| Department of English PhilologyEast Ukrainian National UniversityMetrostroivska 6/85Lugansk, Ukraine 91042 Tel +380 (642)62 96 44 e-mail: Burdina_s@yahoo.com |  |
| Svitlana Burdina was a JFDP scholar studying at The George Washington University in a non-degree program in 2003-2004. Her stay was sponsored by the Junior Faculty Development Program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Ms. Burdina is from Lugansk, Ukraine. She was attending courses in the areas of women in education, higher education issues, comparative education, and educational policy at GWU. Her mentor was Professor Sharon McDade.
Ms. Burdina graduated from the Horlivka State Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages in Ukraine. She received her Master’s degree with honors in Foreign Language Teaching in 1996. Currently she is working at the East Ukrainian National University at the Department of English Philology, Luhansk, Ukraine. Ms. Burdina’s professional career started soon after her graduation in 1996. Until 1997 she worked at the Horlivka Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages as an Associate Professor. Later that year she decided to return to her hometown Lugansk and started working at the East Ukrainian National University. Since then she has been actively participating in various workshops and conferences advancing her teaching skills. Most recently in the 2003 she went to a summer session in Sweden at the Umea Summer University. Ms. Burdina undertook training on the Cambridge Business English Examination. She also attended the International People’s College in Helsingor, Denmark, for six months from January 2001 to June 2001. Her resume is consistent with her philosophy of the teacher profession. “As long as you feel comfortable becoming a student every 2-3 years, you are doing well as a teacher,” she said. Ms. Burdina believes that this attitude makes a teacher open to innovation, changes, professional development and personal growth. She said that the JFDP allows for such aspirations to be realized. Indeed Ms. Burdina has traveled a lot and participated in many conferences and teacher development programs throughout her career. This was her first time in the United States, however, it is not the first time she has been in an alien community. Her greatest fascination with the United States was the variety of places and people. “I can’t think of any other country [so] diverse in climate, nature and personalities, except for the former Soviet Union,” she said. Besides, life at GWU is completely different from Ukraine at all levels: student and teacher life, management practices and employee relations. She adds that at RPSOL she was glad to be exposed to a “variety of opportunities, scientific trends and various organizations.” When asked about advice to future scholars at RPSOL she said to “aim high” and not to “hesitate to try everything.” “Use your time effectively for things you can do ONLY in the US, in Washington, D.C.,” she said. Publications:
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