English language courses for journalists started

Bakı, November 20, 2007

30 journalists attend English courses organized by Azercell Telecom JV and US embassy in Baku

English language courses for journalists organized by Azercell Telecom JV and American embassy in Azerbaijan were opened in November. The presentation of the program was held on Novemer 19 in “Excelsior” hotel.

Ann E. Derse, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, stressed at the opening ceremony advantages of knowing of foreign languages. She also stressed a special importance of this advantage for correspondents. “If you would like to become a leading correspondent of the constantly developing world press, you need to know foreign languages to compete with rivals at the world arena. The embassy’s employees voluntarily provided assistance to journalists to improve their English language. At present journalists that joined this group cooperate with leading media organizations of the world. And now we have decided to involve in the courses the journalists, who poorly know or do not know English language. 30 journalists from prints and electronic mass media attend these seven-months-long courses organized jointly with our colleagues from Azercell company” Anne Derse, who knows several foreign languages and currently studies Azerbaijani language, said that though study of foreign languages demands time, patience and obstinacy, this hard work brings its results. At the end of her speech Ann E. Derse wished success to all participants of the course.

General Manager of Azercell Telecom JV A. Halim Ates said that he is glad that owing to this pleasant reason, he has met with the journalists once again. Mr. Ates has described some works done by the company within the framework of the program “İnkişafı Paylaşmaq Platforması” (Development Sharing Platform). General Manager stressed in this program preference was given to the journalists and also mentioned organization of international conferences for media, lectures on business journalism and training for media representatives held jointly with Reuters Foundation. He also paid attention to the currently held article contest Value That Brings Us Together.

“Our work did not pass unnoticed. You have announced Azercell Telecom the most transparent company of the year. And this is a brilliant assessment of our work”,-said Halim Ates.

Halim Ates said that “foreign language is a very great power and also especially stressed advantage of this strength for journalists”. “It is very important to know foreign language to analyze events happening in the modern world. As our country is in the centre of attention of world publicity, we must develop to keep pace with the world. I believe that from this viewpoint, our seven-month-long courses will be useful for everyone”. He wished success to all participants of the courses and expressed hope that in the near future we will witness use of these courses.

English language courses for journalists started on November 1. For three weeks 30 journalists representing prints and electronic mass media of the country attend the training courses held by employees of Azerbaijan English Language Teachers Association. The journalists are divided into three groups and training program has been prepared according to level of each of the group.