Ibrahim’s Blog

The Development Gateway is now accepting submissions for the 2008 photo contest. The top 10 photographs will be posted on the Web site. The winner will receive $1,000. We are looking for compelling photographs of socio-economic development in developing countries. Four types of photographs will be accepted. 1) The images may show information and communications technologies helping ordinary people. 2) The images may show people making something, selling wares, working in a field, constructing a building or type of infrastructure, or acquiring knowledge. 3) The images could be abstract images representing hope, the future, or capacity building. 4) The photographs may also include images of original artwork from a developing country. Please do not include photographs of groups of people posing.

Closing date: September 19

http://www.dgfoundation.org/news-events/photo-contest-backup.html

Though not long ago I have taken TOEFL paper based test once again I tried to take TOEFL IBT (Internet based test). It is a test that measures your ability not only to write, read, speak and listen in English but also requires good vocabulary. The maximum IBT score is 120.

For those who wish to study in English speaking countries, here is a link where you can find out more about TOEFL test www.ets.org

Яке аз талаботҳои таҳсил дар макотиб ва донишнгоҳҳои хориҷӣ ин донистани забони англисӣ мебошад ва барои ин донишҷӯе, ки забони модариаш англисӣ нест бояд санҷиши TOEFL супорад. Дар Мактаби Байналхалқии Душанбе воқеъ дар кӯчаи Бофанда метавон маълумоти пурра дар бораи TOEFL дастрас кард ва ё ба супоридани он номнависӣ намуд.  Мактаби Байналхалқии Душанбе

More than thirty students including some volunteers are enjoying the International Summer Camp under the motto “Friendship Without Borders” with three US students and a teacher. Mr. Martin Drozdoff, a US teacher who came with with students is a very nice man and he is one of the trainers in the camp. Together with Mr. Drozdoff and my colleague Gulnoz we have split students into three teams and conduct trainings about Community Service - Volunteering, Environment, Public Speaking and others. Every day our camp has some kind of activities including interesting energizers.

Since we have no Internet connection, I will not be able to blog, but Mr. Drozdoff’s blog might be updated frequently. http://www.connect-tajikistan.org/exchange

Now I need to go to local bazaar to buy shoes and back to the camp!

Back to blogging. Due to large amount of work I could not take time to go online and blog. Now here I am. Tomorrow I am going to one of the beautiful summer camp sites in Varzob valley with a group of students. The camp where we are going to spend our ten days is called “Lira” and it is located between mountains. In other words the camp is located in the heart of mountains and it may take half hour of walk to reach the camp.

The weather in Dushanbe is very hot these days above 40 Celsius not allowing me to sleep well at night. I hope the next winter will not be like the one we had last time here in Tajikistan, so from another side it is better to value and enjoy sunny days at least leaving for a while to countryside.

Save the Date! The 9th Annual GYSD will be held April 25-27, 2008

Global Youth Service Day is the largest annual celebration of young volunteers, where millions of young people in countries everywhere highlight and carry out thousands of community improvement projects. Go to www.gysd.net to find out more about GYSD.

The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe will fund nine full, four-year scholarships for Tajikistani students entering the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek in fall 2008. The scholarships include room and board and a living stipend.

All students from Tajikistan accepted to AUCA will automatically be considered for these scholarships. Recipients will be selected by an Embassy committee based on scholastic achievements and financial need.

For information on applying to AUCA, please visit http://www.auca.kg/en/

Or contact:

American University of Central Asia
Office of Admissions
205 Abdymomunov St.,
Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic 720040

Unusual and cold winter with electricity limit encouraged me read books and just a few days ago I completed reading a book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini  though it is a fiction I could understand how it was difficult for ordinary Afghan people who had to leave their country during Soviet’s intervention and how this country was a an good place for kids to run kites.

Amir at the end will help to his half brother’s son to get out from Afghanistan and it is really sad to follow how Amir faces many problems returning from Afghanistan…and in this novel the picture of this country during 2001 is well described that one has to read.

I could not sleep at night without reading a few pages from The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini thanks to candle’s light which is replacing the light bulb these days.

Without impatience I am looking forward to a movie version of it that will appear soon.

Central Asia Teachers of English Conference

CATEC 2008

June 28-29, 2008

Alatau Sanatorium

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Success in Writing and Reading

Deadline for Receipt of Participation Forms

April 1, 2008

Success in Reading Writing and Reading

 

The CATEC Organizing Committee, consisting of members of regional teachers’ associations in Kazakhstan, welcomes you to participate in CATEC 2008.  This year’s theme is Success in Writing and Reading.  We welcome PRACTICAL workshops, demonstrations, poster sessions, and panel discussions on the following strands:

1.      Academic writing

2.      Academic reading

3.      Business writing

4.      Creative writing in the English language classroom

5.      Writing assessment

6.      Reading assessment

7.      Writing at the primary level

8.      Writing at the secondary level

9.      Reading at the primary level

10.   Reading at the secondary level

11.   Email and writing

12.   Integrating writing with all skills

13.   Integrating reading with all skills

14.   Rhetorical patterns

 

This conference will feature a book exhibition, raffle, and key note speakers sponsored by the US Dept of State and the British Council.

 

All are invited to participate.  All submissions must be original work.  All submissions will be checked for originality. 

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS AND REGISTRATION

Please complete this form on-line, save it, and submit it as an attachment to the address below:

catec2008@gmail.com

OR by fax:

Fax:  +7 (7212) 300010

 

OR by mail:

 

CATEC 2008

25, ul. Pospelova Apt 4

Karaganda 100012

Kazakhstan

Hornby Trust Scholarship 2008/9

The British Council invites applications for the above scholarship.

The Hornby Trust Scholarship is provided by A.S.Hornby Educational Trust in the UK and is administered by the British Council in Uzbekistan.

The objective of the scholarship is to provide teachers of English with an opportunity to pursue a Masters degree in the United Kingdom relevant both to their own career development and to national priorities of the Republic of Tajikistan. Candidates must therefore be able to share their knowledge and expertise, which may be in areas such as Curriculum Development, Syllabus Design, Materials Development, Teacher Training or Testing, on return.

For the academic year 2008/9 one Hornby Trust Scholarship has been allocated to Tajikistan.

Applicants should have:

·         A Bachelor’s degree in English language, or equivalent, with an excellent academic record

·         At least 4 years English teaching experience

·         English proficiency to IELTS 6.5 level (selected candidates will be tested)

Please email a full CV together with completed application form to Jamila Nasridinova at the address below by 3 March 2008. Applications received after that date will not be considered.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview in Dushanbe in mid-late March 2008. Final selection will be made by the Hornby Trust in April 2008.

11, Mirobod Street.

Tashkent 100031

Tel:      140 06 60

            140 06 61

Fax:     140 06 67

E-mail: jamila.nasridinova@britishcouncil.uz

The CALL Interest Section of the international TESOL professional association is pleased to offer the
opportunity to participate in the Electronic Village Online (EVO) 2008 season. This is a professional
development project and virtual extension of the TESOL2008 Convention in New York. The intended audience for this project includes both TESOL 2008 participants and those who can participate only virtually.

You do not need to be a TESOL member to participate in a free, six-week, wholly online session of the EVO, Jan 14 -Feb 24, 2007. Please visit our Announcement page to select one or two among the various offerings.

http://evo08session scfp.pbwiki. com