Professor Steven Bornstein traveled to Russia in November 2008 to present a paper at Mari-State University in Yoshkar-Ola, Russia, on the effects of hearing loss on oral language and speech development

Bornstein, Robert P

English

University of New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
Faculty Travel Reports Global Education Center
Spring 2009
Steven Bornstein, Associate Professor of
Communication Sciences and Disorders, College
of Health and Human Services, Travels to Rusia
Robert P. Bornstein
University of New Hampshire - Main Campus, steven.bornstein@unh.edu
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/international_travel
This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Global Education Center at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has
been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Travel Reports by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more
information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.
Recommended Citation
Bornstein, Robert P., "Steven Bornstein, Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Health and
Human Services, Travels to Rusia" (2009). Faculty Travel Reports. 34.
https://scholars.unh.edu/international_travel/34
Steven Bornstein | Center for International Education and Global Engagement
http://unh.edu/cie//steven-bornstein[6/14/2016 2:06:39 PM]
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Bornstein with his interpreter in the lecture hall
Russian newspaper which covered Bornstein's visit
Steven Bornstein
Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders - College of Health and Human Services
Professor Steven Bornstein traveled to Russia in November 2008 to present a paper at Mari-State University in Yoshkar-Ola, Russia, on the effects
of hearing loss on oral language and speech development.
I travelled to Russia thinking about one of the famous quotes of Winston Churchill:
“Russia is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, surrounded by an enigma.” When I
returned from Russia I thought that perhaps that quote was appropriate before the
internet and proliferation of global travel, but no so much now. I went to Russia to
present a paper at Mari-State University in Yoshkar-Ola, Russia, province of Mari-El.
My presentation was about the effects of hearing impairment on language
development and ways of improving language development in children with hearing
impairment. I also visited the major school for deaf for the province in the
neighboring village of Semenovka. I repeated my presentation to teachers and had
meetings with them and the headmaster. Finally, I was invited as a guest to a
performing arts competition for deaf children where they signed and sang to classic
and popular music. This occurred at the Mari Branch of the All Russia Deaf Society
in Yoshkar-Ola. At the end of this competition I was asked to address the students,
and answer questions from members of the adult deaf organization who attended.
As I interacted with all these people, I thought of the parable about the several
blind men each describing an elephant while feeling a different part of the elephant. They describe the elephant differently and then argue with
each other about what an elephant really is. In reality, they are all describing the elephant, but just from a different perspective. I discovered that
there were many commonalities between educational and communication approaches in the United States and Russia, and also some significant
differences. But even these differences were just a different way of describing how to help children with hearing impairment. I saw things from a
different perspective, and it is good to stretch one’s way of thinking.
I was treated like royalty when I was in Russia, and that is no
exaggeration. The people were kind and caring. The people that I
met in Russia want very much to have a connection with American
people. It was of great interest to me that in addition to professional
questions, I was asked the following types of questions almost
equally: “What do you think about Russian people?”; “How can you
vote in American election if you are here?”; “Who do you want to
win American election?” I thought about this while I was traveling
from Russia to Frankfurt during the middle of the night U.S. time,
election night, not knowing who the next president would be. It was
a surreal experience sitting on the airplane and then walking
through the Frankfurt airport asking “Do you know who won the
American election?” It had a personal meaning for me to hear that
Barack Obama would be the next president. I thought about my
grandparents who came from Russia. I thought about Barack Obama
being the first president who was African-American. I thought about
my father, who was Jewish, and my mother, who was Catholic,
dating and not marrying for sixteen years because the religious
difference made it taboo. Sixteen years to wait for a marriage.
Approximately two and a quarter centuries to wait for an African-American president. The people of Russia want to have a connection with
American people. Most of them want peace in this world, as do most of us. It’s time to move forward.
About OISS Int'l Affairs Dual Major / Minor Study Abroad The World at UNH UNH Int'l Travel Policies & Resources Faculty Alumni
Steven Bornstein | Center for International Education and Global Engagement
http://unh.edu/cie//steven-bornstein[6/14/2016 2:06:39 PM]
          
For UNH main directory dial 603-862-1234
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Steven Bornstein, Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Health and Human Services, Travels to Rusia

UNH Scholars' Repository

University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryFaculty Travel Reports Global Education CenterSpring 2009Steven Bornstein, Associate Professor ofCommunication Sciences and Disorders, Collegeof Health and Human Services, Travels to RusiaRobert P. BornsteinUniversity of New Hampshire - Main Campus, steven.bornstein@unh.eduFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/international_travelThis Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Global Education Center at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Faculty Travel Reports by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationBornstein, Robert P., "Steven Bornstein, Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Health andHuman Services, Travels to Rusia" (2009). Faculty Travel Reports. 34.https://scholars.unh.edu/international_travel/34Steven Bornstein | Center for International Education and Global Engagementhttp://unh.edu/cie//steven-bornstein[6/14/2016 2:06:39 PM]Home UNH Home Contact/Emergency Center for International Education and Global EngagementCopyright © 2016, Center for International Education and Global Engagement  •  University of New HampshireHood House  •  89 Main Street  •  Durham, NH 03824  •  Ph 603-862-2398  •  Fax 603-862-0169Thompson Hall  •  105 Main Street  •  Durham, NH 03824  •  Ph 603-862-1288  •  Fax 603-862-0844For questions about this websiteBornstein with his interpreter in the lecture hallRussian newspaper which covered Bornstein's visitSteven BornsteinAssociate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders - College of Health and Human ServicesProfessor Steven Bornstein traveled to Russia in November 2008 to present a paper at Mari-State University in Yoshkar-Ola, Russia, on the effectsof hearing loss on oral language and speech development.I travelled to Russia thinking about one of the famous quotes of Winston Churchill:“Russia is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, surrounded by an enigma.” When Ireturned from Russia I thought that perhaps that quote was appropriate before theinternet and proliferation of global travel, but no so much now. I went to Russia topresent a paper at Mari-State University in Yoshkar-Ola, Russia, province of Mari-El.My presentation was about the effects of hearing impairment on languagedevelopment and ways of improving language development in children with hearingimpairment. I also visited the major school for deaf for the province in theneighboring village of Semenovka. I repeated my presentation to teachers and hadmeetings with them and the headmaster. Finally, I was invited as a guest to aperforming arts competition for deaf children where they signed and sang to classicand popular music. This occurred at the Mari Branch of the All Russia Deaf Societyin Yoshkar-Ola. At the end of this competition I was asked to address the students,and answer questions from members of the adult deaf organization who attended.As I interacted with all these people, I thought of the parable about the severalblind men each describing an elephant while feeling a different part of the elephant. They describe the elephant differently and then argue witheach other about what an elephant really is. In reality, they are all describing the elephant, but just from a different perspective. I discovered thatthere were many commonalities between educational and communication approaches in the United States and Russia, and also some significantdifferences. But even these differences were just a different way of describing how to help children with hearing impairment. I saw things from adifferent perspective, and it is good to stretch one’s way of thinking.I was treated like royalty when I was in Russia, and that is noexaggeration. The people were kind and caring. The people that Imet in Russia want very much to have a connection with Americanpeople. It was of great interest to me that in addition to professionalquestions, I was asked the following types of questions almostequally: “What do you think about Russian people?”; “How can youvote in American election if you are here?”; “Who do you want towin American election?” I thought about this while I was travelingfrom Russia to Frankfurt during the middle of the night U.S. time,election night, not knowing who the next president would be. It wasa surreal experience sitting on the airplane and then walkingthrough the Frankfurt airport asking “Do you know who won theAmerican election?” It had a personal meaning for me to hear thatBarack Obama would be the next president. I thought about mygrandparents who came from Russia. I thought about Barack Obamabeing the first president who was African-American. I thought aboutmy father, who was Jewish, and my mother, who was Catholic,dating and not marrying for sixteen years because the religiousdifference made it taboo. Sixteen years to wait for a marriage.Approximately two and a quarter centuries to wait for an African-American president. The people of Russia want to have a connection withAmerican people. Most of them want peace in this world, as do most of us. It’s time to move forward.About OISS Int'l Affairs Dual Major / Minor Study Abroad The World at UNH UNH Int'l Travel Policies & Resources Faculty AlumniSteven Bornstein | Center for International Education and Global Engagementhttp://unh.edu/cie//steven-bornstein[6/14/2016 2:06:39 PM]          For UNH main directory dial 603-862-1234ADA Acknowledgement | Contact the UNH Webmaster

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Steven Bornstein, Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Health and Human Services, Travels to Rusia

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