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Professor Sherrie Klee of Grand Valley State University of Michigan has been at ASPU in the past three months within the framework of the Fulbright program. During those three months, she has been training professors of the Chair of Romance and Germanic Languages and teaching students research skills. Sherrie Klee is a leading education professional and teacher-training specialist and she is in Armenia as part of her research project to study the experience of professors and students of a university that trains educators.
Tigran Mikayelyan, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages at ASPU, says the professor's visit and activity at the university is important from different perspectives. The presence of the native speaker lecturer and specialist has given a unique breath and atmosphere to joint work and the teaching process: on the one hand, her visit promotes introduction of communication methods and new methods, on the other hand, it facilitates intercultural communication,” the dean said emphasizing effectiveness of such trainings.
Tigran Mikayelyan particularly focused on the professor's presence in the teaching process and study of academic courses which makes it possible to have an objective assessment of the process, and helps identify the strengths and weaknesses of research during meetings with students. Although the American education system is different from the one in Armenia, the dean says assessment and evaluation mechanisms and methods are interesting.
Gohar Melikyan, Acting Head of the Chair of Romance and Germanic Languages, also emphasized the importance of Sherrie Klee’s visit for MA students: the professor has taught them some guidelines and requirements for doing research on specific theses and revealed the gaps in Master's theses.
“Although teacher training systems and processes are different in the two countries [under question], Sherrie Klee trains specialists sharing with them assessment tools and project-based learning (PBL) methods and showing them how to formulate learning outcomes and make research measurable,” Gohar Melikyan said adding that the professor’s visit proved to be effective.
Summing up the results of her first visit and activity at ASPU, Professor Klee said it was a great honor for her to share her experience with teacher-training specialists. "I am trying to create a unique bridge between the two countries so that we can exchange knowledge and experience," she said and expressed hope that the program will continue in the future.
Sherrie Klee says she has traveled a lot, but now she is going back [to the USA] to share her impressions of Armenia with her colleagues and to assure them that there are many opportunities for cooperation and experience exchange.
