Post Classifieds
Students to spend a summer study session in Istanbul, Turkey
By Margot Harris
On April 10, 2013
A group of students from different departments will be traveling to Istanbul, Turkey,
this summer with Dr. Barish Ali, assistant professor in the English department, for a
competitive study abroad program.
Students must apply for the program and Ali has gotten applicants from the English
department, elementary education, fine arts, sociology, economics, biology, media
production and fashion merchandising departments. Ali plans to bring about 10-12
students.
The program will have two components. The first week will be taught online before
leaving for Turkey and will orient the students to the academic principles of the two
courses and prepare them for the activities that will take place when they arrive in
Turkey.
Ali will be teaching two courses, one on the history and culture of Istanbul and the other
on Turkish literature. The courses will be held at BoÄaziçi University. The readings and
lessons will be followed by interlinked cultural excursions in the city.
Ali said they will be visiting museums, historic neighborhoods, mosques, churches and
the ancient Greek city of Ephesus, among many other sites. He believes that this will be a
good experience for the candidates chosen.
"It's a unique opportunity for students and it will give them the chance to study an area
that relates closely to a Buffalo State faculty member's research area," Ali said.
Students will be given the opportunity to explore the ethnic and cultural diversity of
a bustling, cosmopolitan city nestled between Europe and Asia and once home to the
Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman Empires.
The Global Affairs office helped provide the funding of the trip with a $5,000 grant.
Ali and the group of students will be flying out of John F. Kennedy airport on a direct
flight to Istanbul. The trip will go from June 24 to July 20, spanning Buffalo State's
summer session.
Ali said he is adept in Turkish culture and wishes to share his knowledge with the
selected group of Buffalo State students.
"I think that my own background and experience has allowed me to develop a study
abroad program that will combine a rigorous study of the region's history and literature
with a hands-on experience of Turkish culture," Ali said. "Students who enroll in this
program will have the opportunity to experience distinctive literature and art, learn a
rich and diverse history and examine a political system that is different from most other
nations."
Buffalo State senior public communication major, Gabrielle Chiddy, has been looking for
study abroad programs that will enable her to study and was thrilled when she found out
about the program with Ali.
"I am very much excited to be able to travel with a familiar group of Buffalo State
students," Chiddy said. "I am graduating in May, so I do not even need the credits and
will participate in all of the course work just so I can learn more about the culture."
Chiddy is currently enrolled in a Mesoamerican Archaeology class with professor
Kimberly Hart. The class is an anthropology topics course on Turkey.
"I am really looking forward to using the language," Chiddy said. "Professor Hart has
been teaching us Turkish words and phrases here and there throughout the course.
"I am also interested in the differences between Turkey and other countries I have
travelled to. I am excited to eat all of the food and drink Turkish coffee and tea."
The students will be staying at the university dormitory, known as Superdorm, which is
within walking distance from the campus where the classes will be held.
The program is open to students in all majors and levels of study. Applicants must be in
good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 2.5. The deadline for the application is
April 15.
Margot Harris can be reached by email at harris.record@live.com.
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
Recent The Record News Articles
Students donate shoes, raise money for Boston bombing victims
Buffalo State's Evergreen program is teaming up with the nonprofit Herding for the Hurting in collecting donated shoes to raise money ...
Chartwells plans campus food truck
The food truck phenomenon has made its way to campus as the route, menu and name of a new Chartwells truck will be decided on by ...
USG sens motion 'no confidence'
Correction: In light of new information learned following the publishing of the original version of this story, The Record would like ...
Discuss This Article
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST THE RECORD NEWS
- We've Moved to www.buffstaterecord.com!
- Obama divulges new higher education initiative during visit to UB
- Ailing Podolefsky steps down as president
- SUNY appoints Cohen interim president
- President Podolefsky announces leave to fight cancer
- Rappers put Pepsi in a bind
- Congrats to grads: take next step with gratitude
RECENT THE RECORD CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- A Story To Sing About
- The Gap in Gum Care: Why Caring For Your Teeth’s F...
- Top Tips for Signature Scents and Better-Smelling Laundry
- A Dog Trainer’s Top Tips to Support Pets Through Life S...
- Clear the Air of Indoor Pollutants This Spring
- Stroke & Dementia in Black Men: Tips for Staying Healthy...
- Hispanics and African Americans at Higher Risk for Eye...
- African Americans at Higher Risk for Eye Disease
- Infinity Kings: Final Book In A Favorite Fantasy Series
- What You Need To Know About Keratoconus and the iLink...
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- Don’t Let Diabetes Shortchange Your Golden Years
- No Child is Forgotten By Marine Toys for Tots
- Sweeten Your Springtime Salads With Healthy Chilean Grapes
- Young Author Translates 4,000-Year-Old Text to Reveal...
- Keeping Cool and Energy-efficient Amid America’s “...
- Addressing Sarcopenia with a Healthy Diet
- Subway’s New Wraps Elevate Eating on the Go
- Family Teacher Conference Topics Beyond Academics
- Youth Take Down Tobacco
- BookTrib’s Bites: Four Reads to Kickoff Spring
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Shoff Promotions Comic Book & Sports Card Show
- Semiconductor Research Corp unveils 2024 Research Call, $13.8M Funding
- Charles River Associates Opens Second Scholarship Cycle, Expands to the UK
- BLUMHOUSE AND AMC THEATRES LAUNCH FIRST-EVER HALFWAY TO HALLOWEEN FILM FESTIVAL
- THE GEN Z IMPERATIVE: LISTEN TO FEELINGS AND GIVE GEN Z A VOICE
