This event is actually an International event co-organized by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education every year, and which aims to promote the benefits of International education and exchange worldwide.

For its 2009 edition in Madagascar, ICE Club will take part into the celebration of “International Educational Week” . Its presence at such event can be interpreted as a positive sign of openness of education to English club activities.

Nowadays, the global U.S. education policy has two main trends:

• to promote public, as well as private programs which prepare Americans for a global environment ;
• to attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the U.S.

Obviously, the “International Educational Week” follows the second trend.

This event is an excellent opportunity for Malagasy people (especially Malagasy students) to know more about U.S. education and the tremendous advantages it can bring.

Moon's books

Each time we have new comers at the club, we don’t fail to ask them “How did they know about the club”. An important part of them answer “From the newspaper – English corner“. When we started this project with the daily Midi Madagasikara about 4 years ago our main goal was to give people something “English” to read. A challenge that we didn’t know how it would impact Midi’s audience. One must know that Midi Madagasikara is among the daily papers that has the highest number of readers.

The feedback has been pretty positive so far and that encourages us (the English Corner team led by Ariniaina) to keep it up. I remember, Andry already told me that another news paper was doing the same thing – having an entire page in English language. Sounds good I said. In the past 5 years, Malagasy people has showed interest in this language and that has triggered lots of good things like tv  and radio shows, a leap in English courses attendance, boom of English institutes and so on.

So what is really goog about all this? Practice of course as we are dealing with “language”. The digital world and the evolution of ICT has opened new doors of opportunities to learn and practice English. Something that our fathers didn’t have. However, not everybody can enjoy the advantages of new technology that’s why the other supports have their part to play. Bookstores and schools should have books in English. There is sometimes a faire of English books in Tana (I don’t know how often) but it allows many young people to buy novels, vocabulary and grammar books. There are sold with audio tapes sometimes.

I know only two places (correct me if I’m wrong) where you can read English books. The one is at CNELA’s library and the other at the ACC. The last time I went to CNELA I didn’t have to be a student there to be able to rent a book. I hope it is still the case now. For the ACC, you’ll have to enroll at the ETP. Reading is important and one of the ICE projects is to have books for rent for the members. Some friends already proposed us something but our main problem is – so far – the place where we can put them. I hope we will find a place soon.