- Victoria studied Kazakh in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Learning languages has been one of my favorite hobbies since elementary school: I dabbled in Latin in the 5th grade, taught myself German in 10th grade, and, most recently learned Russian using social media and movies in my junior year of college. But it was not until I lived and studied Kazakh in Almaty, Kazakhstan, last summer that I learned that language could be much more than just a way to satisfy my intellectual curiosity. While… Read More
- Keely Bakken is a Master's student in Central Eurasian Studies and Public Affairs at Indiana University, Bloomington. She studied Tatar in Kazan, Russia. There have always been a number of excellent reasons to learn another language. From the numerous cognitive benefits of bi- and multilingualism to the immense personal growth attributable to language's ability to open the door to increased understanding of other peoples, perspectives, and cultures, it's difficult to imagine why everyone isn't… Read More
- Hundreds of public and private sector experts gathered in Warsaw, Poland on October 5-9 to advance innovation ties between Poland and the United States as part of the US-Poland Innovation Council (PLUS-IP), a public-private partnership that connects government, business, and academia in Poland with their US counterparts in similar areas of expertise and economic development to promote access to capital and more rapid and effective commercialization of technology. American Councils for… Read More
- This article originally appeared on District Administration By Jessica Terrell Preparing students for an increasingly global workforce means teaching them not only how to speak a second language, but how to think critically in that language and have a deep understanding of the culture and geography that are embedded in it. Increases in rigor and depth are a focus of this year's American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) conference, which will be held Nov. 20 to 22 in San… Read More
- This article was originally published at CEOWorld Magazine By Aurora Smith Getting ahead of your competitors in 2015 often means speaking more than one language. After all, thanks to the globalisation of business, our clients are often based far and wide. And if you can't communicate with them in their language, not only might you lose out on their business, but they may just take their business with them to one of your rivals. Being multilingual immediately says to clients that you are an… Read More
- Open online courses, often referred to as MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), made popular by students interested in online and distance learning, are designed to encourage wide participation and provide equal access to learning for students anywhere in the world with an Internet connection. While some MOOCs have fees, most are free and meant to be accessible. In Azerbaijan, high school students regularly visit the EducationUSA office to learn more about attending college or university in the… Read More
- Editor's Note: Zahabya Mama is a junior who is studying political science and Russian at Bryn Mawr College. She studied abroad in the summer of 2015 in Saint Petersburg, Russia at Herzen University and is currently studying abroad over a fall semester at the University College of London. Language is undoubtedly an essential part of my daily life. Whether it's used for school, work, buying groceries, ordering coffee, or simply getting to know new people, language is key. However,… Read More
- Despite an evening forecast of rain and chill, the atmosphere on the third floor of the Russian Tea Room in New York City could not have been warmer as friends, old and new, gathered to exchange ideas and listen to keynote speeches from Leo Hindery, Jr., managing partner of InterMedia Partners, and former US Senator Bill Bradley. During a private reception, dinner, and presentations, the evening introduced new ways to form partnerships between private industry and nonprofits like American… Read More
- It was 3 a.m. We had been traveling over 24 hours. As we presented our passports to immigration control in Tbilisi, Georgia, however, we were greeted with huge smiles, "Welcome to Georgia," and presented with a bottle of Georgian wine. Exhaustion turned to excitement for the adventures to come.The volunteers at Jvari Monastery (credit: Sarel Kromer)We traveled to this former Soviet Republic under the auspices of American Councils for International Education, an international nonprofit that… Read More
- For most countries around the world, engaging youth in national politics is often a challenge. Kyrgyzstan, a burgeoning democracy in Central Asia, is no exception. Youth often feel disconnected from policy making and believe their voice matters little in their country's future. As part of an effort to reduce youth unemployment and encourage youth inclusion, Kyrgyzstan introduced a new law in 2010 requiring a youth quota for political parties: a minimum of 15 percent of each political party's… Read More
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