The skills and success of youth are unlimited.
In many countries of the world schools are supporting their academic programs with projects that bring an international proficiency and point of view. Many international projects were brought to life thanks to the cooperation between these schools. These projects constitute an important part of ACI’s multilingual and multicultural approach to education. By taking part in scientific, cultural, artistic and political projects, students experience the operation of international structures that they may take part in or even steer in the future.
MUN (Model United Nations)
The MUN (Model United Nations), which is becoming increasingly popular among high schools, has been one ACI’s most active clubs since 1995. The primary objective of the MUN Club is to develop students’ outlook on the world and to reinforce the democracy principle through practice. At the same time MUN is a simulation work that presents students with a universal and diplomatic point of view in international relations.
Since participants to the club by rule represent countries other than their own, they develop an impartial understanding in international relations by learning about policies of other countries. The “Delegates” attending meetings on Disarmament, Human Rights, Border Clashes, Environmental and Legal Committees and Economic and Social Council Meetings as well as the General Assembly and the Security Council, and defend their countries’ interests. The solutions developed during the simulation are much similar to those developed in real life.
ACI is one of the 7 schools that participate in The Hague International Model United Nations Conference (THIMUN), of which MUN was born and which is still the worlds oldest and most prestigious youth activity that has a high level of participation. Having attended these meetings for the last 15 years, ACI MUN Club students successfully represented many countries including the U.S.A. and Russia at THIMUN and acted as chairs in important sessions such as the Disarmament Committee, the Economic Council and especially the Court of Justice, being chosen from among hundreds of applicants. In 2010 an ACI student became Chair of the Court of Justice, and Didem Erpulat, Counsellor-Teacher of the MUN Club, is a member of the THIMUN Conference Advisory Board.
The MUN Club represents ACI and all Turkish students at the Turkish International Model United Nations (TIMUN) conference held every year at the Üsküdar American College and at the St. Andrew’s Model United Nations (SAIMUN) conferences.
Going through an intensive preparatory process before the conferences, the students conduct detailed researches on international relations, world issues and actual events. At each conference they prepare drafts to solve problems through the eyes of the countries they represent and practice on these during weekly study hours. At the conferences they attend they come together with youth from all over the world and present and debate their solutions to the problems, preparing motions under the United Nations by using diplomacy tactics. Being an exact simulation of the real United Nations, this activity teaches students very important skills such as conducting research, writing, debating, public speech and expressing opinions.
Part of the students of the MUN Club have continued to work in the international field after graduation and have gained great success in their respective fields. Playing an important role in developing the students’ command of the English language, their teamwork and leadership skills and especially their self-confidence, the MUN Club is one of ACI’s international activities of which it is very proud.
With the growing importance of the second foreign language learning at ACI, we now have French and German MUN clubs available for our students who are interested in those languages.
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT (JA)
Established in 1919, Junior Achievement is the world’s oldest, largest and most rapidly developing non-profit applied economic education program. The Junior Achievement International Organization develops Junior Achievement Programs and serves in 108 countries.
Junior Achievement International’s mission is to establish cooperation between the business world and education in order to enable youth in the member countries implementing the Junior Achievement programs to raise awareness on;
• The importance of market economy,
• The place of the business world in global economy,
• The responsibility to act ethically in business administration,
• The environmental and social responsibilities of the business world,
• The relationship between business and education,
• The effects of an understanding of economics on their own futures.
Theoretical economics, company incorporation and computerized virtual commerce games are taught at the Junior Achievement Club, which has been conducting its activities for many years in our school to an eager audience. The learning is supported with visits to various factories and corporations. The students are also given the opportunity to attend international student conferences and exhibitions.
ISTA
ACI students have conducted many joint works with the International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA) at the ISTA Club.
The U.K.-based association organizes various conferences, workshops and festivals, enabling students and teachers to meet young artists and to find out about each others cultures through theatre. It contributes to the development of theatre and acting as a field of art. For detailed information on ISTA: http://www.ista.co.uk
In addition to attending the festivals organized by ISTA, ACI students sometimes host these events. Students who were not content to limit themselves to ISTA festivals renamed the club “Beyond ISTA” in 2010. At the club students learn about acting, discover different styles and prepare performances. Some students achieve the opportunity to go to festivals held abroad. They reinforce their art education by taking part in activities such as shows, plays, concerts, ballet performances and exhibitions outside school
LEGO ROBOTICS CLUB
The Lego Robotics Club was established in order to engage students with science and technology, to teach teamwork and to increase their creativity. Aiming at designing and programming robots and participating in international competitions, the Robotics Club has enjoyed much success since the day it was established. Representing Turkey in Japan between 23-30 April 2008 and at the FLL (First Lego League ) Tournaments organized in Taiwan between 3-10 May 2010 as the first runner-up for Turkey at the national eliminations, the ACI Team’s projects were commended by an international jury.