Fulbright Reality Czech

by Sinia Amanonce Madison Sewell Madison Sewell is spending a year abroad as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Benešov, Czech Republic. Below, Madison talks about her experience in the classroom, the mentor that encouraged her to apply for Fulbright, and advice on how to prepare for a year abroad. Fast Facts   Hometown: Texarkana, Texas Age: 24 College, Major/Minor: University of Central Arkansas, Health Science/ Interdisciplinary Studies School in the Czech Republic: SOŠ a SŠ zdravotnická Benešov Favorite Czech food: Svíčková Favorite Quote: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” --Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird Madison, it is so great to finally meet you. Please, tell me about yourself. My name is Madison Sewell. I am 24 years old. I am from Texarkana, Texas. I went to university at the University of Central Arkansas and it is about 30 ...

by Sinia Amanonce Meredith Rossignol Meredith Rossignol is serving this year as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Litomyšl, Czech Republic. A special education teacher of four years and an alumna of the prestigious Teach for America program, Meredith is a passionate educator that encourages her students to engage their multiple intelligences and take ownership of their own learning. Read below to find out what Meredith has to say about the differences between Czech and American schools, life in the Czech Republic, and what her students taught her to say using Czech language. Fast Facts   Hometown: Barre, Vermont Age: 26 College, Major/Minor: Bucknell University, International Relations and Spanish/ History School in the Czech Republic: Vyšší odborná škola pedagogická a Střední pedagogická škola Litomyšl Favorite Czech word or phrase: “Slon je velký [elephant is big] - really helpful because there are so many elephants here.” Favorite Czech food: Svíč...

By Maureen Heydt Gene Terruso Gene Terruso has established a diverse career working as an actor, director, producer, writer, and professor. He can now also add Fulbright Scholar to that list, as he has just completed a nine-month teaching grant to two universities in Brno, Czech Republic. Terruso taught a variety of courses and workshops this year at both Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts (JAMU) and Masaryk University, where he also directed a play with the city’s oldest and only English-language theatre company, the Gypsywood Players, who are affiliated with the English and American Studies program at Masaryk. Through the Fulbright Program, Terruso was able to experience and immerse himself in Czech university and theatre life, and in a twist of good news, he will be returning to the Czech Republic this fall. Serving as a Visiting Professor to the University of Hradec Králové, he will also be collaborating again with JAMU and Masaryk, as well as working on an exciting...

By Maureen Heydt  This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.  Ariane Willson Ariane Willson just completed her grant year serving as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant to Czech Republic, where she lived and worked for ten months in the famed city of Karlovy Vary, famous for its spas, rich history, and film festival. A native of Arizona, Ariane had much to adjust to, weather-wise and more, upon arriving in Karlovy Vary. Here, she reflects back on her grant year, the challenges she faced, and her Fulbright experience living in one of the most famous Czech cities. -------------------------------------- Fast Facts ------------ --------- ------------------- Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona College, Major/Minor: Arizona State University, English Literature/Economics School in Czech Republic: Střední průmyslová škola keramická a sklářská, Karlovy Vary Age: 24 Favorite Czech Word: okurka (cucumber) Favorite Quote: "But I have a new love for that g...

By Maureen Heydt   This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.  Max Gollin Max Gollin is a Princeton University grad, and has just finished up his grant year serving as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant to the Czech Republic. Max spent this year teaching at a gymnázium in Jihlava, a prominent provincial capital that straddles the dividing line between Bohemia and Moravia. Max is also an avid musician, and frequently incorporated music into his classroom to help make lessons fun and exciting for students. Read below to find out what Max has to say about his grant year in the Czech Republic, his advice for future Fulbrighters, and what he plans to do next. -------------------------------------- Fast Facts ------------ --------- ------------------- Hometown: Bowie, Maryland College, Major/Minor: Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs School in Czech Republic: Gymnázium, Jihlava Age: 22 Favorite Czech...

By Maureen Heydt   The Fulbright Czech Republic program welcomed several new US Scholars for the 2017 spring semester. The Scholars are teaching at universities throughout Prague and the Czech Republic. These interviews have been condensed and edited for clarity. Professor Stanley Thompson    Professor Stanley Thompson Professor Stanley Thompson of Ohio State University is serving this semester as a US Fulbright Scholar to the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Czech Republic. Professor Thompson’s discipline is economics, and in particular agricultural economics, and he is coordinating a wide array of activities at his host institution for his Fulbright stay. Below, he discusses his work this semester, how he thinks it will affect his teaching on return to OSU, and what the Fulbright mission means to him.  -------------------------------------- Fast Facts ------------ --------- ------------------- U.S. Position: Professor, Department of Ag...

By Maureen Heydt This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.   Raheal Mengisteab Raheal Mengisteab has been serving this year as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant to Gymnázium Jiřího Wolkera in Prostějov, Czech Republic. A first generation American of Eritrean descent and an alumna of the prestigious Teach for America program, Raheal has devoted herself to her school this year, where she works to actively engage and dialogue with students, colleagues, and community members about the similarities and differences between life in the United States and the Czech Republic. Here, Raheal discusses what her life as an ETA in Prostějov has been like for her these past ten months. -------------------------------------- Fast Facts ------------ --------- ------------------- Hometown: San Diego, California College, Major/Minor: California State University, Dominguez Hills and San Diego State University, Communications/Marketing, Master’s in Education School i...