Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Guest Lectures at de Montfort University


I am back from London from attending the Downing Street reception on the invitation of Sarah Brown, wife of prime minister Gordon Brown, for the British Stammering Association. I also had business meetings, and met up with a friend who is a reader at London School of Economic.

On Wednesday I got the train to Leicester to give two guest lectures related to stuttering: one on evidence based practise, and the other one of the framework I am developing for stuttering. Dave Rowley is a lecturer there and was head of department. Many staff members were there, and only a handful of students, even though he organized the talks for theem! I was stuttering rather severely. More than at the BSA conference when giving the talks in front of more people, and in general. Maybe I am more scared of academics than stutterers? God knows, and if he doesn't even exist as Richard Dawkins suggests, I am in trouble. The return train ride was 60 pounds. Trains are ridiculously expensive in England, a good example that blind privatization can lead to disasters, but I am getting my expenses paid, in some years probably.

Dave gave me a brief sightseeing tour. The most striking of the ancient English city of Leicester is the many non-English faces. There are many Pakistanis living there, and shockingly many with strict head covers.

I showed Dave how my framework gives a possible explanation for natural recovery in children who stutter. I am currently preparing a submission proposal for the Antwerp conference next year (see link in the right border) to present the framework.

6 comments:

Norbert said...

Tom - let's not forget that the 'Pakistanis' were probably all British. You were the alien there!

Satyendra said...

Tom- you keep amazing me- and inspiring me! sachin (TISA)

Anonymous said...

And why is it 'shocking' that they were wearing head coverings? Would you have said it was shocking if you'd seen a Jewish guy walking down the streets with his kippah (small hatlike head covering) on? Or someone wearing a cross on a chain around their neck?
Get out of the house more often Tom.

Tom Weidig said...

Your message is a good example of trying to censoring my experiences. If I experienced it that way, why not talk about it.

I was shocked because I have never seen so many Pakistani immigrants in an English City WHO so openly display religious symbols.

They show that they are different and do not want to adapt to the main culture of the country that gave them freedom and the opportunity to build up a good life for themselves and their children.

They are clearly not integrated into the main English culture, but have a sub-culture.

I would be equally concerned by evangelical Christians who swing their cross openly.

I am not concerned about Ultra Orthodox Jewish communities, because they seem to live their own lives, are discrete and do not preach to others.

Anonymous said...

"I was shocked because I have never seen so many Pakistani immigrants in an English City WHO so openly display religious symbols.

They show that they are different and do not want to adapt to the main culture of the country that gave them freedom and the opportunity to build up a good life for themselves and their children.

They are clearly not integrated into the main English culture, but have a sub-culture."

tom, you must be kidding. seen too much minarett-volksentscheide lately?

greetz, blanka

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