February 2012

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.

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

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

If you would like to be an American Center member, please register. Our office is located on the 1st Floor of the Rose Garden Tower at 170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Hanoi. You can leave your vehicle at VKO Supermarket's vehicle keeping area. Remember to take your ID with you.

Climate Change and Health: From Science to Action
A Panel Discussion with U.S. Science Envoy Rita Colwell

Monday, February 6, 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Rose Garden Multipurpose Room – Ground Floor

Join us for this very special opportunity to learn how scientists and NGOs are finding ways to address the health impacts of climate change both globally and here in Vietnam.  In addition to our special guest, U.S. Science Envoy, Rita Colwell, the panel will include researchers and representatives from international and local NGOs. Register here.

Conversation Hour with Cassie

Tuesdays from 10:00 – 11:00 am
1st Floor, Rose Garden Tower, 170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Hanoi

Looking for more opportunities to practice English?  Join Cassie Brenn for Conversation Hour every Tuesday morning for the chance to discuss interesting topics and engage in fun activities. Registration is not required for Conversation Hours.

Clean Energy and Climate Change

Friday, February 10, 3:15- 4:15 p.m.
1st Floor, Rose Garden Tower, 170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Hanoi
Speaker: David Sandalow, Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, U.S. Department of Energy

Vietnam faces tremendous challenges in meeting its growing energy needs and is working to incorporate green growth strategies that do not contribute to climate change. What new developments are taking place in the energy sector that could help Vietnam achieve its goals? David Sandalow, Assistant Secretary for Policy & International Affairs at the US Department of Energy discusses and responds to your questions on clean energy and climate.

Guest Background:

David Sandalow serves as the Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs at the US Department of Energy, a position he has held since 2009. Prior to being confirmed as Assistant Secretary, he was an Energy and Environment Scholar and a Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Studies Program of the Brookings Institution, as well as Energy and Climate Change Working Group Chair at the Clinton Global Initiative. In the Clinton Administration, he served as Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, Environment & Science; Senior Director for Environmental Affairs at the National Security Council; and Associate Director for the Global Environment at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Mr. Sandalow was also Executive Vice President of the World Wildlife Fund.

He is also author of the 2007 book "Freedom from Oil: How the Next President Can End the United States' Oil Addiction." Sandalow is a backer of plug-in electric vehicles, among other steps to curb oil use. He studied Philosophy at Yale and received his law degree from the University of Michigan.

Black History Month: Women Who Changed the World

Thursday, February 16, 3:00- 4:00 p.m.
1st Floor, Rose Garden Tower, 170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Hanoi
Speaker: Georgette Peterson, U.S. Embassy Hanoi, Office Management Specialist

In celebration of Black History Month, and looking forward to Women’s History Month in March, Ms. Peterson will discuss the achievements and contributions of notable black women to the civil rights and women’s suffrage movements of the 20^th century.

Immigration in America

Thursday, February 16, 4:00- 5:00 p.m.
1st Floor, Rose Garden Tower, 170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Hanoi
Speaker: Ted Coley, Consular Chief, U.S. Consulate HCMC

 Learn about immigration history and current trends, as well as the challenges faced by immigrants today and the hot debate over current immigration policies. You’ll also find out who is Vietnam’s most famous immigrant to the United States! Presenter Ted Coley serves as Consular Chief at the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City.

EducationUSA presents: Single-Sex and Coeducation in the U.S.

Time: Friday, February 17, 1:30- 3:00 p.m.
Venue: Conference Room, Ground Floor, Rose Garden Tower
Speaker: Sheryl Sterns, Director of International Recruitment, Chatham University
Register here for this event. *See http://www.educationusa.state.gov for more information on EducationUSA.

Single-sex education is not offered in Vietnam but if you are thinking about going to the U.S. to study, you should understand this educational option. Ms. Sheryl Sterns, Director of International Recruitment from Chatham University will discuss the differences between single-sex and co-ed institutions in the U.S. as well as the benefits of both types of education.

The Civil Rights Movement Through Music

Friday, February 17, 3:00- 4:00 p.m.
1st Floor, Rose Garden Tower, 170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Hanoi
Speaker: Quyen Nguyen, Fulbright English Teaching Assistant

Music was an important part of the black civil rights movement in America. Join us as Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, Quyen Nguyen returns to the American Center to discuss the music associated with the movement and explain how it was and continues to be a powerful force in shaping and exchanging ideas about civil rights.

The Smile Trek: One Man’s Walk Across Asia for a Cause

Tuesday, February 21, 4:00-5:00 pm
1st Floor, Rose Garden Tower, 170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Hanoi
Speaker: Winston Fiore, U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant

Meet Winston Fiore who joins us to talk about the Smile Trek, a 5,000 mile walk across Asia he is undertaking to support cleft palate surgeries in the developing world.  Find out where he’s been, where he will go next and why he’s walking! Winston is a U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant recently returned from Afghanistan. http://smiletrek.org

Wildlife Crime: The Greatest Conservation Challenge in Vietnam?

Wednesday, February 22, 4:00-5:00 pm
1st Floor, Rose Garden Tower, 170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Hanoi
Speaker: Dr. Scott Roberton, Wildlife Conservation Society

Illegal hunting and trade of wildlife is emptying forests across Vietnam, the Asian continent and increasingly extending into Africa as well. In this presentation, Dr. Scott Roberton from the Wildlife Conservation Society explains how this has happened, why it is critically important to fight wildlife crimes and what you can do to help.

Film Show: Valentine's Day (2010)

Thursday, February 23, 2:00-4:00 pm
1st Floor, Rose Garden Tower, 170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Hanoi

The starriest cast you may ever see sparkles in a hilarious and heartwarming romcom from the director of Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries. Stories crisscross, collide and boomerang in this look at a day in the life of love. There's a proposal. Flowers that didn't get sent. A big fat secret that's finally told. The "I'll show up and surprise him" that ended up surprising her. Fights, kisses, wrong turns, right moves and more. Whether new to or through with love, you'll fall in love with this 19-star, funny-side-up celebration of romance. (from Amazon.com)

American English Club: Social Networking and Your Privacy

Friday, February 24, 2:00-4:00 pm
1st Floor, Rose Garden Tower, 170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Hanoi

Do you have an account on Facebook/Twitter/Zingme/ or any other social networks? Do you often update it and share with friends your personal news about what’s going on in your life? Come join our American English Club to discuss the way to protect your personal information on the Internet and keep connecting with friends on social networking.

EducationUSA presents: MBA and MS Finance Programs

Wednesday, February 29, 2:00- 3:30 p.m.
Conference Room, Ground Floor, Rose Garden Tower
Speaker: Prof. Michael Goldberg-Case Western Reserve University- Fulbright Scholar

Register here for this event. *See http://www.educationusa.state.gov for more information on EducationUSA.

With the global development of business today, it is no surprise that business and management are  the leading areas of study for international students pursuing higher education in the U.S.  However, many students are confused between the Master of Business Administration and specialized master programs and how to use the degrees after graduation. Prof. Michael Goldberg from Case Western Reserve University will discuss the differences in curriculum between the MBA and MS in Finance programs at U.S. universities and the type of careers that graduates from each program might expect to have.

Debate Club: "Are television and the Internet the leading causes of violence in today's society?"

Wednesday, February 22, 4:00 - 5:15
1st Floor, Rose Garden Tower, 170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Hanoi

Nowadays, internet cafes packed with teenage gamers spring up on every street in Vietnam’s cities and countryside.   In addition, television channels are loaded with cartoons and movies of every genre all day. At the same time, violence happens more and more in our communities. Is there any connection between these phenomena? Advance your English through critical thinking and test your arguments at the American Center Debate Club!