On
two successive days, the group visited local schools. The first, school #89,
has an intensive program of language education, and we met a large number of
students in the final grades whose English was superb. They were very excited
to meet a group of Americans, and spent time in small group meetings asking
questions and exchanging information with several of our teachers in order to
set up penpal exchanges this coming fall.
School #89
By Jordyn Dezago, WS '15
No one had any idea of what
awaited us as we pulled up to school #89. From the windows of the bus we could
see a group of anxious, well-dressed young girls who were doing their very best
to stand quietly in anticipation of our arrival. They led us inside, through
lobby that was beautifully painted with murals, and down a hallway into a
crowded classroom that was lined from wall to wall with students and teachers
alike. We were graciously corralled into the middle of a horse-shoe of desks
and chairs that faced outwards towards our audience, and in that moment I could
have sworn we were about to be asked to sing the national anthem (again) or
participate in some kind of get-to-know-your-very-own-token-American
speed-dating game. Fortunately a kind-faced woman called our attention to the
front of the room, where she introduced the school and showed us a series of
videos that had been put together by one of their teachers. Aside from being
incredibly well-made, the videos gave us a better understanding of daily life
at the school, from classes to extra-curricular activities. One of the videos
featured an arts festival that was hosted by school #89, but welcomed
participants from all over Altai. Students were encouraged to sing in French or
English, to dance, and perform other works from various countries and cultures.
From
the videos alone it was clear that the students loved their school and their
classes. We soon learned just how much when we were told story after
story about students who had graduated and returned to the school to teach, to
visit and inspire new generations of students with their continued
engagement.
When
the last presentation ended and a brief silence came over the room, both
parties began to fidget with a curiosity that was so intense it was almost
tangible. The silence was broken by a small boy in the back of room who raised
his hand and said in halting but perfect English "I have a question for
you. If you don't mind, I was wondering: In America, what do you eat for
breakfast?" The laughter that followed was contagious and soon
everyone was smiling. It was the perfect question. We fired back with questions
of our own and soon pictures and maps of hometowns and the Finger Lakes region
were being passed around. After about twenty minutes of formal Q&A the room
broke down into smaller conversations. When everyone was finally called outside
to take a group photo it was clear that no one wanted to leave the room. The
students waked us to the bus and waved us off. It was clear from the smiles
that the meeting left an incredible first impression on everyone.
-------------------
The second school, the Pedagogical Lyceum, covers grades 10 and 11, functioning as a feeder school for Altai State Pedagogical University. Students there who are not from Barnaul board in the school. The main building is only two years old, a huge complex incorporating not only living quarters for boarding students, but a full array of educational classrooms, gymnasium, cafeteria, technology suites, and so on. The Lyceum also is the only school in the region that offers distance learning support in the full curriculum to students with physical disabilities that prevent them from attending in person. These students are fully integrated in the school despite these circumstances.
Our teacher participant Kristine Fredrick and Hobart grad Jim Prowse also had the privilege of being interviewed by local television during the second visit. (They also interviewed Prof. David Galloway, but his stress was presumably less for a Russian interview :)).
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| Russian and American colleagues at the Lyceum. |
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