| Name: | Dr. Herta Maria Keilbach |
| Category of Grant: | US Scholar |
| Host Institution: | University of Kelaniya |
| Home Institution: | Long Beach City College |
| Host Country: | Sri Lanka |
| Field of Specialization: | TEFL |
| Period of Grant: | October 2004 through March 2005 |
A. Selection Notification: What improvements should be made in such aspects of the program as selection procedures, notification of awards, preliminary announcements and program information, general communications?
The final selection notification should occur earlier.
B. Transportation arrangements: What comments or suggestions do you have with respect to transportation, baggage or shipping of effects?
The US-SLFC arranged for a driver to pick us up at the airport. We got off the plane, and collected our luggage. Going through customs was no problem.
We headed out of the terminal where I found a man holding a sign with my name on it. The drive from the airport to the hotel apartment in Colombo, where we had a reservation for 5 days, took about an hour.I used the diplomatic pouch to ship books and research materials for my teaching assignment and research. The boxes arrived at the same time I did and the driver from the US-SLFC office delivered them to me. I strongly urge "Fulbrighters" to use the diplomatic pouch to ship appropriate items.
The process of purchasing airline tickets should be made easier, by giving clearer instructions. The present instructions suggest purchasing the air-tickets through US-SLFC when in fact it has to be purchased by the grantee. The instructions published are obviously not in conformance with the present practice.
C. Orientation: What comments or suggestions do you have for the improvement of orientation? Your reaction to printed material, pre-departure briefing and assistance in the host country is pertinent.The printed material I had received before my departure was quite adequate. The Washington orientation was very valuable. The information on everything from working with colleagues in a foreign country to using local transportation was very useful and helped to reduce anxieties significantly.
The orientation in Sri Lanka was comprehensive and outstanding in providing an overview of the situation existing in this country. The presenters, including the US ambassador, were without exceptions most competent professionals who portrayed an in depth knowledge of their specialties.
D. Logistical arrangements: Information on the following items will be helpful to program officers and future grantees. Please comment on availability and adequacy of the items described.
a. Housing: It is a little bit tricky. To get out of the hotel initially booked, you are required to make perhaps a too hasty decision. We are now renting a furnished apartment in Colombo without all household items in it.
b. Household furniture and furnishing: Although our apartment is allegedly furnished, it lacks all household items, like dishes, pots and pans, cutlery, sheets, pillows, towels, etc. We had to purchase all of it.c. Food: There are a few supermarkets like Cargill and Keels, and many open-air markets. You can’t beat the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables available in these fruit stands.
d. Schooling for children: N/A
e. Local transportation: We hired a car and a driver. The only way to go! You have instant local knowledge of mostly unmarked streets in Colombo and for a price of the equivalent of a rental car in the US.
f. Clothing: There are several shopping malls in Colombo with boutiques and clothing stores. You also can get cloth tailor-made rather inexpensively.
g. Medical and Dental Services: So far we had no need for their services.
E. Financial: We opened a bank account at the Hatton National Bank in Colombo and the US-SLFC office arranges for the bank deposits. No problems!
Part II – Professional Activities
A. For lecturers or teachers:
1. I just finished teaching a six-week TEFL (English as a Foreign Language Course) to Final Year 'commerce’ (economics in US parlance) students, who will be receiving their Bachelor’s degree at the end of this semester. Some of the students are already interviewing for jobs in the private sector: at hotels like the Colombo Hilton, Holiday Inn; at banks like the Hatton National Bank; at telecommunications companies etc. The course was a 6-week course, financed by the World Bank. The focus was on teaching the skills needed to be successful in today’s global business world; to learn how to write a CV, to introduce yourself at interviews, to become aware of new trends in the business world : e.g. how to organize and conduct meetings, to write reports and make presentations. The students were very eager to learn. One of my biggest challenges was to get the students, especially the women, to participate in our daily discussions. Sri Lankan students tend to be passive learners and particular females are timid. It requires some special skill to facilitate the discussion process. Besides daily assignments, there was a mid-term and a final examination. Students also were required to do a group project and give a presentation on their findings. There were four groups of six students each. The project consisted of analyzing a problem, writing a report and presenting the findings of the report. I was impressed with the content and delivery of these presentations. Three out of the four groups used 'Power Point' and the fourth group was prepared to use an overhead projector. Since the overhead projector was not available in the last minute, they had to use their ingenuity, their so-called “soft skills” we discussed in the course. However, there was a writing board available and they made use of that; I might say rather successfully. I enjoyed the opportunity of teaching this course. The Sri Lankan students were eager to learn as much as they possibly could about the US and US perceptions. I enjoyed giving them information and telling them stories about the US...
2. In addition, before I left the USA, I created an extensive website for Sri Lanka with our
Long Beach City College’s Instructional Technology Development Center Team (ITDCT) consisting of two websites:
a. Informational Site:”The Journey of a Fulbright Scholar”
URL: http://fulbright.lbbcc.edu/
b. Instructional Site: Cross Cultural –Cross Global Communication
URL: http://webenhanced.lbcc.edu/tefl_fulbright/
Professors with their students from different parts of the globe, cultures and backgrounds are working together via the web (discussion forum) exploring each other’s cultures and at the same time trying to bridge the gap. This is a grassroots effort! The cultural exchange will continue long after I have left Sri Lanka.For an in depth view containing far more details of my activities and impressions I strongly recommend that the reader of this report also views the above referred to websites.
3. Evaluation of a teacher and her students, majoring in ' commerce’.
I evaluated the teacher and her teaching method and the student’s level of English
Proficiency.4. I have given two lectures to an English literature class, on Nathaniel Hawthorne,
“Scarlet Letter" and American Puritanism.5. I developed material for the English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) for their writing classes.
6. Scheduled Workshops: I will be giving the following workshops:
a. January 12, 2005: English Proficiency Workshop for Linguistics, English and TEFL faculty.
b. January 15, 2005: English Proficiency Workshop for TEFL faculty teaching Saturdays.
c. End of January: German Exile Writers living in Pacific Palisades, S. California to the German Faculty of Kelaniya University, in German.
• I successfully taught a 6 weeks advanced English class to final year ‘commerce' students. The students really appreciated my teaching them and getting a first hand look into a new culture.
• Ongoing update of the 2 websites• Evaluations
• Lectures; The two lectures I gave on Nathaniel Hawthorne,”Scarlet Letter” and American Puritanism were received with great enthusiasm and I was especially thanked for it not only by the students but also by their professor.
• Development of course material.
• Book presentation to the English & TEFL faculty, attended by both, the Vice chancellor and the Dean, who thanked me for the books, donated by the ESL faculty of LBCC and me. They also expressed their thanks and appreciation for the work I have done for the university.
III. Could you comment on your professional relationship with:
The host institution - Deans and department heads - Faculty associates
My professional relationship with the dean of humanities, Dr. Sarath Amunugama is very positive. As a matter of fact he asked the department head of English and TEFL whether I would want to stay beyond the 6 months of my assignment.
The Department Head of English and TEFL, Dr. Manique Gunasekera has been very supportive and appreciative in everything I have been doing. She has included me in workshops and presentations at Kelaniya University and at other universities like the 25th Anniversary Celebration Seminar on “New Directions & Strategies in English Teaching...” organized by the Standing Committee on the Teaching of University Grants Commission. She included me in her birthday party at her home, (she lives on the same street as the US ambassador a mere block away) as the only non-family member. As luck will have it, Dr. Manique Gunasekera had
her house-tailor comes to her house to up-date her wardrobe. I was invited also to use the house-tailor. The tailor comes to the house, receives temporarily the use of the sewing machine: all materials (cloth, buttons zippers etc.) must be furnished by the customer. The tailor gets the meals while there. The house maid makes certain that things run smoothly! I consider it a great privilege to have been invited and afforded to use the house-tailor. It showed more than any thing else that I had arrived. I remember the system from my childhood. For less than $25, including material, for a custom tailored dress, we only slowed down after five dresses! Of course it requires local knowledge to find the shops where to get the pure linen, pure silk and cotton material to arrive at this $25 price for a formal gown for New Years Eve!
IV. What problems did you encounter that could also apply to future grantees? (for example, academic, language, research)
• The lack of computers available for students at Kelaniya University. It is almost impossible for them to have access to the internet.
• The accent of the English, people speak is often hard to understand.
• Students listen and do not participate in class. It took a great deal of effort on my part to finally get them to participate.
V. Please recount occasions on which you addressed or spoke to local audiences,
participated in cultural and professional meetings, or wrote for local publications.
I addressed the faculty of English and TEFL on several occasions.
I attended the seminar on “New Directions & Strategies in English Teaching" at the University Grants Commission at the University of Colombo on the 25th of October.
I participated in professional meetings, like the presentations in the Faculty of Humanities at Kelaniya University in November.
Among the cultural events I attended are:
• A play by a German Swiss author in Sinhala performed by students of the University of Kelaniya. at the Punchi Theater in Colombo on October 28, 2004.
“Creeps” by Lutz Huebner is the most topical youth drama of Germany after the Reunification it is a powerful shocker about fictional reality of the television and how media misuses pictures and images of actual people.• PRADEEPANJALEE VIII, presented by United States-Sri Lankan Fulbright Commission. Sri Lankan, Eastern Music and American Jazz A Fusion
The event took place at the Lionel Wendt Theatre in Colombo on November 9th 2004, 7 p.m.• Thanksgiving potluck dinner at the residence of Jim Entwistle & Pam Schmoll
18 Albert Crescent, Colombo 7• Mission Holiday Party at Mt. Lavinia Hotel's Empire Ballroom on
Friday, December 3,• Monique's birthday celebration: Sri Lankan buffet dinner along with DJ and dancing. Dr. Manique Gunasekera is the Department Head of English &TEFL
at Kelaniya University and personal friend, who has opened the doors to her house for us?• US-Sri Lanka Cocktail Party, Friday December 17, 2004
VI. Please evaluate your experience in terms of it's:
a. professional value
b. personal and social value
c. contribution to international understandingThe Fulbright Scholar Award played a transformative role in my life, both professionally and personally. For starters, I feel that I am much more aware of differences and similarities between our countries, and much more sensitive to an international perspective on global issues. I take much less for granted these days. I strive to understand more about the historical and cultural circumstances impacting outcomes in countries. I will forever have a special place in my heart and mind for Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan. One of the events which had a special impact during my grant period so far was the birthday party of Dr. Manique Gunasekera, the Department Head of English &TEFL at Kelaniya University and personal friend, who has opened the doors to her house for us and gave me the opportunity to get a real insight into Sri Lankan life and society.
VII. Suggestions:
Discuss freely any aspects of the grant or the total experience
and offer recommendations, which you believe, will enhance the program.I suggest settling into a routine as soon as possible. Sri Lankan are friendly and many speak English. Try to meet people early who open up to you. I was fortunate in that respect.
Sri Lankan food is delicious. It is a bit on the spicy side. There are a variety dishes from seafood, to poultry and meat readily available. The open-air markets for fresh fruits and vegetables are great! They offer a large variety of the various tropical fruits and vegetables.
I was very fortunate to meet a Sri Lankan academic who studied in the USA and holds a PhD from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She introduced me to many people at the university and in the community.