college of Social and Behavioral sciences
John Conley, dean

Spring 2004

A Fair Exchange of Languages

Spearheaded by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the College of Extended Learning, CSUSB’s international look takes on a more Turkish flavor this spring when the campus hosts scholars from Gazi University of Ankara, Turkey.

The 15 men and women are participating in an intensive course of study to learn the English language. The goal is for them to become fluent and proficient in English so that they will be able to teach using the language in their areas of expertise at their home university. Their stay continues CSUSB’s partnership with Gazi University, outlined in an agreement signed in June 2002 between the two schools.

“It expands the foundations upon which we will build further and deeper relationships through exchanges, research and distance learning,” said John Conley, dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
The visiting scholars will live on campus during their stay, and will have full days of class Monday through Thursday, and a half day on Friday, said Jacques Benzakein, associate dean and executive director of International Extension Programs for the College of Extended Learning.

Their English learning will not end when they leave San Bernardino. While they are here, they will be introduced to distance learning, through which more advanced English courses will eventually be offered. The classes will be transmitted through compressed video in real time – that is, when a class is taught in San Bernardino in the morning, it would be transmitted to sites in Turkey, where faculty can attend classes in later afternoon or early evening.

Benzakein said Turkey is now the main destination for many students from the Middle East who would otherwise travel to the United States to attend college, but now cannot because of visa restrictions. And Gazi University is leading in the effort to provide more instruction in the various academic disciplines in English, Conley said.

The language exchange is not one-way, however. Last summer, six Cal State San Bernardino students from social and behavioral sciences studied at Gazi University to learn Turkish, with another six more scheduled to go this summer, said Ralph Salmi, a political science professor who, with the support of Conley and university President Albert Karnig, has been leading the university’s partnerships with Gazi University and other institutes of higher education in Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

There are plans also for a yearlong stay by graduate students. The reason for the intensive language program is because “most of the central Asian republics are Turkish-speaking,” he said. “There is tremendous strategic, political and economic interest to the United States in that region, and we have very few Turkish linguists in this country. And there are no Turkish language programs in the California State University system.”

CSUSB and Gazi University have already collaborated in other areas as a result of their partnership. Two symposiums have been held at each campus, the most recent one held last November at CSUSB with the third scheduled in Ankara this October. Cal State San Bernardino’s history department also has hosted during the fall and winter quarters a visiting professor from Gazi.

The partnership with Gazi University is part of a larger effort to establish relations by CSUSB in Turkey and the Middle East, initiated by Salmi and fully supported by Karnig, Conley and Louis Fernandez, provost and vice president. As a result, CSUSB took a leading role and is now one of the few California State University campuses teaching the Arabic language. The campus will be the only campus teaching Turkish. CSUSB’s initiatives in Middle East and Islamic studies pre-dates the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and have served to provide its students and faculty with opportunities in research, teaching and language training programs in the Middle East, including, but not limited to, Turkey, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the Palestine region.

Quick Takes

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences continues to bring the world to the community. On April 1-2, the college, along with faculty from the University of Redlands and assisted by the World Affairs Council and the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools office, presented “Understanding the Middle East: Perspectives on Politics, History and Culture” at CSUSB’s Performing Arts Recital Hall. The conference, which was open to the public, featured experts discussing Middle East and Islamic issues, and also showcased music and dance exhibits from that region of the world.

Anthropology professor Frances Berdan went on national cable television in January when she was one of the experts featured on "Aztec Temple," an installment of the Discovery Channel's "Unsolved History" series. Prior to that, a Washington Post article featured her research into the Aztec process of making glue from orchids. They used the glue to create mosaics for ceremonies, decorations or displays in homes.