News Archives 2009
December 2009
Christmas Party for kids at the ACC.
  
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! - These were the main words for 16 children, gathered at the ACC on December 20, 2009. Dressed in costumes and expecting wonders they came at Christmas Party. And they met a lot of surprises. Santa Claus and beautiful Snow White, followed by one little Dwarf (the six were busy with Christmas preparations) sang songs, played games and made a lot of fun. Children learned about the history and symbols of Christmas and solved little Christmas quiz. Young participants sang Jingle Bells, danced around the fur tree, recited poems and gifted colorful cards for Santa Claus. Of course, they also got a lot of sweet presents and little tiger magnets (symbol of coming New Year) and enjoyed the party very much.
Result: the party was organized for English Sunday School participants. Children have found a lot about American tradition of Christmas and learned English in easy and attractive way.
Presentation of American Musical at the ACC
 
On December 19th 2009 American Culture Center presented a big collection of American musical gifted by US Embassy to Kazakhstan. This collection was an award for successful organization of the project “Broadway Musical in Ust-Kamenogorsk” in summer 2009. The collection consists of 51 spectacular musicals and little announce - posters. A colorful presentation on the history of musicals and the genre development was demonstrated to the public of 35 college students and users of the ACC. The audience liked the idea of making Musical Saturday. They decided to follow the historical development and chose for the first watching a musical of the 1930th “The Dolly Sisters”. A romantic tale, full of glamour music, and easy language appealed to public, and inspired them to the next meeting.
ACC for EFL College Teachers
  
On December 11, 2009 at the ACC there was held a special program for 15 English teachers from Ust-Kamenogorsk colleges and professional schools. On the request of the methodological unit a workshop on using video and audio resources at English lessons was organized.
The first part included an exhibition overview on books from Resources for Teachers, New Ways in Teaching, sets of course books with audio cassettes and CDs and English courses on DVD, and magazine articles. There were done some activities on using phonetic exercises, songs and video. The ACC presenter suggested the ways to use the resource for specific purposes.
A master-class run by Jamie Teijero continued the workshop. The participants trained the procedure of working over with a song and did a number of activities in the World of Work.
“We highly appreciate this kind of workshop. We’ve got a plenty of ideas how to use the resource and had a chance sharing experience with a native speaker,”- expressed teachers gratitude Ainur Uyabaeva, Head of Methodological Unit of EFL College Teachers.
Independence Day of Kazakhstan in ACC
 
In December Kazakhstan celebrates its main national holiday the Independence Day. The reference editions Kazakhstan, Coming of Age, Kazakhstan the Crown Jewel of Central Asia as well as Kazakhstan by Zoran Pavlovic (South Dakota) and Apples are from Kazakhstan by Christopher Robbins are in daily demand by our users. These and other English editions about Kazakhstan and its way to independence were displayed at the exhibition devoted to this remarkable date and a media lesson was held for school children.
Power point presentation Independent Kazakhstan: way forward followed by a quiz and some activities is a product of the ACC specially arranged to the event. In attractive and easy way 42 students learned the history of their country and developed their English.
“These lessons differ from those at school and we try to use the opportunity as often as it is possible.”- said Evgenia Voronova, “At school we then find more motivated learners.”
EFL Teachers Competition at the ACC
 
On December 2, 2009 at American Culture Center there was held a workshop for Ust-Kamenogorsk EFL school teachers. The workshop is one of several conducted on the Project “Best Lesson Plan” named after Natalia Krasikova. The previous years competition was on lesson plans about the USA. About 200 oblast English teachers participated in the workshops and 25 lesson plans were passed.
This year’s topic is “Language and Culture”. The competition aims at increasing knowledge and awareness about the English language speaking countries and Kazakhstan, peoples’ ways of life, culture and traditions, and expanding best teaching experience on Country Study. The American Culture Center is one of the initiators of the project and provides informational, resource and organizational support.
At this workshop 15 teachers worked with the resource of the Center specially selected on the topic and discussed peculiarities Healthy Way of Living is presented in different countries.
Workshops were held at schools ##10 and 38 as well. In the whole about 70 teachers participated.
November 2009
  
On November 26th, 2009 American Culture Center said goodbye to Ann Marie Deignan, PC volunteer. Last 3 years she lived and worked in Kazakhstan, 2 years in Ush-Tobe town and 1 – in Ust-Kamenogorsk. During her stay in our city Ann Marie arranged many programs for EFL teachers and students at ACC. Ann Marie and Blake were the initiators of two big successful projects: English Summer Business Camp and the conference “Multiculturalism and You”. The users and the staff of ACC said lots of warm wishes to Ann Marie, thanked her for everything and took many pictures for long memory. Ann Marie was very excited to get a Gratitude letter and a little souvenir from American Corner.
Earlier in November the ACC parted with Daniel McKenna-Foster, Casey Meyering and Blake and Polina Reinhold. They were with us for two years and have become our best partners and friends. We do appreciate everything they have done for us and wish them every success. Good luck, dear friends!
Thanksgiving Media Lesson at the ACC
 
On November 25th, 2009 American Center hosted 9th grade school students to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. The colorful presentation of holiday history, symbols and traditions was shown and students were very active to solve a little quiz. In the end all participants sang Thanksgiving song “Over the river and through the woods” accompanied by karaoke. 24 students from school #35 attended the media-lesson. They thanked for an interesting and involving program and mentioned that learned a lot about the holiday.
International Education Week
“The country that is not able to develop knowledge,
is doomed to collapse in XXI century.”
Nursultan Nazarbayev
 November 17 – 21, 2009 Pushkin library arranges the International Education Week program for the ninth time. International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is held in recognizing the importance of fostering mutual respect and understanding among people in all countries. This is a remarkable tenth year as the initiative had a start in 2009. Since that time the Week has widened, and today 77 countries, including Kazakhstan, celebrate this event.
The IEW at the library starts with a big Education Fair “International Education: try the opportunity”. The exhibition displays editions and materials in 5 sections Learn – Try –Get – Develop- Succeed. A guide introduces the resource on English learning, international exams, undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate exchange programs, and Kazakhstani State Program Bolashak. A number of activities, such as meetings with FLEX and UGRAD alumni, informational lessons on how American School arranged, meeting with CCUSA and Work&Travel participants, and outreach sessions for university teachers are in the Program. The week is to be concluded by the International Pie Party, where participants present recipes of Kazak, Russian, American, German, Chinese, Tatar and other cuisine as well as pieces of their cultures.
Kazakhstan future is in the hands of highly educated young people. To provide them with necessary opportunities is the main goal in our country and abroad. To learn about and use these opportunities is a strategic task of every Kazakhstani person.
Info-Caravan to Rural Regions
 
Our program Info-Caravan is covering more regions in the oblast. On November 3, 2009 Info-Caravan stepped on Abaiskiy region land, quite far (about 500km) from Ust-Kamenogorsk. As usual, there was prepared beforehand a special book collection for the village library. This collection included books about America, fiction books and dictionaries, which are in great demand.
The ACC worker presented this collection to school students and teachers. They were very excited to have English books at their library.
It turned out that most teachers have access to the Internet and practice searching interesting materials for their lessons. Presentation and training the ACC site useful links contributed to developing their Internet searching skills, and teachers expressed hot gratitude for the opportunity.
On October 23, and November 18 Info-Caravans were held to Borodulihinskii and Ayagoz regions.
Result: About 150 people attended the meetings and got acquainted with English collections and the ACC services and site. They have learned of Internet opportunities in learning English. In the whole there are 88 printed editions and 12 videos left in the libraries.
October 2009
Unity in variety is the plan of the universe.
Vivekananda (Indian religious leader)
  
On Oct. 24, 25, 31 and Nov. 1, 2009 American Culture Center turned up into a place where a hot discussion on multiculturalism had place. During four days young people participated in the conference “Multiculturalism and You: preparing the next generation of global citizens”. The conference was initiated by Blake Reinhold and Ann Mary Deignan. This is the second big project held by the Peace Corps volunteers at the ACC. It included a number of separate sessions: Globalization and Kazakhstan, pre-and post Soviet, Cultural Integration, Culture Shock, Intercultural Communications, Government Structure Worldwide, Role of Languages in International Relations, Tourism: Packaging Kazakhstan for the World, Pros and Cons of International Aid, discussion Nationalism vs Multiculturalism and Mock UN concluded the program.
The philosophy of multiculturalism is to contribute into multilateral collaboration and dialogue development between the representatives of different national, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The conference aimed at introducing “multiculturalism” definition, discussing different points of view on co-existing of cultures, investigating the world experience and experience of Kazakhstan in supporting social stability.
Alongside with main presenters Blake and Polina Reinhold and Ann Mary there worked guest speakers: Andrei Urchenkov, Director “Altai Expeditions” tourist firm, Tatiana Kolesnikova, EFL professor VKGTU and Ziada Buktugova, psychologist VKGU. American Culture Center was responsible for conference organization and arranged an exhibition on the topic.
The public, mainly university students, was the main hero. They took a challenge and discussed this actual and complicated theme. And they did that in English! Each day there participated from thirty to sixty people, seventeen most active of them got certificates. Young people demonstrated active position, pursuit to knowledge and eagerness to improve the world. They have proved they are future leaders of our country and they are world citizens.
Halloween 2009 Events at ACC
  
This year Halloween was marked by a number of events at the American Culture Center. An information lesson with colorful presentation “Happy Halloween” followed by puzzles and quizzes to guess was held to junior school students. 5th grade children from school “Vostok” were greatly interested in Halloween symbols and traditions, while 8th grade students from Kazakh school #3 demonstrated more curiosity solving Halloween puzzles. The elder ones, university students, couldn’t miss the holiday too. They got introduced and played with great enthusiasm a Mexican game “Pinyata” trying to get sweets from a pumpkin made by Ann Mary Deignan. Of course, they got prize and much fun.
The week before holiday an exhibition displaying recourses on Halloween celebration was arranged. In the whole about 200 people participated.
Education Abroad
 On October 13, Aigul Nurpeisova, and Gulnaz Isakhanova, educational advising center “Bilim - Central Asia”, visited Ust-Kamenogorsk. About 30 school and university students and young specialists attended meeting to find out more about education programs abroad. CEU, Essex, Warwick, Oxford, DAAD, Opportunity Initiative, Central Asian Scholarship Program and other programs and opportunities were presented. A lecture “How to Enter American University” was suggested as additional and the majority of the auditory stayed to listen. The public showed certain awareness about the programs but still asked a lot of questions. Before the meeting there was conducted a TOEFL trial and 17 lucky participants – users of our center, checked their knowledge of English. Ainash Bogenbaeva, an upperclassman, said: “Nowadays, there is a great amount of information about studying abroad. These meetings help to make a right choice. Thank you very much”.
Native Spearkers in Zaisan
 
In cooperation with the American Culture Center at Pushkin Library, Casey Meyering and Daniel McKenna-Foster went to Zaisan from October 11th to October 13th and brought English teaching and methodology materials to English teachers there. While there, they conducted a three-hour seminar about using games to teach English. Zaisan, a large border town close to China, has a population of about 20,000 and is rarely visited by English-speaking people. The teachers said that the seminar was their first opportunity to talk to a native speaker.
Earlier, this kind of seminar was conducted to Sekisovka village EFL teachers and students.
Casey Meyering
ACC for Oblast Teachers
 
On October 2, 2009 teachers (25 people) from city and village schools, trainees of Oblast Teacher’s Institute visited American Culture Center. Within two-hour session the ACC staff presented history of the ACC, its resources and services, and useful sites for English teachers. There was also done a consultation on a new round of the Best Lesson Plan project and media lessons- the ACC products were demonstrated. The teachers were lucky to use the opportunity participating in Informal Friday Discussion Club conducted by Blake Reinhold, PC Volunteer.
“I could hardly imagine we would find here so much useful and interesting information. I’ve got a lot of exciting ideas. Thank you very much”, shared with her impressions Alzhikeeva N. from Kurchum region.
US Embassy Representative Meets NGO Members at the ACC
 
On October 1st, 2009 a training seminar on Democracy Commission Small Grants Program had place at the ACC. Oxana Limareva, Public Affairs Officer Assistant, US Embassy Astana, informed the audience on Program guidelines, introduced the application form and trained on key points. There were 23 participants, all local NGO leaders or members, invited by Community Foundation of Life-Long Learning Education (Pervomaika village). The public demonstrated big interest; questions on which fields are preferable to apply, in what period the application might be approved, and what possible reasons are to deny the project were asked. Some of participants having applied to the Program shared their experience and a small discussion took place as well. Both parties were satisfied by the training and intended to advance the Program.
In its turn, the ACC use the opportunity to make contacts with a new group of patrons and took a floor on promoting Center’s recourse and services.
september 2009
Dental Specialists Meet at the ACC
 
On September 29, 2009 Brian Young, a visiting professor to the Kazakhstan American Free University, held a public lecture at the ACC within our partner project with the university. It was “New technology in dentistry” and there was a special public, twenty dental specialists, mainly dental mechanics at the lecture. Brian Young works with dental implants over dentures, Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing technology for designing new teeth. He spoke on the topic and presented two films and the third was demonstrated on public’s request, and the following Q&A session showed the audience’s big interest. “This lecture contributes a lot to our professional development and, of course, that was a great chance to share experience with our prominent colleague”, Nikolai Borstov said on behalf of participants.
Talk Like a Pirate Day with ACC!
 
American Culture Center continues the tradition of celebrating the International Talk Like a Pirate Day. It is a parodic holiday created in 1995 by John Baur (Ol' Chumbucket) and Mark Summers (Cap'n Slappy), of Albany, Oregon, U.S., who proclaimed September 19 each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a pirate.
Students of Vostok school have become real fans of this holiday.
The school hosted Talk like a Pirate day last year, and this time on September 29, and October 1, 2009 5th grade students, dressed like pirates, and their teachers (55 people) celebrated this holiday with the ACC. The presentation on history was shown and they learned some of pirate’s slang, and sang a brave pirate’s song “It’s Great to Be a Pirate”. Dividing into two groups named after “Black Pearl” and “Bloody Mary” young pirates competed in quiz under the flags they invented for their teams. The winners got special awarding papers, but there were no losers. All children were driven and excited to learn English in such a fascinating way. “That was a lot of fun. And it is wonderful children learn so easily of new holiday and English” said Gulzhan Kudusova, an English teacher.
Flex in Ust-Kamenogorsk
 
On September 20 – 21, 2009 American Culture Center hosted American Councils for International Education (ACCELS) representatives arranging test for the exchange program “FLEX”. This program is financed by The State Department of the USA and is supported by Ministry of Science and Education of Kazakhstan since 1992. 348 students of 8th, 9th, 10th grades participated in testing and 119 of them were selected for the second round. The winners of the FLEX program will go to the USA for one year to study at American schools and live in American families.
There were five FLEX alumni of previous years helping with testing arrangement. A meeting on studying the opportunities of American Corners and Alumni Partnership (ACAP) Grants Program had place as well.
Media Lesson devoted to the action “One Book – One Country”
 
On September 19, 2009 American Culture Center workers conducted the Media Lesson devoted to Magzhan Zhumabayev within the frames of the Republican action “One Book-One Country”. Magzhan Zhumabayev is a great Kazakh writer, poet, and essayist, one of the founders of a new Kazakh literature. Nowadays, in period, when the forbidden names of writers come back to readers, Zhumabayev’s poetry immediately has won the public love by power of talent, passion of poetic heart and originality of creative expressions.
29 students and two teachers of school “Vostok” attended this event. They learned about Kazakh Romantic of Cruel Century, read his poems, and tried themselves as translators.
I was born by the fire sun
I live and shine
Only Fire is
My God.
I’m fire and I’m the sun
Fire eyes and speech mine
Wake up and go up! – Time has come!
Day and night oppressed you yesterday
You, your old shabby fur hat, throw off
In order to listen to new wind.
The teacher Alla Vladimirovna said: “They have had a good experience in literary translating. Students tried to interpret meaning of the poems, not only to translate word for word, and this helps them to understand poetry deeper”.
New alumna at the ACC
 
This summer was a remarkable one for Nazym Tleubekova, a worker of American Culture Center. She had a three week trip to the USA by the International Visitor Leadership project entitled “American Corners: Partners for Public Diplomacy” on July 6 – 24, 2009. Nazym was one of the 24 participants from all over the world. The program was aimed at studying American culture and society firsthand, American libraries and sharing experience with other AC coordinators.
On September 11th Nazym, as a new alumna, shared her impressions of the program with colleagues. 45 librarians paid big interest to the program and a lively discussion on ALA conference and how American libraries arranged had place.
August 2009
Back to School – 09
 
On August 26, 2009 the American Culture Center hosted the traditional August Teachers Conference Back to School. This year conference was devoted to Using Information Technologies and the Internet in Teaching English to Students. 64 Ust-Kamenogorsk EFL teachers gathered to report on best experience and set the goals for a new academic year. The ACC displayed an exhibition on new methodological and Internet for Teaching English editions.
Participants listened with great interest an overview of 50 Strategies for Teaching ELL, Internet for English Teaching and sets on teaching English to young learners. Presentation of electronic resource A traveller’s guide to the USA, Welcome, Energy, Abraham Lincoln as well as to the ACC site also caused lively interest and ideas on using materials at lessons. Teachers expressed their gratitude on the Internet trainings the Center had been providing for them and asked for continuation.
Kulzira Muhamadieva, Municipal Education Department methodologist, says, “The library gives and does a lot for teachers. We conduct a number of joint programs with American Center for teachers’ professional development and our students’ benefit. I like having Conferences at the library – here we always achieve cheerful and creative atmosphere”.
Business English Camp I
  
Many youth in the community will soon be starting work, whether it be in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Almaty, Astana or further abroad. To assist them in preparing for starting a job Peace Corps Volunteers, with the help of the American Cultural Center, organized the Business English Camp, in which we conducted a series of trainings from Aug. 11 – 21 covering topics from career planning and job skills, to public speaking and communication skills. Volunteers Ann-Marie Deignan and Blake Reinhold organized the courses and invited volunteers Michelle Imel, Kyle Charles and Sean Reibert to contribute by giving presentations. In addition, several members of the local community gave presentations as well. Yulia Novitskaya, Tatyana Kolesnikova and Polina Reinhold all gave presentations on various topics to participants.
The sessions averaged about 25 students, and 21 students participated in enough of the sessions to receive a certificate of participation at the end of the course. Topics covered included, career planning and job skills, resume writing, interview skills, networking, business letter writing, leadership, team building, public speaking, communication skills, marketing and customer service, preparing for standardized tests, and studying in America. The last day of the course the library invited Mamythan Salibekov, President, AES, to speak with the students about his professional experience and learning English. Two days, after the courses, many of the participants went to a local restaurant to socialize and continue the discussions started in during the camp.
Most of the participants were between the ages of 16 and 24 and had a high level of English. Feedback from the exit survey showed that participants where very pleased with the courses and would like to see more of them in the future. They suggested topics for future sessions, and expressed great satisfaction with the way the sessions were organized.
Blake Reinhold
Business English Camp at the ACC
  
On August 11, 2009 Business English Camp started at the ACC. The project was initiated by Blake Reinhold and local Peace Corps volunteers. It aims at helping students prepare for looking for and starting a job, as well as to assist them with their professional English. Sessions consist in part of lecture format and part practical format where discussion and interaction with presenters and other participants is encouraged. Sessions include such topics as Resume Writing, Interview Skills, Networking, Marketing and Customer Service, Leadership and others.
There are about 23-25 participants present at lively classes. They have prepared resumes, passed a number of interviews, acquired new knowledge on Business English. Each day they meet with enthusiastic and inspired trainers US Peace Corps volunteers Blake Reinhold, Michelle Imel, Ann-Marie Deignan, Kyle Charles, Sean Reibert and university teachers-alumna as well as the ACC workers.
The Camp is to finish on August 21, and those regular participating will get their certificates.
The US Embassy Representatives’ Visit to the ACC
 
On August 19, 2009 the American Culture Center hosted the representatives of the US Embassy Astana Kevin Covert, Energy Officer and Thomas Tanner, Information Officer. The guests got acquainted with the library and the American Center. They were interested whether the library offers information help on how to survive in crisis and how information technologies are used in the library. Special selection of editions and articles, displayed for readers, free lawyer’s consultations and 30 minutes of free Internet for the library users impressed our visitors.
At the ACC Kevin Covert and Thomas Tanner held a discussion with our patrons. There were 34 people at the meeting: school and university students, young specialists, alumni, KAFU representatives, PCVs and librarians. The discussion was mostly on US-Kazakhstani relations and the audience experience on being in the USA. Embassy representatives asked the public what kind of experience they got in the USA, and participants shared their impressions. In their turn they asked questions on exchange professional programs, US visas, best American universities and, even, what diplomats’ wives do in the county their husbands work.
Our guests found out that the public takes a lot of information and knowledge about America at our Center. We were very pleased to hear words of high appreciation from our honored visitors.
Forty minutes discussion went on lively and easily. Both sides found a lot of common topics to be discussed, and all got ascertained once more: America is closer than it seems.
Broadway Musical in Ust-Kamenogorsk
On August 7th, 2009 at the Palace of Metallurgists there was held a big musical event. Lewis Whitlock, professor of arts McNeese University, USA, staged the performance on the pieces of three Broadway musicals. People of our city were presented a new genre of art – musical, and the most exciting intrigue was that the performance was made within two weeks of hard work at master classes. 40 people had been auditioned and 21 students had been chosen.
On the day of the performance the Palace hall was full with about 800 of audience. From the very beginning the stunning show with expressive chorographical motions and bright costumes conquered hearts of the people. The storm of applause and the public standing was the dearest award to Lewis Whitlock, Yelena Sakhno, musical director and their students.
Delighted people stayed long after the performance and thanked the Master, actors, American Embassy in Kazakhstan and American Culture Center at Pushkin library for this magnificent opportunity. They do believe Musical is to be continued, now with Kazakhstani motives.
Meeting with American Choreographer
 
On July 31st, American Culture Center arranged a creative meeting of local dancing groups leaders and musicians with American choreographer, Lewis Whitlock. During his hot rehearsals he found little time to have a talk with interested people. About 15 people attended this meeting were very excited about getting to know such a talented man. At first professor told interesting stories from his life concerning dancing and musical. In detail he dwelt on issues of musical, theatrical and choreographic education in the USA. From his point of view musical is an entertaining genre with compulsory dancing performance, showing modern life.
“Musical is a new genre for our city. I won’t miss such a significant event not at any price.” – said Galina Melnikova, school choreographer.
July 2009
Independence Day at American Corner Oskemen.
 
Independence Day honors the birthday of the United States of America and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It's a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks. So, you are welcome to meet and share the holiday with America at American Culture Center.
A book exhibition devoted to Independence Day is working during this week from July 1 till 10, 2009. The US history, government and development, holidays and celebrations are presented by About America-How the United States Is Governed, Portrait of the USA, Spotlight on the USA, Time America - an illustrated history, Celebrate, Holidays in the USA, Holidays Go Round and Round, and Encyclopedia books. “I have known more about American history and holidays” – said Anar Dosanova, our librarian.
June 2009
Filmmaking master-class at ACC
 
On June 22-23, 2009 American Culture Center hosted guests from the USA and US Embassy in Kazakhstan: filmmaking specialists Jane Knox-Voina, Michael Rouland, and Leili Koch, coordinator of American Corners Kazakhstan. Proposed film project produced by Jane Knox-Voina and Michael Rouland was purposed to teach nonprofessional students to shoot a film about Kazakhstan. Jane Knox-Voina opened the class telling the structures and methods of shooting and demonstrated several clips on “Democracy – is…”. 16 people attended the master-class. They were divided in 3 groups. Every group shot their own film. After edition participants watched final version of the films.
“At the very beginning I thought it's not possible to make a film in 2 days. But when I saw the final version of our film, I was surprised that there is nothing impossible” said Zarina Duzbaeva, KAFU student.
June, 2009
Study in America
Summer is not only vacation time, but also it is a hot time for school-leavers. Some of them wish to study abroad, and American Culture Center is the right place where they can get information about exchange programs.
On June 10th, 17th there were held a live talks with US-KZ exchange students. The main topic of the discussions was Study in America. 8 people, attended these meetings, asked a lot of interesting questions. Elmira Askerova and Dauren Kumarbekov (US exchange students) told a lot about advantages of state program Bolashak and shared their experience with audience.
May, 2009
A Poet of American Democracy
 On May 29th at the ACC there was held the informative meeting for the librarians, devoted to the 190th birthday of the famous American poet Walt Whitman. A man of the people whose brilliant innovative work expressed the countries democratic spirit, the poet did not gain acceptance he had hoped for during his lifetime. Today, however, Whitman is widely recognized as one of the most gifted poets America has produced. The ACC workers presented a short performance on Whitman’s poetry and about him. An overview of the exhibition on his works and life was also done. There were displayed editions in English and in Russian.
Result: 60 librarians were present at the presentation. Many of them have discovered Whitman’s cosmic and powerful poetry for themselves and are to share their discoveries with readers.
American Documentary Showcase in Semey
  
On May 22, 2009 the ACC arranged the Documentary Showcase Group travel to Semey, the second big city of the East Kazakhstan Oblast. Margaret Brown and Harrison Engle, US filmmakers, and US Embassy in Kazakhstan representatives hold presentations before big audiences at Semey Abai Library and two Universities. 780 people were present and great interest was demonstrated to documentary films and their presenters. The audience was very active in asking a lot of questions, concerning filmmaking, their presenters and films content. Margaret and Harrison enjoyed the public very much “They were not shy and bombed us with questions, and it was our pleasure to answer”.
Result: During two days in Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semey 1080 people participate in documentary showcase. Festival raised interest to documentary as films depicting reality and bringing together different people and nations. TV reports were made by the Republican Channel Khabar and two local channels.
American Documentary showcase at the ACÑ
 
On May 20-22 the American Culture Center hosted the American Documentary Showcase. The initiators of the event are the US Embassy in Kazakhstan and the International Documentary Association and the Center for Central Asian Cinema. As part of the program, American filmmakers Margaret Brown and Harrison Engle and Gabrielle Guimond, Director on Education, Culture and Information Affairs (USK) introduced the films to public and conducted lively discussions.
The festival show was opened with Margaret Brown’s documentary masterpiece The Order of myths (USA 2008). It is a piercing story about Mardi-Gras holiday in Mobil city, Alabama State, where impressive carnival is so close to racial segregation.
Mel Stuart’s film Hobart Shakespeareans (USA 2005) continued the festival. The Hobart Shakespeareans shows how one talented teacher is changing the lives of his students by exposing them to great literature and mathematics.
Outside the library viewings were organized at two universities. In VKGTU the audience was introduced to The Order of Myths by Margaret Brown, and in KAFU Harrison Engle presented the montage on his films and ran the discussion on Obsessed with Vertigo.
School children, university students, specialists and NGO members, about 300 people, have visited the showcase.
The first film festival has happened a real holiday for lovers of documentary films.
“Documentary is great, because it shows real life. Hobart Shakespeareans impressed me. I am happy for children to meet such a wonderful tutor. The Order of Myths is strange. And in the whole, everything is so exciting. It turns up a very hard work to make a film”– Lira Satbaeva, a young specialist, shared her discoveries.
Awarding ceremony at the ACC
  
On May 14, 2009 at American Culture Center, Ust-Kamenogorsk there was held a final seminar-presentation on “Best Lesson Plan about the USA” project named after Natalia Krasikova (http://www.pushkinlibrary.kz/ACC/lessons.htm). The project, supported by the US Embassy to Kazakhstan, was organized by the American Cultural Center and Alumni Board of the East Kazakhstan American Corners Association in partnership with the English Teachers Association of Ust-Kamenogorsk.
The competition was announced in September, 2008 among the secondary school EFL teachers. About 25 lesson plans were presented by 21 teachers (among them 6 teachers are from the provincial and rural regions). All participants were awarded with certificates and 8 winners were awarded with a diploma and a big collection of books and video on teaching English and US study. The film “Lessons about the USA” and a book “About the USA” made on best lesson plans were presented and enjoyed greatly by the public.
“Participating in the project I have learned a lot of new information on teaching English and the US Study from the ACC collection. I’ve got plenty of new ideas from selected lesson plans and have used some of them in my classroom already. I am sure such competition is very useful and helpful for all teachers.” said Elena Kivina, one of the finalists.
Result: 70 people were present at the ceremony. A call for participation in the next phases “Language and Culture” (2009-10) and “Language and Education” (2010-11) was announced. The project is to prove its sustainability.
April, 2009
Language is a Mediator of Friendship and Collaboration
 
Traditionally on April 25, 2009 there was held the high school students research papers conference at American Culture Center. It was the 5th jubilee conference. 34 research papers were considered by jury and only 10 of them were chosen for the presentation. There were 4 members of jury: two teachers of KAFU and EKSTU, two US PC volunteers. All juries were impressed with actuality, freshness and creativeness of the research papers. The first place was taken by Tatyana Popova, student of 10th grade school #24 with the research paper “Modern Mass Media”. There were about 96 students and teachers at the conference.
Building Career at American Culture Center
 
On April 23, 2009 owing to close collaboration with Kazakhstan – American Free University, American Culture Center hosted visiting professor of KAFU, Ed Poff, executive director “SIMAinternatiobnal”. This company provides a proprietary assessment process to identify an individual's unique pattern of motivated behavior. Mr. Poff presented a public lecture “Building Your Career around Your Life Story”. He spoke about how our lives help us identify what vocations we should pursue. About 110 interested people visited the lecture. Due to translation it was understandable to non-linguistic students, NGO members and specialists. The lecture caused a lot of questions and comparison to Kazakhstani similar services was done
Jazz: live it, learn it, love it in Ust-Kamenogorsk
 
On April 18, 2009 within the Jazz Appreciation Month American Culture Center organized an exhibition "Jazz: the old and the new" and invited the local Classic Jazz Quintet with Alexander Galsanov to arrange a concert. The term Jazz means so many different things to different people. It remains the creation of the black American, but today more then ever the rapid spread of communications has established it as a worldwide art form, one that is characterized as the genuine classical music. What jazz means for the quintet they explained by themselves and through the music they perform. So, evergreen George Gershwin’s compositions, Scott Joplin’s ragtime, amazing Dizzy Gillespie’s bebop, and compositions of the national composer Bestibayev A. and others were introduced to audience.
Result: Jazz brings together, learns to love, to understand another cultures and to be open. The public, about 35 lovers and amateurs, has taken a bright and emotional journey to the world of music. They were grateful to the ACC for this opportunity and expressed the wish to continue such meetings.
US Teacher at American Culture Center, Ust-Kamenogorsk
 Lisa Wakefield, a US-06 year teacher (Arizona), has held a special program fortheAmerican Culture Center within her two-week visit to Ust-Kamenogorsk.Her visit to our city is the result of the winning project of Alfiay Gazina, an EFL teacher, TEA-07 alumni (Teaching Excellence andAchievement Program). Alfiya  as a member of the Alumni Board, the East Kazakhstan American Corners Association, had planned a number of events at the ACC in her project.
The US teacher conducted a workshop for EFL teachers, participated in Info-Caravan Program and ran a discussion for our users. How to motivate students to learning English was a topic to discuss on Thursday, April 9, 2009. About 60 people audience took an active part in activities suggested by the trainer and shared experience with their prominent colleague..
 Next day the Info-Caravan to Pervomaika village (65 km far from the city) had start from the library. Lisa Wakefield hadlively talks to village inhabitants at the local NGO Community Foundation of Life-Long Learning Education and central school on her mission, country and herself. Alongside the ACC workers held the presentation on the Center resources and services and Traveling Collection to Pervomaika school.
On Saturday, April 11, Lisa met with the ACC users for informal discussion on the US and Kazakhstani education issues. The discussion actually turned into the Q&A session for our users were keen to find out a lot of American education. There were some US PCVs at the meeting as well and the participants heard at first hand about the differences in education curriculum in different US states.
Result: Lisa Wakefield’s visit to the ACC has appeared a remarkable event for different categories of public. Almost 150 people participated in program and both the US guest and our public got new useful and exciting experience on building business and friendship relations.
Ust-Kamenogorsk American Corner Trainers in Tajikistan
  
US Embassy, Dushanbe has arranged five-day American Corner and Education Advising Center Workshop for Tajikistan AC coordinators. Within the workshop the organizers had planned a special training on AC management and invited Kazakhstani AC coordinators as trainers. Gulshat Daribaeva, East Kazakhstan Pushkin Library Deputy director, and Aiman Zhamankulova, ACC Coordinator, have conducted a two-day training for their colleagues. They presented a program on successful management and effective marketing of AC. The program contained lectures and practical tasks and it was underlined as sharing experience not stating a sample. The workshop turned out an intensive and constructive collaboration between new and inspired Tajikistani coordinators and their a bit more experienced colleagues.
Result: through March 31and April 1, 2009 five Tajikistani coordinators (four of them newcomers) got new experience on running American Corners and programming. In their turn Kazakhstani trainers enlarged their knowledge on AC world activity and both sides found new friends and built fruitful collaboration.
March, 2009
Nauryz at American Corner
 
On March 15, 2009 at the eve of a national spring holiday Nauryz, ACC users and PC volunteers (44 people) took an info-raid into the history of the festival. Casey Meyering, PC volunteer, and Madina Asangalieva, ACC constant user, involved people to interesting discussion about this holiday, its traditions and how people in other countries celebrate Nauryz. All participants learned the rules of composing cinquains, little 5 lines poems, about Nauryz and things concerning this holiday. About 20 cinquains were written among them the most liryc cinquain was:
Holiday
Amazing, funny
Everybody smiles sunny
We prepare special food
Nauryz!
and the funniest cinquain was:
Baursak
Delicious, big
We enjoy it
It brings me calories
Nauryz!
In the conclusion everybody were treated with tasty baursaks and candies.
St. Patrick's Day at American Corner
 
On March 17, 2009 there was held a media-lesson devoted to St. Patrick's Day at American Culture Center. Children from the 3rd school (25 students) and from English courses (5 students) were invited to learn the history of St.Patrick , traditions and symbols of this holiday. Children were shown colourful presentation, and made an anagram with St. Patrick’s symbols and had an opportunity to talk with native speaker, PCV Ann-Mary Daigner. She told and showed pictures how they celebrate this holiday in America.
Result: Children learned more about special American holidays and were motivated to learn English in interesting and exciting way.
International Women's Day at the ACC
 
Within the Women's History Month there was held a media-lesson devoted to the International Women's Day at Children Sector. A presentation «Mother's Day» was shown to young users (10 people), they learned how people celebrate this holiday in different countries. Then there was a talk on world famous women they know. The girls named different Kazakh and foreign well-known women, among them Indira Gandhi, Sara Nazarbaeva, Roza Rymbaeva, and Hillary Clinton. And still the most important and famous person for them were their moms. With great enthusiasm they made congratulation cards for moms writing in short poems in English.
February, 2009
American Culture Center for Village Teachers
 
On February 21st 2008 American Culture Center hosted 16 city and village teachers of English and German of Kazakh schools. The overview of the library and the Center resources and services was presented in Kazakh and English languages. The visitors worked with special literature and were introduced to the ACC site and the Net opportunities to get resources and information for EFL teachers purposes. The seminar concluded by participating at Movie Club, meeting PCV Ann Mary Deignan and watching a beautiful musical Singing in the Rain.
Result: Village EFL teachers have become aware of the ACC resource and services they can use for professional and personal development in spite of being far from the city.
IRC Coordinator at American Corner in Ust-Kamenogorsk
 
IRC coordinator, Elmira Kireeva (Almaty) took part in the Jubilee 10th Internet-School on February 3 - 5, 2009. The Program was organized by the Pushkin Library and East Kazakhstan Librarian Association. Within the visit Elmira held a workshop for ACC workers. There were discussed and cleared out both successful and problematic sides of the ACC activity.
Elmira introduced IRC catalogs displayed on the US Embassy in Kazakhstan site. The issues: How to increase the quantity of EBSCO users? How to activate ACC resource promotion through cultural programs, for example through discussion clubs? How to use web 2.0 technologies at ACC activity? were considered. As a result there were worked out solution ways: presentation of EBSCO data base among different users category, creating center’s page on Facebook as a contemporary way of ACC resource and service promotion.
Love is Above Pride and Prejudice
  
Love is all above, even above pride and prejudice. On February 15 there was a big Valentine party at ACC under this title. The main heroes of this event are Mr and Mrs Benneth with their daughters. They arranged the ball to find worthy men to their pretty daughters. About 40 people, PC and German volunteers and club members attended this ball devoted to wonderful feeling. The party was full with laughter and surprise. Searching love Jane, Lizzy, Kitty, Mary and Lidia arranged different contests among young men. Ball participants composed poems, sang songs, danced and played games.
As in the original novel our girls have found their “man of dream” Happy for their daughters Mr and Mrs Benneth called all participants and volunteers to hug each other. Hugging added cheer to the atmosphere and the party continued with sweets and soft drinks, and dancing.
January, 2009
English for Teenagers “New Opportunities: Education for Life”
This course book is taken for studying at English School for teenagers at the ACC. The school was opened in January for 8th – 10th grade students. The course book suggests new reading and listening texts, new comprehensive testing programs, grammar and skills development and cultural topics to motivate students to speak and think in English and engage their interest in the wider world.
Natalia Potzelueva, an experienced and talented English teacher, presented the program and held the first classes for two groups of new students at Children Sector at the turn of the month.
American Corner with Info-Caravan to Ulanskii region.
 
On 29 January, 2009 Info-Ñaravan's route lied to Ulanskii region at Central Regional Library in Molodezhoe. There was presented a traveling collection of 41 books formed of American Culture Center resource, a demo-version of sites for EFL teachers purpose was demonstrated and a meeting with native speaker had place.
27 participants, EFL teachers, came from almost every village of this 9610 km2 region. They marked that Info-Caravan met their needs and it was a good opportunity to enrich their lessons and arrange students independent work.
PC Volunteer Jamie Teijero, currently working at the EK State University, offered the teachers a number of activities which they can teach their students and which were trained to them at the seminar. The participants worked with Jaime with great enthusiasm and enjoyed their results.
“It has become a very useful and fruitful seminar for us. And we do hope Info-Caravan will visit our region regularly”, Saule Nurseitova, Targyn village secondary school director and EFL teacher, said.
Inauguration
 On January 16, 20 and 25, there were a number of events devoted to Inauguration Day at the ACC. A talk and presentation on the history of Inauguration was held for the ACC users (8 people), and the presentation was demonstrated for the library workers (36 people). The morning of January 21, we watched and discussed hot news on CNN. And a big discussion took place on Sunday (41 participants). Members of Discussion Club enlarged on perspectives of Barack Obama's presidency and expectations of first 100 days. Some of participants were critical on having such big celebrations and spending this amount of money when the world is in crisis. And still all of them agreed on the magnificence of the event and greeted the change to take place.
Result: The event has appeared another very big source to inform, discuss and share opinions on what is important for people today.
  
On January 13, 2008 City EFL Teachers Association meeting was held at American Culture Center. 24 teachers from different schools were introduced the presentation of documentary «Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: A Historical Perspective», devoted to the greatest leader of American Civil Rights Moovement. The documentary is a wonderful resource to study Dr. King's compelling and magnificent life. It's 60 minutes long that is very convenient for teachers to use the film at their lessons or in the library.
Further Alla Gazina, alumni TEA – 2008, shared her American experience and presented a lively promotion of the program «Teaching Excellence and Achievements».
The teachers enjoyed the workshop and expressed the wish to continue such useful and interesting meetings.
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