first year university students. High school students will earn 3 UNM credit hours, whereas undergraduate students will earn just UNM credit.

For further information, please visit http://www.unm.edu/~fll or contact, nakol@unm.edu or 505-277-4771.

University of California, Los Angeles Arabic and Hindi Heritage Language Class for High School Students

June 29-July 29, 2010, UCLA Center for World Languages, Los Angeles, CA

This intensive five week program is designed for students who already speak Hindi or Arabic at home and want to develop literacy and a deeper understanding of historical and contemporary South Asian culture. The program will help students build academic proficiency in Hindi and Arabic, and students will have access to individualized instruction and feedback. The course is equivalent to one year of high school world language study.

Winter break Volunteer Opportunity in Kenya or Tanzania

Global Village Volunteer Network is offering an exciting volunteering opportunity this Winter break. This is a great way to have a once in a lifetime experience helping those in great need of help, while building close relationships with your fellow students. The dates for this trip are set for Dec 19 - Jan 9th, however the dates are flexible and you can arrange your own trip. During your stay, you will be volunteering for various projects in Kenya or Tanzania. Each volunteer will have a choice of the project they would like to be involved in. You can find a list of programs listed on our website. You will also be able to work on multiple projects, if you find yourself interested in more than one of the programs. You will be staying with host families, which will allow for complete cultural immersion. Multiple volunteers will stay with the same family and the host families will be in close approximation to each other, so you will always be in contact with your fellow volunteers.


You will have options of going on safaris in some of the most beautiful savannas of the world or travel around the country. The Program Fee is listed on our website which will cover, airport pickup in the host country, host family accommodations, 2 meals per day provided by your host family, program supervision and 24/7 support while in the country and government levies. The costs for any travel plan will be separate. It should be noted that traveling in Africa is very affordable and the costs will be shared amongst the entire group. You will be responsible for the Air-fare to the country. For more information on the costs and what the fees cover, visit our website: http://gvvnetwork.org/.
If you are unable to make this organized trip in Winter break, but still would like to experience such an opportunity, we have programs available all year round. Just check out our programs page and pick dates that work for you.

GLLC-G291 Before You Go Study Abroad

Space is still available in GLLC-G291: Before You Go Study Abroad! 

The course is offered Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:30-3:45, 1 credit, 2nd 8 wks.

"Study Abroad: Before You Go" is intended for IU students planning on studying abroad in spring, summer, or fall 2011.  The course will prepare you for the exciting range of experiences you will encounter while learning overseas.

Course Description:
This 8-week class prepares students for the rewarding educational experience of studying abroad.  Taught from an interdisciplinary perspective, the course will stimulate students both to think about and to openly discuss, their primary goals/concerns with overseas study.

The course is structured around four major topics: 1) pre-departure considerations; 2) life in the host country; 3) strategies for recognizing obstacles and overcoming challenges; and 4) integrating study and daily personal experiences with post-travel educational goals.

Students will be expected to complete weekly readings for the course, participate in weekly discussions, and present a short in-class presentation focusing on the host country they plan to visit.

Maximizing Study Abroad (2nd edition, 2006) will be used as the primary text for the class.  Additional readings from the Lonely Planet travel guide books will be assigned based on students' study abroad destination. 

A number of special visitors, including international students studying at IU and returning IU study abroad students, will visit the class to share their personal experiences from studying abroad.

Course Information Contact:
Course Instructor: Trent Engbers

Course Supervisor: Dr. Jeff Holdeman

Course Authorization Contact:
IU Office of Overseas Study: Steve Rose

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

SPEA Abroad Summer Programs call-out

Call-Out Meetings held at SPEA in the Tavis Smiley Atrium
Wednesday, October 6
Tuesday, October 12
12:30 - 1:15 p.m. 3:30 - 4:15 p.m.

Gain an international perspective in public policy with SPEA Abroad summer courses! Join us at one of the meetings to learn more.You don’t have to be in SPEA to take advantage of exciting summer opportunities around the world for undergraduate and graduate students:

• SPEA in Beijing                                                     
• IU at Oxford
• SPEA in Berlin                                                       
• SPEA in Pamplona
• SPEA in Central London      
• SPEA in Speyer, Germany
• SPEA in Kenya                                                     
• SPEA in Tyumen, Russia
• SPEA in Barcelona                                                 
• Scholars in Global Citizenship – Hanoi, Vietnam
• SPEA in Moscow

After the presentation, enjoy light refreshments and an informal Q&A with program directors.

For more information, please contact Lauren Roberts of the SPEA Office of Overseas Education at lakrober@indiana.edu

Arabeya Association

Intercultural Communications and Marketing at the Arabeya Association is a renowned Arabic language school located in the heart of Cairo, Egypt and with branches in Giza and Alexandria. Our school specializes in intensive Arabic language and cross-cultural exchange programs with a variety of universities and academic institutions across the world.
Offering a diverse body of Arabic language programs in both Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), the Arabeya Association also teaches courses on Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (ECA), the most widely spoken dialect in the Arabic-speaking world. All instructors are native speakers of Arabic, and are required to possess an excellent command of English. Classes are small to allow for greater flexibility, and students are given a placement test upon arrival to ensure that they receive the proper level of instruction.

In addition to Arabic language classes, the school also offers its facilities for a wide variety of other academic pursuits, such as guest lectures and credited academic courses, taught by either members of your own faculty, if available, or by prominent Middle Eastern scholars from any of the academic institutions with whom we have a relationship, such as the American University in Cairo. Many universities and academic institutions have taken advantage of this attractive offer, such as Harvard, Columbia, New York, and Northeastern universities. While most of these courses tend to be focused on Middle Eastern or Islamic studies, courses in areas as diverse as photography and archaeology have been hosted at our facilities as well. More details about the specifics of their programs, alongside testimonials and references, can be found on our website at http://www.arabeya.org/ . The Arabeya Association is very flexible in what it has to offer, and is always willing and able to accommodate the needs of its students.

Outside of the classroom, the Arabeya Association offers a host of other activities and excursions to better introduce our students to the rich culture of ancient and modern Egypt. Greater Cairo alone offers a vast mosaic of opportunities for cultural immersion and interaction, and at the Arabeya Association, it is recognized how essential a component this is for a student's education and experiences in the Arabic language and Egyptian culture.

For further information, please contact: jameslatta@arabeya.org

Thursday, September 30, 2010

www.basarchive.org

Go to basarchive.org to dig into your favorite topics!

With 6,500 footnoted articles written by top scholars in the field of biblical archaeology and 17,500 captioned images, the robust BAS Online Archive at basarchive.org offers you easy access to your key topics anytime, anywhere.

Features articles on Religion, Archaeology, Anthropology, Classical, Mediterranean & Near Eastern History.

www.basarchive.org

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Arabeya Association's programs 2010-2011

Welcome to the Arabeya Association's Study Abroad program! We offer students the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study the Arabic language while immersing themselves in the culture and history of both modern and ancient Egypt.

In addition to Arabic language courses, our school offers university groups the opportunity to take credited cross-disciplinary study at our facilities. In other words, students can supplement their Arabic studies here with courses or lectures within their own department, through members of their own faculty or from esteemed Middle Eastern scholars from Egyptian universities. This past summer, Harvard, Howard, Northeastern, and the Air Force ROTC program participated in our combined-study program, and we at the Arabeya Association are looking forward to working with them again in the future.For further information, please contact us at: info@arabeya.org

International Job Opportunities 24th September 2010

Below is our latest Job Mailer.   If you are interested in any of the posts, please contact your recruiter. If you do not know who your recruiter is, please contact the office nearest to you by clicking HERE or email your enquiry to teacher@teachanywhere.com

Remember that we will need a CV,  and new online application or profile form to determine your match to the requirements of the post.

28-30 January 2011 - Middle East/North Africa schools group - Info session and interviews (London) for jobs in September 2011. Interview with Head Teachers face to face in London and hear about the considerations for working abroad. This high quality schools group hires teachers who will have 2+ years of consistent recent teaching experience at the end of next year.  The schools are mainly Broadly international and employment package is family friendly *only* if you are a teaching couple with both employed by the school - then you get free tuition for two dependent children. (quite a good deal)  Mainly UK curriculum with schools in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Cairo and more.  You must pre-register for this even so please contact your consultant if you are interested.

January Start

Head of IB Maths in Qatar.  This is a great opportunity for a teacher to move into a promoted post and work under one of the best IB Head Teachers around. Salary is between 10,000QR- 15,000 QR/month ($2500 - $3750) plus flights, housing across the street with pool/gym facilities, and is family friendly. Candidates will ideally have IB Maths experience.

October Start

Hot jobs for teachers with 0-2 years of experience

A local private school located on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi Island is seeking two female early years teachers. With local children and some Arabic staff teachers you will need to adapt to a very local environment with hardly any western teachers. These jobs are best suited to those more willing to jump into something completely different supported by quite a bit of independence and tolerance. You will need to be a teacher who can differentiate delivery on an English language basis and demonstrate a cultural understanding. A good package with accommodation close to the school is offered. This school welcomes South African teachers but is not family friendly. Salary from 7000 AED/month (US$1750)/month with free housing, flights yearly.

Teachers are still need for Early Years/Kindergarten, Elementary grades, middle school English, high school English and Head of English in a local fee paying US curriculum school in Dubai. This is a great opportunity for a less experienced teacher to gain a good grounding in international education teaching children whose first language is not english to develop skills that will serve you well in the future.  This school is in Dubai, but in one of the outer suburbs. Salary of 8000 AED/month (US$4000) with shared housing, flights yearly and 2 year contract.

Kuwait. An established  school offers an invaluable experience of teaching in a culturally and linguistic diverse environment developing differentiation skills that will be in great demand in the future. Such a school in Kuwait needs a good Secondary English with drama. Salary is from 750KD (US$2600) and a 1 year contract with flights and housing. Listen to an interview with a teacher recently returned form Kuwait here: http://www.teachanywhere.com/podcasts/quizzical-about-kuwait.mp3

Kuwait. If you are looking for a chance to work in a local international school with a multicultural setting in the Middle East then this school could be the one for you. The challenges of teaching children who speak english as a second language can provide an invaluable experience to help promote your career in the international arena. Salaries are good and accommodation is mostly shared but can be single for a small suppliment.  Well worth considering if you are a less experienced teacher. The school needs early years and primary teachers and a secondary english teacher. Salary is from 750KD (US$2600) and a 1 year contract with flights. It's a great way to get your foot on the international school ladder. Listen to an interview with a teacher recently returned form Kuwait here: http://www.teachanywhere.com/podcasts/quizzical-about-kuwait.mp3

Hot jobs for teachers with 2 or more years of consistent experience

Qatar - This family friendly school needs a Chemistry teacher for  immediate start. We just got feedback from a teacher we placed at this school who says, "We have had a week of really good orientation, involving meeting the admin staff and other new staff, learning about the curriculum and some arranged trips to the local shopping mall, souq and beach with transport. There has been lots of opportunity to talk to both exsisting management staff and meet new people, I am happy to say that I have made some friends already which made me feel a lot more settled. So far I like living on the compound with the other staff, as everyone is new and in the same boat. The workshops at school have been informative and interactive too. On the whole I am feeling very settled and happy so far and am looking forward to getting stuck in when the term begins!" This school is family friendly (free tuition for children) and even pet friendly, with apartments next to the school. Salaries are 9-12,000 QR/month (US$2250-2750) with free housing, utilities, flights and more.  Teachers with 1 solid year of experience may be considered for the Chemistry post.

A Swiss-British school in Abu Dhabi requires an experienced  Year 5 teacher. Very well resourced with a British curriculum, this school seeks someone with at least 3 years of solid, consistent, recent UK primary teaching experience.  Salaries are top notch - from 10,000 - 14,000 AED/month (US$2500 - 3500) plus lovely furnished housing, flights yearly and 2 or 3 year contract.  If you are a professional, committed teacher and would like to work alongside other committed, professional teachers at the top of their game, look no further.

Egypt beckons for the adventurous to combine historical exploration and Red Sea diving with a unique professional development opportunity in an up and coming English school just outside of Cairo. They are seeking a Foundation (Kindergarten) teacher. Listen to our podcast www.teachanywhere.com/podcasts. This school uses UK curriculum but will consider Australian, Irish, NZ, and North American trained teachers as well with 2+ years of consistent experience.

An exciting professional venture waits for you in the new Middle East in the heart of Dubai. An international school offering a handsome employment package is looking for Early Years/Kindergarten, Early Years Music, and selected school leaders (see management section below).  IB training is provided for secondary level which makes this school invaluable to the internationally minded teacher. Accommodation is single and centrally located near to shopping malls and beaches. Salary 9-14,000 AED/month ($2250 - 3500/mo), 3 year contract, flights yearly. This is a great opportunity! 

Top Management Jobs - October

An exciting professional venture waits for you in the new Middle East in the heart of Dubai. This is a broadly international school, which is very well established. It uses the UK and IB curricula and we have worked with them for years. Head of Department Primary PE (including extra curricular activities) and Primary school Principal.  And for Secondary management there is Dean of Studies for Grade 10 and 11, Secondary Deputy Principal for Curriculum . The accommodation is top notch and is close to shopping malls and beaches. Flights and housing are included but note that except for the top leadership posts (Head of Primary), this school is not family friendly. 3 year contract with flights yearly.
A Head of English is needed for this local international school in Dubai. Tax free salary, flights and housing, this will suit someone looking for a promoted post. Salary is negotiable but around 9000 AED/month.
Advisory teachers in Abu Dhabi:  
  • Male Primary Advisory teacher  Western Zone, Abu Dhabi. Salary of appx 250K AED + flights,  housing, bonus, medical and more. Top employment package but NOT family friendly. This is suitable for single teachers only, unless your spouse speaks arabic.  
  • Female Kindergarten Advisory Teacher Salary of appx 170- 220,000 AED + flights, tuition support for dependents, housing, bonus, medical and more. Al Ain and Abu Dhabi posts available.
  • Male Secondary Special Needs Advisory teacher needed to support several schools (so you must drive) in Abu Dhabi. Salary 225,000 AED+ housing, bonus, medical and family benefits including school fee allowances. You must have 3 + years of experience working with Special Needs children, especially behaviour management, as you will be advising state boys schools on best practice.
  • Male and Female ICT Advisory Teachers needed in Abu Dhabi. 200,000 AED+ flights, tuition support, housing and bonus. Family friendly!

The American Academic Research Institute in Iraq (TARRII)

TAARII announces fellowship opportunities for US Scholars to conduct research on Iraq.

TAARII is a consortium of American universities, museums, and other scholarly institutions dedicated to the furtherance of research in and on Iraq and to fostering mutual understanding and respect between American and Iraqi peoples. With support of the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC), TAARII intends to establish a research center and hostel in Baghdad. However, under current cirucumstances, it operates mainly outside Iraq. For now, the programs in Iraq itself are limited to a fellowship competition for Iraqi scholars. A major part of our operations will always be a fellowship program for American scholars to conduct research focused on subjects in any legitimate academic field from ancient Mesopotamia to modern Iraq, giving priority to collaborative projects undertaken jointly by US and Iraqi scholars.

At this time, the Institute invites proposals from US scholars for feasible research on Iraq-related topics outside the country. Such topics could include remote sensing studies of ancient Iraqi landscapes, environmental studies, research in Ottoman records related to Iraq and social projects that involve interview with Iraqis living abroad.

Proposals are invited from individual American post-doctoral and advanced pre-doctoral researchers for awards of up to $10,000 to conduct research related to Iraq in any field of the humanities or social sciences. Proposals from researchers working on Iraq-related topics in the biological and physical sciences may also be considered.

Applications must be received electronically by December, 15 2010. For further requirements, please visit TAARII website, http://www.taarii.orrg/, or email apply@taarii.org.

Awards will be announced in February, for projects that should not begin before March 15, 2011. Special requests for projects to begin sooner may also be considered.

Short Term Study Abroad Tours -- College Study Tours

See the world and enhance your curriculum in just one to four weeks. EF College Study Tours offer short-term faculty-led educational tours designed specifically for college students and faculty.

Egyptian Kingdom

10 or 13 days starting at $2,095. Cruise along the Nile for a glimpse into Egypt's ancient realm. Discover one of the world's most legendary civilizations.

For further information, check out: http://www.efcollegestudytours.com/

Schusterman Center for Israel Studies, Brandeis University

Are you interested in pursuing a PhD focused on modern Israel in history, politics, sociology, Middle East studies, Israeli art, literature or culture?

Want to become part of a lively academic community of scholars, students, artists and public intellecturals through scholarship conferences and public events?

Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University sponsors full and partial fellowships for doctoral candidates focusing on Israel Studies. Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to candidates accepted into the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

How to Apply
1. Complete the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences application at www.brandeis.edu/gsas/apply
2. Fill out the brief Schusterman Graduate Fellowship applciation at www.brandeis.edu/israelcenter.support/gradStudent.html

Al-Asas for Teaching Arabic for Non-Native Speakers

Al-Asas for Teaching Arabic for Non-Native Speakers is a valuable language tool for students of various nationalities. It uses modern and sophisticated educational techniques to provide students with a core understanding of the Arabic language and its proper usage. The series consists of three volumes (with a fourth on the way) that guide students from one level to the next in a gradual and logical fashion. The series is unique in that it approaches grammatical issues froma functional angle.
For further information, check out: http://www.noorart.com/

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Adelaide Bryan: Adventures at American University of Cairo

Adelaide Bryan is a NELC student currently studying abroad in Cairo, Egypt. To document her unique adventures in the sand land, Addy has begun a regular blog posting that you can view at http://addytravel.wordpress.com/egypt/.

"Officially Adelaide, introduced as Addy, and this is my travel blog…
I am just days away from starting out on what will be incredible eight months in Egypt.  Over the summer I will be participating in a volunteer program though Marhaba (gomarhaba.org and I’m in Program 2).  Volunteers will,
"(T)each conversational English classes at Resala, a large development organization led by Egyptian youth. Resala offers a range of programs, including Arabic literacy classes, food and clothing distribution, courses for the blind, and orphanages for street children. Marhaba volunteers will teach young Egyptian adults who volunteer at the centers. Volunteers will work in pairs at different branches of the organization throughout Cairo.”
During the fall semester, I will attend the American University in Cairo (AUC) through Indiana University’s Egypt Study Abroad program.  My major at IU is Anthropology and Near Eastern Languages & Cultures (Arabic) with a possible Political Science minor, but that minor is still very much in the works. My goal in Egypt is to speak Arabic as much as possible, and to find out what it's like to be an international student.

On a very different note, but still very relevant, I am notoriously a bad speller.When in doubt, I sound it out, and have found this rarely works. Though I am going to try my best to keep spelling errors to a minimum, it is unlikely that I will be faultless. So, I can say they’re incorrect, they will at least always be creative if not at least phonetic."

For more stories, pictures and camels, please check out Addy's blog!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

IU Arabic English Language Exchange

Dear All:

The Arabic-English Language Exchange got off to a great start last week with quite a formidable showing from our Arabic-speaking colleagues at the Intensive English Program. We are very excited about the upcoming discussion groups for this fall which will meet every Thursday at 7:00pm, beginning next week at the Starbucks in the IMU.

Due to the interest of a large number of native Arabic speakers, we need more English-speaking students of any level of Arabic. We would like to form small groups of 4 with an even number of Arabic and English speakers.

If you are interested in participating in the Language Exchange, please send the following information to Justin Kitchens at jukkitch@indiana.edu::

1) Name & preferred email address
2) Approximate level in Arabic
3) Interests (to be used for formulating discussion topics)

After supplying your information, you will be placed into an appropriate small group and receive a reminder email concerning this week's meeting, and all following meetings.

Please contact Justin with any additional questions you might have.

Best regards,

Arabic-English Language Exchange (AELEx)

Monday, September 20, 2010

An IU Student Goes to Oman - Part II

There are plenty of difficult aspects to being an American in the Middle East, but I have never felt uncomfortable. Oman is a very peaceful country, there is no violent crime to be heard of and people generally seem to get along. The biggest change is coping with the cultural difference. As a foreigner, you lack perspective about what behavior is appropriate and when. One example of this would be showing proper deference to elders. While American style camaraderie might be acceptable to a younger generation of Omanis, it comes off as condescending to older Omanis. Given that Omanis are invariably polite, even a slightly adverse reaction from someone can feel like a rebuke. Talking with Omani women is another activity that requires tact. It is acceptable in settings that are considered ‘professional’ (e.g. in the classroom between students and teachers), but in other situations, less so. For example, Omani women generally do not interact with (non-related) men on the street.

Oman is a country that has seen rapid transformation, most of which has taken place in recent memory. Many facets of life are still being negotiated and this has presented considerable challenge at times. Many older Omanis can remember the days before cars, roads, telephones, air-conditioning and televisions. In almost all the smaller towns and villages, you can see mud-brick houses where Omanis used to live. Almost all of these have been abandoned in favor of larger, more modern residences. Yet despite the empty and time-worn appearance of these old houses, many of them were occupied as recently as 20 or 25 years ago.

Overall, Omanis are enthusiastic about modern life. They have seen dramatic improvements in the quality of their healthcare system, schools and economy in a relatively short amount of time. The harsh environment has become more livable and comfortable thanks to modern appliances and technology. Supporting over three million residents probably would not be possible without water desalinization and a system of dams and reservoirs that capture the run-off of what little rain Oman gets.

Omanis have much greater exposure to the outside world than previously, thanks to satellite television and internet. The kids in family I live with follow WWE wrestling, as do a large number of young Omanis I have met. Facebook is also gaining popularity with young Omanis, especially young men. Social networking allows them to meet people outside the normal circle of extended family and find people with similar interests. Because social networking is something new, appropriate behavior is open to interpretation and experimentation. For example, facebook accounts for women will often be completely devoid of personal information and photographs. Some women will still not open accounts because facebook allows people to send messages and photographs between each other privately.

While we increasingly worry about the cost of modernization in America, issues like environmental damage, immigration, economic sustainability have yet to fully register their impact in Oman. While the effects of development are visible in all these areas, the issues are so new that their consequences are not clear. One example of this is the large population of Indian and Pakistani migrants now working in Oman. They may constitute up to a fifth of the population and they represent the bulk of the labor that goes into building roads and infrastructure. Many migrants have come here to open businesses or to work in IT or other fields and have a vested interest in remaining in Oman. The government recognizes legal migrant workers as ‘residents,’ but it has yet to be seen whether they will receive rights comparable to those of citizens. Part of the equation rests on what the migrant workers demand for themselves. In Oman, they often have better access to employment and services than they do in their home countries. In theory, they receive equal rights in court. Yet the plight of illegal migrants is a more troubling issue. These migrants are generally the least skilled and educated and are more vulnerable to abuse. For example, Omani police officers may threaten undocumented workers with deportation unless they pay a bribe.

Right now I am living with a family of Omani-Zanzibari background. Until the early 1960’s, many Omanis lived in Zanzibar, and to some extent, colonized parts of Eastern Kenya and Tanzania. Overthrow of the Omani-dominated government in Zanzibar resulted in a sizable diaspora, with Omanis either resettling in Tanzania or returning to Oman. With them came a unique cultural heritage combining Omani and East African elements. At home, my family speaks Swahili, a blend of Arabic and East African languages. They are also fluent in Arabic and English. They have much in common with their compatriots; however Omani society remains fairly conservative and the family is more relaxed. Most Omani families would not probably take in an American student for an extended period. Guests are never expected to pay for themselves and gender-separation is also a serious impediment.

At home, there is a pretty clear division between what areas are public and private. As a guest, I’m expected to stay in the areas between my room, the living rooms, the kitchen and dining room. Fortunately, my room and the others are on the first floor, while the family lives on the second, so I can move freely between rooms without problems.

Cultural exchange is by no means a one-way street and as I better understand the values here, I have come to question assumptions I had. The biggest revelation has been that people in Oman are not cut off from the rest of the world nor is the society closed off to different influences. The country is not as Arab nor as Muslim as I had imagined, and it has peacefully incorporated large foreign communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and India. Omanis do not try to force their way of life on other people, rather they revel in diversity and bringing the best out of different cultures.

Over the next few weeks, I plan on writing more about my experience here and if you have any questions, please write to gregauclair@att.net.

Australian National University and Indiana University – the Pan Asia Institute (PAI)

Comprising one third of the earth’s land mass and twothirds of the world’s population, Asia is a vast, incredibly rich, and infinitely diverse region. Whether your interest is in the arts, culture, history, religion,
political science, languages, law, business, or anything in between, Asia provides an amazing array of
opportunities to explore a variety of academic disciplines.

Combining the strengths of two world-renowned, research universities – the Australian National University and Indiana University – the Pan Asia Institute (PAI) provides study abroad opportunities for IU undergraduate students.

Dear Colleagues:


If any of your undergraduates are planning on studying abroad and have an interest in Asian affairs broadly defined, we would encourage them to consider the Canberra Semester Program with The Australian National University. Deadlines are fast approaching with applications due September 27 for the Spring term (semester dates in Australia are February 21 through June 3, 2011).

Attached please find a flyer which provides further information about this unique study abroad opportunity at one of the world's leading universities in the field of Asian Studies. We would appreciate your assistance in forwarding the attached to likely students and would be more than pleased to answer any questions they (or you) might have.

Many thanks!
Melissa Biddinger
Associate Director

*******

ANU-IU Pan Asia Institute
201 N. Indiana Ave., Rm. 210
Bloomington, IN 47408
812.855.0269
panasia@indiana.edu

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Fellowship Program for Research on Yemen for US Citizens

General Fellowship Program


Proposals are invited from graduate and post-graduate scholars for feasibility studies or research projects. Collaborative or group projects are eligible for funding. It is permissible to combine Arabic language study with a research or feasibility project.

There is no restriction as to field or discipline. Project funds may at present be used either for research in Yemen or for research on Yemen elsewhere. Projects are not normally funded above $10,000. Applicants may need to secure additional funding for other expenses or for extended research periods, but in the case of multiple awards AIYS reserves the right to modify or cancel its fellowship offer. A full statement of conditions governing fellowships may be obtained from the AIYS office. Researchers whose projects will take them to more than one country are advised to consider applying to CAORC's Multi-Country Fellowship Program as well as to AIYS.

Please note that there currently is a ban on using State Department-funded fellowships for travel to Yemen. For the current competition, AIYS is therefore accepting only applications for research on Yemen in venues other than Yemen.

Scholars planning to conduct research in Yemen funded by other sources are reminded that AIYS continues to provide its normal research support services in Yemen.

For further information, please contact the AIYS office or consult the research permit page on the website: http://www.aiys.org/.

Two Nations & Three Religions in Israel and Palestine

Galillee Institute, Israel - Winter Program: Two Nations & Three Religions in Israel and Palestine: December 29th, 2010 - January 10th, 2011

The main goal of the program is to enable participants to form their unique personal impressions of the region, by providing a framework that allows for immediate and unfiltered exposure to the daily realities as experienced by the peoples in the region. Through lectures and study tours, participants will gain a better understanding of the range of responses offered by the religiously and ethnically varied populations to the complex issues routinely encountered in this region.

The program aims to:
1. Present an overview of the history of the Land of Israel-Palestine.
2. Acquaint the students with the different ethnic and religious groups in the region, their way of life, beliefs, views and inter-relations.
3. Present different perspectives and views regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
4. Deepen participants' understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and current issues.
The winter programme is intended for faculty and graduate students preferably who are in the process of studying courses associated with the Middle East.

A limited number of tuition scholarships will be available to qualified candidates.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

An IU student goes to Oman - Part I

My name is Greg Auclair and I am a NELC graduate student who has spent the past three months in Oman. I came to Oman for a study abroad program through the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center and right now I am staying on an additional month before I begin research and language study in Syria. There is a lot to say about Oman, a lot more than can be covered in a few blog posts, but I hope that writing will at least offer some perspective on what life here is like and what it’s like to be a student abroad. Oman is a blank page for most people and this is a big problem. Before I came here, I knew little, but Oman has a rich history and its influence extends well outside its borders.

I spent two months in a small town called Nizwa, in the country’s interior region and for the last month I have been in Muscat, which is the country’s capital and biggest city. In Muscat I have been teaching English and working on a volunteer project with a local organization, Nissa Sidab. I will talk about Nizwa and Muscat in greater depth in later posts, but for the time being I’d like to address life in Oman in general.

First of all, I would like to say that living in Oman has been a wonderful experience. The friendly and trustful nature of the people here is amazing. People who were complete strangers have invited me into their homes to sit and have coffee. One example that sticks out in particular was when a taxi driver stopped and bought me and my tired-looking friends tea and juice mid-route.

Oman has a kind of harsh natural beauty which takes some getting used to. Mountain ranges can be found in the north and south, while the middle of the country is largely flat desert. Most of the country is dry, with the exception of the mountain range around Salalah, which receives considerable moisture in the summer due to the khareef.
Oman is a geologist’s paradise. Different layers,
representing millions of years of deposition,
erosion and compression are clearly visible.

Lush pockets of green contrast starkly with the desert landscape.
Almost every village has an adjacent date plantation.
Irrigation is provided by a system of canals known as ‘aflages’ in local parlance.
Fog in the hills of Salalah.
The khareef, similar to the monsoon season,
reaches a small portion of Oman for three months
out of the year. The weather in Salalah during
this season is unusually cool for Oman.


Thursday, September 2, 2010

Boren Scholarship Opportunity 2010

On September 9th, 2010 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. in the Great Room in the Honors College a representative from the Institute of International Education will be speaking with interested students about the David L. Boren Scholarships and Fellowships for the 2011-12 academic year.


Boren Awards provide a unique funding opportunity for U.S. students to study world regions critical to U.S. interests (including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East). The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.

The Boren Scholarship provides opportunities for undergraduate students to study in countries that are generally underrepresented in study abroad. Boren Scholars are awarded up to $20,000 for an academic year.

The Boren Fellowship allows graduate students to add an important international and language component to their graduate studies. Boren Fellows can be awarded up to $30,000.
Additional information on preferred geographic regions, languages, fields of study and application procedures can be found at www.borenawards.org.

For more information please contact Steven Rose, IU Boren Undergraduate Scholarship Representative (rosestm@indiana.edu), or Paul Fogleman, IU Boren Graduate Fellowship Representative (pfoglema@indiana.edu), or contact Boren Awards at 1 800 618 NSEP or boren@iie.org.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Peace Corps: Informal Recruiting Event September 22nd

The Russian and East European Institute hosts:

Peace Corps

For an informal information session on:

Wednesday, September 22nd
11 am – 1 pm
Ballantine Hall 565

Stop by and speak to a recruiter and returned volunteer about Peace Corps’ mission, where volunteers serve, what they do, and what opportunities are currently available. This event is open to all area studies students.

Apply now and you could be serving overseas in 2011!

Contact Laura Fonseca with questions:
800.424.8580 or lfonseca2@peacecorps.gov

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Arabic Resources - al-hakawati.net

FYI: This website is completely in Arabic

http://www.al-hakawati.net/ is an online resource provided by the Arab Cultural Trust. The Trust works to preserve, promote and make Arabic language, culture, history and modernity accessible to all.

al-hakawati.net is an organized and searchable resource with over 300 Arab heritage books, stories of every level of Arabic proficiency, Arabic and English content on architecture, environment, society, religion, and much more. Best of all, everything on the site - primary resources in Arabic, shared research, biographies, etc - is all FREE.

Imagine a lesson on Egyptian Colloquial paired with an excerpt by Taha Hussein...or a lesson with cultural vocabulary augmented with a piece on Aleppo...

We invite you to explore the site, integrate it into the classroom, and perhaps make a contribution to the content, your suggestions or recent research articles. We look forward to your participation.

Please contact us at editor@al-hakawati.net for more info.

Monday, August 9, 2010

ArEg

 is a private project that aims to be the ultimate online school for standard Arabic and Egyptian dialect. We are providing rich, interactive study environment to help the user reach a level where the student can

  • understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation;
  • interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party;
  • produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

 
What does ArEg mean?

 
ArEg is an acronym for Arabic & Egyptian.

 
How much does it cost to use ArEg?

 
We believe that information and education should be free, this is why all our online products are free for personal use. However, to support the ArEg project, we are selling educational software products which can be used offline.

 

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Looking for Real World Language Practice?

Mondokio is an international news website based out of Columbus, Ohio and the Ohio State University. Mondokio addresses the problem that one cannot properly understand an international news story through one culturally-specific perspective. In response to this, the site has introduced an innovative way of presenting international news whereby the same stories are covered by multiple perspectives from all over the world. These news articles—the primary content for the site—are translated from the native language into English. At the moment, these translations are performed by bilingual and/or 3rd - 4th year language students at OSU. The students receive credit from OSU’s Office of International Studies and the Department of Communication. We would like to introduce this internship at Indiana University Bloomington.*

Details of Internship
Students would be assigned a particular country (or countries), which corresponds to their language competency. They would translate ONE article per day, 5 days a week. On average this takes 2-3 hours per day, 10-15 hours per week. This content is then emailed to the site administrators and uploaded on a daily basis. The students’ work, therefore, can take place from anywhere there is an internet connection. That being said, Eric Wittke, the IUB coordinator, would usually hold a meeting once a week to discuss various components to the site such as media analysis, cultural aspects of the countries covered, site growth, etc.** The internship would last the entirety of Fall 2010 Semester. This is an unpaid position. We take great pride in attempting to integrate our interns goals/interests with our own, and considering our size and flexibility, we are usually able to accommodate this. To apply, students should contact Mr. Wittke with proof of their ability to receive internship credit, as well as proof of proficiency in their foreign language.

Execution
Management of the internship would be divided between Brady Calestro, the founder of Mondokio, and Eric Wittke, a Senior at IUB. However, Mr. Calestro would take full responsibility to ensure the quality of the internship experience is comparable to the organization’s successes at OSU. The initial training and introduction of Mondokio would be performed by Mr. Calestro, and Mr. Wittke will then manage the program for the remainder of the Fall 2010 Semester. For the past 3 Quarters at OSU, Mondokio has been student-run in this manner and has not encountered any major difficulties.

We strive to make this internship an enriching experience for all, and look forward to having you on board!


*For legal reasons students must receive internship credit from Indiana University to be eligible for this opportunity.
**Time and location of meetings will be arranged according to students’ schedules.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

!!Important Announcement:

New FLAS Fellowships Available!!
For the 2010–11 Academic year
for study of Arabic, Modern Hebrew, Kurmanji Kurdish,
Sorani Kurdish, Turkish, Persian, Urdu, Bengali,
Dari, & Pashto
**Deadline August 18, 2010**


The Center for the Study of the Middle East and the Islamic Studies Program, Indiana University, are pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for FLAS (Foreign Language and Area Studies) Fellowships for academic year 2010-2011.

Each year the United States Department of Education awards Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships to universities in order to promote the training of students who intend to make their careers in college or university teaching, government service, or other employment where knowledge of foreign cultures is a prerequisite for success.

Each fellowship is tenable for the academic year and carries an estimated fixed stipend of $10,000 (undergraduate students) or $15,000 (graduate students). The fellowship also exempts graduate students from paying academic fees, and undergraduate students receive a partial tuition award.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for FLAS fellowships. Holders of FLAS fellowships must undertake full-time study during the tenure of the award and be enrolled in formal language instruction (in the language of the award) and area or international studies courses. Applications are especially encouraged from professional school students.

Students who are already enrolled, or who have been admitted and intend to enroll, for undergraduate or graduate study at Indiana University are required to send the following materials:

1. One copy of the application for Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships;
2. One complete set of transcripts of college and university credits;
3. Two letters of recommendation (printable FLAS Reference Form); and
4. A completed Statement on Language Training and Proposed Program of Study.

Note: If you applied to another IU Center for FLAS in one of the above languages during the February 2010 competition (Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center or Center for the Study of Global Change), it is possible that we can reactivate your existing application without your having to complete a new one. Please let us know by e-mail if you would like us to do this.

The deadline for receipt of materials concerning the application for FLAS Fellowships is August 18, 2010. Because of the short time frame involved for this year’s awards, the committee will temporarily accept unofficial copies of transcripts and recommendations, including recommendations sent by email, for preliminary review purposes. Before any awards are finalized, however, we must receive official transcripts and recommendations (received directly from institutions and recommenders, or delivered in signed/sealed envelopes from the student’s IU home department graduate secretary).

All paper materials should be sent to FLAS Administration c/o NELC, Attn: Zaineb Istrabadi, Goodbody Hall 102, 1011 E Third St., Bloomington, IN 47401. Recommenders may email their letters to zistraba@indiana.edu.

Please visit the NELC Website to download the application and recommendation forms.

Friday, July 23, 2010

The Arabic Language Placement Exam

will be on August 26th from 10-12pm in Ballantine Hall 004. Please RSVP with
Dr. Zaineb Istrabadi if you need to take this exam.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Have You Tried Myhappyplanet.com?

MyHappyPlanet.com is an online community for people who are passionate about learning languages.
Their vision is to bridge cultures around the world through language learning. Their aim is to make language learning more fun, more dynamic, and more effective — without having to pay for it.

With MyHappyPlanet, you can practice speaking with a native speaker, learn more about other cultures, and make friends with people anywhere in the world. They’ve built in great features so you can teach and learn from each other through live chat, messaging, videos, and fun lessons.
  • Have fun while learning
  • Watch videos in multiple languages and view fun language lessons
  • Make friends anywhere in the world
  • Meet people from across the globe and learn about their cultures
  • They will protect your privacy and never disclose your personal info to anyone without your consent

How do I use MyHappyPlanet?
Joining is easy and it’s completely free!
Sign up now and create a profile. Your profile is where you can describe yourself, hobbies, interests, and languages you’re learning. Then search the site for language partners, a friend can be either a language partner (a native speaker) or a study buddy (someone who’s also learning the same language). Chat, with your newfound friends – either real-time (text, voice, video chat) or offline (messaging).

Monday, July 19, 2010

Short-Term Jobs, Internships, and Volunteer Positions

Are you interested in working in the Middle East? Check out this list from transitionsabroad.com of perspective employeers.

Volunteer with Unipal!

Unipal (A Universities’ Trust for Educational Exchange with Palestinians) seeks to facilitate a two-way process of education; providing English-language teaching in Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon and introducing British students to a knowledge and understanding of the situation and daily lives of refugees.

Unipal...

sends volunteers to the Middle East to work with Palestinians on a short-term basis in the summer, to teach English or to take part in other activities as needed
brings Palestinian teachers of English to Britain in order to study language courses and refresh their language by living with British families
in the past has had long term volunteers teaching students and adults in need of better English.

Volunteer!

Volunteers should be native English speakers, living in the UK and must be 20+ on January 1st in the year in which they volunteer. There is no upper age limit but it is very demanding work in a hot climate, so you need to be fit.

If you would like to speak with a previous volunteer before applying, please email your contact details to: volunteers@unipal.org.uk.

For more information click here.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Two Scholarship/Fellowship Opportunities from IIE

The Fulbright Scholar Program announces the Israel Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships, available to those interested in conducting postdoctoral research in all areas of the sciences, arts, humanities, or social sciences. There are ten fellowships available. The main criteria in the selection of USIEF Fellows are academic excellence, leadership capabilities, and the potential of the proposed visit program to achieve professional objectives while enhancing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and Israel. The application deadline is August 2, 2010. Fulbright Scholar Post-Doctoral Fellowships are also available for Fulbright programs in Egypt and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit http://catalog.cies.org/.

Thank you,

Melanie Thomas
Creative Services Officer
Institute of International Education
Department of Scholar and Professional Programs
3007 Tilden St. NW, Suite #5L
Washington, DC 20008
202-686-7868
202-362-3442
MThomas@iie.org
http://www.iie.org/cies

The Fulbright Scholar Program and Humphrey Fellowship Program are administered by the Institute of International Education’s Department of Scholar and Professional Programs, which includes the Council for International Exchange of Scholars and Humphrey divisions.

For more information, contact us at scholars@iie.org or 202-686-4000 or visit www.iie.org/cies.
----------------------------------

On July 21st, 2010 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in Ballantine 304 a representative from the Institute of International Education will be speaking with interested students about the David L. Boren Scholarships and Fellowships.

Boren Awards provide a unique funding opportunity for U.S. students to study world regions critical to U.S. interests (including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East). The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded. The Boren Fellowship allows graduate students to add an important international and language component to their graduate studies. Boren Fellows can be awarded up to $30,000.

Additional information on preferred geographic regions, languages, fields of study and application procedures can be found at http://www.borenawards.org/.

For more information please contact Paul Fogleman, IU Boren Graduate Fellowship Representative (pfoglema@indiana.edu), or contact Boren Awards at 1 800 618 NSEP or boren@iie.org.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Sharek Youth Forum is Looking for Volunteers!

A leading Palestinian youth organization with the primary goal of creating the space and capacity for youth to engage as active participants in all sectors of civil society and to participate in the development of local communities. Originally launched as a program of the UNDP in 1996, Sharek became an independent NGO in 2004. As a youth organization for youth, run by youth, Sharek tackles development issues from a unique perspective which directly reflects youth needs and visions.

Sharek’s work includes economic empowerment initiatives, providing services to connect youth mentors with underserved children to ensure the realization of children’s right to play and provide complimentary education services; building capacities of other youth organizations, especially small community based youth organizations; and arming youth with knowledge of their human rights and the capacity to articulate, effectively communicate, and persuasively advocate for change on the issues that most affect them, as active individuals and engaged citizens in the process of building a culture of reciprocal respect and democracy in Palestine. Sharek designs and carries out its youth development programs with hundreds of motivated youth volunteers involved in project design and implementation.

Step Forward: the Center for Youth Economic Empowerment
http://www.stepforward.ps/

With 4 years of experience implementing careers and business services for youth, Sharek Youth Forum decided in 2009 to target its efforts into a new center focusing on economic empowerment: Step Forward. The center is now leading the way in addressing key challenges set out by Sharek Youth Forum in its August 2009 white paper: a Youth Employment Action Plan (see http://www.stepforward.ps/en/knowledge/yeap/). Step Forward’s strategy is to develop knowledge and advocacy as fundamental building blocks upon which high quality services can be provided. It aims to get all Palestinian youth actively participating in the economy.

Based on this strategy, Step Forward works on three programmes: School-to-Work, Youth Enterprise and Welcomed to Work. Each works on research, advocacy and services to address the challenges faced by youth trying to become economically active. School-to-Work addresses the gap between education and employment. Youth Enterprise addresses the barriers to youth establishing micro and small businesses. Welcomed to Work addresses particular issues facing marginalized groups.
 
Programme Information
Target Group Young people (21-25) with an interest in working with Palestinian youth in the field of economic empowerment and with a skill or experience to contribute.

Programme Structure
Length of Internship 3-6 months
Start Dates 01/07/2010; 15/09/2010; 01/01/2011; 01/04/2011
Costs No fee is currently applied; you will require approximately $400 per month to cover rent and living costs
Benefits Work-related West Bank travel expenses are paid

Fields of Work (2010-11)
Office-based:
  • A1 Research & reporting
  • A2 Resource development
  • A3 Training (including English teaching)
  • A4 Website Development
  • A5 Fundraising & PR
Field-based:*
  • B1 Field research
  • B2 Business coaching
  • B3 Training
* requires excellent spoken Palestinian Arabic Notes

You can select up to three fields of work and work on up to two during your internship. If you complete your work early, you can select a new fields of work You must commit to the work and normally you would be expected to work full-time. Part-time arrangements are possible. If you have an idea for a placement, please let us know by submitting your proposal using the same approach as below.

Applications Applicants should complete the associated application form and return it to maha.smoom@sharek.ps at least 1 month before their proposed start-date. Following the application, a skype interview will be arranged.
 
Please visit the Sharek website to download an information packet with detailed information and an application.
Thanks Kasia for bringing this to our attention!

Monday, July 12, 2010

The Monterey Institute of International Studies

 is an academic community committed to preparing innovative professionals to provide leadership in cross-cultural, multilingual environments.

Mission & History
Established in 1955 as the Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies, founders Gaspard Weiss, Remsen Bird, and Dwight Morrow Jr. envisioned a learning institution that promoted international understanding through the study of language and culture. While the institute’s name has evolved into the Monterey Institute of International Studies its core identity as an innovative leader in international education continues to define professional, global learning.
Over the decades the Institute has grown, adding new programs, faculty, and students to expand its global reach and educational mission. In 1961, the school moved to its current downtown Monterey location, where it presently occupies 14 buildings that house two graduate schools, multiple research centers, and numerous special programs.

The Institute Today 

The Monterey Institute offers graduate programs that prepare innovative professionals to provide leadership in cross-cultural, multilingual environments. Practical skills, collaborative processes, and innovative approaches are defining features of a Monterey Institute education. The Institute’s unique "Monterey Way" learning model ensures that students are learning through firsthand experiences in more than one language. Monterey Institute learners are problem solvers and process masters, building sustainable, equitable solutions for a global community through our interdisciplinary blend of business, policy, and language.

The Institute's Graduate School of International Policy and Management and the Graduate School of Translation, Interpretation, and Language Education offer degrees in international policy studies, translation and interpretation, language education, and international business that have propelled our alumni into international careers that address the critical challenges of this century.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Tour IU in Arabic?

Did you know that you can download podcasts of the Wells Library Tour in different languages? Learning Arabic? Kazakh? Urdu? Hebrew? Or Farsi? Test out your language skills with these interactive tours!

Monday, June 28, 2010

American Islamic College Courses

Established in 1981 as a private, not-for-profit, four-year college offering programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies. In March 1983, the college purchased its present landmark building on Lake Shore Drive, and in September 1983 began its first academic semester.
The College was the only Islamic institution of higher education with degree granting authority in North America that provided a living context of Islamic faith, practice and ethics. In 1991 the College was granted the authority to offer the Associate of Arts degree in addition to the Bachelor of Arts degree. After some period of silence, now, under its new administration, the American Islamic College opens its doors to educate the Chicago community in particular and the American Community in general with a variety of degrees, programs and events.

Arabic Calligraphy 101 
6-week class
This course will introduce students to the different styles of Arabic Calligraphy while focusing on Thuluth, a style that emerged in the 11 century CE. The class will meet once a week for a two-hour session. Students will be coached on using the units of measurement for each single letter of the Thuluth style as well as the relationship between the various letters of the Arabic Alphabet.


In the first half of the course, the students will be using special markers that are designed with a chisel tip, similar to the traditional reed pen (Boussa) that is used by professional calligraphers. In the second half, they will be introduced to the use of the reed pen with ink, and the technique of shaping and refining their own pens. By the end of the course, students should be able to produce a composition of their own and utilize the rules of measurement to check their work for mistakes. They will also be able to distinguish between various styles and judge the authenticity of each style while relying on the rules they have learned in class.
When: Wednesdays, July 7th – August 11th from 6:30PM-8:30PM
Instructor: Majed Abuajamia
Fee: $150; materials included. Students keep their own work. Free parking available.

Registration and payment are due no later than July 1st. Please use our online paypal account or send a check payable to: “American Islamic College”.

Conversational Arabic 101 
6 Week Course
This is a beginner’s conversational Arabic course that will focus on pronunciation, comprehension, and verbal skills. Minimal emphasis will be placed on grammar, which will only be explained as necessary for comprehension. Students will learn how to greet others, introduce themselves and others, ask basic questions and respond to them, carry on basic conversations related to everyday life situations, and learn more about Arab and Islamic culture as relates to the basic themes of this course.
This class is a prerequisite to Conversational Arabic 102. Classes are non-credit and non-degree.
When: Saturdays, July 10th – August 14th from 10:30AM-12:30PM
Where: American Islamic College
Instructor: Professor Fadel Abdallah, visiting professor from Johns Hopkins University. He previously taught at Northwestern University and Lake Forest College. He has published several books on the Arabic language and is a native Arabic speaker.
Fee: $200; includes books and parking.
Registration and payment are due no later than July 3rd. Please use our online paypal account or send a check payable to: “American Islamic College”.

Ebru 101: Turkish Art Class
6-week class
Ebru, often referred to as the “dance of color on water”, is an authentic Turkish art that has been considered a spiritual art for centuries. This unique art form is produced by sprinkling color pigments into a trough of oily water and utilizes special brushes to create various designs that are then transferred on to a sheet of paper or other surface.
This class will cover a variety of techniques that participants will use to create their own masterpieces. Select art works will be displayed at an international conference held at the AIC this September! Come join us and learn the techniques of this ancient tradition.
When: Tuesdays, July 6th-August 10th from 6:30PM-8:30PM
Instructor: Sevim Surucu
Fee: $150; materials included. Students keep their own work.
Free parking available