Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Conversation Cafe This Sunday at 2PM in Fayrouz Restaurant, Menzah 5

We will be holding the 2nd AC Conversation Cafe event this Sunday at 2PM. It will be at Fayrouz Restaurant close to Matador (where we went last week). To get to Fayrouz, go to the Monoprix in Menzah 6. Avenue Ahmed Tlili branches towards Fayrouz and Menzah 5 from that area. Walk on Ahmed Tlili Avenue for about 7-10... minutes and you will see Fayrouz on your right.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Star Academy AMIDEAST - Season 2!!!!!!

Come join us for this karaoke event! Sing your heart out or watch others sing! We have new songs to choose from!

When: This Friday October 1 at 4PM

Where: American Corner room

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Guest Speaker: Yvonne Davis from Davis Communications

Where: AC

When: Thursday, September 23

Some background on Yvonne:

Yvonne R. Davis is an internationally recognized business and leadership development coach, speaker, and award winning journalist. She is an expert in cross-cultural and global emerging markets, working with government, private sector, and non-governmental organizations to bring insight and viable solutions. Throughout her remarkable 20-year career, she has spearheaded initiatives that produce social and political change, both domestically and internationally. Ms. Davis has visited 56 countries and is passionate about critical economic and socio-political issues in the Middle East & North Africa Region, Africa, Central and South Asia, the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

With an impressive background in communication theory, application, leadership and business ethics and comparative politics, Ms. Davis drives crisis management and negotiation strategy initiatives that are utilized by the public and private sectors. It was through her highly intuitive capabilities and relationship building that she gained great respect as the first woman to teach negotiation skills to Palestinian women leaders. She brings this same ability to her business as a coach and consultant where she works closely with high level officials and key stakeholders to create a unique vision, develop strong leadership, and effect sustainable results.

Ms. Davis worked with the White House from 2001 to 2005 on housing, small business, HIV/AIDS, the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), global trade, welfare reform and women's issues. She travels regularly under the U.S. Department of State Speaker's Bureau Program. Ms. Davis planned, organized and executed a major trade mission to Senegal, Mali, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire and Nigeria in support of Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA).

Ms. Davis has won several business and journalism awards, and is a columnist for the Huffington Post and Arab News. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Jerusalem Post, The Palestinian Times, and Black Enterprise Magazine. She is a member of board of directors for the Connecticut World Affairs Council and a member of the Board for the Al Waref Foundation (A Middle Eastern Policy and Public Affairs think tank in Washington, DC, Lebanon and Morocco).

A doctoral candidate at the Thierry Graduate School of Leadership, Ms. Davis holds an M.S. in Leadership and Business Ethics from Duquesne University. She earned an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and Mass Communications from the University of Connecticut (Magna Cum Laude). She completed The Art Practice of Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Leadership Program at Harvard University.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Piloting English Conversation Hours on Monday and Wednesday!!!

Hello AC patrons,

At the request of some of our patrons, we are going to offer additional conversation hours on Monday and Wednesday over the next 3 weeks to test out the idea. If enough people attend the additional conversation hours, we will keep doing them. If not, then we will cancel doing that.

The way it will work will be as shown below:

Monday at 4PM: Discussion Topic A
Tuesday at 4PM: Discussion Topic A
Wednesday at 4PM: Discussion Topic B
Thursday at 4PM: Discussion Topic B
Friday at 3PM: Film Showing (sometimes with discussion afterwards, sometimes without depending on the length and nature of the film)

As you can see, the same topic will be discussed on Monday/Tuesday and a different topic will be discussed on Wednesday/Thursday. The purpose of this is to allow a different group of students to come on Tuesday if the cannot attend on Monday to talk about the same issue that students discussed the previous day. Of course, if you want to talk about the same subject on 2 different days with different students present, you could attend on both Monday and Tuesday too.

We will start the Monday and Wednesday conversation hours this Wednesday September 22, and this test phase for the additional conversation hours will end on October 6. Thereafter, I will look at the attendance numbers and if enough people are coming to the additional conversation hours, we will continue doing them.

Ravi Kaneriya
American Corner Coordinator

PS - I reserve the right to cancel Monday or Wednesday conversation hours in case it conflicts with other responsibilities that I have or errands that I have to run, but I will let you know in advance through the FB group or blog if that is the case. Otherwise, assume that conversation hour is happening.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

2nd Film Screen With Discussion - Topic: Going Forwards and Backwards in Time

We will be having a second film screening followed by a discussion of the film. The film this Friday is Click, a comedy about a man who can make time go backwards or forwards with a magical remote control.

After the film (which is 1 hour 40 minutes long), we will have an hour of discussion about the film.

The topic of t...he discussion will be: What Would You Do If You Could Go Backwards and Forwards in Time?

You are welcome to join for either the film or movie or both. Hope to see you there!

When: Tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 17) from 3PM-6PM

Where: American Corner

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Photo Exhibition and Talk with Aicha Skandrani

What: Photo Exhibition

When: 2PM, Saturday, September 18

Where:
Galerie d'Art et d'Essai "Le Damier" (near the German Embassy in Mutuelleville)
12, Avenue Haroun Errachid, Mutuelleville, 1082 Tunis

Description of Event: Welcome to the AC's first ever weekend get-together and event! To kick off our weekend meetings, we have a very special event planned.

Budding photographer Aicha Skandrani is having an exhibition of her work at the gallery. Interested AC members will begin by viewing her photography. This will be followed by an English discussion with Aicha about her work. Aicha will explain the significance of some of her artwork and her goals in her work. She will also field questions and comments that the audience may have.

Please only accept this invitation if you are serious about attending so that we can get an accurate head count.

People who are interested in coming can meet as a group in front of the German Embassy in Mutuelleville at 1:40PM sharp, and we will head to the gallery together as a group. Otherwise, you can come to the gallery directly on your own by 2PM sharp. Please do not be late. This event will begin promptly at 2PM at the gallery, and if you are late, you will miss the start of the event.

If you need to call the gallery for directions, their number is 21-700-258.

Guest Speaker: Stephen Ashby Speaking About the First Amendment

What: Stephen Ashby, consular officer from the US Embassy, will speak about the First Amendment of the US Constitution (freedom of speech). In light of the Qur'an burning attempt and Ground Zero Mosque controversy, this is a very timely and relevant subject. I hope you will attend.

When: 4PM, Thursday, September 16.

Where: American Corner

Saturday, September 11, 2010

AC Times Changes and Upcoming Events

Hello all. Please note the following time changes starting on Monday:

AC Open Hours: 10AM-6PM (Mon.-Fri.)
English Conversation Hours: 4PM (Tues. and Thurs.)
Friday Film: 3PM (Fri.)

Also, we will soon begin organizing AC weekend conversation socials. On select weekends, inviduals interested in practicing English in a casual setting will get together at a set location (park, cafe, restaurant, etc.) and socialize and participate in English-speaking activities. These weekend socials are meant to accomodate those visitors of the AC who may not be able to attend normal conversation hours or AC activities during the weekdays due to school, work, or class conflicts. Of course, anyone interested in making friends and practicing their English in an English-speaking environment is welcome as well.

Some other things to look forward to in the next few months:

We have the following speakers that will be coming to the AC:

1) A representative from the US embassy will be coming to speak about the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution (Free speech) next week on Thursday.

2) Naif Mutawa, the creator of the Islamic-themed comic series "The 99" will be speaking in November.

3) Joe DiFilippo, a US commander who served in Iraq, will speak to the AC.

4) Michael Cracknell, founder of ENDA, Tunisia's largest microfinance bank will speak in October.

5) We will have several speakers from AMIDEAST come to speak about different ethnic and religious groups in America as part of a lecture series called "Cultures of America". So far, representatives of the Irish-American, Mormon, and Indian-American communities are slated to speak at the AC about the history, challenges, and accomplishments of their groups in America.

6) We will have a Star Academy Season 2 Karaoke event in the last Friday of September at AMIDEAST.

7) And many more surprises in store!

- Ravi Kaneriya

Monday, September 6, 2010

Slideshow on Palestine and Israel: 13:00 Tuesday September 7

What: Sam, an American teacher in Tunis, will do a slideshow on his journey through Palestine and Israel. He will share his insights and revelations from the trip, and attendees will be invited to ask questions and provide comments during this discussion.

Where: American Corner

When: 13:00 Tuesday September 7