V. D. Shvaiko
Bashkir State Pedagogical University
American Bashkir InterCollege

American Bashkir Intercollege: Fulbright Program Experience in Action

    My own experience resulting from the Fulbright Program was both very extended and rich. I was also fortunate that my arrival from the Fulbright Academic Exchange Program back at my home university in Ufa coincided with the setting up of an international educational institution of a new type: American Bashkir InterCollege. Naturally, I was involved very actively in assisting my colleagues to materialise this idea since I had very many things to offer as the result of the academic exchange I had participated in.
    The extent of my experience related not only to the object of my linguistic research but also to American cultural studies, charity organisations, contacts with prominent scholars in various humanitarian spheres, EFL methodology, communications, etc. I considered it as the task of utmost significance to invest that aspect of my Fulbright Program experience in the new institution which resulted in many professional, social, educational and human links which evolved between the InterCollege and the relevant institutions and human resources in the U.S.A. Today the InterCollege has educational contacts with four colleges and Universities in the U.S. and several professionals have visited the InterCollege over this period. At the moment 5 native speaker instructors of English from the English language speaking countries are in the staff of the InterCollege.
    The professional and human interests of our team coupled with my rich international experience has enabled our team to set up several lines of activities along which the InterCollege developed over time: English language training for school kids, students and adults, TOEFL preparation classes, methodology conferences and seminars for teachers of English in the area, linguistic and crosscultural research, etc.
    At present the InterCollege is preparing for its fifth anniversary since it was founded in 1996. It has become over time the centre of Russian and American crosscultural studies, the English language training institution, the centre for professional and human interests incorporating English Language Teachers Club, English Language Discussion Group. In a sense the InterCollege is the American Resource Centre in the Republic of Bashkortostan.
    The professional team of administrators and instructors have done a great deal to earn a good name and solid reputation for the InterCollege. It is now a recognised institution having close academic ties both with local and international institutions of higher learning and activeley involved in sharing and exchanging the professional and human experience and expertise with any interested institution or a community of scholars.
    The prospects of the American Bashkir InterCollege look bright. In this respect the potential the evolving community of Russian alumni of the Fulbright Program can offer for ELT professionals and institutions in Russia is enormous and the InterCollege will be happy to be part of this growing and effectively enlarging network.