Posted by Ethelynn Intatano on October 14, 1999 at 13:42:52:
Lately, I've been feeling that the FIND workshops have had no effect on either the student delegates or myself. The main point here is that workshops should enrich as well as demand attention from it's delegates. Since the past FIND in spring of 1999, I haven't seen the learning experience grow. Student facilitators and mediators have been replaced by some 50-something year olds who have a doctorate on Asian Studies and have no aspect on what REALLY goes on in the minds of Filipino-American students today. I strongly affirm the FINDs of the past when students were chosen to facilitate the workshops to 20 or so delegates in a room. I believe that by doing this, the purpose and message of FIND will be permanently imprinted in their minds.
FIND workshops should be a more of a "hands-on" experience, not an experience which suggests a "listen to the rich asian speaker go on-and-on about filipino diaspora that occured sometime before WWII" attitude. This can be easily seen by the outcome of last spring's FIND at Harvard. Attendance was mandatory, so many delegates felt "obligated to attend" and were left disappointed, bored and unaware of the purpose of FIND. Many students felt like they were back at school due to the strong enforcement of attendance and long duration of lectures from speakers four times their age. Let's get real. The object of a good speaker is to leave a lasting impression on the audience, and this I am certain to say, has NOT been occurring. In fact, quite the opposite. Can anyone honestly tell me that what they have heard and seen during those lectures in Harvard stayed in their mind after the weekend was over? I was left unimpressed on how many things I didn't learn about my culture and thinking how much more effective the whole conference could HAVE been, if only the delegates were the main target.
So what if a 50-something year old speaker with a doctorate in Asian History and a phD in Asian Studies is going to be speaking at FIND, the main concern should be: "IS THE SPEAKER GOING TO GET ACROSS TO THE DELEGATES? and if so, HOW DEEP WILL THE MESSAGE BE IMPRINTED INTO THEM?" It shouldn't be: "Well, since we are getting so-and-so, and he/she IS very prominent and going to speak at OUR FIND, then this FIND will be the best this year". I guarantee you that if these concerns are the main focus of attention when preparing bids for future FIND's, many students will leave the conferences with burning desires to know more about themselves, their culture and their identity as Filipino-Americans.
Student facilitators operate on a one-to-one level with delegates in that they are amongst their peers. They know what college students want, and what their attention span is as well. I am a college student myself and found that being in a workshop with other people my age as well as the facilitator helped alot in getting my attention.
Workshops are a "hands-on" experience as I have mentioned before. It's not a boring sit-through 5 hour lecture. Hence the word, "work" within the text. It is a way to teach delegates through "working with them". Basic activities where all delegates can take part leaves a good impression and makes them more aware of why they came to the conference.
Therefore in closing, workshops are the key element in making the purpose of the conference a realization. Without student facilitators, that key element is almost non-existent. Why pay more money for speakers with a phD, when most of the time, their message is hardly ever regarded? That is why I stress the importance of a good workshop, one that students can be amongst their peers and feel free to say anything they want.
Thank You,
Ethel L. Intatano
St. John's University
District III