Form SV-2010-0030 Sports and Culture: Between the Lines

SURVEY of BETWEEN THE LINES PARTICIPANTS

September 15, 2010

Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Statements:

The information solicited on this survey is requested pursuant to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-62) and the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act (22 U.S.C. 2451, et seq.). In order to ensure that the U.S. Department of State’s international exchange programs meet statutory program requirements (22 U.S.C. 2460(c)), the Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) regularly monitors the programs, gathers data about program accomplishments, and evaluates selected ones. ECA uses the information collected to inform program design, management, and funding. All personal information that is collected through surveys is considered confidential. All responses are coded to ensure the confidentiality of individual responses. Data collected under this study will not be shared, sold, or used for fundraising purposes. Survey data and findings will be used only in an aggregate form for the express purposes of fulfilling the data needs of the outcome assessment. Responses to this survey are voluntary.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average thirty-five (35) minutes to respond to this survey, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and respondents are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. Please send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to: A/ISS/DIR, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520.

SV 2010-0030 OMB No.: 1405-0158

Expiration Date: 04/30/2011

Estimated Burden Time: 35 minutes

1. In what year did you participate in the Between the Lines program? Please select one box.

	√
2008
2009

2. Exchange programs provide participants with many important opportunities for learning and engaging people from other countries. In the table below, please identify the three most important accomplishments resulting from your participation in the Between the Lines program.

	√
Improved my writing skills
Explored new or different approaches and techniques in creative writing or poetry
Explored American literature and poetry
Interacted with a writing community
Built relationships with other young writers from the U.S.
Built relationships with other young writers from my region
Shared my culture with others
Improved my English skills
Lived and studied in the United States
Other (Please write in):

3. How much did the Between the Lines program meet your expectations? Please select one box.

Did not meet any of my expectations	Did not meet most of my expectations	Met some of my expectations	Met most of my expectations	Met all of my expectations

4. What is your most important accomplishment that is a direct result of your experience in the Between the Lines program?

A4. Open-ended response

5. How much did the Between the Lines program improve your knowledge and skills in creative writing, poetry and forms of expression? Please select one box in each row.

	Not at All	To a Small Extent	To a Good Extent	To a Great Extent	Not Applicable
Creative Writing
Character development
Plot development
Setting
Dialogue and voice/point of view
Creativity
Poetry
Structure
Voice
Imagery
Use of metaphors and/or similes
Other skills
Critiquing other works
Critiquing and editing your own work
Expressing your opinion verbally
Presenting work to an audience
Translation from English to Arabic of written works (yours or others)
Translation from Arabic to English of written works (yours or others)
English grammar
Arabic grammar

6. Have you applied the knowledge and skills that you learned during the Between the Lines program since your return home? Please select one box in each row.

	Yes	No
Creative Writing
Character development
Plot development
Setting
Dialogue and voice/point of view
Creativity
Poetry
Structure
Voice
Imagery
Use of metaphors and/or similes
Other skills
Critiquing other works
Critiquing and editing your own work
Expressing your opinion verbally
Presenting work to an audience
Translation from English to Arabic of written works
Translation from Arabic to English of written works
English grammar
Arabic grammar

7. How has your creative writing or poetry changed as a direct result of your participation in the exchange program?

A7. Open-ended response

8. To what extent do you think you were able to share your culture with other teachers, students and writers while you participated in the program? Please select one box.

Not At All	To A Small Extent	To A Good Extent	To A Great Extent	Not Applicable

9. What was the most significant aspect of your culture that you were able to share with other teachers, students and writers?

A9. Open-ended

10. Thinking back, what was your level of knowledge about the following aspects of the United States before participating in the Between the Lines program? Please select one box in each row.

	No Knowledge	Limited Knowledge	Moderate Knowledge	Extensive Knowledge
Daily life in the United States
American writing and poetry
American arts and culture
Religious diversity in the United States
Ethnic diversity in the United States
The U.S. political system
Education in the United States
Freedom of speech and the press in the United States
Voluntary community services and philanthropy in the United States
American history
American popular culture
The United States overall

11. Thinking back, what was your level of knowledge about the following aspects of the United States after participating in the Between the Lines program? Please select one box in each row.

	No Knowledge	Limited Knowledge	Moderate Knowledge	Extensive Knowledge
Daily life in the United States
American arts and culture
American writing and poetry
Religious diversity in the United States
Ethnic diversity in the United States
The U.S. political system
Education in the United States
Freedom of speech and the press in the United States
Voluntary community services and philanthropy in the United States
American history
American popular culture
The United States overall

12. How did your views of the United States Government and the American people change as a result of your participation in the exchange program? Please select one box in each row.

	Much less favorable	Less favorable	No change	More favorable	Much more favorable
United States Government
American People

13. What did you learn about the United States during your visit that surprised you or that you did not expect?

A13. Open-ended response

14. Have you shared your experience or knowledge you gained during your participation in Between the Lines in any of the following ways? Please select all that apply.

	√
Discussion with your family
Discussion with your friends and community members
Discussion with your colleagues
Interview with a media outlet (newspaper, television, radio or Internet)
Wrote a newspaper or magazine article, including an editorial or opinion piece
Post on a blog or other Internet networking space
Shared writing or poetry you wrote while in the United States
Formal presentation at your school/university
Formal presentation at a community event
Other (Please write in):

15. Do you think your family, friends and peers have a more favorable or less favorable opinion of the United States because of the information you shared with them? Please select one box.

Much less favorable	Less favorable	No change	More favorable	Much more favorable	I don’t know

16. Have you been in contact with people you met during the Between the Lines program?

	
Yes
No

If yes, go to Q17.

If no, go to Q18.

17. Of the following people you met through your participation in Between the Lines, whom have you been in contact with since your return home? Please select all that apply.

	√
American students
Other exchange students in the program
American teachers
Arabic teachers
Chaperones
Between the Lines Program Director
Between the Lines Program Coordinator
U.S. Department of State staff in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Embassy/Consulate staff
Between the Lines program alumni
Alumni of other US exchange programs in my country
Other (Please write in):

18. Have you returned to the United States since you participated in the Between the Lines program?

	√
Yes
No

19. Do you expect to return to the United States within the next five years?

	√
Yes
No
I don’t know

20. Do you write more or less than you did before you participated in the Between the Lines Program?

Much less than before	Less than before	No change	More than before	Much more than before

21. Of the statements listed below, have you done any of the following since you returned home from your exchange visit to the United States? Please select one box in each row.

	Yes	No
My work was published in a student magazine or student newspaper
My work was in a local or national magazine or newspaper
I organized a writing/poetry workshop or event
I attended a writing/poetry workshop or event

22. Do you think you will pursue a career as a writer or a poet? Please select one box.

	√
Yes
No
I don’t know

23. How has your participation in the Between the Lines program affected you personally?

A23. Open-ended response

24. Are you in school or employed? Please select one box in each row.

	Yes	No
I am in secondary school/high school
I attend university
I attend vocational training
I am employed
Other (Please write in):

25. Which forms of media do you primarily use to keep informed about American writing, art and culture? Please select all that apply.

	√
Television
Radio
Film
Books
Newspapers
Magazines and trade journals
Between the Lines website
Arts and culture websites
News websites
Social networking sites (for example, Facebook and Twitter)
Internet photo and video sharing sites (for example, Flickr and YouTube)
Other (Please write in):

26. In which country do you currently live?

A26. Drop-down list

27. Which statement best describes the geographic location where you currently live? Please select one box.

	√
My country’s capital
Another major city in my country other than the capital
A small city, town or rural location in my country

28. What is your age? Please select one box.

	√
17
18
19
20
21
22
23

29. What is your gender?

	√
Female
Male

30. If you have additional comments or suggestions for improving Between the Lines program, please give details here. We value your thoughts and feedback.

A30. Open-ended response

31. How long did it take for you to complete this survey?

Q31. Drop-down list (minutes)

Thank you for completing this survey!

13 Between the Lines Survey 9-15-10