News & Events
September, 2004 - November, 2004

ISA students are encouraged to be innovative, understand the greater world, and be leaders by taking part in the local and global community.

International School of the Americas Recognized for Excellence in International Education
The International School of the Americas (ISA) in San Antonio, Texas, is a partner school in the School Connectivity program for its second year, and is now a winner of the 2004 Goldman Sachs Foundation Prize for Excellence in International Education. More than half of the student body is made up of minority students. The school values its diversity and teaches its students to be “global citizens”. Part of the mission of ISA is to challenge students and teachers to use their education to improve themselves, their school, and the local and global communities.

Besides participating in the School Connectivity Program, ISA works towards this mission by taking part in the global community in other ways. ISA’s other international projects include a week-long school trip to explore Mexican culture, as well as science partnerships with schools in Japan. ISA also participated in International Education Week with a student simulation of the United Nations, hosted by Model United Nations San Antonio (MUNSA), in which 600 students across San Antonio and Mexico participated. Another exciting upcoming project is the school’s Culture Fair, in which students will research Tajikistan and share their new knowledge and culture with other students at the fair.

One of the Exchange Teachers - Zebo with her students at the ILC in Sarband celebrating Thanksgiving Day

Celebrating Thanksgiving Day in Tajikistan and Ramazan Holiday in the US
People in the USA and Tajikistan love to celebrate. Although they may have different holidays, they also have much in common - the defining characteristic of both Tajik and American holidays, is that the celebration unites people with their families and friends. This is why we focused on Thanksgiving Day in the US and Eid-i-Ramazan in Tajikistan in the holidays lesson - these are different holidays, that center around visiting families and friends. In general, this lesson was designed to introduce students to respected customs and traditions of other countries that show how even ancient holidays connect us with the universality of celebrations.

During this activity, students filled out the charts for the holiday of their partner country so they could plan a celebration of this holiday. They searched the Internet for both holidays, to find out the special traditions involved in the celebration, and also looked for the recipes of traditional food in the US and Tajikistan.

Almost all Connectivity Schools created a celebration of the holiday in their partner country—Eid-i-Ramazon in the US or Thanksgiving in Tajikistan.

Eid-I-Ramazon was celebrated on November 14th this year in Tajikistan, but for the students of Colorado Academy, the holiday fell on November 22nd. As part of the School Connectivity November Holidays activity, Colorado Academy students celebrated the Muslim holiday after learning about it through their own research and from the help of their partner schools in Tajikistan.

Students prepared food based on recipes of Tajikistani national dishes, including Palov (osh), made greeting cards to exchange at the celebration, and listened to Tajikistani music that a student found online. After feasting on the food and exchanging Eid-I-Ramazon greetings, the students shared the food and spirit of Eid-I-Ramazon with other students in the school. The students are working on a video of their holiday celebration, so they can keep and share their memories of Eid-I-Ramazon.

Tajikistani students celebrated Thanksgiving Day all week - each day at least one ILC prepared food and made decorations. In Sarband, OSE Zebo and her students dressed in the traditional costumes of the Native Americans; in Gulyakandoz students cooked a real Turkey; if you were in Istaravshan, you could try real Tajik Pumpkin Pie; in Nurek, students fried two chickens, in place of one turkey.

The students took pictures of the celebrations/presentations and sent them to their partner schools. Please, visit our website here: http://www.connect-tajikistan.org/en/sc_holidays.html to find more about this activity.

Amber working with a group of students in the conversation class, School #8, Dushanbe

Conversational Language Classes Helping Tajik English Teachers
November marked the start of an exciting new English language element being added to the connectivity program in Tajikistan. Amber Ward, a teacher of English as a foreign language, has been leading a teacher training program in the Dushanbe ILC at the School for the Deaf. These English conversation classes are for secondary school English teachers, who may have a good understanding of the grammatical rules of the language but never get any practice speaking in English. These teachers have selected their most dedicated and promising pupils to also attend the class. The goal of Amber’s class is to strengthen the teachers’ knowledge and ability to use English, which will be passed down to their students.

The main focus of the class is speaking and listening comprehension. By working on speaking English these teachers are forced to think and analyze in English for the first time; engaging themselves in conversations, debates and games. Amber is also introducing the ideas of computer assisted language learning (CALL) to these teachers by using computers and the Internet as tools for both teaching and learning. For some of these teachers this class is their first exposure to computers, and the possibilities the new technology present are endless. Finally Amber is exposing these teachers to new EFL methodologies, games, and activities through her upbeat and fun teaching style. By teaching through example Amber is providing these English teachers with up to date methods and materials that they can use in their own classes. Even though not listed in the syllabus, these teachers are receiving a unique chance to get to know an American teacher, fostering professional relationships and personal friendships.

Konibodom and Kayrokkum students at Nigina’s presentation about the US

Connectivity Students Participating in International Education Week
During November 15th-24th RI-SOL participated in International Education Week for the second year. For this special event the Connectivity Project planned different activities, such as debuting the new website called ‘The English Club’, which was created by Amber Ward and Ibragim Rustamov. The English Club is a website designed to give English learners of different levels a fun and interactive place to practice and improve their English. It was designed with both Tajik students and teachers in mind. Please, visit: http://www.connect-tajikistan.org/Club

Connectivity students had a chance to participate in different forums with interesting and useful topics. The forum for Connectivity students and FLEX students in the US was the most active. We invited FLEX Students from Tajikistan studying in different states of the US to talk about their experience, so our students could have a wider idea about life and education in the US. Almost all our Internet Learning Centers participated in this forum.

Another forum – ‘About Holidays in the US and Tajikistan’ was also organized as part of the IEW. The FLEX Students in America and RI-SOL’s Amber Ward from the USA also participated in the forums. Tajik students told the US students about their holiday, and how they had celebrated Thanksgiving Day in Tajikistan. Tajik students also shared their traditional food recipes and greetings.

Our Exchange Teachers also made their presentations during these days. Zebo, Miyasar, Dilorom, Takhmina and Nigina presented their trip to America one more time, but for a larger audience of teachers, students and government officials. The most interesting event was organized by Nigina – she took students from the Kayrakkum ILC to the Konibodom ILC – where students from both ILCs could listen to Nigina’s presentation.

We think that the overall objective of IEW – to better understand the culture, life, traditions, and especially education in other countries- was achieved.

Joe Chamberlain, Political Officer at the US Embassy in Tajikistan during the forum. Dushanbe

Connectivity Students Participating in an Online Forum on the Elections
On October 7th 2004 students of the School Connectivity Project for Tajikistan participated in an online forum on the subject “US Presidential Elections”. The guest of our forum was Mr. Joe Chamberlain, political officer for the US Embassy in Tajikistan. For one hour students from Dushanbe, Nurek, Tursunzade and other Connectivity Schools had a chance to ask Mr. Joe Chamberlain questions about the upcoming US Presidential Elections.

Students learned many new things about the Elections in the USA. Some of them asked general questions on the elections: “What age can people vote in the US?”, “What election system will be used in the voting?”, “How long will the elections last?”, “What is the limit on number of candidates?” etc. Joe Chamberlain gave very detailed answers to the questions explaining the rules of the US elections. Other students wanted to know Mr. Joe Chamberlain’s opinion.

The first question was about peace: “Can countries live in peace?” Joe Chamberlain: “The easy answer is that of course countries can live together in peace; I wouldn’t be a diplomat if I didn’t think it was possible”. Mr. Joe Chamberlain was very impressed by students’ questions and tried his best to answer all of them.

Students at School for the hearing impaired greeting their guests.Opening Ceremony, Dushanbe

Connectivity Tajikistan Has Been Enriched with Three New Internet Leaning Centers
With additional funding by US State Department, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs the Connectivity Program has expanded to three new schools, making a total of 24 Internet Centers in Tajikistan. The new centers are School #14 in Kayrakkum - Sogd region, School #1 Vaksh – Khatlon region, and Specialized School # 8 for hearing- and speech-impaired students in Dushanbe.

The first of the three centers was opened in the specialized school for hearing and speech-impaired students and community members. At the school there are 120 hearing impaired students, and in Dushanbe over 1500 hearing impaired adults. All are welcome to come to the center. Once the children learn how to use computers they will participate in our internet forums and projects as equals in this virtual dialogue. “The Internet has a way of erasing challenges such as hearing and speech impediments,” stated Ambassador Hoagland at the opening ceremony.   “It is free information for all and free access for all — one just has to learn how to use it.”  The center will also be used by students from nearby School #51 who will be learning English at the center taught by RI-SOL volunteer Amber Ward.

The second opening was in School #14 in Kayrakkum. This school is located next to the famous inland sea of Tajikistan. At the opening children lined the streets and local education officials were present to give speeches welcoming the center to their town. This is a very progressive school with partnerships with the Soros Foundation and the USAID PEAKS project. The director of this school encourages her teachers to further their professional development by attending seminars, and now they can use the Internet Center to improve their curriculum design and teaching methods.

The third opening was in school #1 in Vaksh. This region has never seen the internet before and the very idea was new to the school and local government. But the school enthusiastically prepared a new room for the center and the students were looking forward to being able to communicate with other students in Tajikistan and America. This region has little or no electricity in winter, so from the first day the computer room was powered by a portable generator given as part of the center. Students are already learning how to open emails and are looking forward to sharing their impressions on the internet forums.

These three new schools bring the total number of Connectivity centers in Tajikistan to 24. For the first time in history pupils and community members of Tajikistan have the ability to share ideas and make friendships across their county and around the world. The centers all participate in forums, share ideas with their American peers, use the internet for reading news, and for finding information for their classes.

We welcome these three new schools to our Connectivity community.

Election activity at International School of the Americas, US

Connectivity Students from the US and Tajikistan Learning About Elections During An Education Activity
As the United States prepared to make a crucial decision, in one of the country’s closest presidential elections in decades, American students in School Connectivity partner schools – though too young to vote – became very involved in the election by learning about democratic processes and the election system. US students took part in the October monthly collaborative activity, Elections, by researching “hot topics” (important issues) in the presidential election and the stance taken by major political parties on the topics.

Some schools incorporated the Elections activity into larger election projects. The 10th graders of High Tech High International in San Diego, CA, selected the political issues they were most interested in, and formed political parties with students acting as candidates. The “candidates”, with the help of their loyal party supporters, encouraged other students to join their party with brochures and convincing arguments in an exciting debate covering chief issues such as… education!

The entire student body of International School of the Americas in San Antonio, Texas, tends to buzz with excitement and political discussion whenever election year rolls around every 4 years. This year, ISA held a 2-week long election event, in which student representatives of 7 US political parties held town hall meetings to discuss their party’s stance on important issues such as the environment and foreign policy. After learning more about each party, students were asked to choose a party to support. Following a debate between student party representatives, and intense campaigning with banners and slogans, the student body voted in their own election! To find out more about the election event and what party won at ISA, visit http://www.neisd.net/isa/election/election.html

Connectivity students in Tajikistan were also very active during the Elections Activity. Students were having debates and discussion about different elections issues: how government does/does not address the problems of daily life, what is a party platform, and how to become involved by voicing your concerns to political parties and NGOs.

Throughout this activity, students have learned about how both an established democracy and a developing country address their problems and disagreements. Ultimately, they learned why it is important to vote and become involved in civic life. Almost all ILC’s invited representatives from local political parties to their classes.

As a result students send their summaries about political and election issues to their partner schools in the US. After that students had discussions on the forum.

Books from Garlic Press

Isfara ILC Received English Books from the Garlic Press Publishing House
The Internet is a source of unlimited information for people of all ages. Teachers and Educators these days in Isfara try to learn and improve their skills by being in contact with others.

By searching the resources for teachers on the Internet, Ibragim, the On-Site Educator from Isfara has found many good websites that offer lesson plans, teachers’ tools and lot of useful links to free resources. English teachers who have a desire to learn and improve their teaching skills may find amazing tools to make their lessons more fun, and participate in teachers’ forums.

By searching the Internet, Ibragim found out about The Garlic Press which publishes English, math, and sign language books for teachers, home –teachers, and for learners. Ibragim wrote to The Garlic Press and told them about the lack of books and textbooks in Tajikistan, which he needs to teach his classes. The publishers always appreciate teachers’ comments and suggestions to improve their publications.

One month later, Ibragim was called to the post office to get a large parcel with more than 70 books. A gift from The Garlic Press which he now uses in his English classes at the ILC.

“If you seek, you will find, if you ask, you will get an answer and if you knock on the door it will open: http:// www.garlicpress.com

Trainer Nigina helping Connectivity students during the seminar. Khujand, School #4

English Libraries Seminars for the Connectivity Centers
With financial support from the US Embassy in Tajikistan, RI-SOL has organized English seminars in ten ILC’s around Tajikistan. This project was written with the main aim of helping Tajikistan students learn the English language better.

The English Language Workshops were held in October in Connectivity ILC’s around the country. They were lead by Nigina Siyakova, On-Site Educator from Tursunzade School #101.

Two hundred students and teachers participated in this training, during which they learned how to use the internet in their English language classes (for teachers) and in their study (for students). They used search engines to find specific information, including on-line games and intellectual websites about culture and life in the US. The trainer showed them how to use virtual CD’s to study English (from beginner to upper levels) and how to use English books in teacher’s lessons and in student’s study.

After the completion of the workshop each center received 4 to 5 CD’s on how to learn English and 8 to 11 books in English – for students and Teachers – so each center can now create their own small library.

On November 22, 2004 as part of RI-SOL’s International Education Week activities, a website called The English Club will debut. The English Club is a website designed to give English learners of different levels a fun and interactive place to practice and improve their English. The website has self-guided lessons of grammatical structures to review, quizzes to self-check understanding, as well as alphabetical lists of common idioms and slang. There is a section designated for Tajik English teachers which will include links to useful websites for English teachers, sample lesson plans, ideas for activities and games. Also on the website is a section entitled “Ask Amber!” where students and teachers are encouraged to email question they have about the English language to Amber Ward, an American teacher of English as a foreign language who is currently living in Tajikistan.

Students and Teachers from the US will have a chance to visit this website – so they can give Tajik students their comments, ideas and simply help them to find more about English Language.

Discussion during the conference, Prague.

Connectivity Teachers Were Invited to Participate in a Conference on Democracy in Prague
From October 23rd through the 28th there was a conference in Prague called ‘Deliberating in Democracy’. Two Tajikistan Connectivity Teachers went to Prague to attend this conference

The Constitutional Rights Foundation in Chicago in partnership with the Constitutional Rights Foundation in Los Angeles and Street Law, spearheaded this five year teacher-based initiative, ‘Deliberating in Democracy.’ It was designed to improve the teaching and learning of democratic principles and foster the skills of civic deliberation.

Funded by a grant from the US Department of Education, ‘Deliberating in a Democracy’s’ overall goal is to increase the knowledge,ability and dispositions of teachers,students and policy-makers to effectively participate in deliberations related to democratic principles as applied in their countries.The emphasis is on direct, person to person, exchange of ideas and experiences that gives people a much clearer picture of democracy in action. 

On-Site Educator and connectivity students during the forum. School #3, Nurek

Connectivity Students and Teachers Start New School Year with First Collaborative Project
In September, to start a new school year Connectivity Students were working under ‘A Day in the Life of a Student’ activity. During this activity lead group were exploring and describing their home, lifestyles, and culture for their partner schools, and they were trying to understand the daily realities of life in another country. This activity is planned as an introductory activity for the students to get to know each other as their collaboration starts.

Using photos and text, student teams from each school prepared presentations in PowerPoint describing a day in their lives. The students designed their own presentations, and they were focusing on a typical school day: what time they get up and what time they go to bed, what they eat and when, what religious or family traditions they follow, who their friends and families are, what they wear, what movies and television they watch, what hobbies and sports they do after school, etc. Some of these presentations will be posted on the Connectivity website.

School teams emailed their presentations to their partner schools in the US and in return they received US students’ presentations – both sides were very active and creative. You can see some of the presentations here: http://www.connect-tajikistan.org/en/sc_ditl_pps.html

After this activity students from both countries participated in a forum and discussed and asked questions about their presentations: http://tojikiston.com/connect/forum/viewforum.php?f=69

First PowerPoint presentation of students from School #1 in Ayni, Ayni Region

Long-awaited New Internet Learning Center Opens in Remote Ayni School
With the support of the British Embassy RI-SOL opened its 21st Internet Learning Center in Tajikistan.

For the mountainous region of Ayni September 1, 2004 was not only the first day of school, it was the first day that internet arrived to their region. The whole town was anxious for this new connection to the world. Hundreds of pupils, local officials and parents showed up for the official opening ceremony.

Ayni, located between the major Tajik cities of Dushanbe and Khujant, is separated from both cities by high mountain passes. In winter time the city is almost shut off from the rest of the country. This center is located in such a remote mountainous region that the only way to bring internet to the school was by using VSAT technology that connects directly to a satellite. The center will now have a constant and fast connection to the outside world. As in all of our centers, the internet will be used by the community as well. In Ayni the local government officials plan to use the center for sending information when the roads are closed.

Graem Lotten, the British Ambassador to Tajikistan was there for the opening day. He was very impressed by the preparations made by the school for the opening. Pupils sang songs in English and thanked him for helping their town connect to the internet. After the official portion of the program ended the Ambassador sat with students and showed them how to type their name into the computer. He told the students that he would keep in communication with them, and find them partners schools in England for them to communicate with.

We welcome Ayni into the Connectivity program, and wish them success with their new center.

Visitors were very interested in RI-SOL activities - our brochures disappeared in 10 minutes. Educational Fair, Dushanbe

RI-SOL Interests Youth at Soros Educational Fair in Dushanbe
On September 24th RI-SOL participated in the Soros Educational fair in Dushanbe. The purpose of the fair was to provide information to students that are interested in studying abroad. While we do not send students to study in other countries, we do give them access to other countries. There was great interest in our program, especially the access we can give them to the internet. All of the exchange programs have information online, or we suggested that students contact universities directly to ask about possibilities to study abroad. Also there are many online courses that are available for students that want an international education.

We could see at this Educational Fair how important the internet is for university students. Previously, there was no possibility for all students to study abroad, but now there is access to the world of education through the internet. This field will grow substantially over the coming years and RI-SOL is doing all it can to prepare the next generation of Internet users. The only limit to using the web for study is imagination, and with students, imagination has no limits.

Connectivity Teachers in the family circle of their new friends in Los Angeles

Five Tajik Teachers Learn about Technology and the US from Connectivity Exchange Program to Los Angeles!
On September 14th, five Tajik teachers participating in the Central Asian School Connectivity Project  arrived in Los Angeles for a 3 week exchange.  The teachers, chosen through a competitive process were, Takhmina Sirodzhova, Dilorom Abdulloeva, Nigina Mirzoeva, Zeboniso Muradova and Miyassar Eshonqulova. 

During their stay the teachers took daily classes at the University of California at Los Angeles, which is one of California’s largest universities.  The classes focused on integrating technology into the classroom and on curriculum design.  The participants worked hard with university professors and experts to learn all they could about U.S.  educational practices. The teachers wrote lesson plans after learning a new method for curriculum design, built PowerPoint presentations and worked together on a website about their trip. They also tracked their trip by writing daily journals on the connect-tajikistan forum so students and teachers in the United States and Tajikistan  could follow along on their adventures. The e-journals are up and are available for viewing on the connect-tajikistan forum here: http://tojikiston.com/connect/forum/index.php under ‘Special Forums’. 

The teachers  also visited two CASCP partner schools. High Tech High International (HTHI) in San Diego, California and Delano High School in Delano, California.  Teachers spent two days at each school watching classes, talking to teachers and students and giving presentations about Tajikistan.  At HTHI teachers Zebonisso and Miyassar danced and sang traditional Tajik dances in one of the classes!  The students loved it! At Delano High the Student Government threw the teachers a party with traditional food eaten in the Delano community. Teachers got to try a number of different dishes from Mexican and Philipino backgrounds.

After long days at UCLA the teachers explored Los Angeles with RI-SOL staff members Caitlin Drewes and Susie Chang.  some of the highlights were, visiting Hollywood and seeing John Travolta at a movie premier, collecting shells and playing on the beach at the Pacific Ocean, a day riding roller coasters at Disneyland, cooking a Tajik feast for all their new American friends, and being invited to dinner at a number of peoples homes throughout their stay. 

After three fun, busy weeks the teachers headed back to Tajikistan. The night before they left a goodbye dinner was thrown with RI-SOL staff, UCLA staff and many friends.  Everyone who had met the teachers during their stay came to say goodbye.  It was with heavy hearts that all their new friends in California said good-bye.

Participating in a Fun Forum, School #1, Isfara

Connectivity Students Have Fun While Learning about Partner Countries
In addition to our educational activities such as ‘Elections’ we have planned a series of Fun Activities – Fun Forums Activity and Monthly Trivia Question Activity.

Fun Forums: Each month, one school will moderate a forum on a “fun” topic such as dating, movies, sports, fashion, etc. Assisted by RI-SOL, the host school will decide on the topic, create questions to get discussion started, and email partner schools to encourage participation. The forum will be active all month for students to share questions and ideas about informal topics during or outside of class time. In September School #32 in Istaravshan was the moderator with their topic for the Fun Forum – ‘Your Favorite Cartoon Hero'. You can see students responses here: http://tojikiston.com/connect/forum/viewforum.php?f=76

Trivia Question: We are featuring one trivia question about each country and its culture, traditions, etc. on the home page of our web site by the 20th of each month. The first student from the opposite country who will email the answer will receive a small prize, and the correct answer will be posted on the homepage.

The September Trivia Question for US side was: What does “Dushanbe”, the capital of Tajikistan, mean in English? And for Tajik side: Which state is home to the capital city of the US? And the winners are - Kari Frea from Kettle Moraine High School, Wales, WI – from the US side and Bobojonov Jamshed - School#32, Istaravshan – from the Tajik side - Well done!

We received many answers and this means, that students from both countries are learning about history and culture of their partner schools.

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