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Sibyl James with her University of Abidjan students
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Sibyl James is an adjunct professor in the humanities at Highline
Community College in Washington and a two-time Fulbright alumna
with grants to Tunisia in 1989-1991 and Cote d'Ivoire in 1999-2000.
A firm believer in the value of immersing oneself in another culture
to expand perspectives and broaden teaching capabilities, she
has also taught in Mexico and China.
At the University of Abidjan in Cocody, Cote d'Ivoire, James
taught a fourth-year poetry course and facilitated discussion
groups for third-year students of drama and the novel. During
her second semester at the university, she advised graduate students
in the preparation of their graduate theses. James supplemented
her teaching and advising activities in Abidjan with a variety
of projects including writing articles for the American community
newspaper, teaching creative writing to students at the local
international school and teaching an intensive week-long course
to students at the university in Bouake.
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The scholar with an Ivoirian stilt dancer
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Through the regional sharing program, she traveled to Kenya to
assist the faculty at Egerton University in developing the curriculum
for its first department of communications. James was a principal
player in helping her hosts determine what majors and subsequent
courses to offer. During her visit to Egerton, the scholar also
guest lectured at the Center for Women's Studies and Gender Analysis
and spoke to groups of humanities and literature students and
faculty.
"The Fulbright program allows a truly in-depth first-hand
experience of other cultures," says James. "And the
Fulbrighter is like a pebble tossed into a pond, setting off expanding
circles of information, not just through formal situations like
the classroom, but informally as well. For example, all year I
sent long e-mails about Africa to friends in various countries,
and my friends ended up forwarding the letters to people on their
own e-mail lists."
The scholar hopes to enrich the curriculum at Highline with what
she learned of African literature and culture during her recent
assignment in Cote d'Ivoire and to supplement her lectures with
slides, tapes and artifacts she was able to gather while there.
James is also a professional writer and is working on a book about
her experiences in West Africa.
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