The more powerful your drive to overcome, the easier any hurdle can be jumped

September 28, 2017

“I'm here thanks to the Bard Writing Fellowship – a program which provides recent Bard graduates with the opportunity to spend one academic year abroad, working as a tutor and/or teacher at one of Bard's sister-schools”. Nathaniel Matala is one of the new members of AUCA team from NGA faculty. Earlier this year, he graduated from Bard College with a BA in International Relations.

Is it your first time in Kyrgyzstan? Do you like Bishkek?

No, I've been well-acquainted with Kyrgyzstan for quite some time now. I spent the Fall '15 semester – the inaugural semester of the new campus - at AUCA as part of Bard's study abroad program. As for whether or not I like Bishkek: of course I do. The food here is delicious and the public transportation is more-or-less fully functional. What else does a person really need?

What are your impressions about AUCA?

Pros: the students at NGA are a fantastically motivated bunch. Despite the fact that the name of my course, “Academic Writing, Research and Presentation Skills”, sounds arguably less exciting than folding laundry, my classes are filled with people who are eager to learn and excited to participate in group discussion. They don't just come prepared – they also bring certain energy to each class that truly makes it a joy to teach.

Cons: I could do without the campus-wide no-cash policy.

How did you decide to move in Kyrgyzstan and start teaching in here?

It was pretty spontaneous, actually. During the latter half of my senior year, I applied (among other places) for a Bard Writing Fellowship at Al-Quds University in Palestine. My interviewer for the position later contacted me, informed me that the program had an opening at AUCA, and asked if I wanted my application materials to be forwarded to Bishkek. The only appropriate answer, of course, was “Да, конечно”.

What is teaching for you?

At its most basic level, teaching is just the transfer of knowledge. A few rungs up the ladder, it becomes the transfer of a will to learn. Is there any reasonable way to answer this question without sounding like a goofy motivational poster?

What kind of tools helped you to learn Russian on fluent level while living in US?

I'm still far from fluency in Russian, honestly. Half of my proficiency comes from the many conversations I've had with taxi drivers in Bishkek. The other half is thanks to my background with the Polish language, which shares many similarities with Russian. I'm aiming to be fully conversational by the end of the school year.

What are your plans for teaching in AUCA?

At the very least, I'd like to successfully provide my students with the knowledge necessary to properly construct essays by their acceptance to AUCA proper. Obviously, I'm also looking to improve upon my own teachings skills as well.

What is your career goals related to International Relations, you were majoring in?

My ultimate goal is to one day work for the U.S. Foreign Service as a Consular Officer.

What countries you would like to visit in future? Why?

Aside from returning to countries that I've already visited, I'd love to see more of Central Asia. At some point, I'd enjoy venturing over to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

According to personal experience, what would you suggest to NGA and AUCA students?

This might sound painfully cliché, but it's a popular nugget of wisdom for a good reason: do your best to stay motivated. The more powerful your drive to overcome, the easier any hurdle can be jumped.

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