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| PAO Mark Wenig talks with students of Solway College in Masterton |
Meet US: Americans in Dialogue with Young New Zealanders about Life in the U.S.A.
"How does the American election system work?"
"What does a typical school day in the U.S. look like?"
"What languages do Americans learn at school?"
"What is the difference between American politics and New Zealand politics?"
"What is the general mood of the American public since the 2008 presidential election?"
These are some typical questions that young New Zealanders may have about the United States and Americans in general.
The Meet US program is designed to help clarify the picture by bringing U.S. Embassy/Consulate staff members together with secondary school students in NZ to engage them in dialogue about everyday life in the United States.
The speakers meet with students at their schools to talk about anything that helps give the students a better idea of "how Americans tick." The primary intention is not to focus on current policy issues, but rather to offer a dialogue on social, historical or cultural aspects of the United States and the interests and aspirations of Americans.
This is a brand new program in New Zealand, and we are delighted to be able to launch it here.
While the discussions can be tailored to complement the school curriculum, the visits are not structured as formal lectures, but rather an open and direct dialogue between the guest speaker and the students. The speakers usually present a short overview of a particular subject relating to American society and culture or talk more generally about their lives (their jobs or job goals, the schools and universities they attended, their hometowns) and then open the floor to discussion and questions. In some cases, the speaker may even have some questions for the students!
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Wellington and the U.S. Consulate General in Auckland coordinate the program, and speakers are able to travel country wide. We receive requests from schools and coordinate all administrative and logistical details. We also have a range of support materials available which the speakers may use in preparation for their visit, or as hand-outs to the students.
How to Request a School Visit
Speaker requests from interested schools should include:
Desired date (requests should be made well in advance; please give alternate dates)
Name, address and information about the school (type of school, special profiles, etc.)
Level of the class (or student ages)
Number of participating students
Suggested or likely discussion topics
The name and telephone number/email of a contact person at the school
The Embassy or Consulate will make travel arrangements for the speaker. There is no charge to the requesting school or institution. We are happy to help you decide on a speaking topic or develop a lesson plan around your speaker visit – just ask!
If you’d like to request an Embassy speaker at your school please send a letter or email to:
Public Affairs Section
Embassy of the United States of America
PO Box 1190, Wellington
or
wellington.arc@state.gov
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