CURRENT GRANTEES
Iveta Silova, Bethany McGowan, Sydney Erlikh, and Casey O’Donnell presented on desert life in the U.S. at the 30th American Voices seminar.
Fulbright Seminar Feeds into University Curriculum
E
very October for the past 30 years, U.S.
local teachers join the seminar, seeking opportuni-
grantees have put their own academic
ties to connect with U.S. Fulbright grantees whom
research aside, picked a different topic of
they can invite to their schools to give talks to their
their choice, and offered the Finnish audience a window to help them understand the vast kaleidoscope of American cultures through their eyes.
students. For example, Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Distinguished Chair Anthony Hackney visited
The American Voices seminar at the University
Kallavesi Upper Secondary School in Kuopio and
of Turku demonstrates the value of collaboration
talked about Appalachian mountain culture and
between the university and the Fulbright Finland
Fulbright-University of Turku Scholar James Haw-
Foundation. The seminar feeds into the North Amer-
don traveled to Nousiainen Upper Secondary School
ican Studies program’s curriculum, and each year
to talk about crime in the U.S.
the participating students accumulate study credits
In addition to the seminar in Turku, over 150 stu-
by attending the seminar and writing a report on the
dents have had the opportunity to hear talks by U.S.
way the speakers challenged or confirmed their ideas
Fulbrighters around Finland.
about American culture and society. cation system, different regional accents, and the
Building the Fulbright Finland Community
American desert, to women in sports and American
The American Voices weekend also serves as
football. The engaging presentations always spark a
an important mid-semester meeting, bringing
lively discussion among participants.
together the Foundation team and the U.S. Ful-
This year the themes varied from the U.S. edu-
“The American Accents presentation got the
brighters to discuss current topics. “Over meals and
crowd to practice their best Southern “y’all,” Ful-
coffee and pulla, we were able to share stories, talk
bright-University of Turku Graduate grantee Chase
about what we have experienced thus far, and pro-
Friel adds. She was in a group with fellow grad-
vide support to one another as we continue to adjust
uate students Claudia Partridge and Skye Pham
to life in Finland,” Chase says.
presenting on Reality TV in America. “We shared
The seminar is also a mandatory part of the
images and shows from the American reality TV
training for the recently selected Finnish gradu-
landscape, compared media offerings between the
ate grantees. After being selected in September,
U.S. and Finland, and discussed the impact of reality
the grantees start researching universities they
TV both within and beyond the American context,”
will apply to, and in Turku they discuss with the
Chase describes their presentation.
U.S. grantees and hear their advice and tips for the
www.fulbright.fi/about-us/ events/american-voicesseminar Read a blog post about the American Voices seminar by Chase Friel www.fulbright.fi/about-us/ blog/fulbright-finlandevents-and-engagementamerican-voices-seminar Invite a U.S. Fulbrighter to give a talk at your institution www.fulbright.fi/ speaker-program
admission process, all while concretely joining the
From the Seminar to Classrooms
Fulbright Finland community.
The engaging American Voices presentations form a collection of talks that are also ready to be presented in classrooms or at events elsewhere. Every year
Text and photos: Maija Kettunen
www.fulbright.fi | 11