Events for the Public – June 2014

All of the below events are open for the public. We would like you to plan carefully before registering with us so that we have enough seats for participants. If you register for our events but change your plan, kindly notify us by email to irchanoi@gmail.com. If you would like to be an American Center member, please register.

***REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EVENTS EXCEPT THOSE NOTED OTHERWISE.  Register here.***

All events take place at 1st Floor of the Rose Garden Tower at 170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Hanoi, except those noted otherwise.  Remember to take your ID with you.

May 19 – Jun 30 20th Anniversary Logo Design Contest (PDF 235 KB) U.S. Embassy Hanoi & U.S. Consulate General in HCMC
Jun. 3, 10:00 – 11:00 Conversation Hour: Education Nicole Bright-Hardee
Jun. 4, 9:00 – 11:00 Conversation + Mike Tran
Jun. 5, 3:00 – 4:00 How Youth Can Help in the Fight Against Human Trafficking USAID
Jun. 6, 9:00 – 11:00 Conversation + Mike Tran
Jun. 6, 10:00 – 11:00 Marriage Equality in the U.S. after the “Defense of Marriage” Act Tobias Wolff, Law School, University of Pennsylvania
Jun. 6, 3:00 – 5:00 Film Show: Dallas Buyers Club (R) (2013) Niki Pham, U.S. Embassy
Jun. 9, 2:00 – 3:00 Fun Easy English Domenico Valles
Jun. 9, 3:00 – 4:30 American Politics in Television and Movies Winston Q. Le, U.S. Embassy
Jun. 10, 10:00 – 11:00 Conversation Hour: Fears Nicole Bright-Hardee
Jun. 10, 2:00 – 3:00 Fun Easy English Domenico Valles
Jun. 11, 9:00 – 11:00 Conversation + Mike Tran
Jun. 11, 2:00 – 3:00 Fun Easy English Domenico Valles
Jun. 11, 3:00 – 4:00 English is Fun U.S. Embassy Marines
Jun. 11, 4:00 – 5:15 American English Club: Human Traficking – The World’s Most Shameful Crimes American Center
Jun. 12, 2:00 – 4:00 Film Show: Monsters University (G) (2013) American Center
Jun. 13, 9:00 – 11:00 Conversation + Mike Tran
Jun. 13, 2:00 – 3:00 The Goals of U.S. Economic Diplomacy Laura Stone, U.S. Embassy
Jun. 13, 3:00 – 4:00 Happiness: Life’s Eternal Quest or a Chemical Reaction? Chris Schirm, U.S. Embassy
Jun. 17, 10:00 – 11:00 Conversation Hour: Jobs / Working Nicole Bright-Hardee
Jun. 17, 3:00 – 4:00 Coding: The Logic Behind Creativity Domenico Valles
Jun. 18, 9:00 – 11:00 Conversation + Mike Tran
Jun. 18, 2:00 – 4:00 Film Show: World War Z (PG-13) (2013) American Center
Jun. 19, 3:00 – 4:00 English is Fun U.S. Embassy Marines
Jun. 20, 9:00 – 11:00 Conversation + Mike Tran
Jun. 20, 11:00 – 12:00 Personal Economics: Making a Living and Paying the Bills in America Cal Mackenzie, Colby College
Jun. 24, 10:00 – 11:00 Conversation Hour: Across America Nicole Bright-Hardee
Jun. 24, 3:30 – 5:00 Film Show: Despicable Me (PG) (2010) American Center
Jun. 25, 9:00 – 11:00 Conversation + Mike Tran
Jun. 25, 4:00 – 5:15 American English Club American Center
Jun. 26, 2:00 – 3:00 The Changing Lives of American Women Cal Mackenzie, Colby College
Jun. 26, 4:00 – 5:15 American English Club American Center
Jun. 27, 9:00 – 11:00 Conversation + Mike Tran
Jun. 27, 2:30 – 4:00 Debate Club: “Animal Testing: For or Against?” American Center
Jun 27, 4:00 – 5:00 Introduction to Agricultural Biotechnology Michael Ward, U.S. Embassy

Conversation Hour
Tuesdays (June 3, 10, 17, 24), 10:00 – 11:00 am
Nicole Bright-Hardee, Guest Speaker

Call it a conversation, or any one of this word’s synonyms – chat, colloquy, converse, dialog, discussion, etc. – this is an hour of informal talk and your opportunity to improve your English speaking and listening skills.  An American host of the hour will introduce a topic and guide you through discussion around it. Come to chat and learn.  Bring your friends and make even more friends!

English is Fun
June 11, 19; 3:00 – 4:00 pm
U.S. Embassy Marines

Come to join our new hosts who are young, enthusiastic Marines, for an hour of conversation to practice your English speaking skills. Please tell your friends about this chance and come to have fun together.

Conversation +
Wednesdays (June 4, 11, 18, 25) and Fridays (June 6, 13, 20, 27), 9:00 – 11:00 am
Mike Tran

New series for intermediate level English learners!  Come to the American Center for interactive sessions with Mike to improve your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.  You will be expected to write essays on various topics and present in front of your peers.  And you will comment on and discuss each other’s presentations.  Mike will facilitate these sessions and help you bring your English to the next level.  You’ll have fun learning and won’t even notice you worked so hard…

Fun Easy English
June 9, 10, 11, 2:00 – 3:00 pm;
Domenico Valles, Summer Hire

Fun Easy English provides the opportunity to explore and learn the English language through discussion. Topics will vary, and involve your interaction. Join Us!”

How Youth Can Help in the Fight Against Human Trafficking
June 5, 3:00 – 4:45 pm
USAID & MTV EXIT VIetnam

Join the fight ​against Human Trafficking ​with MTV EXIT!
Do you want to stand up and take action to end human trafficking in Vietnam? Do not miss this great event to meet with ​two American representatives from USAID/Vietnam and MTV EXIT/Bangkok and ​an active ​ MTV EXIT Youth Leader ​ in Vietnam ​ to learn about the campaign, what human trafficking looks like in Vietnam, and how you can join the fight to end exploitation and human trafficking!

Guest speakers:

  • Laura McKechnie, ​Deputy Director, Office of Economic Growth and Governance, USAID/Vietnam
  • Emily Cholette, MTV EXIT Communication for Development Officer
  • ​Hang Pham​, MTV EXIT ​2013-2014 ​Youth Leader in​ Vietnam

​Moderator: Emily Cholette and MTV EXIT support team.​

Marriage Equality in the U.S. after the “Defense of Marriage”
June 6, 10:00 – 11:00 am
Tobias Wolff, Law School, University of Pennsylvania

As we celebrate the LGBT rights month, the American Center is pleased to host Dr. Wolff, who will offer a discussion on issues of marriage equality in the United States. He will discuss how marriage is viewed under State and Federal Law, and how “Defense of Marriage” Act and the consequent legal actions affected the marriage equality. Join the event to also discuss other issues facing LGBT people in the United States.

American Politics in TV and Movies
June 9, 3:00 – 4:30 pm
Winston Q. Le, U.S. Embassy

Have you ever seen the television shows “House of Cards” or “The West Wing”? Have you ever asked yourself whether American government is accurately portrayed in the popular media? Join Winston Le in a discussion of how American politics and government is portrayed on TV, in the movies, and in other media. We will show scenes from various shows and movies and discuss how their portrayal of American politics feeds attitudes about the U.S.

American English Club: Human Traficking – The World’s Most Shameful Crimes
June 11, 4:00 – 5:15 pm
American Center Interns

Human trafficking is a global problem that affects the lives of millions of people around the world and robbing them of their dignity. Trafficking is one of the serious issues in Viet Nam.

At the AC’s American English Club, you can freely express your thoughts and learn from others’ viewpoints how youth can help in the fight against human trafficking. In addition to the discussion, there are many activities for you to participate and enjoy… and of course – practice your American English!

Before you register for the event, consider this: You are invited to take part in pre-AEC contest — to write a scenario for a 5-minute role-playing activity to convey a message about human trafficking.  Maximum word limit 500 (about 1 page). Remember to highlight your message at the end.  The winning scenario will be used for activities at the  AEC event on June 11th.

This competition is your chance to demonstrate your talent and receive stunning prizes:
– 1 best scenario: super cute AC backpack
– 2 impressive scenarios: Oxford mini dictionaries

Submit via: achanoiaec@gmail.com before 5.00 pm, June 10, 2014.

The Goals of U.S. Economic Diplomacy
June 13, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Laura Stone, Economic Counselor. U.S. Embassy Hanoi

When most people think about “diplomacy” they think about political negotiations and military maneuvering.  However, the economic and commercial aspects of our foreign policy are just as important, and serve to set the foundation for our relations overseas.  Come learn more about the multidimensional aspects of U.S. Economic Diplomacy.

Happiness: Life’s Eternal Quest or a Chemical Reaction?
Jun. 13, 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Chris Schirm, U.S. Embassy

Let’s come join in an open discussion on the elements of being happy, what causes it, and do we have a choice in the matter.

Coding: The Logic Behind Creativity
June 17, 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Domenico Valles, Summer Hire

Come join Dom in learning the basics of Computer Science, the #1 rated college major for finding a well paying job.

Personal Economics: Making a Living and Paying the Bills in America
June 20, 11:00 – 12:00 noon
Cal Mackenzie, Colby College

To many foreigners, Americans seem very wealthy and thus very fortunate.  But most Americans do not see themselves that way.  They worry about earning enough money to pay for their housing and food, health care, college tuition for their children, and retirement savings. Poverty and income inequality are serious problems in America as they are all over the world. This discussion explores both the financial challenges and the strategies to meet them that are typical of American families.

The Changing Lives of American Women
June 26, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Cal Mackenzie, Colby College

A hundred years ago, American women could not vote nor hold public office. Most of the best universities only admitted men.  Few women worked outside their homes.  Women were expected to be wives and mothers and little else. All that has now changed.  American women have taken on increasingly important political roles.  More women than men graduate from American universities.  And women are now appearing more often in the top offices of American corporations. This discussion looks at the roles of women in contemporary American society and at the forces that have produced such dramatic changes.

Debate Club: “Animal Testing: For or Against?”
June 27,  2:30 – 4:00 pm
American Center Interns

The goal of the American Center’s Debate Club is to create friendly environment where anyone can express and freely debate their ideas on interesting current topics.  So if you like to analyze facts, communicates openly, or just interested in debate please make your way to the AC to join our club.

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