by Randy Vernon, Country Leader, Uzbekistan
Frosty the Snowman, that is. He probably never envisioned being part of building people to build nations, but it turns out that Frosty has been helping our lower-level English students at Samarkand International University of Technology (SIUT), where REI has been working for the past three years.
Let’s back up a bit. As you know, REI seeks to invest in people who can, with training and encouragement, further the development of their own country as well as experience personal growth in all areas of life. We have been doing this in a variety of countries and a variety of contexts for over 30 years. Here in Uzbekistan, the emphasis thus far has been on education.
After a pause of several years in our investment here due to the political climate, we entered into an agreement with SIUT to help launch this new university. SIUT is dedicated to educating world-class engineers, business professionals, and practitioners of other disciplines, using English as the language medium.
Our REI staff teach, for the most part, as well as provide administrative support. Over the past three years we have taught a number of courses, including computer science, the foundations of engineering, and physics, to name just a few. With all the classes being taught in English, some of our students need a hand up in order to understand the material in their content courses. Ideally they would all be able to hit the ground running, but we do have a number of students who need help in SIUT’s chosen language of education.
Enter Frosty. Jill Vernon has taken on the task of teaching students that failed the first semester of English and has approached it with the perspective that students will be more motivated to tackle the language, and thereby learn more readily, if the classroom is fun. Actually, “classroom” should not be taken literally here – due to space constraints, she is teaching her class of 15 students outside. Bear in mind that Uzbekistan is a four-season country, and it is the middle of winter. One of the new words Jill taught complaining, shivering students was “wimp,” as in “Don’t be a wimp.” One of the class assignments was to learn the song “Frosty the Snowman,” which soon became a class favorite. The students especially like the “thumpity-thump-thump” part.
Other teachers, watching the students from the windows of the faculty room, are now beginning to inquire about some of the motivational games as well. We’re not exactly sure how “Mother May I” and “What time is it, Mister Fox?” will apply to circuit design or renewable energy, but if it helps these students learn English, it’s got to be good.
We mentioned space constraints – hopefully that will soon be a thing of the past. A new campus is being constructed, and we are assured that it will be ready for us in a few months. The rector of the university has even promised us an “REI Room!” As the university expands (the third cohort of 300 students should arrive in September), we are looking forward to the new facilities. Meanwhile, we continue to use the top two floors of our current rented building. With the anticipated influx of new students, we are also on the lookout for more faculty, professors and English instructors. Any interest? We’d love to hear from you!
This spring REI is also hosting volunteers who will be investing in the work here. Filmmaker and communications specialist Josiah Ng, from Singapore, and his wife Tricia Tan will be teaching in the Design department for three weeks in March, and Dr. Ken Smith, a recently retired professor of mathematics, and his wife Jan will be here to give perspective and direction to our Mathematics department, also in March.
Other initiatives are also developing, as we will host a five-person medical team in April, who plan to work in both the public and private health sectors. We will have more to share on that after they have come and gone.
To sum it all up, the REI team is keeping busy here in Samarkand, seeking to build people to build their nation. We are thankful for your interest and support, as REI’s work worldwide couldn’t continue without your partnership. And we also want to give a tip of the magic hat to our friend and colleague, Frosty the Snowman!