As I have written elsewhere, I have devoted a large amount of my “discretionary” academic time this semester to becoming a “more networked learner, ” expanding my knowledge of and reaching out to individuals in other countries. An especially rewarding experience was my becoming acquainted with and being regularly mentored by Ms. Irma Milevičiūtė and her students at Vilniaus Gabijos gimnazija. I continue to be impressed at the interesting, creative, and engaging E twinning projects she has involved her students in as they reach out to other countries. Never have I felt so healthfully competitive with or learned so much from fifth graders!. Thank you for allowing me to learn from the International PenPals Club and your FaceBook page.
Irma has been kind enough to share photos and invite me to participate in her projects. I’ve tried to be a well-behaved fifth-grader respectful toward my teacher, but Irma’s kindness, playfulness, and intelligence has often resulted in my trying to relate to her as my peer even though I was teaching here before she was born! Time and again these past five months she has provided me and my students with constructive feedback and responded quickly, thoughtfully, and constructively to my many direct and indirect requests for help. What a wonderful motivator, role model, and teacher she is for her students such as Greta Gudauskaite, Meda Go, Kristijonas Jucevicius,Beatrice Vileikyte and Martyna Petroskaite— and for me!
Though I am reasonably efficient at finding information on the Internet, say, about Lithuania and I have availed myself of local resources, there is no substitution for direct contact across cultures and countries. Thank you for expanding my exposure to music, musicals, folk dancing, and learning about Edgaras!
Dėkojame už pasidalijimą. Niekada prarasti savo džiaugsmą mokytis.
[…] I’ve been thinking a lot about language learning lately. To what degree is being limited only to one’s native language a barrier/handicap to international travel and to international/cross-cultural understanding? (Less than I thought.) Is there value in attempting to master another language? (Absolutely but there are constraints of time and pragmatics.) How good are extant software translation programs? (The applications are getting better and better but don’t believe all that is promised unless you—and the person you are communicating to—have a good sense of humor). Obviously the answers to these questions are not as simple as my parenthetical replies imply. However, I’ve been thinking deeply about these issues this semester as I’ve widened the horizons of my students and of me through creating a pilot virtual cultural immersion course. My thinking has been especially stimulated by the fascinating work of Ms. Irma Milevičiūtė and her International PenPals Club project in Lithuania. […]
Words are powerful. They may hurt and kill you. Or elate and fill you with life.
I read Prof. David’s article maybe a month ago. Read and reread it. Shared it with my students. Alongside with joy and excitement this article brought to me. Yet, could not write a word until this moment. Even though I tried to do write something in reply for maybe 10 times. And all the efforts of mine ended with deletion of everything I wrote.
So, this is me again. And it’s very difficult to write again. Yet, this time, as a real Lithuanian and Capricorn 🙂 I won’t step back. I hope so!
The only thing I want to say is AČIŪ or THANK YOU!
Yes, to thank you, Dr. David. To thank you for million times you made me smile. For the million moments of surprise, including the first one, when a Professor contacted me on ePals and left speechless, wondering, if this is a liar or madman :D, or just the one, who does not really know, where he is 😀
To thank you for the care you’re always surrounding my students and me. Us, the citizens of a tiny spot in the world, who are hardly known outside Europe and probably heard the name of LITHUANIA for the first time when reading the article of Mr. David.
To thank you for that attentiveness and Sherlock Holmes’ ability to track even the smallest steps of ours, to encourage us and always find a warm word.
The school year was one of the worst in my life and there are lots of devastating thoughts in my mind, yet when I ever see the name of Prof. David Simpson, I always feel happier and start smiling.
Smiling even now. And saying ačiū Jums, profesoriau David’ai iš visos širdies for everything you do for and with us!
My English Geeks have a saying: “Who’s the best? We’re the best!” A bit selfish and some kind of showing off. Yet sense of unification which hides under it, does not prevent me from saying this. Kas geriausi? Mes geriausi! Jūs geriausias, profesoriau David’ai! 😉
(this time I made you look up the dictionary, right? ;D)
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