- The annual TCLP Orientation began on August 3 and, over the course of nine days, the exchange teachers participated in a variety of in-person sessions to prepare them to effectively transition into their schools and communities. Throughout the Orientation, the exchange teachers attended pedagogical sessions on lesson planning, differentiated instruction, total physical response (TPR), assessment, and cooperative learning as well as sessions on diversity and inclusion in the U.S., American… Read More
- American Councils’ Board of Trustees announced that for the annual End-of-Year fundraising campaign they will match dollar for dollar donations received up to $10,000. Our goal is to raise at least $20,000 to support the Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Fund that provides financial assistance to students from traditionally underserved segments of the US to study abroad. In her letter announcing the match, Trustee Alicia S. Ritchie wrote of this moment “as an opportunity to reaffirm our… Read More
- Editor's note: Ermida Koduah (pictured left) and Jasmine Oduro are cousins, travelers, bloggers, and together they run the site, Being Black In, which features stories from a number of AC alumni, including Ms. Koduah. She studied in Tangier, Morocco with the Critical Language Scholarship Program (photo above) and she currently works as a program associate at American Councils. Ms. Oduro currently holds a senior position at an urgent care office. Let's start at the beginning… Read More
- Editor's note: From our most junior level staffers to our president, our global staff has a lot of knowledge about exchange to share. This month, we asked them to share some of their best advice, based on their studies, work experience, and their time working at American Councils. For this piece, we asked: What is your best advice for someone going on an exchange program? 1. Be prepared to present [your] country's culture, do not hesitate to make new friends, have a good… Read More
- The first time he applied for an international exchange program, 17-year-old Carlo Aragon didn’t realize he was starting down a path toward a career in the US Foreign Service. He was in high school, at a meeting of the international club, when he heard about the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y). The president of the extracurricular club at the time had just returned from a summer studying Arabic in Egypt and recommended that Carlo apply for the State Department… Read More
- PR: Art has kind have been my biggest passion since I was a toddler. When I found out I got into YES Abroad I was really bummed because I thought it was not going to be a part of my life that was compatible with studying abroad. I would bring a sketchbook and I would doodle, but I wouldn’t be able to do art. I wouldn't have the corner of my room where all my paintings are and stuff like that. I was really bummed about that, but it was a sacrifice that I was willing to make. But when I… Read More
- Jesse Lynch and Lisa Roman were two of the last fellows who studied in Syria through Arabic Overseas Language Flagship program. Eleven years later, the two have continued using their language skills to build successful, global careers. Looking back, Mr. Lynch says he was always interested in languages but started to focus his attention on Arabic and the Middle East after 9/11, when he was a sophomore at Florida State University. “I knew I wanted to do something that would allow me to see… Read More
- About 25 years ago, Benazir Bhutto made history when she took oath as the first woman Prime Minister of Pakistan. Her story is inspiring for many young women in Pakistan today, including me. That’s why seeing her book on a shelf in Lorne Craner’s office caught my eye. I was meeting with Mr. Craner, the president of American Councils during Civic Education Week, in my capacity as an alumni mentor. Civic Education Week is a unique opportunity for Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study students… Read More
- The students at the Youth Exchange and Study English Camp in Senegal had a chance to practice their language skills with a diplomat last month. The camp offers exchange program semi-finalists two weeks of intensive English training and preparation before their academic year abroad in the United States, and last month the camp included a visit from US Ambassador to Senegal, Dr. Tulinabo Mushingi. The 17 students, alumni assistants, and staff welcomed Ambassador Mushingi… Read More
- Learning Swahili brought Rebecca Gailey to Tanzania the first time. A dream has kept her coming back.“Ota,” the Swahili word for dream, inspired the name of the educational program she helped start in 2013, while she was still finishing her undergraduate studies.That year, more than half of the country’s tenth graders failed their required standardized tests. For most of these students, failing the test meant an end to their educational opportunities. The lack of resources and huge class sizes… Read More
Sign up for our newsletter.