This newsletter summarizes activities from the Global Connections and Exchange (GCE) program, which connects students in the US and Southeast Asia. It discusses several online exchange projects between 650 students in 30 classes discussing daily life through photography. It also describes how GCE has helped teachers integrate technology into diverse subjects like science, Russian, and military skills. The newsletter highlights how alumni are launching community projects and a videoconference between Kyrgyzstan schools on undergraduate studies.

1. GLOBAL CONNECTIONS & EXCHANGE: KYRGYZSTAN · PHILIPPINES · VIETNAM
DIGITAL YOUTH DIALOGUE: KYRGYZSTAN
Winter 2012 Newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE:
Students from Southeast Asia and the US Explore Daily Life
through Photography
Teacher Brings her Class Online for Virtual Exchange, Thanks
to GCE
Rural US Students Meet Peers in Kyrgyzstan Online
ICT Training Helps Enhance Learning in Diverse Subjects
Teachers Take Part in US Embassy’s Professional Development
Webinar Series
Tech Age Girls Alumni Launch Community Projects with Small
Grant Funding
Videoconference Bridges Schools in Kyrgyzstan to Discuss
Undergraduate Study
Global Connections and Exchange is a program of the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs, and is administered by IREX in Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Digital Youth
Dialogue is funded by the United States Embassy in Kyrgyzstan.

2. GCE & DYD Winter 2012 Newsletter
KYRGYZSTAN · PHILIPPINES · VIETNAM
Students from Southeast Asia and the  Alan Weintraut connected his journalism class
US Explore Daily Life through in Annandale, Virginia with groups in both
Photography countries, in similar projects with 90 youth.
“We do live similar lives; we both strive for
In February, the GCE program in Southeast Asia similar dreams, we set our academic life and
launched its first round of online projects be- extracurricular activities as priorities, but
tween the United States, Vietnam and the Philip- hanging out with friends is important as
pines, connecting 650 students in 30 classes. well,” reported one of US students, who
shared cultural photos in over 250 posts.
 Meanwhile, about 40 students between Yar-
mouth, Maine and Cebu, Philippines made
150 posts on the same topic. Teacher Amy
Sanders says that her students learned a lot
during the “win-win” experience: “[They had]
a range of observations - including their in-
terest in how school days are different and
their feeling that Filipino students really are
a lot like them in terms of attitudes about
school, hanging out with friends, etc.”
During the third week of the project, students in Kan- Sanders plans to continue in another project
sas and Chu Van An shared pictures of after school with a GCE Asia partner group in coming
activities, like choir (above), and eating typical Viet- months, as IREX begins project setup for the
namese dishes at a restaurant (below) second round of connections between the
United States and Southeast Asia.
 In this first round of online projects, Twenty-
eight students from Sabetha, Kansas and Chu Teacher Brings her Class Online for
Van An, Vietnam shared photography of life in
Virtual Exchange, Thanks to GCE
their communities in 137 posts. The lead
teacher in the US, Carol Spangler, integrated
the activities into her French lessons, drawing The GCE program helps bridge the gap between
connections between France and Vietnam’s students and teachers in the United States and
history in the past as colonial Indochina. the Philippines, enabling students from across
the globe connect, collaborate, and learn togeth-
Spangler’s students also made presentations er online. For one teacher in the Philippines,
on Vietnam using material from the discussion however, this program has also helped her better
in class, and took part in a Skype conversa- connect with her own class.
tion with their partners on March 8. “[My]
kids are seeing Sabetha High School and the Senior science teacher Aileen Luab, of Zamboan-
town of Sabetha with new eyes, thanks to ga del Sur National High School, is a first-time
this opportunity,” shared Spangler. participant of online projects.

3. GCE & DYD Winter 2012 Newsletter
KYRGYZSTAN · PHILIPPINES · VIETNAM
Luab joined the GCE program after GCE Coordi- sion,” with Renee Day’s ten students from River-
nator Maria Luisa Clapano visited her school on side, California, which began on February 8.
Dec 5, and held a training for students and ten
teachers on basic computer skills, online eti-
quette and blogging. Rural US Students Meet Peers in
Kyrgyzstan Online
In the small rural town of Cambridge, Idaho
(population 330), teacher James Moran has con-
nected his four-student class with 14 peers in
Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan in a project based on a
discussion of current events. Though initially fo-
cused on current events, it evolved into a natural
discussion of each other’s cultures and lives
across the 68 posts, culminating in a Skype con-
versation on March 13. Topics during the classes’
forum-based discussions over the Educational
Network and Skype centered on religion, food,
and technology.
Aileen Luab trains her students in posting during
online projects at Zamboanga del Sur National High
School
For Luab, it has helped her better integrate tech-
nology to promote learning at her school. In the
past, she only saw students using the computer
lab at the school for Facebook with their friends.
“But now, they have learned to blog and post
pictures of their school events and other things
that they are involved in,” she shared.
James Moran’s students connect with Aisulu Nurueva’s
class in Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan at the Jalal-Abad Public
For her, the learning to use the computer lab Library in Cambridge, Idaho’s first Skype converence
productively during lessons has helped the teach- with Kyrgyzstan
er better engage her students in 21st-century
learning. “To be able to observe their improve- The students in Cambridge were pleased to learn
ments, seeing how this program is developing how many similarities they share with their peers
their ability to interact with others, it’s very in Central Asia, despite their expectations; one
inspiring for a teacher.” of Moran’s tenth graders commented, “I couldn’t
believe they had cell phones and iPods,” agree-
Currently, Luab and her eight students are doing ing with a friend who noted that “The Kyrgyzstan
their first online project, “Current Events Discus- students spoke English extremely well.”

4. GCE & DYD Winter 2012 Newsletter
KYRGYZSTAN · PHILIPPINES · VIETNAM
Moran plans to continue his relationship with his to be ready for natural disasters and other emer-
partners in Kyrgyzstan in new online project op- gencies, he is thankful for tools that make his
portunities and Skype conversations as the school teaching more effective. Since his training, Is-
year continues. mailov shares that “The computer lab has be-
come a place I frequent after lessons; now I can
find materials for my class online, and search for
ICT Training Helps Enhance Learning
images for visual aids.”
in Diverse Subjects
In addition to improving English language educa-
tion throughout Kyrgyzstan, DYD is also assisting
teachers in diverse subjects to modernize their
lessons, make teacher preparation more effi-
cient, and better engage students in the class-
room.
Russian teacher Marina Sarkarova recently
learned how to use PowerPoint and projectors in
her classroom, saving her time, and improving
student learning.
Meanwhile, In Kyzyl-Kiya’s School No. 1, Russian
teacher Marina Sarkarova began using new re-
Military and Survival Skills educator Bahtiyar Is-
mailov researches materials for his lessons at the sources from the internet following her participa-
School No. 14 computer lab tion in GCE IT training.
At DYD School No. 14 in Jalal-Abad, Bahtiyar Is- Sarkarova learned how to find Russian poetry,
mailov, a Military and Survival class teacher, has author biographies, and electronic lesson materi-
begun applying IT skills in delivering his curricu- als for her classes, and now knows how to assem-
lum, after attending trainings in December 2011. ble them into reusable lessons with PowerPoint.
The course lacks textbooks at his school, which “Since I started using these tools, the use of my
makes finding resources for preparation and in- time has become much more efficient,” shared
struction difficult. Since learning how to use Sarkarova. Sarkarova’s training means that 80
search engines from DYD, Ismailov now uses more students are being exposed to modern les-
Google, Wikipedia and Kyrgyzstan’s Educational son approaches at School No. 1.
Portal to collect materials and prepare assign-
ments, and uses PowerPoint to deliver his les-
sons. As the material is important for students to
know, giving them life-saving knowledge on how

5. GCE & DYD Winter 2012 Newsletter
KYRGYZSTAN · PHILIPPINES · VIETNAM
Teachers Take Part in US Embassy’s Tech Age Girls Alumni Launch
Professional Development Community Projects with Small Grant
Webinar Series Funding
On January 18, two GCE/DYD schools in the Jalal- In Kyrgyzstan, Alumni from the Tech Age Girls
Abad region gathered 24 English language teach- project’s 2010 and 2011 rounds applied for and
ers to take part in a US Embassy webinar, part of won funding from international organizations to
a series teaching modern methodologies to Eng- implement community projects where they live.
lish teachers throughout the country. This year, Basira Mir Mahabat of Kant, and Bu-
rulsun Mademilova and Nazik Asranbekova, both
The first lesson, “The Musical Classroom: Teach- from Naryn, won a total of $900 to help 30 indi-
ing English with Tunes,” connected teachers with viduals with their work.
US-based teacher trainers Jennifer Hodgson and
Kelli Odhuu, as the trainees learned how to ef-
fectively use music and songs to teach language
in the classroom.
Burulsun Mademilova leads a February training
promoting democratic values in
Kyrgyzstan’s youth
In January, 24 teachers in Jalal-Abad took part in a In February, Mir Mahabat, a 2011 TAG alumna,
webinar hosted by the US Embassy won her grant from the Soros Foundation in Kyr-
gyzstan’s Youth Action Fund, which aims to in-
spire and support dedicated youth who can mobi-
“The session was of great importance to me. I lize and influence large numbers of their peers in
found out how to use music properly so that kids promoting the ideals of open society.
will not just relax during the lesson, but also
learn with greater desire.” commented Nargiza Mir Mahabat’s project, “Lend a Helping Hand,” is
Mamasydykova, English language teacher at going to work towards this goal at an orphanage
School No. 1 in Jalal-Abad. in Kant: her project plans to provide training in
leadership and teambuilding for the children, as
well as knowledge of platforms for communica-
tion, networking and expression such as email,

6. GCE & DYD Winter 2012 Newsletter
KYRGYZSTAN · PHILIPPINES · VIETNAM
social media, and publishing through blogs. Mir another region,”
Mahabat expects to reach about 15 or more youth shared Nazgul Abdyk-
at the facility, when she implements it this sum- erimova from school
mer. Reflecting on her achievement, she shared, No. 7 in Naryn.
“Thanks to [TAG] I have applied and successfully
won the grant. I can share my knowledge and Thanks to the train-
skills with the students from the orphanage, be- ing and internet con-
cause the kids there are very talented.” nection provided by
Students in Naryn and
Karakol take part in a Skype GCE, teachers are
Meanwhile in Naryn, TAG alumni Burulsun discussion on upcoming now able to give
Mademilova and Nazik Asranbekova, won a small undergraduate opportunities their students more
grant from the International Foundation for Elec- access to information
toral Systems (IFES), totaling $200, available to and contact with peers setting out on similar
former participants in IFES’ Democracy Camps, of journeys as themselves.
which Mademilova was one. At the camp,
Mademilova and her peers studied democratic
governments and values, and learned the crucial
leadership, teamwork, citizenship, advocacy
skills and knowledge necessary to promote
healthy democracies. Her participation in the Contact us!
camp gave her skills which helped her in design-
ing a clear and successful project.
In February, Mademilova and Asranbekova imple- On Social Media:
mented their project for 15 participants, repli-
cating the training they received during the IFES
Democracy Camp to these additional youth. @GCEKyrgyzstan
Videoconference Bridges Schools in
Kyrgyzstan to Discuss Undergraduate fb.me/GCEKyrgyzstan
Study
On December 2, GCE organized a Skype call for
twenty-five 11th grade students from School No.
7 in Naryn and Satylganov School in Karakol, to
discuss university choices they have in the up-
Program Pages:
coming year. During the call, they covered differ-
ences between institutions, application dead-
lines, and scholarship opportunities. bit.ly/GCEAsia
“This call was a great activity for exchanging in- IREX.ORG bit.ly/GCEKyrgyzstan
formation on undergraduate school with peers in