Press Release
Tanzanian Students Off To America
Undergraduates journey to the U.S.A. to strengthen their English language skills
June 19, 2009
Six undergraduate students from throughout Tanzania will arrive in the United States June 21 to begin an eight-week intensive English programme through the U.S. Government’s English Language Study Programme. The English program will place the students across the United States - in Ohio, New York and Arizona.
The six students selected represent Sebastian Kolowa University College, Mount Meru University, Mwenge University College of Education, and The Open University of Tanzania. When they met with Chargé d’Affaires Dr. Tulinabo Mushingi in Dar es Salaam prior to their departure, he encouraged them to study hard and return to Tanzania to share their knowledge with their fellow students.
When asked on how they feel about heading to the U.S.A., one student responded, “I’m very happy that I have been selected to join an intensive English study programme in the United States. I know it is the chance to improve my English skills as well as to experience the outside world.” Another student noted, “I expect to learn more from the way people teach English so that I will be able to teach my future students English, and share my competence, knowledge and understanding with them.”
This one-time program will welcome 40 undergraduates total Sub-Saharan Africa. The programme is aimed at increasing the English reading, writing, speaking and comprehension capabilities of African undergraduate students, and providing them with an understanding of U.S. society, culture, and values.
In the United States, the six students will split into pairs, studying at Ohio University’s Programme of Intensive English, which plays host to international students from over 100 countries; Syracuse University’s English Language Institute, which has been offering top-quality English language training for three decades; and the University of Arizona’s Center for English as a Second Language, a key language center recognized by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation.
Highly motivated, mature, responsible, independent and confident are just some of the qualities that were considered in selecting the final candidates. These qualities and more will be needed when the students present their final projects at a Washington D.C. workshop at the end of the program.
After arriving back in Tanzania, all six students will be required to give a presentation as an “English Language Study Programme Ambassador” at their home institutions. They will be asked to share their experiences in the U.S. along with the skills they learned and new approaches to language learning, in turn strengthening English skills throughout their home universities. The students say they are prepared to become ‘ambassadors’ for Tanzania, proudly representing their institutions and country while in the U.S.A.
U.S. Embassy’s Office of Public Affairs administers this and many other educational exchange programs, including the J. William Fulbright Fellowship Programme. These fellowships are funded by the American people. Visit http://tanzania.usembassy.gov and check under "Resources" for information on exchange opportunities at the graduate level in the coming academic year.