Summer Institute 2000 Participants
Steven Franks
Linguistics and Slavic Languages and Literatures, Indiana University
The Summer Institute in "Slavic and East European Languages: Acquisition, Techniques, and Technologies", sponsored by Duke University and UNC/Chapel Hill, was an all around success. Thanks to the remarkable organizational skills of Professors Edna Andrews and Laura Janda, and the indefatigable administrative personnel at their respective institutions, Susan Riner and Meredith Clason, we were kept occupied with what seemed an endless assortment of stimulating activities. The program, while fully packed, was carefully arranged so as to allow us enough time to focus on each of its components properly.
Since I am personally somewhat removed from most day-to-day aspects of Slavic language teaching, participation in this program provided an excellent way for me to get in better touch with the innovative methods now being developed that exploit newly available technology, as well as with truly inspired ideas for bringing Russian realia into the classroom. I intend to share these methods and ideas with my language teaching colleagues at Indiana University, and will make a package of materials which will be on permanent file in the departmental Dan Armstrong Memorial Library. I have always had a strong interest in language teaching, especially for the so-called "second" Slavic languages, and hope to apply some of my new knowledge in the classroom at the earliest opportunity.
Here are a few of the highlights of the program which will remain most memorable for me:
- The fascinating opening presentation by Edna Andrews on the nature of language, memory and brain, which almost converted me to her cognitive perspective.
- Dana Cojocaru's discussion of her Russian radio course, which showed how much can be done in small sound bites.
- Jim Noblitt's "sound and light" show on teaching Romance languages, which left me in literal awe of his technological prowess, not to mention elation inspired by his musical clips.
- George Mitrevski's mini-course on developing web-based exercises, which provided an eye-opening excursion into the wonderful world of html, with the most patient and knowledgeable ekskursovod imaginable.
- The new Russian case book being developed by Laura Janda and Steven Clancy, which will be an excellent instructional resource for teachers and students alike.
- Eleonora Magomedova's discussion of how the Russian lexicon is changing to reflect new social developments.
- Robert Greenberg's presentation of how computer technology both enables and hinders the visually handicapped scholar.
There were also weekend cultural and social activities which provided a welcome diversion from our scholarly discussions. Most enjoyable was the trip to Old Salem, supported by Laura Janda's highly informative lecture on Comenius and the problems associated with teaching heritage speakers.
One aspect of this workshop which cannot really be quantified was the exceptional interaction among its participants. We shared experiences and ideas in ways that can only take place in such an intensive and protracted format. Also, the formation of new friendships with young Slavists I found particular rewarding. I am very grateful for having this opportunity, and I suspect in the long run it is these bonds that will remain the most significant of all.
I left with a strong impression of what can be accomplished in our field given the kind of commitment to excellence and dedication to hard work and new methods which the Duke and UNC faculty clearly express. This is exactly the kind of inspiration Slavic programs around the country need, in order to meet the needs of next generation. I felt I was interacting with people who are looking forward, who are asking how to make our field better and more responsive, and who will shape Slavic language teaching for the future. It was a delight and an honor to be part of the first such workshop.
I thank the organizers, and my fellow participants, for working so hard to make this program informative and interactive. It was extremely well conceived and executed, and I can only say that I envy future participants in the coming summers. They will have much to look forward to indeed!