Pakistan Fellow Captures the Spirit of a Cultural Ambassador

Every Friday at 5:00 pm throughout the spring semester, Hasnain arrived at the Carriage House senior care center in Denton, Texas. Over bingo and cards, he talked to the elderly about his Pakistani culture, his community, and his family. He listened to their stories, tales of growing up in the US and of life in a Texas town.

As a spring fellow of the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Pakistan studying at the University of North Texas, Hasnain took seriously his duty as a cultural ambassador. Throughout his five months in the US, Hasnain spoke in local schools, on the university campus, and at the Carriage House, sharing cultural and personal aspects of Pakistan often obscured by the outpouring news in theof media attention.

“People were curious to know about my country, and they often didn’t know any details. I wanted people to know the real Pakistan, and I wanted to tell them about Pakistan through my character. I was a cultural ambassador.”

Hasnain reached more than 200 ninth and tenth graders at a local high school, speaking to them through a series of small-group discussions throughout the semester. Talking with groups of 15-20 students, he led discussions on a wide range of topics, such as the differences and similarities between romantic relationships in the US and Pakistan. “Students were surprised that wedding ceremonies last for three days in Pakistan.”
Explaining the “real Pakistan,” Hasnain told students about the geographic and cultural differences among regions in the country. He talked about the government structures, described major cities, and discussed some of Pakistan’s history.

His host advisor, Aleka Myre, said Hasnain’s drive to talk about Pakistan and learn about the US helped the campus and community. “I think he’s had a tremendous effect on the community. He participates in a lot of different international events and shares his culture as much as he can.”

And now that he’s returned to Pakistan, Hasnain is speaking in his university, sharing his reflections about the US to further his work as acultural ambassador. “There is much diversity in my university. People from remote areas, tribal areas, plain areas and every other part are studying here. Many from remote areas and tribal areas have no access to Internet or other technologies, so my discussions are removing the negative and false thoughts that were growing in their minds. They are rethinking their views, and many are motivated to make Pakistan a better organized and more peaceful country.

The Global UGRAD-Pakistan program is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Department of State, and administered by IREX.

Learning with Technology: A Day with a Student from Senegal

Mouhamadou Mansour Diallo, a 14-year-old youth from Senegal, is using a computer in his classroom for the first time this year. His English teacher, Abdoul Aziz Niang, traveled to the US last year to see firsthand how technology can be leveraged in the classroom.

Mr. Niang is an alumnus of the International Leaders in Education Program (ILEP). As a 2010 ILEP Fellow, Mr. Niang was among 84 secondary school teachers from around the world who traveled to the US for a five-month professional development program. During the program, Mr. Niang studied student-centered teaching methodologies and technology for instruction, and developed a teacher training module on best practices for interdisciplinary curriculum design.

He returned to his school in Soumbedioune, a neighborhood known for its fish market and vibrant arts outside of Dakar, the capital of Senegal, equipped with more teaching strategies and a network of international colleagues.

IREX recently interviewed one of Mr. Niang’s students, Mansour, to learn more about what a typical day is like for him and how his classroom experience has changed since Mr. Niang returned from the US.
What is your typical school day like?

On school days, I always get up at 6:30am, before leaving home at 7:30 since school starts at 8:00 and ends at 5:00pm. My parents never assign me chores before class. I walk to school, which is not far from our house. I carry all the books and classroom items I need with me.
We usually have four classes of two hours each in the day. My main subjects are Math, Physics, French, English, History, and Geography, in addition to Science, Physical education, and Arts. Math is my favorite subject. After school I go back home just to eat and come again to school in order to work in a group with my friends.
What is your class like?

There are 47 students in my classroom. The school is not very nice, but it is big and there is space for all of us.

Have you noticed a difference in Mr. Niang’s teaching style compared to before he participated on the ILEP program?

Mr. NIANG’s classes are much livelier now because everything is illustrated with videos which help us to understand easily. We also practice the language recording our own videos and getting feedback in order to correct mistakes or better our performances. In addition, we share a social network called WIGGIO in which many activities related to our lessons are posted.
We are happy since we are the only students in the school to learn this way; that makes us different from others. Last year we didn’t use computers in our classes. We were not equipped with computers before our teacher left for the ILEP program. Our school was fortunately given fifty laptops and other materials by USAID.

What do you and your friends talk about the most?

We mostly talk about school, news and girls.

What do youth in your community care about the most?

We care about peace, our future, the environment and our parents’ satisfaction. Most people my age dream of immigration. This is not my case because I believe I must stay home and help in the development of my country.