While a Ball State history professor has been on assignment as aFulbright Scholar at Gadjah Madah University in Indonesia, he hasbeen immersed in a culture he has been studying for 35 years.
Kenneth R. Hall has been teaching at Indonesia's top universitysince August and will be there until June.
During his stay, Hall has taught a variety of graduate courses,including courses in religion and American culture.
Hall has had the opportunity through this assignment to teach adiverse population of students, such as Islamic clerics, Catholicpriests, Protestant clergy and Buddhist monks.
"Most interesting is posing problems to them and having themsolve these in small groups in which they each bring their owncultural and religious perspectives into the discussion," Hallsaid. "I've found that for most of them, this has been aneye-opening experience."
Unlike Americans with a wealth of resources, Hall's students arelimited to Internet search tools and online libraries.
Hall said despite the inadequate amount of resources, studentsstill show passion for education.
"This is the new generation of Indonesian leaders," Hall said."They know they have the opportunity to make a major impact inshaping the Indonesian future in a way that no prior generationhas. They are extremely hopeful, dedicated and energetic studentswho want to make a difference. They are also extremely loyal toIndonesia rather than seeing their education as a way to make moremoney or to leave the country for the west."
The new generation of leaders will have another opportunity tofurther their education. During Hall's time at the university, hehas helped implement a doctoral program in American Studies.
Hall said the program is important because most of the country'slecturers only have master's degrees.
"I've also found that the faculty, who hold master's, are wellschooled in the basics but have not had to research and write atthe international standard of intellectual discourse," Hallsaid.
In addition to Indonesia's academic environment, Hall has hadthe opportunity to be immersed in the community and said themajority of people were kind and accommodating.
"I'm a part of the familial environment where I work and live.The people in both environments are really concerned about mypersonal welfare, they look after me, but they also expect me tomaintain certain standards of expectation they have of me as anAmerican professor," Hall said. "I feel like I'm on a pedestal andliving in a goldfish bowl at times."
Despite Hall's positive experiences, to keep a low profilebecause of security issues, he is staying in a guest house ratherthan a hotel.
"I've even had to publicly defend American foreign policy, notby agreeing with it, but explaining why to very hostile audiences,"Hall said.
Hall said he plans to bring his experiences back to Ball Statewith him and incorporate them into new course offerings, such ashistory of religion, comparative religion and liberationtheology.
"Some faculty return from a Fulbright experience proclaimingthat it has had a life-altering impact," Hall said. "While I wouldnot go to that extreme, I certainly will carry back with meexperiences and perspectives that will have an impact on what I dowhen I return to Muncie. Above all, this is a dynamic period in thegrowth of Asia, as it matures, rapidly transforms and assumes itsplace in a yet-to-be-determined global community. You need to liveoutside America to experience and be a participant in thistransition, to understand America's future."
Robert Aquila, History Department chairman, said Ball State hashad a couple history professors serves as Fulbright Scholars andeach return able to contribute more to the university.
"In each case, they were able to bring back first handexperience through their interactions with different countries anddifferent cultures," Aquila said.
Aquila is unsure of what Hall plans to bring back from hisexperience but thinks Hall is an excellent example of how researchand external grants can improve teaching.
"Scholarship and teaching are not exclusive; they areinterconnected," Aquila said. "Hall's direct experiences inIndonesia will help him better understand that history and culture.The Fulbright experience not only will inform his teaching, but itwill add to his scholarly reputation, which in turn will help outstudents who can then say that they have studied under a well-knownscholar."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
