Novi Sad, Serbia

English Language and Linguistics, with special interest in the area of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and Teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) - Business and Professional Communication

School of Entrepreneurial Management, "Braća Karić" University in Novi Sad, Serbia

August 2004- July 2005

The year I spent in the U.S. as a JFDP fellow was by far the most eventful, most exciting and most productive year of my life. I feel I've developed significantly, not only in terms of my professional expertise but also in the sense that I've blossomed to fuller maturity, discovering- if I may say- incredible potentials at the core of my being. Having lived, studied, and worked in various different parts of America, I completed my voyage from the unknown and uncertain, through to the evolution of my own identity and the emergence of an even greater self-esteem that I feel now. I am forever thankful for everything the American Councils staff have done for me and helped me with.

At the time when all of us JFDP fellows had to apply for internships, I was pretty determined it would have to be some prestigious education institution on the East Coast. As the Boston Language Institute has long had the reputation for being the " New England 's most comprehensive resource for language services", I thought it would be the perfect place to acquire new teaching skills and methodologies. My two-month experience of living and working in Boston , MA , was absolutely and in every way unforgettable. I pride myself on having been involved in the so-called "immersion programs" for non-native speakers, as well as the TEFL certificate/ teacher training program. It was a unique opportunity for me to see and learn how native and non-native speakers can become certified teachers of English at home and/or abroad. During the program I worked closely with instructors providing valuable feedback and input drawn from my own professional experience of teaching general and business English at the university level. Besides that, I managed to do a tremendous amount of research into the phraseology of business English and even developed two new courses to teach at my home university in Serbia . I will never forget the lively and dynamic teaching environment at the Boston Language Institute, where I further increased my ability to work in cross-cultural settings. It was quite enjoyable to spend time with highly motivated and experienced teaching staff. They all made me feel very welcome and a couple of them have remained my good friends since.

Whenever people ask me about my impressions of America , I'm at a loss. I tend to think of it as a life within my own life, reaching far beyond words, almost surreal.

If I say that I experienced the greatest of cultural shocks upon my return from the U. S. - that probably says it all.

I am currently deeply involved in two projects aiming at combining community service activities and teaching/learning. That essentially means that the two projects I'm managing are supposed to enhance student learning by joining theory with hands-on experience. While doing something meaningful and important for the community, my students would, hopefully, see the relevance of English to the real world. By getting fully engaged in these two projects, my students and I will try to fill a need in our community through volunteer efforts. Both projects are of a humanitarian nature: English language instruction for children from the SOS Children's Village in Sr. Kamenica, and the project of translating web presentations from Serbian into English for humanitarian organizations and/or institutions in our community.

I am also in the process of obtaining a license for ESOL oral examiners. With this qualification, hopefully, I will become a certified professional examiner for BEC exams which test English language ability used in the context of business. These exams are linked to the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) and to the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

I often feel this life is too short for all the things I would like to try and do. One of my short-term goals is definitely to finish my Master's thesis and publish a handbook for business and professional communication in English. Besides my primary professional path, I'll take my chances in some sideline activities as well. The idea of working with the United Nations on the issues of conflict management and resolution has always sounded appealing to me, so I never miss the opportunity for seminars and trainings in that area. And then, who knows what the future holds for us. I can still picture myself in the United States , but time will show. What matters is that I don't lack will or ambition to fulfill just about everything and anything I set as my goal.

Singing has always been one of my greatest but unfulfilled dreams. Sometimes I think my voice is the most intimate and delicate part of who I am, and the only one that helps me fully express myself. Speaking of that, the first time I felt my dreams were starting to turn into reality, was about a year ago, while I was still in America . I had this great, once- in- a- lifetime opportunity to perform in a big church in the state of Missouri . I sang a song in Serbian, followed by a couple more in English, which generated tremendous feedback from the audience- something I will never forget.

Now that I'm back in Serbia , I continued going in that direction. Even if I'm not seriously considering a career in music at this point, at least I can do what I love in my free- time. I've recently finished recording back-up vocals for a new band called "The Blues Hammer", which I believe has high potentials to become extremely popular among blues lovers in Serbia.

I can be contacted at The Faculty/School of Entrepreneurial Management, "Braća Karić" University, Novi Sad, Serbia; through one of my e-mail addresses: bobankris@yahoo.com and kristina.boban@fpmbk.edu.yu ; or reached at: +381 (0)64 12 72 715