America at the Tunis International Bookfair
Tunis, April 27 - If you visit this year’s Tunis International Bookfair (April 24-May 3)and pass by a colorful and cheerful booth, then there you are: the American Center’s area offering a wide array of English teaching manuals, French translations of featured American books, and this year’s special offer: A kid’s corner and a Study in the US counseling desk.
The American Center’s booth represents an attractive component of the Fair. In addition to the regular book selling activity, U.S. diplomats take turns to talk with Tunisian visitors about American culture and society, give advice on traveling and studying opportunities, or simply speak “real American English” with Tunisians willing to check their own language performance!
The Kid’s Corner gives the opportunity to young children to learn the English alphabet or names of animals using coloring activities and exercises in addition to American children’s books offered at very competitive prices.
Tunisian students interested in exchange programs can have all their questions answered by the American Center’s exchange specialists, who have prepared comprehensive information and handouts about the wide range of exchange programs sponsored by the US Department of State, including the Fulbright and Hubert Humphrey programs.
The American stand also hosts Amideast’s “Study in the US corner,” offering information, tips and advice about opportunities to study in American universities.
Besides all this, the American booth hosted on Sunday, April 26 a discussion with five American writers and poets from the University of Iowa currently visiting Tunisia as part of a State Department sponsored program baptized “the International writing program.”; they answered questions and comments posed by Tunisian participants, and offered some of their works during a signing ceremony held right after the event.
The Tunis International Bookfair is an annual event attracting over 300,000 visitors. It has become a highlight of the cultural agenda in Tunisia, as it offers a framework for various cultural activities involving letters, sciences and professional arts.
In addition, the Tunis fair plays a recognized role in the promotion of professional relationships between authors, literary agents, publishers, broadcasters and booksellers in Tunisia and elsewhere.
So, if you find yourself at the fair, stop on by! We look forward to talking with you.