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Fulbright Program for U.S. Students

Fulbright FLTA Newsletter

Issue 4 | July 2007

Experience of Fulbrighters
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Living in Lock Haven as an FLTA: a unique experience and wonderful chance

by Daniela Ribitsch

When do we ever have the chance to live in another country, explore its people, life, and beauty, enrich our language skills in the foreign and native language by working with students, and at the same time meet many other people from many different places all over the world? Hardly ever, almost never!

I will never forget the first day I arrived at Lock Haven University. It was a Thursday, and together with two other international visitors from Italy and China, I was invited to a dinner(the first in a long series of (un-)official welcoming receptions). I remember I told my family that I had never been welcomed so often and so warmly in my whole life. This wonderfully cozy and relaxed atmosphere made it very easy for me to quickly find my way into this unknown place. So when I returned to Lock Haven after Christmas break, I felt like coming home.It is a very special feeling to walk over the campus with all those red buildings and the fountain in front of Stevenson Library. Not only is the campus so different from mine in Graz, Austria, but the university life is very different as well. In Austria, the students can take as much time as they want for their studies. They have to do homework and take many exams for just one class. This is just one example out of many others that we FLTAs are lucky to experience either in our position as language teaching assistants or when taking part in our four classes.

 

The real pleasure for me as a German language teaching assistant was to see that, despite the wide range of other languages offered by the language department, many American students were interested in studying German. Over 40 students – most of them are Americans - are trying hard to learn my native language, and I take pleasure in supporting them in their efforts and seeing them progress in a language that is, of course, not the easiest to learn.

 

 I have never regretted going to Lock Haven. It is a year full of new unique experiences and chances to meet many new people from the United States and overseas. I live at the International House right on campus with three other visitors from different parts of the world: Morocco, Italy and China. On many occasions, our house becomes the place for more people from all over the world. One time, I remember us saying what a great feeling it was to share a place with so many different cultures.

 

So if you asked me, “Would you apply for the FLTA program again?”, I would say, “Yes, I would do it again - most definitely!”

 



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A Lifetime Change

by Fabien Riviere

FULBRIGHT, FULBRIGHT! It will be hard to complement the name and the experience with any sort of adjective for Fulbright carries them all by itself. Fulbright is a wonderful, enriching, memorable, and unique experience. Little did I know that I was embarking on one of the most rewarding journeys of my life!  If over one year ago someone had told me I would be evacuating New Orleans under the threat of a hurricane – I would have most definitely laughed at that person! If over one year ago I had been told that I would inspire a pupil to get an internship in one of the most prestigious institutions of France, I would have probably doubted it. If over one year ago I had been told that I would be invited to take part in the work of international organizations I would have questioned it – what difference could I make?

One year later, at the end of my Fulbright FLTA experience and thanks to the program, I have all the answers to these questions and many more.

 

The key to it all is to believe in WHO you are and to seize the opportunities that are offered to you. By doing this, you will achieve great things!

 

Through my work in an American public school as a teaching assistant of French, I developed a great number of activities with classes I was responsible for. I promoted my language but also introduced the cultures of France and the French-speaking world my way. I taught cooking lessons and set up language festivals – in some way by traveling daily to France with them all.  A lot of people took an active part and showed a great interest in all these events. Now and then I had to challenge some stereotypes. But, all in all, this is what sharing is about, isn’t it? By sharing a culture, not only do we get immersed and enriched but we also face challenges which make us more confident with and open to one’s culture.

 

I also believe it is important to go out of the academic environment and get to know other people. Traveling has been, for my part, the best way to discover wonderful and diverse landscapes of America as well as to sympathize with many Americans. Either with the help of your campus or a city cultural center, there is always an opportunity for a nice getaway! Whatever you want to do and wherever you want to go, there will always be someone to advise you and, perhaps, accompany you.

 

Today, I look back at this year with much nostalgia, hoping that I could travel again, attend workshops and conferences again, or teach my classes again. But at no point do I feel that the Fulbright experience is over, for it continues every day in what I do, here in my studies, and teaching at the University of Cambridge (England). When I meet with people and continue to promote my culture and language overseas, I feel a great sense of accomplishment.

 

Being a Fulbright FLTA is a UNIQUE journey and YOUR lifetime change!   



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