Thursday, March 19th, 2009...10:28 am
Alliance for International Women’s Rights Provides ESL Training to ACCC Students
The Afghan Canadian Community Center (ACCC) is pleased to partner with the Alliance for International Women’s Rights to further improve its English-language training program through the introduction of online English as a Second Language (ESL) training.
The Alliance for International Women’s Rights (AIWR) is a New York-based 501(c)(3) non-profit with the mission to support the development of female leaders in developing countries, particularly in Central Asia. They match women in Central Asia to skilled professionals in developed countries who wish to use their skills and experience to further women’s education.
The ESL program is one of the Alliance’s Armchair Volunteer Programs, which take advantage of free Internet-based communication technology to help open the world to women in developing countries through long-distance volunteers. These volunteers bring their experience and professional skills to help build local capacity for women’s rights organizations, women politicians, women educators, and girls who have the potential to become future women leaders.
The English language training uses Skype, a Voice-over-IP (VoIP) application, to connect students and teachers on a one-to-one basis. These pairings will usually conduct two hour-long conversational English classes per week. Its focus on live instruction with native English speakers will be highly valuable for students at the ACCC.
By improving their English skills, Afghan women and girls can more easily reach out to the international community for information, advice and funding, as well as share their experiences with the rest of the world. This training will also help students develop the skills required to obtain high-paying employment and contribute to the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.
The partnership will provide personalized training for seven students at the ACCC. Should the program prove effective, the AIWR and the ACCC will consider further expanding the number of participants.
14 Comments
October 7th, 2009 at 12:32 am
Hello folks,
I just would like to leave a quick comment on the AIWR-ACCC online programs;
We are really fortunate to have AIWR as our partner who by the direct supervision of the AIWR president Lisa Herb and strong co-operation of the ACCC director Ehsan Ullah Ehsan have conducted an ESL communication program for 40 girls supervising by Scarlett Chidgey, as well as Skype based Program for 13 girls handling by Vicky Willson is the recent update as per my information and we are gradually increasing the number of the students in both communication and Skype based programs, these programs help the girls improve their English professional skills in communication, report, essay, and story writing, ESL teaching and other related to reading and listening skills, they also exchange their views on the difference and culture exchange with their teachers in schools/universities of the world widely, not only ACCC teachers and students are much interested for the program but main while their parents are also very excited/encouraged by the program as it was out of their imagination that their girls get education from abroad in their homes which have a positive effection on the community.
And currently our focus is on preparation of teaching opportunities for the AIWR-ACCC students in ACCC and other female schools that they adopt/implement the skills they have gained from the teachers in abroad.
Thanks AIWR-ACCC partners, students and teachers for holding up the program!
Kandahari – Online Program Coordinator – ACCC- AIWR
October 8th, 2009 at 12:45 am
Hi Shir,
Thank you for taking lead on this. I will comment on the program in detail after the students tell us about their direct experience from the program.
The program is no doubt a useful program. And to large extent, the program was managed and coordinated very well. Both you and Vicky did an excellent job in this regard. Thank you both. I would encourage the Allience and ask Lisa to expand the program. We are working to bring more internet to the ACCC so that the program fuctions more smoothly and more students benefit.
Ehsan
October 10th, 2009 at 3:57 am
In the Name of Allah
I am very happy to start this program. This is a very interesting program because students can speak with teachers and learn English language very well.
And they will be able to get more skills about English language.
And I am thankfull from Mr Ehsan for his hard working.
October 10th, 2009 at 3:58 am
In the Name of Allah
I am very happy to start this program. This is a very interesting program because students can speak with teachers and learn English language very well.
And they will be able to get more skills about English language.
And I am thankfull from Mr Ehsan for his hard working.
Thanks
Sharifa
October 11th, 2009 at 3:52 am
My offers to Shir Kandahari/Ehsan:
Thanks Shir Kandahari for your always efforts and nonstop assistance, the program is conducted for us is not only beneficial for us but can assist in building up of our teaching system based on the promoted methodology helping by our esteemed teachers, to take this opportunity I thank Ehsan to assisted in preparation and all our needs and equipments for the program, and my dear teacher Miss Maureen, who always by pleasant attitude assisted in the beneficial/interested parts of my English skills, as an example at first I my communication skills were much weak, I could not talk to some one by English for 5 minutes and the second thing is that I could not either know a word of the native English speaker but working with my teacher now fortunately I can flaunt talk by English and know the accent of a native English speaker which is an outcome from this program for me, but not only this I have improved in all parts of my English skills, meanwhile I also known of how to work with peoples online by internet as well as how to behave with international’s. These are just a few of them I have known but there are much more benefits that I do not know how to describe it but can say that such programs are not just important for us/ beneficial for ACCC/ essentail for Kandahar but can have a supper rule in the building of Afghanistan
Thanks a lot Shir Kandahari/Ehsan/Vicky
October 11th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Husnia
Skype Student
ACCC
Kandahar – Afghanistan
First I convey my warmest Greatings to Mr. Shir Kandahari and Mr. Ehsan Ullah Ehsan Sahib:
Thanks Shir Kandahari for making opportunity for us to post our comments for the Skype program and share our experiences with each other’s and I am sure it is the best way of communication and make a strong cooperation among the students
Lets come on the part of WH tools that the why the program is important
1- I learned and can use much more strong academic words then before, now I can write a paragraph, I can make great and more literary sentences, I can make a short story, and I can communicate fluently then before
2- And learning Skype by itself is much helpful for me, before I was in connection with my uncle in America by phone which was wanting much cost in a few munities but from the time I know Skype my all families are talking with my uncle families for hours and by phone we could not see them and now by Skype we are also seeing each other’s which was a non acceptable and out of our imagination that we will see them from Afghanistan
3- It is helpful and beneficial because for much reasons I will just a few of them as an example, connection with abroad, correction of the pronunciation, strong communication, seeing our teachers in abroad by web came and there living styles , some time we use Skype as a conference they are showing/teaching materials/teaching equipments from there and much more
4- And who to thank, my warmest regards for all who prepared and assisted this if they are in abroad or Afghanistan, if they are males or females, if they from ACCC, AIWR, ACCC partners, or other stockholders who assisted ACCC found but will just mention a few of the most effective, nonstop efforts they done for the program, and always are/were highly active are Mr. Shir Kandahari, Mr. Ehsan Ullah Ehsan, and Vicky respected, and all other ACCC-AIWR assistants
Thanks again Shir Kandahari/Ehsan Sahib and Vicky
With Much Respect
Husnia
October 12th, 2009 at 12:22 am
In the meanwhile, let’s thank the Canadian Government, its men and women in uniform who have helped made all of this work, progress and the achievements happen at ACCC today. The government of Canada through its development agency CIDA funded us to buy computers, furniture, inernet and hire a building and support staff.
Ehsan
October 12th, 2009 at 8:30 am
Special comment on the AIWR program:
First of all I want to say that ACCC is the best Center in Kandahar even in all Afghanistan, because it provided lots of facilities for getting modern education. As we know that Kandaharian women were uneducated and did not know anything even they did not know about their own self and own rights but with the establishment of ACCC the number of uneducated people especially women is decreasing day by day. Now they know about world. Now girls have this opportunity to talk with teachers whose native language is English based on Skype and it has very successful affects on their speaking power, listening power and pronunciation. From when I started Skype class I have seen a lot of positive effects on my own self.
We are very grateful from Ehsan sir, Shir Kandahari sir and Canadian brothers and sisters especially from AIWR who help us in every way and trying to provide more facilities.
Special comment on ACCC success:
Now ACCC is having hundreds of female graduates in: management, teaching, administration, organisation behaviour, health, computer, English and other short and long term needed and beneficial trainings are conducting for us and beside that our students are also having free access to internet in ACCC which helping us to find our needed lessons in internet, while 8 years before we could not imagine that we will go to school and will use internet. Which is a big outcome of ACCC for all Afghanistan peoples and great result of Canadian partners
Special Comment on our Canadian Supporters – Partners:
We know and much appreciate for all assistance Canada done for us and as aforementioned that they brought to ACCC the recent promoted and based on the new technology education opportunity but one more special suggestion which is in all our ACCC’s students, Kandahar peoples and in all Afghans widely have in their minds is that if we could be taught from the universities and schools of Canada will be much effective for us, since AIWR and SAIT are working with us, we see much positive effection on overall of our academic skills, so by having opportunity of having teachers from schools and universities of Canada will give a new message to ACCC, Kandahar, and Afghanistan peoples especially women which no organisation paid there adequate attention to their education except Canadian peoples.
With hopes of a positive response from the Canadian partners
Again, wish you all the best Shir Kandahari Sahib, Ehsan Sahib, Vicky for more success in your great jobs.
KHOSHBINA
October 14th, 2009 at 10:17 am
My deep thanks to Ehsan Sahib, Mr. Shir Kandahari and Miss. Vicky;
Skype program is much helpful for its regulations by Shir Kandahari, Ehsan Sahib, Vicky and organizing by ACCC and AIWR management with the newest high promoted standards, equipments and materials and the teachers who I did not see their absence for their classes and the newest tactics, and recent methodology and activities will definitely bring a huge change in our academic skills, the special environment prepared for us and the great system for the solution of our problems also have a great role on our learning, and as most of the students are interested for the Skype program therefore I suggest and request from the management of the Skype program, and especially for our Canadian helpers to support this program in financial part for preparing opportunity for the increasing more students in Skype program.
There are much more to say about ACCC success which can’t be expressed in an email but am highly Appreciated for all the of the ACCC, AIWR, Canadian supporters, teachers, and all stakeholders and partners who have take part in building and assisting ACCC directly or indirectly.
Much Appreciated,
Masooda
Skype Student
ACCC-Kandahar-Afghanistan
October 16th, 2009 at 6:46 am
Dear all students and Ehsan Sahib:
Thanks for all of your comments on the ACCC-AIWR program,
I am happy to hear your interest, enthusiasm for the AIWR program and showing your gained skills from the AIWR programs to peoples and Inshallah we will bring more opportunities for you in the future, let me thanks Ehsan Sahib and AIWR and Canadian partners to prepared this great opportunity for us.
We did not do much for you but what give us solicitation, consolation, contentment, and satisfaction is that at least we by the continue help of Ehsan Sahib and perpetuate assistance of our partners done our all the best we could, and we are keen to do more but this is also notable that we do not have as much sources and facilities as we should have to give answers for all your wishes and fulfill your dreams from ACCC, and by seeing your beautiful comments, myself give a reliable sense that something needy is still much for us.
And your gradual improvement since you have started Skype classes is non believable, I have seen your comments in the ACCC website for different issues with effective and beneficial opinions and for most of the comments I was using dictionary to know some of the strong academic words which prove your professionalism while at the beginning of Skype program I remember some of you did not know the simple English words, your promotion in such a less time is really Vicky word excited. Thanks for the hard efforts, and I also encourage you to share your gained skills with other colleagues that they also benefit from your learned skills.
I am thankful for your tremendous efforts and am grateful to Ehsan Sahib, Canadian partners and AIWR for all their hard work and dedication to the program. I am, of course, also very grateful to the teachers who volunteer their time.
Faithfully yours
Shir Kandahari – Online Program Coordinator – AIWR – ACCC
October 16th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Shir Kandahari
October 16th, 2009 at 6:46 am
Dear all students and Ehsan Sahib:
Thanks for all of your comments on the ACCC-AIWR program,
I am happy to hear your interest, enthusiasm for the AIWR program and showing your gained skills from the AIWR programs to peoples and Inshallah we will bring more opportunities for you in the future, let me thanks Ehsan Sahib and AIWR and Canadian partners to prepared this great opportunity for us.
We did not do much for you but what give us solicitation, consolation, contentment, and satisfaction is that at least we by the continue help of Ehsan Sahib and perpetuate assistance of our partners done our all the best we could, and we are keen to do more but this is also notable that we do not have as much sources and facilities as we should have to give answers for all your wishes and fulfill your dreams from ACCC, and by seeing your beautiful comments, myself give a reliable sense that something needy is still much for us.
And your gradual improvement since you have started Skype classes is non believable, I have seen your comments in the ACCC website for different issues with effective and beneficial opinions and for most of the comments I was using dictionary to know some of the strong academic words which prove your professionalism while at the beginning of Skype program I remember some of you did not know the simple English words, your promotion in such a less time is really Vicky word excited. Thanks for the hard efforts, and I also encourage you to share your gained skills with other colleagues that they also benefit from your learned skills.
I am thankful for your tremendous efforts and am grateful to Ehsan Sahib, Canadian partners and AIWR for all their hard work and dedication to the program. I am, of course, also very grateful to the teachers who volunteer their time.
Faithfully yours
Shir Kandahari – Online Program Coordinator – AIWR – ACCC
October 17th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Salam to all readers!
I think what I would like to comment and say about the success of Skype program and ACCC are mentioned in the above comments and I just want to add few more sentences:
As a Skype student I am really impressed by the regular process of Skype program and my alone request is for all who are included in the management of this process to extend this program and as Shir Kandahari pointed that others also benefit from Skype program, therefore opportunities be prepared for us that we share our learned lessons with our other sisters in ACCC or either in other girls schools.
And the second is internet related issue; I suggest a strong internet connection for Skype program is needed, because some time three-four girls at the same time having Skype classes are facing with low internet connection problem, sometimes voice is breaking, sometimes our messages are not delivering to our teachers and sometimes we can not either open Skype messenger which is all because of less internet frequencies, indeed.
Thanks your feedbacks in advance.
Many thanks all the holders, assistants, and the key members for the management of the program: (Shir Kandahari, Ehsan Ullah Ehsan, and Vicky Willson).
Sincerely
Shahira Saidy
October 17th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Thanks very much to all of the students who are taking online English classes through the Armchair ESL Program, especially those who took the time and made the effort to express their opinions here. It is a gift for all of us to participate in this project. The volunteer teachers often tell me that working with the students at ACCC is a remarkable and rewarding experience. By donating their time and expertise the volunteer teachers make this project possible. My hope is that the program will eventually expand. Many thanks to ALL – and of course, to Ehsan and Shir for their patience and determination.
January 30th, 2010 at 5:43 am
Thanks Vicky for the Honor words, by your pleasure now the online programs of the AIWR became an important part of the ACCC educational programs and a lot of girls are interested to be part of it, I am sure that building the education capacity of one girl in a place like Kandahar is building the life of the whole community and it is the result of your efforts that now most of the Skype students are speaking fluent English since they are involved in the AIWR programs — my thanks to all volunteer teachers for being perpetuate assistants and fully supportive to their students.
Sincerely – Shir Kandahari
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