Monday, January 31, 2011

Arabic Pedagogy Events Canceled This Week (02/01/2011-02/02/2011)

Due to flight cancelations from inclement weather

the Arabic pedagogy lectures and events

this week have been canceled.

We will be in contact as events are rescheduled.

If you have any questions please contact us.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Interfaith Peace-Builders

 was founded in 2001 and became an independent organization in 2006. Interfaith Peace-Builders is not affiliated with any government, political party, or special interest group. It is funded through individual donations and foundations.

Interfaith Peace-Builders fosters a network of informed and active individuals who understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the United States’ political, military, and economic role in it. To build and nurture such a network, we lead delegations of people from diverse backgrounds to Israel/Palestine. These delegations emphasize listening to and learning from those immersed in the reality of the conflict, and advancing the work of Israelis and Palestinians committed to nonviolent struggle and peace with justice. We seek to empower delegates to educate their local communities and the media, counter unfair or inaccurate stereotypes, and advocate for a more just US foreign policy that:
  • actively promotes civil, political and human rights
  • affirms political self-determination for Palestinians and Israelis
  • fosters economic and environmental sustainability in the region
  • supports a diplomatic resolution to the conflict rather than one imposed by force of arms.

Interfaith Peace-Builders’ Delegation Program presents alternative images of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; images that reach deeper and give a more complete picture. IFPB privileges diverse voices that are not often heard in the United States. Voices of Israelis and Palestinians engaged in nonviolent resistance to an illegal occupation; images of cooperation, of healing, of caring, of hope and possibility. Images such as these help break the paralysis and inform us about the possibilities for a real peace. IFPB’s on-the-ground experience is designed to enrich participants’ understanding of the occupation. Participants on Interfaith Peace-Builders delegations return to North America energized and transformed.

Each IFPB delegation itinerary is unique; however many themes are regular features of our program. A typical delegation will feature meetings with some of the following people and organizations. Links to some organizations are provided below to learn more. Please note: these links are informational only, and do not necessarily constitute the endorsement of Interfaith Peace-Builders.

Interfaith Peace-Builders works hard to keep delegation costs as low as possible. Our commitment to the Palestinian Code of Conduct for Tourism in the Holy Land means that we always pay a fair price for services offered during a delegation. Indeed, there are few programs that offer more for less. Click here to see what makes an IFPB delegation unique.

Ground Fee

The ground fee cost for the 2010 and 2011 delegations is $2100.

This cost includes almost everything for the 13 days of the delegation, including:
  • orientation in Washington, DC
  • hotel and home stay accommodations
  • breakfasts and dinners
  • local transportation
  • speaker and event fees, including honararia to Palestinian and Israeli presenters
  • a professional local guide + two delegations leaders from the US
  • basic tips for guide, driver, and hotel staff
The only things on the ground in Israel/Palestine that the delegation ground fee does not cover are: (1) lunches; (2) souvenirs and gifts you wish to buy; and (3) extra tips if you'd like to add to the base tip for driver and guide.

Budget around $10 per day for lunch. Use your own judgment for what you will need for gifts and extras. While we give a group tip to our guide and driver at the end of the journey, we encourage additional tips if you are pleased with their work.

**The price of the Olive Harvest delegation is $100 more ($2200 total) than our other delegations because of the extra transportation and event cost incurred in getting to sites where we can learn more about issues facing olive growers and farmers.

Airfare

The ground fee does not include domestic and international airfare.

Scholarships

Part of the mission of Interfaith Peace-Builders is to send as many people as possible to Israel/Palestine. In keeping with this mission we have a small fund for scholarship matching grants - money that we can contribute to delegate expenses to help with the cost of the delegation. We also have a fundraising packet to help prospective delegates raise money to cover their delegation expenses.

Scholarships: Interfaith Peace-Builders often has limited scholarship money to help with delegation expenses. In granting scholarship money, IFPB prioritizes those who would not otherwise be able to join. We also make scholarship money available to people who diversify our delegations and broaden education and advocacy work in the US. We strive to organize delegations diverse in age, gender, sexual orientation, class, ethnic identity, religious belief, and racial background. Scholarships generally range between $250-$500 per person. To apply, we have a one-page supplement to our regular application.

**Scholarship Opportunity for Summer 2011 Delegations**

Interfaith Peace-Builders is pleased to offer up to TWO $1000 Scholarships for students and young adults (ages 18-30) towards the ground fee of our May or July 2011 delegations.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

2011 Intensive Summer Language Institutes Program

American Councils for International Education is pleased to announce the 2011 Intensive Summer Language Institutes Program taking place next summer in Alexandria, Egypt and Changchun, China. The Intensive Summer Language Institutes provide fully funded fellowships for U.S. classroom teachers to spend six weeks overseas studying intermediate and advanced-level Arabic and Mandarin Chinese. The program targets current K-12 teachers and community college instructors of the target languages, as well as students enrolled in education programs preparing them to teach these languages. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and non-native speakers of Arabic and Chinese in order to qualify. This U.S. Government language program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State(http://exchanges.state.gov/) and administered by American Councils for International Education: http://www.americancouncils.org/.
Participants in the Intensive Summer Language Institutes receive ten hours of graduate credit through Bryn Mawr College. Previous program participants have thrived on the Summer Language Institutes’ many opportunities for curriculum building and professional development. The sites in China (Northeast Normal University) and Egypt (Alexandria University), highly conducive to language learning, provide a myriad of activities to encourage language acquisition through cultural immersion. In addition to daily intensive language training, participants enjoy cultural activities and excursions designed to reinforce classroom material. Returned alumni are eligible for additional funding for relevant follow-on activities that promote program goals.
The program application, benefits, and detailed application instructions are located online at http://apps.americancouncils.org/isli2011. In addition to the online form, applicants are asked to provide official transcripts, two reference letters, and a medical form. All materials are due on March 4, 2011.

Iran Travel Programs

My name is Jerry Dekker and I have been organizing student travel to Iran since 1997. So far we have served just over 300 Americans who have taken one of our study/cultural tours to Iran. In the summer of 2011 we will again be offering two trips to Iran for students, teachers and all who are interested in learning about Iran from first hand experience. You may have students or faculty interested in our travel programs. Please take a look at our website at http://www.irantraveler.net/.  Bona fide students and teachers are eligible for discounts. Please call me in San Francisco at (415) 776-7609 if you have any questions regarding our student travel programs.


Sincerely yours,
Jerry Dekker
jerry@irantraveler.net

Qatar Scholarship Program

The Center for Contemporary Arab Studies at Georgetown University is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2011-2012 Qatar Scholarship Program.


The Qatar Scholarship Program offers dedicated Arabic language students from the United States the opportunity to master their skills in an intensive Arabic language program at Qatar University (QU) in Doha for an entire academic year (September to June). The scholarship includes tuition, room and board in university dorms, round-trip airfare, local transportation, and books.

Interested students must have obtained a Bachelor's degree by the beginning of the program, have two years of formal Arabic study, and be at the intermediate level of proficiency in Arabic.

For more information, please visit:
http://ccas.georgetown.edu/academics/scholarships/qsprogram/
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions regarding the Qatar Scholarship Program.
Sincerely,
Qatar Scholarship Program
Center for Contemporary Arab Studies
Georgetown University
241 ICC
37th and O Sts., NW
Washington, DC 20057
qatarscholar@georgetown.edu

The Arabic Academy in Cairo

Arab Academy in Cairo is delighted to announce that our Arabic Summer Abroad in Cairo 2011 is now available for enrollment. We welcome all applicants – from those who don’t know Arabic to those at the most advanced levels, we are here to help you achieve proficiency in Arabic.


  
We offer you:
  • Intensive four- or eight-week summer courses
  • Orientation session, handbook to life in Cairo, and placement test
  • All levels of Arabic language taught, including instruction in MSA and colloquial Arabic
  • Small classes conducted entirely in Arabic at all levels
  • Detailed weekly feedback
  • Access to our award-winning online resources
  • Cultural excursions and hands-on experiences integrated in the curriculum
  • Certificate of studies
  • Dedicated, experienced and professional staff
  • Help with arrivals and accommodation
  • Central location in Garden City in downtown Cairo
  • An amazing adventure with Arabic language!

  
Program Details:
  • 3 -30 Jun (1st session) and 1-28 Jul 2011 (2nd session), enroll for one or both
  • 20 contact hours per week
  • 7 cultural outings with teachers per session allowing you to practice Arabic in real situation
  • Competitive price: $995 per session

Arab Academy in Cairo was the pioneer in delivering online Arabic programs since 1997. We have also offered study abroad programs since 2002 and are currently expanding to serve individuals and universities seeking programs that provide students with proficiency in Arabic in the shortest possible time while engaging with Arab culture. Our varied study abroad programs, offered year-round, include an integrated program of cultural outings accompanied by our Arabic teachers giving students a chance to practice Arabic both inside and outside the classroom.

 
To apply or to find out more please visit our website: http://www.arabicincairo.com/.  Questions may be directed to info@arabacademy.com