ulimi 2005 - National African Language Resource Center - Indiana ...

classes. This is because we have been taught how tohandle different classrooms scenarios.For the last two weeks we have had wonderfulinstructors: Kathy and Steve. I have admired theirstyle of teaching as many of my colleagues have said.I like the way they have been correcting our mistakesin class during our teaching. All through Kathy andSteve have been positive even when we committedmistakes. It was a great lesson to us, to alwaysappreciate our students’ efforts. I have admiredKath’s energy and she has always given me a reasonto be active in class too. Instructor Steve is charmingas one of us has said and I believe we all agree.Thank you baba Steve and Mama Kathy.Thank you all. Asanteni sana.Marko Mwipopo shares his reflections at the award ceremony.Marko J. Mwipopo, University of OregonFirst of all, I would like to thank God who made myattendance at the Summer Institute possible.Secondly, I thank the director of African Studies,University of Oregon, Dr. Steven Wooten and thedirector of the Self Study Language Program, YamadaLanguage Center, University of Oregon, Jeff Magotowho made prior arrangements for me. Equally, if notmore important, I would like to also thank thedirector of the NALRC in Madison, Professor AntoniaSchleicher, Assistant Adedoyin Adenuga and ProjectCoordinator Sookyung Park Cho who made allarrangements for me before and during the training.I thank the individuals mentioned for their devotedservice to their institutions on one hand and to me asa human person to the other. It is not easy tomention everything, each of them contributed tomake the program a success. Their devotion rangedfrom the time they spend to material support. Istayed in a comfortable hotel because of them, I atebecause of them, I feel I am a better language tutorbecause of them, I now have a longer list of friendsbecause of them, I saw the wonderful beauty ofMadison because of them (lakes Monona andMendota, the capitol, and a large university campus)and too much more to mention.The attendance to the training has totally changedme into a skilled language teacher. This makes meproud of the instructors, too. These are Kathy andSteve. Their experience in teaching has a blend ofmany things ranging from methodology tointeraction with the learners/African Language tutors.Everyone left Madison happy on one hand because ofthem and sad on the other hand because we didn’twant to leave them! I haven’t forgotten Andrew -thetechnician, for his wonderful job during the training.I realized that the Institute is playing a very significantrole to the expansion and successful teaching inAfrican languages. One of the reasons is thatsometimes African language tutors have a generalknowledge about teaching but they lack specificskills, necessary for a particular setting and audience,in this case the American learners. I did my firstbachelor’s degree in arts with education, but I wasnot taught how to be a better teacher in Africanlanguage. Also, the other reason for importance ofthis institute is that some instructors have neverattended any teacher training before. So, withoutthe NALRC, they would continue teaching withouteven being able to reason why they do that way orthey shouldn’t do the way they are doing.I would think that it is high time for the governmentand any interested stakeholders to make efforts inpromoting African languages in many universities andcolleges in the country. For instance, I would behappy to find that University of Oregon has moreAfrican languages being taught. For now, there isonly Swahili language. I hope the Institute inMadison will stretch its eye and help to establishmore languages at my institution.Finally, I would like to congratulate the Institutedirector once again, for finding excellent instructors -Kathy and Steve. You will regret if you don’t retainthem for another year’s instruction. Long live NALRC,the staff, and thanks to the US government.Steve Timm and Kathy Moulton, University ofWisconsin, MadisonFirst of all, we two would like to thank the NALRC,Prof. Schleicher, Doyin, Sookyung and Andrew, whowas a wonderful DJ and postman and who wasmaking it possible for us to join once again and bepart of this wonderful institute. It is really a privilegefor us to be here. Quite frankly this is the highlightof the year for us. It was the last year, which was thefirst year Steve and I did it. When I say it is thehighlight of this year, three months ago we weretalking, “Here we can. It is coming again. It is goingto be so wonderful.” It was just a fantasticexperience for us and wonderful opportunity for usto meet you and learn more about your languagesand your countries. It has just been fantastic.ULIMI / 12