The American Corner at Plovdiv University is an American-style
library created to help increase mutual understanding between Bulgaria
and the United States by making available information about America
in a variety of formats. It offers books, CD-ROMs, videos, internet
access, programs, and a professional bilingual librarian trained to
help the public find desired information about the United States. The
American Corner in Plovdiv is used for a variety of purposes and ideally
intended for students from all areas of study wishing to make use of
its facilities. It serves as a place in which to conduct classes, seminars,
and courses connected with political and cultural studies, as well as
with the study of the English language.
The American Corner at Plovdiv University aims
at
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raising academic and public awareness
of current issues and debates in the interdisciplinary scope of American
Studies
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widening the audience of American
Studies to staff and students beyond English majors and to the general
public
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promoting American Studies within
the University and its Colleges in Smolyan and Kurdjali
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initiating change in the teaching
and learning of American Studies in institutions of Higher Education
in the South-East region of Bulgaria
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promoting and sustaining academic
and methodological research in the subject area
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transforming the educational environment
for the currently existing courses in American Studies
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serving as a catalyst for the designing
and introduction of new courses in the field
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providing the basis for the development
of an MA degree program focused on American Studies
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promoting inter-departmental cooperation
in American Studies
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facilitating cross-border networking
in American Studies on the Balkans and in South Eastern Europe
Envisaged Activities
The American Corner will
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host American Studies seminars and workshops with Plovdiv University faculty members and visiting lecturers open for attendance to students from all majors at the University of Plovdiv and its branches in discipline specific areas
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schedule and conduct American Studies events in cooperation with OPA, Fulbright Commission, Open Society Foundation, Bulgarian Publishing Houses etc.
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participate in network activities with bodies with similar missions to develop American Studies projects in the region for academic, educational and public purposes
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design and publicize curriculum, syllabi and teaching materials in American Studies
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organize conferences in American Studies and publish academic research
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