| She has taught English,
French, German, and Spanish, receiving awards
for excellence in teaching and research. She has published, given
papers on language and pedagogy, and led study-tours in France to enable her students to refine their language skills in
a native environment and to taste contemporary French life, character,
and culture.
Kathleen was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship this year (September
2003-August, 2004) for Dakar, Senegal (cf. World Fact Book.), where she is studying an
African language spoken there (Wolof), traveling widely in the neighboring
territory, and working on a research project on contemporary Senegalese
writers that will result in the publication of an edition of their
short stories. Most importantly, she is a faculty member in the
English department at the Ecole Normale Superieure, where all
students who are training to become teachers earn their degree.
She teaches a comparative literature class and an English language
practice class, each containing more than 40 students, as well
as methodology modules for a Masters-level class of 30 students.
She was pleased to discover from the women in her classes (see photo), that women in Senegal are increasingly encouraged to attend school. In
each of her classes she collaborates with Senegalese colleagues,
which she finds rewarding, if time-consuming (she reports that
department meetings are scheduled on Saturday,
every two weeks, and last for more than two hours). Her major challenge is
trying to access adequate teaching materials, from books (which
students don’t have) and music to xeroxing (which she pays
for herself), blackboards, an overhead projector (which she arranged
to purchase for the school from the Fulbright book budget).
Since September, Kathleen has faithfully sent monthly E-mail
letters in which she gives lively descriptions of her experiences
of life and academia in a developing country and shares
her discoveries, explorations (natural and cultural), and excitement
about all that she is learning in her host country. She lives
in the bustling town of Dakar, in a University apartment that
is near the sea, a Catholic Church, and the American Club. Being
at a distance from the school introduced her early in her stay
to the city’s unusual transportation services. Her first
few virtual letters were full of praise for the elegant townswomen,
their beautiful clothing and woven fabrics, and the welcoming
Senegalese; they also noted the intense heat and humidity, scarcity
of air conditioning and advanced technology, delicious food which is often expensive
(as much of it is imported), and spare living conditions.
Her November letter describes the experience of being a Christian
in a country which is 90% Muslim, during the holy month of Ramadan,
when fasting from 5:30 am to 6:45 pm and abstinence from all pleasurable
activity is almost universal. She observes that her host country
is very tolerant about and respectful of different religions.
She noted that at the end of Ramadan Muslims shared their traditional
fast-breaking food with Christians, who will behave likewise toward
their Muslim neighbors when Lent has ended. She takes every opportunity
to travel in a country which she finds very beautiful, and to
experience Senegal’s rich cultural life, from films and
the Africa Cup soccer matches to the International Book Fair,
concerts, dances, museums, and colloquia. On November 19, for International Education Week, she made
a presentation at
the American Center, “Celebrating Language Learning,” about designing
classroom activities that promote creativity, critical thinking,
and collaboration; the program was co-sponsored by the American
Embassy and the British Council. Recently she was invited by the
American Embassy to speak in a Conference on American Identity
(March 16-19).
The department warmly and gratefully recognizes its alumna, Kathleen
Madigan. |
