US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI97

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000097 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA/PPD; NEA/ARP; NEA/EX:CKEITH; ECA/P:PIVES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, TC, SCUL 
SUBJECT: UAE ENGLISH LANGUAGE MICROSCHOLARSHIPS 
 
1. (U) Summary: The inauguration of the English-language 
Microscholarship Program in the UAE has generated goodwill 
and a positive image for the US at a time when Emirati 
students are bombarded with negative images from press and 
television. This is the first program to reach out to UAE 
youth in traditionally under-served areas in the emirates of 
Abu Dhabi and Ajman. One hundred grade 11 UAE students (50 
boys and 50 girls) were awarded microscholarships to take 
200 hours of American English after their regular school 
hours. The parents and government school students have been 
highly appreciative of the chance to participate in a 
special course with native English language teachers, 
especially since they have few opportunities to interact in 
English.  Post urges continuation and expansion of this 
program. End Summary. 
 
2. (U) Action Request:  Post requests $150,000 per year for 
the continuation of this program in FY2005 and FY2006. 
 
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UAE Microscholarship Program: Innovative and effective 
engagement with Emirati youth 
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3.  (U) The program consists of language instruction 
provided by English Language Services (ELS), and 
supplemented by guest speakers and field trips to the 
embassy.  The program is offered at four (4) government- 
operated schools, with the full cooperation of the UAE 
Ministry of Education.  The program has generated an 
overwhelmingly positive response from administrators, 
teachers, students and parents. This is the first time the 
US Government has offered scholarships to young UAE 
nationals ages 16-18. The participants are less advantaged 
students who have little access to English language 
training. Media coverage generated articles in both English 
"Gulf News" and Arabic "Al-Khaleej." 
 
4. (U) Ministry of Education officials have told post that 
they will make a presentation on the program at the March 
conference of TESOL Arabia, the English teaching 
professional association, to give an overview of the 
benefits of the microscholarship program. Abu Dhabi 
Education Zone officials told post that they would submit a 
special portfolio on the Microscholarship Program to compete 
for an annual distinguished educational program award. 
 
5. (U) The English instruction for the special scholarship 
program is provided by ELS Language Centers. The teachers 
are all native speakers who employ current communicative 
language teaching methodologies, which incorporate games and 
activities to offer students a motivating alternative to 
more traditional approaches. The textbook used is "About the 
USA," one of the Department of State English Language 
publications that post provided to ELS for this program. 
 
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Abu Dhabi: Ambassador visits boys' and girls' schools 
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6.  (U) On October 16 Ambassador presented Microscholarship 
award certificates to students from the Abdul-Kader Al- 
Jazaeri Secondary School for Boys in Al-Mafraq and the Al- 
Mafraq Secondary School for Girls in Al-Shahama, two 
secondary schools located in outlying areas of the Abu Dhabi 
Emirate. 
 
7. (U) Comments from students: One girl told the Ambassador, 
"We feel important that the US government cares for us." One 
of the boys told the Ambassador, "My friends are asking if 
there are more opportunities in the future to get similar 
microscholarships because they were not selected." 
 
8. (U) As part of the Microscholarship guest speaker 
program, APAO gave a presentation at the boys' school to 
discuss US holidays and similarities with local holidays. 
 
 
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Abu Dhabi: Students take field trip to embassy 
 
9.  (U) On November 29-30 the Public Affairs Section invited 
the Abu Dhabi emirate scholarship students to the embassy 
for sessions on the history of U.S. immigration, tour of the 
embassy and lunch. Four officers from the embassy assisted 
in facilitating the discussion.  The background of the 
officers provided the boys and girls with examples of the 
diverse nature of America. The group consisted of junior and 
mid-level officers, including a young single female, a woman 
married to a Sudanese Muslim, a military officer, and a 
first generation Muslim-American born in Kabul. The students 
toured the embassy to learn about the building's cutting- 
edge environmental features and had lunch in the cafeteria. 
A few days after the event post received a package of thank 
you cards and posters from each of the schools. 
 
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Ajman: Boys' school is an Islamic institute 
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10. (U) On December 7 PAO and NEA/PD Desk Officer presented 
Certificates of Award of Microscholarships for English 
Language study to twenty-five UAE girls at the Sawdh Bint 
Zamaa girls school and twenty-five UAE boys at the 
Scientific Islamic Institute, both in the Emirate of Ajman. 
Families of the students and officials from the Ajman 
Educational Zone were present as well. The partnership with 
the Scientific Islamic Institute is noteworthy as it is the 
first USG funded program of this type operating in the UAE 
at an Islamic educational institute for boys. 
 
11. (U) Comments from Ajman: The Islamic Scientific 
Institute Principal gave a warm welcome speech at the 
opening of the ceremony.  In his remarks to the students, 
selected from five Ajman schools, he emphasized that 
learning English will allow the UAE people to better 
understand US society and culture, and enable them to 
educate Americans about Islam and Arab culture. 
 
12. (U) BPAO Dubai will visit both schools as guest teacher 
and try to arrange a visit to the consulate for the 
students.  BPAO is arranging for UAE teachers that are part 
of the Ajman Microscholarship Program to attend an upcoming 
teacher-training workshop in the UAE conducted by the RELO. 
 
13. (U) Post welcomes the opportunity for participating in 
subject program during the 2005/2006 academic year and would 
like to expand the program to include more students from 
other emirates. 
 
Sison