VZCZCXRO7706
PP RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHCHI #0198 3180355
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 140355Z NOV 06
FM AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0324
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0592
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 0362
UNCLAS CHIANG MAI 000198
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ECA/A/S/A FOR DOROTHY MORA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL CVIS KPAO TH
SUBJECT: ENGLISH CONTESTS, TEEN SPIRIT MARK INTERNATIONAL ED WEEK
REF: STATE 183414
1. Chiang Mai's 2006 Ed-eXpo USA consolidated a now four-year
tradition of celebrating International Education Week in
northern Thailand with English language competitions, a briefing
on student visas, and a Fulbright presentation on scholarship
opportunities. The steadily growing event this year attracted
over 400 high school students, teachers and guests.
2. Local enthusiasm for this annual education event is echoed
in the U.S. Consulate General's records showing a 21 percent
growth in student visa applications since 2004, the result of
increased interest and financial ability to pursue U.S. study on
the part of northern Thai students. Applications for J visas
have increased at an even greater rate, more than tripling in
the last two years, primarily thanks to concerted recruiting by
work/travel agencies.
3. For the fourth year in a row, the IC-ACE advising center,
part of the Department's EducationUSA network, planned and
hosted the all-day Ed-eXpo USA in partnership with the U.S.
Consulate General, the Embassy's Regional English Language
Office, and the Thai-U.S. Educational Foundation (TUSEF).
Recognizing that the Nov. 3 event this year had outgrown the
IC-ACE facilities at Chiang Mai University (CMU), the organizers
got permission to use the university's prestigious Faculty of
Architecture. Additional partners included Santa Monica
College, Foothill & De Anza Colleges, the CMU American Corner,
and Pepsico Thailand.
4. Twelve schools from four northern Thai provinces competed
in the "Ace! Olympiad" through a series of English language and
U.S. culture contests. Olympiad competitions included an
SAT-style test of critical reading and math, a contest featuring
American hit songs, a chance to design and build U.S.-themed
architectural models, a day-long series of tasks of critical
thinking and integrated English communication skills, and
TOEFL-style essay writing and English proficiency tests.
Prizes were awarded for each competition, with the U.S. Consul
General's Challenge Cup going to the school team with the
highest total score.
5. Normally subdued Thai students cheered and whooped for
their schools during the afternoon prize ceremony, even though
some had left home at 4 am to reach Chiang Mai for the opening
events. The continued growth and popularity of Ed-eXpo USA,
which this year added schools in Chiang Rai and Lamphun as well
as previous contestants from Chiang Mai and Lampang provinces,
has made it the region's premier event to promote U.S.
educational opportunities and publicize the services of the
IC-ACE advising center.
CAMP