Centro Cultural Nicaraguense norteamericano
WWW.CCNN.ORG.NI
FEBRUARY 2010
February: ccnn relaunches soon!
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The New Buildings of the Binational Center located in Reparto Los Robles, Houses number 13 and 14
Communicative English This program is composed of Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate and UpperIntermediate and Advanced courses taught in twelve levels through which students are expected to develop the four abilities of the English Language: Listening comprehension, oral communication, reading comprehension and written expression. The program is based on a communicative approach of learning a second language. Each course presents topics of great interest to students creating opportunities to generate discussion and promote the development of linguistic and communicative skills.
February is already here and CCNN has many activities going on. The additional building is ready with 13 new classrooms, a multipurpose room, a more efficient library with the culture promotion coordination. We keep working hard to give the best educational offers. New courses and schedules are prepared as well as a variety of cultural activities to reinforce the English skills learned in class. We, as CCNN, are celebrating Black History month with a variety of film screenings and lectures about this important topic in U.S Society. We are also getting closer to our ¨D¨ day, the launching of the new face of CCNN in this coming month, an opportunity for the center to broaden its horizon to a new public outside its premises.
Academic and cultural activities
2 Miss Amy Eagleburger, during her lecture about Civil Rights and Poetry to CCNN students, on January 21st. This lecture was made possible by the IRC, American Corner and CCNN.
Miss Maurin Murray, giving a lecture about The poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, at CCNN premises, last January 27th. This lecture was an iniciative of IRC, American Corner and CCNN.
American Corner organized the projection of Barack Obama`s Biography film to level 15th students at the American Nicaraguan School ELI. Teacher Alejandra AlemĂ n included the film in her lesson plan, for promoting awareness of Obama`s struggle to find his identity in the United States, being the son of White and African parents. The students wrote a short summary of the video afterwards.
Guest speaker Mr. Shantee Moore, offering a lecture as part of the celebrations of Black History Month. He prepared a dicussion forum with CCNN students on February 10th, based on the film Tuskegee Airmen. This lecture was possible thanks to IRC, American Corner and CCNN.
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Children’s prep. Program C h i l d r e n l e a r n t h r o u g h t h e i r o w n c u r i o s i t y. CCNN’s Prep programs for children have been developed with the main goal of setting a strong foundation in the student’s learning process. This will be the base of understanding more, at a greater pace, in the more demanding levels. Programs in CCNN have been carefully designed with the purpose of integrating activities that encourage and make the learning of a new language an entertaining experience. Students are instructed through methods based on experimentalism and an integral approach to the English language through reading, listening, speaking and writing. The Experimental Method encourages children to make their own discoveries and to advance at an in dividual pace, through fun class projects.
Abraham Lincoln 1809 - 1865
Carter G. Woodson 1875 - 1950
4 Lincoln won re-election in 1864, as Union military triumphs heralded an end to the war. In his planning for peace, the President was flexible and generous, encouraging Southerners to lay down their arms and join speedily in reunion. The spirit that guided him was clearly that of his Second Inaugural Address, now inscribed on one wall of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D. C.: “With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds.... “
Black History Month is one of the most widely-celebrated of federal months. It was originally established in 1926 as Negro History Week by noted African-American author and Harvard University scholar, Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Dr. Woodson’s hope was that this special observance would remind all Americans of their ethnic roots, and that the commemoration would increase mutual respect. In 1976 the celebration was expanded to include the entire month, and it became known as Black History Month, also called African American History Month. The month of February was chosen since it contains the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas. Lincoln is honored because of the Emancipation Proclamation that freed the slaves, and Douglas is honored as one of the most influential moral leaders, orators, and authors of American history.
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As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization. Further, he rallied most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy.
EducationUSa
ESSAY contest WINNERS
Success story
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From Instituto Loyola to West Point Military Academy. Former CCNN and Instituto Loyola student Virgilio Morales Aranda has just finished his first semester in West Point Military Academy. He participated in the Opportunity Program for two years and after many efforts, the support of his family and this program, he improved his SAT and TOEFL scores to apply to several US universities. He applied to the Mil Group scholarships to West Point through the US embassy in Managua, and started his studies in June 2009. In order to receive this scholarship, he joined the Nicaraguan army. And now he represents our country at West Point. Reporting from West Point, Virgilio says: “During my first semester, I got a GPA of 3.46, being my lowest grade a C+ in Survival Swimming, which was a very difficult task to accomplish. I am also tutoring students in Spanish courses and helping my classmates with Math and Physics subjects if needed. My experience in this institution has been wonderful, and I feel both blessed and privileged for being in the number one university according to Forbes magazine”. Among other memorable experiences, West Point cadets have received the visit of President Obama. As good Nicaraguans do, Virgilio has been very proud of sharing our culture with his classmates and professors. Best wishes from CCNN, Virgilio! You are such an inspiration to us. Thanks for being YOU!
CCNN congratulates all the winners of the Essay Writing Contest “I Have a Nicaraguan Dream” in commemoration of Martin Luther King day. Mireya Fonseca Alexa Cotto Eduardo Menicucci Laura Valladares Maria Alejandra Ruiz
Level Level Level Level Level
8 8 11 9 9
You all did a great job!
NEW CCNN GRADUATES
CCNN is happy to share the joy of success with its newly graduted students from the Intensive English courses. In this picture are some of them with their teacher Julio Gutierrez. From left to right: Flavio Rostran, David Arbizu, Darling Ortega, Marlene Miranda, Ariana Espinales and Carlos Soto. CCNN congratulates them and wishes them more achievements in their lives.
Emily Dickinson Library Offers a variety of services for English Speakers and English Language students.
EDUCATIONUSA
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Emily Dickinson Library collection includes resources for English teachers and students. As well as U.S. literature, audiovisual resources, Encyclopedias,and current news.
EducationUSA centers actively promote U.S. higher education around the world by offering accurate, unbiased, comprehensive, objective and timely information about educational institutions in the United States and guidance to qualified individuals on how best to access those opportunities.
Emily Dickinson Library has a reading area with three computers and Internet access, reference services and other sources of digital information.
EducationUSA Center is located at CCNN in Reparto Los Robles, ALKE Carretera Masaya 1 block West, 1/2 block South, House 13 - 14.
These resources are located at CCNN in Reparto Los Robles, ALKE Carretera Masaya 1 block West, 1/2 block South, House 13- 14. Visit Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Educational Adviser: Ana Alejandra Alemán email: alexalem26@yahoo.com advise@ccnn.org.ni Advising sessions Fridays from 2 - 5 pm
Lic. Victoria Maltez email: library@ccnn.org.ni Tel. 2278-1288 ext.
American Corner Your corner of information on U.S. Society, American Literature, U.S. History, Government and current events. AMERICAN CORNER collection includes printed material, audiovisual resources on topics like: American Music, American History, and Biographies. AMERICAN CORNER has three computers with Internet access. These resources are located on the second floor in the Library’s reading area. AMERICAN CORNER schedules movie presentations every week or by visitor’s request. All services are free of charge. Visit Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Tel. 2255-7171 ext. 238 americancorner@cablenet.com.ni Second Floor Biblioteca Roberto Incer Barquero Central Bank of Nicaragua Library By Pass, 7 Sur Managua, Nicaragua
CCNN’s Newsletter
General Director....................... Mary Helen Espinosa Academic Director.................................Jorge Moreno Adults Program....................................Franklin Tellez Children’s Program...........................Asdrubal Canelo Librarian................................. Maria Victoria Maltez Academic Registry.............................Yadira Calderon Culture Promotion.................................Alberto Torres American Corner............................Nubia Manzanares EducationUSA Adviser..................Alejandra Aleman Comments: culture_promotion@ccnn.org.ni