Fulbright Update:
Prof, students survive visit to fifth grade classroom in Moldova
About a dozen years ago, I was asked to make a presentation about peace to an unusually challenging group—4 and 5 year old preschoolers. Hearing about this invitation, my wife Barbara, anticipating an entertaining scene, accompanied me. After meeting the youngsters, I dove right in, asking a few questions and giving definitions. After about five minutes, the kids’ eyes began to glaze over, and they became extra-squirmy. Noticing this same thing, Barbara leapt into action, shooed me off the stage, and took over the presentation, much to the delight of the suddenly reanimated children.

At the end of the peace talk, the gleeful kids swarmed Barbara, showering her with hugs and high-fives. Amidst this joyful scene, I slowly shuffled to our car, shoulders hunched in abject defeat. I may have even heard soft violin music during this lonely trudge. Pass the Kleenex.

Thus, it was with some trepidation that I accepted an invitation to speak today to a class of 5th graders at the Orizont Lyceum (elementary school) in Chisinau, Moldova. I was asked to discuss social media and critical thinking, and the students’ role in not spreading disinformation.

The students were terrific—very, very energetic; very, very willing to share (one girl almost insisted); and very, very inquisitive. When I asked if they had seen disinformation and fake news on social media, everyone’s hand shot up. They gave examples that they’ve seen on social media, everything from fake cash prizes to lies about the Ukraine war to the zombie apocalypse, which according to the students did not occur (or at least, has not yet occurred). I asked how they knew if news is false, and got some sophisticated answers, including considering what source it comes from, and whether the news could be verified with a Google search. We discussed Russian disinformation themes commonly spread in Moldova. The students said they had seen posts reflecting each of these themes, which include confusing information about the breakaway republic Transnistria; the general theme Russia is good and EU bad; the war will spread to Moldova; and Moldova shouldn’t join the EU.

I left the youngsters with some questions they should ask themselves before sharing news on social media, including:

-How did it make me feel? (If the answer is mad, it's probably disinformation)
-What’s the source? Do you recognize it as a real news outlet?
-Does it seem realistic? Does it make sense?
-Are other sources reporting this, or is it just one source?
-Does it hit on the fake news themes targeting Moldova?
-Who would say this, and why? (What are the disseminator’s motives?).

The students spoke excellent English, especially considering their age, so 80% of the presentation was in English, though I did answer a few inquiries in Romanian.

The only fly in the ointment today wasn’t a fly, but a small stink bug that distracted the students, and thus myself, to no end. After giggles, pointing, swatting, etc., teacher Lucia Jardan-Gutu finally swooped in and scooped up the insect, saving the kids from what was undoubtedly an unspeakable fate.

As I left class today, I was sent off with several rounds of loud applause. I signed an autograph, got a couple of hugs, and was encouraged to return for another lesson. I left school with my head held high, strutting like a peacock. I think I may have heard some trumpet music playing in the background. No Kleenex needed this time.

 

 

 

Fulbright Update from Chisinau, Moldova:
Prof learns about disinfo, education; brushes up on Romanian
Yesterday, the teacher went back to school for a day. Of course, the school was in Romanian, spoken sometimes so low it was barely audible, and other times articulated so quickly that it was nearly impossible to understand.

Despite this, the two events I attended were informative and fascinating. They certainly gave me a chance to exercise my mediocre Romanian, the official language here in Moldova.

Simon Panek launches disinformation event

The first event was a panel discussion titled, “Disinformation in Moldova-Perspectives of Journalists.” It featured four professional media panelists. The panel was introduced by a vice-rector of Moldova State University, where the event was held. She noted that disinformation is a “delicate situation” in Moldova, and that combating it is a “great responsibility” for journalists. In a second introduction, Simon Panek, director of People in Need, a Czech NGO and sponsor of the event, reminded the audience that, “Those who manipulate (information) are usually not democrats,” and do so for selfish purposes.

Speaker Victoria Borodin from Ziarul de Garda, a 90-year old newspaper in Chisinau, noted that there is a flood of Russian disinformation that became heavier once the Ukraine war started, and that fighting it involves the hard, sometimes tedious work of analyzing public information, confirming sources, and bringing in relevant, neutral experts into the discussion.

Audience at disinformation event at State Univ.

Another speaker, Anghelina Gaidarji, is from Tuk.md, the only independent, Russian language news outlet in Moldova. She said, interestingly, that the harder a piece if disinformation “news” is to believe, the more likely people in her Russian-speaking region in southern Moldova will believe it, because they want to believe it.

The second event yesterday was a press conference organized by the Scoala de Jurnalism din Moldova (Moldova Journalism School), for whom I am teaching and mentoring adult learners who are enrolled in a six month vocational journalism training course. Journalists peppered Dan Perciun, the country’s minister of education and research, with questions for about 90 minutes.

Most of the press conference topics were strikingly similar to the topics that would be discussed with an American education official—STEM education, soft skills (communication) vs. hard technical skills, education in rural areas, curriculum and competencies, etc. There was a lively discussion about teacher salaries. One reporter asked if incentives like airline tickets could be given to teachers to make the profession more attractive. I'm not sure if I heard a direct answer to the question. Budgets were also discussed, as the minister passed out a handout showing how Moldova stacks up vs. other European countries in the amount of their GDP expended on education. The European average is 4.8%; here in Moldova, 5.8% of GDP is spent on education.

Dan Perciun, education minister

Any glimpse I can get into Moldovan society can only benefit me as a teacher, and any chance I get to listen to and translate Romanian in my head, and take notes, can only improve my language skills. I want to get to the point where I can lecture in Romanian at the university or on my other teaching assignments. I hope to be at that level within the next month.

USM students analyze content for Peace Journalism. 

Fulbright Update:
University classes, students off
to excellent start 
(Chisinau, Moldova)-When teaching abroad, as I have done now in person in 32 countries, I’m often skeptical when I’m told that audiences, especially students, speak English fluently. I come by this skepticism honestly, having been disappointed on several occasions to learn, much to my chagrin, that my students really speak little or no English. I found this out the hard way at my last overseas university teaching assignment in Ethiopia in 2018.

This week at the State University of Moldova (USM), however, has been chagrin-free.

My USM journalism students speak excellent English, and fluently conversed with me abut peace journalism. They were intellectually curious about not only my subject matter, but about my impressions of Moldova. I got asked to analyze and critique Moldova media. I begged off, responding by noting that I’ve been here less than two weeks. Perhaps I’ll have a better answer in a few months.

At any rate, it looks like I’m going to really enjoy my interactions with students at USM. We are off to an excellent start.

Moldova Journalism School
I will also be working with a cohort of 15 professionals who are attending a journalism course through the Moldova Journalism School, which offers something like a certificate program but not a degree like a university. This is more of a vocational training course for those older learners interested in journalism or perhaps in changing careers. This 6-month course will be taught by a number of professional journalists. I will be teaching several units on peace journalism, and mentoring the students as well.

We launched the course this week with an ice-breaker wherein participants interviewed one another, then made a brief presentation about their interviewee. I participated as well, interviewing Ion, who just returned from working for 5 years in France. The whole thing was done in Romanian, which I understand well but am still struggling to speak as fluently as I would like. I don’t think I embarrassed myself, though my Moldovan colleagues are too polite to say if I sounded like a moron.

Presenting a classmate at the 
Moldova Journalism School.

Fulbright Update:
Bold young English teachers impress slightly older professor

(CHISINAU, MOLDOVA)—When I was fresh out of college, I considered it bold to move from Kansas City to Rolla, Missouri (219 miles).

Turns out, my idea of post-graduate boldness pales in comparison to the move embraced by the eight intrepid young English teachers I met yesterday at a Fulbright orientation in Chisinau, Moldova.

English teachers, and other Fulbrighters, at 
orientation yesterday in Moldova

Each of these eight youngsters will be teaching English as teaching assistants or fellows here in Moldova this academic year.  Their bold move brings them thousands of miles from the U.S. to Eastern Europe. For example, one young English teacher has traveled 5,112 miles here from Columbus, Ohio. Also, at least one of the teachers had never left the U.S. until now.

Not only have they made the move here, but they won’t even be stationed in the cosmopolitan, European capital, Chisinau. Instead, they’ll be teaching in the hinterlands, in places as small and rural as Ungheni, Soroca, and Cahul.

The undaunted eight leaves Chisinau today to travel to their final destinations. I spoke to many of the English Teaching Assistants (ETA's, in Fulbright parlance), and none said they were nervous, or even a little frightened. I’d characterize them as eagerly anxious. I was tremendously impressed by the young teachers and by their fearlessness and their altruistic commitment to serving their students here and to building bridges between Moldovans and Americans. I can think of no better citizen ambassadors than these bright, dedicated 20-somethings. I plan to visit many at their posting sites, and while I’m there, perhaps to present a lecture or two on peace journalism.

Settling In
I’ve settled in to my nice apartment, which is centrally located. I’ve walked more in the six days I’ve been here than I would in a month (or two) at home.

Professionally, I’ve had the Fulbright orientation, which was informative (say no to sushi!), and have had meetings all week with potential partners and collaborators. My teaching at the university starts next week.

And, I’ve enjoyed some lovely late summer weather in Chisinau’s many bucolic parks.

Stay tuned for another update next week.

Central Park (Stefan Cel Mare Park), Chisinau, Moldova