Brocklehurst distributes experience
Campus Times
April 16, 1999
Bob Brocklehurst helps freshman Sanela Hadzihasanovic with her radio
project, which is part of the Radio/Television Audio Controls class. Brocklehurst
is part of an exchange program between ULV and Cheltenham and Glouster University
in England. Filling in for Mike Laponis, associate professor of communications,
who is on sabbatical for the semester, Brocklehurst desires to "introduce
[students] to digital editing for radio announcements."
by Nune Gazdhyan
Assistant Features Editor
One of the greatest historical inventions is the airplane. It creates
the means of travel allowing people to compare, learn and appreciate different
cultures.
Bob Brocklehurst, instructor of television and radio, has accepted a
teaching position, as a visiting instructor from England, to cover for Mike
Laponis, associate professor of communication, who is on sabbatical leave.
Brocklehurst started teaching at ULV this spring. Previous to arriving
here, he taught at Cheltenham University. Now he is here to share his culture,
knowledge and experience with the ULV community.
"I'm probably one of the official exchange lecturers on the exchange
program," said Brocklehurst.
Brocklehurst studied fine arts at Winchester then went on to post-graduate
studies in television production at Bournemouth University. After the completion
of his post-graduate studies in 1993, he started teaching in Cheltenham,
which is affiliated with the Brethren Study Abroad program. He has been
an instructor there for seven years.
Upon arriving in February, Brocklehurst stayed with Don Pollock's, associate
professor of broadcasting, family until he found a place of his own.
"I've really enjoyed the chance to live with a family. It's been
fun for me doing things with the children. They forced me to go see animated
films by the dozen," he said.
"When you do things with children you realize that you're having
fun. I think that play is something when people get older leave behind."
Brocklehurst has found a place to live. For the rest of his stay, he
will call Claremont home, and he spent some of the spring break completing
the move.
Having been here for close to three months Brocklehurst has had the
opportunity to see most of Los Angeles.
"I've been out and about. I've seen most of L.A. I don't like to
go on the freeway because you can't see anything. I take the roads and that's
given me a very good view of the city ... but my favorite city here is San
Francisco."
One of Brocklehurst's interests is filmmaking, especially documentaries.
He has made music videos for MTV and in 1996 went to Bosnia to film a documentary
on the Gypsy population.
"My perspective in filmmaking, especially documentaries, is to
experience other people's lives. It's not about money, it's about helping
to educate and inform."
As far as his teaching adventure, Brocklehurst is enthusiastic and satisfied
with the educational environment that he is creating and offering for students.
"For me, the important thing is to remember when I was in college
and how I was taught, the good teachers I had, that's what I base my teachings
on. Students should have a good [educational] experience," he said.
However, this is not Brocklehurst's first visit to the states. When
he was a college student, he also participated in an exchange program and
attended Virginia Commonwealth University.
"I recognize the benefits of a different education and cultural
experience. I would encourage anyone to do it," he said.
Brocklehurst is here for the entire spring semester and he will go back
to England in June. He feels that while it is a good experience teaching
here, he will go back. His own school is in the process of developing a
radio and television department, and he will use some of the techniques
used at ULV to help develop the department.
The education system in England is structured differently than it is
here. Students there go to college for three years, and they do not use
the unit system. Instead, they have what is called a modular. One modular
is equivalent to one class in the United States. A student is required to
complete 26 modulars to graduate.
While Brocklehurst enjoys teaching at ULV, he admits that he does miss
his friends back home and that he has experienced a few language differences.
"We speak the same language but the meaning of words are much different
than you think. At home when I'm with friends, we use language in a very
playful manner. Where here it is much more direct," he said.
