If you are a young and aspiring learner, you can find new and exciting learning opportunities through our activites.

• Reading Challenge 2009 - Quest Seekers

The British Council Knowledge and Information Services is organising a Reading Challenge in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Jordan Olympic Committee for young learners and teens to help them discover the pleasure and excitement of reading, to maximize their reading potential and to promote a sense of achievement among them.

what exactly is the Reading Challenge?

The Reading Challenge isn’t about reading as many books as you can. It’s about discovering books, actively enjoying what you read, and sharing ‘reading time’ with us, friends, and family too.

What are the aims of the Challenge?

This past year’s theme, the “Team Read”, focussed on sports and sports activities. Browsing through and choosing from our special collection of over 120 bold, beautiful and brilliant books, almost 1,000 students aged 6 to 16 from different schools in many areas across Jordan joined us on an amazing adventure where quiet enjoyment, team spirit and warm enthusiasm joined forces with growing reading confidence and greater reading skill.

How does the Challenge work, then?

Students this year all received a special folder to record the titles of the six books they chose to read and, at the end of the Challenge, they all also received a certificate in celebration of their achievements. Along the way, they gained more confidence and skill not only in reading, but also in speaking and, in particular, in expressing their thoughts in English through engagement in the group activities and discussions during the sessions.

What happens now?

Following on from the success of the “Team Read”, this coming academic year’s theme for the Reading Challenge is "Quest Seekers", in relation to myth, science fiction and fantasy. As last year, at the end of the Challenge, in addition to certificates and medals for students, schools taking part will receive books from the collection itself and from the British Council library collection.

Is this a British Council only project?

No. As the project’s theme focuses on myth and science fiction, we will be working in partnership with Haya Cultural Centre, and coordinating with speakers in the fiels, school principals and English language teachers at Ministry of Education schools across the Kingdom.

Is this happening only in Jordan?

No… In fact, 28 different countries around the world are joining in with “Reading Challenge”, so look out for messages from students in far-off places!!

• Cafe Scientific

Café Scientifique is a unique style of video-conferencing session for the discussion of topical and thought-provoking scientific and technological issues.  It encourages debate amongst a mainly non-scientific audience in a way that is much more relaxed, informal and accessible than a public lecture.

Who can come to these sessions?

In order to secure the greatest benefit for all participants, sessions at the British Council, Jordan are targeted at 18 – 40-year-old young professionals with a lively interest in the topic for discussion. The audience is mostly invited from different universities and institutions. People of various different backgrounds and disciplines are encouraged to take part.

What sessions have already been held at BC, Jordan, then?

We have had several, very successful events:

• GLOBAL WARMING at Café Scientifique

This session took place in June 2007, linking BC, Jordan’s 25 students who were actively involved in environment issues with counterparts in Damascus (Syria), and Ramallah (Palestinian Territories), and with key speaker Prof. Mark Lynas. A first-of-its-kind experience for the Amman participants, this event featured lively discussion between all parties, with good media coverage also.

• LOW CARBON TECHNOLOGY at Café Scientifique

Our Café Scientifique event in July 2007 joined 15 students of environmental and engineering studies with participants from Cairo (Egypt), and with key speaker Prof. Ian Arbon. Prof. Arbon’s creative ideas and simple suggestions were relevant to our region and this, together with his encouragement to think at a personal level – what participants as individuals can do in their own lives and at a community level – were an inspiration to all who attended this session to not only ‘talk the talk’, but also ‘walk the walk’.

• WATER AND ENVIRONMENT at Café Scientifique

November 2007 again saw 15 students of environmental and engineering studies on BC, Jordan premises linking up this time with counterparts in BC, Palestinian Territories, and with key speaker Dr. Suresh Nesaratnam. Having special and critical relevance to this region, both students and key speaker exchanged valuable ideas, points and recommendations in this very stimulating session.

• RENEWABLE ENERGIES at Café Scientifique

In February 2008 ten students involved in environmental studies linked up with counterparts in Alexandria (Egypt), and with key speaker Dr. Simon Watson to discuss and debate the issue of renewable energies. As in previous Café Scientifique events, facilitators from both BC, Jordan staff and relevant scientific institutions guided students as and when necessary through the discussion, and our audience shared their valuable input concerning the Jordanian experience with Dr. Watson, who welcomed all comments and suggestions, and responded positively to them.

For information on upcoming Café Scientifique events, please contact us at info@britishcouncil.org.jo

To get more information about the event we manage and run please get in touch with our customer services team in Amman.

British Council, First Circle, Jabal Amman
PO Box 634, Amman 11118, Jordan

Telephone +962 6 4636147/8
Fax +962 6 46034203
E-mail info@britishcouncil.org.jo