English Access Microscholarship Program The U.S. State Department's English Access Microscholarship Program provides a foundation of English language skills to non-elite, 14 - 18 year old students worldwide through afterschool classes and intensive summer learning activities. Access students gain an appreciation for American culture and democratic values, increase their ability to participate successfully in the socio-economic development of their countries, and gain the ability to compete for and participate in future U.S. exchange and study programs. Since its inception in 2004, 44,000 students in over 55 countries have participated in the Access Program. Access school in the city of Khasavyurt in the Republic of Dagestan was open for the students from city schools from the families with low income or having many children. It is situated in the building of Gymnasium # 1 and has regular classes two times a week. We try to combine studies and leisure.

Two year have passed and what are our achievements? We are a good team now. We have got many new friends in the U.S.A. with whom we have video-conferences, and in Elista Access School, Republic of Kalmykia, with these students we met and became friends in the summer during our participation in the seminar organized by the English Language Office of the Embassy of the U.S.A. to the Russian Federation. It was devoted to a very important topic – TOLERANCE. And the highlight of the program was a workshop given by the American writer Myrtis Mixon who taught the students to write stories on tolerance.

This year we had the first leavers. They are in the Eleventh Grade now but many of the them want to study English professionally. In the picture is my second group of students. They are rather capable and show good results in studies.