1974
... Let me take this opportunity to express my gratitude
to you for all your help and support at both Osijek and
Dubrovnik seminars.
John Shorter
Assistant Regional Director
The British Council, Zagreb
1974
... Again, Ms. Krstic was quietly in the background ready
to handle any problem or request, administrative or clerical,
all day, every day. ... I would like truly to than Ms.
Krstic for her efforts and for making participation in
the seminars a gratifying experience.
Mary Hines
Fulbright Lecturer
University of Nis
1974
... It was, of course, delightful to see you again, looking
so ravishingly beautiful. You are a top administrator
and it was really a pleasure having you in charge of everything.
Dr. Sylvia Holton
Georgetown University
Washington D.C.
1976
To Mr. Edward McBride, Cultural Affairs Officer
... The smoothness and success of your operations is particularly
due to Gordana’s tremendous efficiency. In my experience
I have never met anyone who has been so industrious or
conscientious in her work, as well as having the personality
to get along well with others. I definitely appreciated
the help she provided me over the past two years.
Donald Bouchard
Fulbright Lecturer
University of Ljubljana
1976
To Mr. Terrence Catherman, Public Affairs Officer
... Ms. Gordana Krstic, your English Teaching Specialist,
did a masterful job of planning and organizing the lectures...
She made sure that every minute detail was taken care of.
Dr. Morton Benson
Professor of Slavic Languages
University of Pennsylvania
1977
To Mr. T. Catherman, Public Affairs Officer
... I must say I was impressed by Ms. Krstic’s expertise
and efficiency. She impressed me as a very professional
woman. She handled all situations with diplomacy and grace.
She is clearly a valuable asset to the Embassy. Not only
is she meticulously proficient in carrying out the full
duties of an English Language Officer, but she is also
a charming and interesting person. In fact, I have doubts
whether and actual American Officer could do any better
at handling the difficulties of a job which combines care
for details, mastery of arrangement and scheduling, and
concern for interpersonal relations between American,
British and Yugoslav teachers. She made the Fulbright
visit for myself and my family intensely rewarding.
Dr. Warren Wedin
Professor of American Literature
California State University
1978
To Mr. T. Catherman, Public Affairs Officer
... Gordana Krstic is a priceless jewel whose relationships
with staff, participants, British Council counterparts,
Ministry of Education officials are so warm and full of
insight that her presence at a seminar becomes invaluable.
She has a superb sense of organization but most importantly
she has that rare gift of insuring that happiness and
well-being of everyone around her.
Dr. Mary Finnochiaro
1978
To Mr. T. Catherman, Public Affairs Officer
... Not only is she extremely thorough in planning the
myriad details... She skillfully weaves together the threads
for a successful seminar experience and its follow-up.
She is extremely highly regarded by the foreign language
advisers in the various Republics of Yugoslavia, and it
is easy to se why. Indeed, she is more attentive to the
problems of language teaching in Yugoslavia and to the
needs of visiting Americans than this visiting American,
at least, is accustomed to experience from his own countrymen
while lecturing overseas.
Dr. Howard Altman
University of Louisville
1979
... My primary praise must be reserved for the manner
in which you handled the American Lectors meeting. You
channeled the meeting into a positive direction right
from the beginning, so that the suggestions made were
constructive and the atmosphere one of good humored professionalism
and cooperation.
Liga Abolins
Fulbright lecturer
University of Titograd
June 12, 1979
Dr. Leon M. S. Slawecki
Cultural Attache
American Embassy, Belgrade
Dear Dr. Slawecki:
It was a distinct pleasure for me to lecture on English-language
teaching methodology and contrastive analysis in Yugoslavia.
Audiences of teachers and students everywhere in the country
impressed me as enthusiastic and eager to hear about the
lasted developments.
The success of the lecture tour was due, in great part,
to the excellent preparations made by Ms. Gordana Krstic
of your staff. Ms. Krstic is unique among ESL specialists.
Not only is she highly efficient in the execution of mundane
but necessary tasks, she also brings to her work an intimate
knowledge of contemporary developments in the field and
a first-hand acquaintance with those who matter in the
teaching of English in Yugoslavia. An immediate and significant
sign of her professionalism is the excellent library of
textbooks and support materials in ESL which she has amassed
in her office.
My own work in Yugoslavia was greatly facilitated by being
able to draw upon Ms. Krstic's knowledge of what was needed
specifically by each audience as we went from city to
city. Thanks to her, my lectures carried a focus they
could not have had otherwise.
Reflecting on my past experiences in workshops and lecture
tours on ESL in several countries, I can say, without
qualification, that Gordana Krstic is the most competent
English-teaching specialist I have ever had the pleasure
of knowing. She carries herself with a degree of style
and aplomb that is enviable. We in the U. S. are fortunte
to have a person of her abilities working on our behalf
in the foreign service. Thank you very much for giving
me the opportunity to collaborate with her in the interest
of better international understanding through the teaching
of English.
Sincerely,
Dr. Robert J. Di Pietro
Chair, DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGES & LITERATURE
UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
|
August 2, 1979
Mr. Leon Slawecki
Cultural Affairs Officer
American Embassy
Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Dear Mr. Slawecki:
My wife and I have covered a lot of territory since we
last saw you in Donji Milanovac... I now, finally, have
a chance to look back over the last two years in Yugoslavia
from the outside. Naturally, I find myself thinking mostly
about the people I knew there. For some reason, very few
of them stand out clearly from the rest.
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The reason I'm writing you this letter is that Gordana Krstic definitely
stands out and I feel compelled to give credit to her
that it's so obviously due.
What is the highest praise I can give? If I ever found
myself responsible for staffing an organization and had
unlimited funds, I would make Gordana an offer no one
could refuse. In my entire life I have worked with only
one other person who could match her efficiency and precision.
She is one of the very few people in the world who have
actually, by their example, inspired me to change my ramshackle
ways; I count her among those from whom I have learned.
One thing I never learned, however, is how she does it
all without ever giving the impression of being the least
bit in a hurry. I believe that her knack for getting the
best out of those of us who have worked with her is due
essentially to the fact that we respect and admire her
too much to give any less.
Sincerely,
Teddi Bynum
Fulbright Lecturer, (formerly)
University of Nis
1980
To Mr. Leon Slawecki
Cultural Affairs Officer
... It is with great satisfaction that I record these
few thoughts about English Teaching in Yugoslavia. It
is, undoubtedly, unique. In fact, exceptional. And not
without reason. Gordana Krstic is English Teaching in
Yugoslavia. Academically, she is one of the most updated
EFL specialists that I have met in
Europe. Her sense of organization is precise. And her
awareness in relating cross various cultures seems so
effortless, so smooth.
I compliment your office for such a fine program and for
such fine assistance.
John Dumicich
Professor, New York University
1981
I would like to open this report by thanking you personally
for the masterful way that you handled the seminars. Everything
was beautifully prepared and all my personal and professional
needs were anticipated. What a pleasure it is to work
for you!
Dr. Jean Bodman
New York University
1981
... We are grateful for your special efforts which resulted
in the fact that we had really exceptional lecturers who
had offered a truly in depth view of the most contemporary
tendencies in the methodology of teaching foreign languages.
I am convinced that our cooperation will continue successfully.
Gradislav Milenkovic
Director
Republican Ministry of Education
Republic of Serbia
1982
... Being able to tightly coordinate the lectures, group
sessions, and evening activities made the most coherent
program of work which I have been able to present at any
seminar, and the thanks for making this possible belongs to you.
Dr. Joseph Mullin
Fulbright Lecturer
University of Skopje
1982
Ms. Cynthia Efird, Cultural Affairs Officer
... The thing that impressed me more, however , is Gordana’s
knowledge of the field of TESOL and how best to use U.S.
funds to meet the needs of the English teachers in Yugoslavia.
Dr. Mary N. Bruder
University of Pittsburg
1982
Let me thank you on behalf of the Institute of Education
of SR Croatia and on my own for your cooperation in organizing
and carrying out the seminar for teachers of English in
Karlovac, August 22-27, 1982. Based on the opinion of
both the Foreign Language Advisor and the participants
the seminar was successful. They were especially satisfied
with the work done by the American lecturer, Prof. Thomas
Buckingham. Please extend our gratitude to him.
Dr. Mato Jergovic, Director
Republican Institute of Education, SR Croatia
|
April 26, 1982
Mr. David Anderson,
United States Ambassador to Yugoslavia
Belgrade
Dear Ambassador Anderson:
I have just returned from a two-week lecture tour through
Yugoslavia, organized by the English Teaching Specialist
in your Embassy, Gordana Krstic. I would like to make
a brief report to you concerning that tour before any
further time elapses and other affairs intervene.
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Although this was by no means the first time that lectures
were arranged for me at other locales, I must tell you
that my Yugoslavia tour was the best planned, best executed,
and most enjoyable that I have ever experienced. And the
credit for this belongs squarely with Gordana Krstic.
Her ability to organize and carry out a complex set of
arrangements spanning two weeks, ranging over much of
Yugoslavia, involving many different people, and requiring
constant adjustments to the vagaries of a state bureaucracy
is a phenomenon that one must truly marvel at. Her position
requires at appropriate times that she be firm or flexible,
businesslike or sociable, carefree or concerned, complimentary
or admonishing. And all this she manages to accomplish
with seeming effortlessness, grace, intelligence and sensitivity.
Gordana is a most extraordinary woman, and one cannot
say enough in her praise. She is to be treasured by our
Embassy and I would urge that she be assured of whatever
professional rewards it is within the jurisdiction of
the Embassy to bestow.
Respectfully yours,
Dr. William E. Rutherford
Director
College of Continuing Education
American Language Institute
University of Southern California
|
November 14, 1983
Ambassador
Embassy of the United States of America
Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Dear Mr. Ambassador:
I am writing to praise the efficiency and effectiveness
of one of your staff, Mrs. Gordana Krstic, English Teaching
Specialist, and to express my appreciation for her professionalism
and her organization in promoting better U.S. - Yugoslav relations.
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I just returned from a two week lecture tour of Yugoslavia.
Although I enjoyed myself a great deal, no one could possibly
claim that this trip was an academic boondoggle: in fourteen
days I traveled to nine cities, delivered eleven lectures
on seven topics, and participated in countless informal
shop-talk sessions. I addressed teachers and administrators
from all levels of the public school system, university
professors and graduate students, and the staffs of intensive
language centers. The fact that all of this hectic traveling
and talking came off without a hitch is due to Mrs. Krstic's
professional insight, administrative efficiency, and cross-cultural sensitivity.
I enjoyed myself immensely, learning a great deal about
Yugoslavia- the country, the people, the languages and
dialects-and about language teaching programs and policy.
My graduate students and colleagues will benefit directly
from these experiences.
Given the long history of this lecture tour in Yugoslavia,
I believe it difficult to overestimate the importance
of this program in promoting favorable U.S. - Yugoslav
relations. We are fortunate, indeed, to have an individual
of Mrs. Krstic's abilities working in this capacity.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mark A. Clarke
Associate Professor
University of Colorado at Denver
1984
We would like to thank you for the successfully organizer
seminar for teachers of English in Sumarice (Serbian Seminar,
June–July). We learned a lot (communicative skills, inter-actions
etc) and got many wonderful ideas for group work in the
classroom... Hoping that such high quality seminars will
continue we wish to you much success in bringing to us
valuable lecturers.
Yugoslav Professors of English,
Institute of Foreign Languages, Belgrade
November 24, 1984
Ms Pamela Smith
Cultural Affairs Officer
American Embassy
11000 Beograd
Dear Pamela:
In the past year I have had a good deal of contact with
Ms. Gordana Krstic of the U.S.I .S. English Language Teaching
Office. I have worked with her on four seminars and mini-seminars
for Yugoslav teachers of English, and am currently planning
for the December Lectors' Conference with her. In addition,
her office has served as a sort of materials and advice
headquarters for my own teaching activities at the Fllozofski
fakultet in Novi Sad.
The longer I know Gordana and the more I see of her work,
the more deeply I am impressed by her competence. She
is for one, one of the most organized and efficient people
I have ever worked with anywhere (a natural "one
minute manager"). She responds to letters the same
day, and has attended to the 1001 details for each seminar
with grace and aplomb.
I have also been somewhat amazed at how she manages to
keep up contacts with people in the States. Such contacts
are critical to her function, but difficult to maintain
from Belgrade in such a fickle, trendy field as EFL. Yet
she is familiar with the latest terms, the latest titles
and the latest names.
Most importantly perhaps, I have become increasingly aware
of the wide and invaluable network of relationships which
she has developed over the years with teachers throughout
Yugoslavia. Her reliability and graciousness make her
an attractive person to do business with, and so they
do. Especially now, when Yugoslav teachers cannot afford
books from abroad, much less a trip to an English-speaking
country to brush up their language, school boards and
teachers' associations count on Gordana more and more
to keep them in touch with native speakers and the latest
methodologies through her seminars and materials. I cannot
Imagine that any American could replace her; the foreigner
could not develop such close or honest ties with teachers
around the country, nor could he/she understand the needs
and perceptions of Yugoslav teachers so well. U.S.I.S.
is very fortunate to have Gordana in its employ.
Sincerely,
Pamela Martin
Fulbright Lecturer
University of Novi Sad
1986
... Yesterday my department chairman, David Gies, called
to inform me that the promotion to full professor is now
official. Today I am writing to share that good news with
you and to thank you for your support. Without your kind
comments the promotion would not have been possible, and
I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to write a
letter in my behalf. Your confidence in my abilities and
your expression of that confidence in your letter to the
University of Virginia enabled me to achieve a significant
honor in my career, and I am truly grateful.
Dr. Kenneth Chastain
University of Virginia
June 17, 1986
Pamela Smith
Cultural Affairs Officer
American Embassy
Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Dear Pamela Smith:
Although I have heard that your assignment in Yugoslavia
is nearly finished and you will be leaving soon, I would
like to take a moment of your time to comment on the work
I have done for Gordana Krstic during this past year and
to add my praise to that of others for her competence,
efficiency, and professionalism.
Throughout the year I participated in four of the seminars
which she organized. The first one, in Crikvenica, was
a five-day residential seminar; the others, in Mostar,
Skopje, and Subotica, were mini-seminars. These seminars
were truly highlights in the past year. Each seminar was
carefully planned and organized; arrangements were always
completed with plenty of lead time. Ms. Krstic is meticulous
about details, exchanges of letters, requests for reimbursements,
and other administrative matters. Unlike some other administrators
I have dealt with, both in Yugoslavia and elsewhere, she
is accessible, returns calls, answers mail, and is thoroughly
reliable.
But Ms. Krstic's talents are more than administrative.
She maintains excellent working relationships with local
and regional English teaching advisors. That is reflected
both in the atmosphere of the seminars and in the high
degree of enthusiasm and seriousness which participants
demonstrate in those gatherings. She has the respect of
her colleagues, which she has earned honestly by her hard
work. I sincerely believe that the good quality of English
teaching in Yugoslav primary and secondary schools is
directly related to the programs and seminars which she
has organized over the years.
Fulbright lectors in Yugoslavia sometimes feel that their
work here does not challenge them in ways which add to
their professional development. However, my work for Gordana
Krstic has been, professionally, a crucial factor in making
this year such a good one. The Embassy has a talented
and competent staff member in Ms. Krstic. She has my highest
respect and admiration.
Best wishes to you as you prepare to leave Yugoslavia.
I'm sorry we didn't have more opportunities to talk this
year. I have greatly enjoyed my year in Yugoslavia.
Very sincerely,
Mary Lee Field
Fulbright Lecturer
University of Novi Sad
3 February 1986
Ms. Gordana Krstic
American Embassy
11000 Belgrade
Dear Gordana,
Thank you very much for the detailed arrangements you
made to promote the smooth running of both the seminars
I attended. The British Council's tutors, Stephen Slater,
Cynthia Beresford and Andy Barfield, ask me to thank you
on their behalf and our two visitors from Britain send
their regards.
With thanks,
Marilyn Robertson
Acting Representative
The British Council
September 2, 1986
Mr. L. Plotkin
Cultural Affairs Officer
American Embassy
Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Dear Mr. Plotkin:
I recently participated as an Academic Specialist in
two seminars for English teachers. These seminars, held
in SR Slovenia and SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, were organized
by Gordana Krstic of your office and by representatives
of The British Council.
This was my fifth trip on an Academic Specialist Grant
to Yugoslavia since 1982, and as has been the case on
each of my previous trips, I was very impressed with the
quality of organization of these events and with the enthusiasm
of the participants. This was especially noteworthy during
the seminar held for primary and secondary school teachers
of English in Bosnia and Herzegovina, since this was the
first such event in that republic in several years.
Please accept my thanks for the opportunity to participate
in these valuable seminars. I hope that your office will
be able to organize and sponsor similar seminars in the
future, both in the places where such events have become
commonplace and in areas which have had less exposure
to visiting academic specialists from the U.S.
I am sure that you know of the reputation which Ms. Krstic
enjoys among American, British, and Yugoslav teacher-trainers
as a consummate organizer of such events; I can only say
that in my experience, much of the credit for the success
of these professional events results from her careful
planning and organization.
Best wishes for the coming year.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Stephen J. Gaies
Professor of English and Linguistics
University of Northern Iowa
Department of English Language and Literature
TESOL and Linguistics Section, Cedar Falls
June 22, 1987
Lawrence Plotkin
Cultural Affairs Officer
American Embassy
11000 Belgrade
Yugoslavia
Dear Mr. Plotkin:
I am writing to convey my high praise for the work that
Gordana Krstic has done and continues to do for the English
language teaching profession in Yugoslavia.
I first started working with Gordana in 1980 when I was
in Yugoslavia on a Fulbright TEFL grant. Since that time
I have had an opportunity to conduct teacher education
seminars in Yugoslavia on a number of occasions. I have
never been disappointed by Gordanas organizational abilities
and her ability to ensure a positive professional experience
at seminars for the Yugoslav teachers of English.
... I feel that I can attribute my success in getting
a position in large part to the teacher-training experience
I have had in Yugoslavia.
Preparation for the seminars forced me to crystallize
my ideas for teaching, Gordana's advice on these ideas
consistently helped me keep the practical needs of the
Yugoslav English teachers in mind, and thereby led to
effective materials, positive attitudes, and professional
gain for both the teachers and for me as a lecturer.
I have worked in a variety of education programs for teachers
of English over the past ten years and feel that the seminar
program in Yugoslavia is one of the best. Gordana should
be commended for her sensitivity to the needs of the teachers
and for her persistence in the further development of
teacher education programs in Yugoslavia. I know her work
is highly respected by the Yugoslav English teachers and
the U.S. lecturers alike.
Sincerely,
William Perry
Assistant Professor in ESL
St. Michael's College
7800 Freiburg
F.R. Germany
1987
... I want to thank you for such a marvelous job in planning
and carrying out my lecture tour! Everything went like
clockwork thanks to your good work.
Dr. Douglas Brown
American Language Institute
San Francisco State University
|
American Embassy
11000 Beograd, JUGOSLAWIEN
September 27, 1988
Dear Mr. Ambassador:
I would like to call your attention to the outstanding
performance of your English Teaching Advisor, Ms. Gordana
Krstic, in organizing the Slovenian and Croatian seminars
for English teachers, August 21-September 2. Not only
did Ms. Krstic fulfill her responsibilities in an exemplary
fashion but she also went way above and beyond the call
of duty in order to make the courses the resounding successes
that they were. She consistently went out of her way in
order to insure the comfort and well-being of myself and
my American co-worker, Prof. Dicker.
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I am certain that he will concur with me when I tell you, sir, that I am
greatly within her debt and that she is to be highly commended
to you, Mr. Ambassador, for her excellence and glowing
credit to your mission in Yugoslavia.
Yours sincerely,
Paul D. Roberts
Academic Counselor and
Lecturer for American English
FREIE UNIVERSITAT BERLIN
Zentraleinrichtung Sprachlabor (ZE4)
1989
Let me say, first of all, that as I prepared for this
trip, it became very clear to me why Yugoslavia has such
a good reputation among American academics who complete
lecture tours there. This fine reputation is based upon
the work of Gordana Krstic, whose careful organization
of programs insures their success.
Dr Ann M. Johns
San Diego State University
USIA W O R L D
|
January 1987, Volume 6, Number 1
USIA PROFILE
GORDANA KRSTIC: Shaping English Instruction in
Yugoslavia
BY PAMELA SMITH |
 |
YUGOSLAVS, WHO LIVE IN A LAND HAVING a number of languages
of its own, frequently also speak English. At least many
of Yugoslavia's educated people and an increasingly large
number of its young people do.
USIS is fully involved in making English Yugoslavia's
most popular language. Some years ago, Russian was taught
throughout the country as the principal foreign language
with smatterings of German, French, and English instruction.
But in the last 10 to 15 years, English has become a predominate
foreign language taught in primary and secondary schools
in most of Yugoslavia.
OVER THE YEARS
Yugoslavia probably would have joined the march toward
English without the efforts of USIS, but it would not
have done so nearly as well as it has without USIS' Gordana
Krstic.
As an employee in the USIS Yugoslavia English Teaching
Office for 20 years and as its English teaching specialist
for the last 12, Krstic has brought more information about
teaching the English language to more people than anyone
in the country. She knows almost everyone important in
the business, and she programs many of these people frequently
for the seminars that she conceives and organizes to teach
Yugoslavia's English teachers how to teach English better.
(Although often organized in cooperation with the British
Council, the seminars increasingly stress American Studies
to complement their main focus-the methodology of teaching
English).
The American experts whom she programs include Academic
Specialists recruited through the good offices of the
USIA Division for the Study of the U.S., experts loaned
by the English Language Program Division home office or
drawn from Fulbright TEFL (Teaching of English as a Foreign
Language) professors in the country, an occasional American
Literature Am-Part or Fulbrlghter, or authorities simply
enticed by Krstic Into coming on their own. Even after
being subjected to Balkan trains, Slovenian rains, Macedonian
dust, Serbian menus in Cyrillic, Croatian winters, Montenegrin
hotels, Bosnian schedules, and the like, these people
want to return.
In addition, Krstic has helped design USIS' annual one-country
group program for English teaching officials, and together
with USIS branch public affairs officers, she identifies
nominees for the agency's Summer Institutes Program, Secondary
School Initiative Program, and other initiatives having
TEFL or American Studies content.
Also, she enriches English-teaching activities by enrolling
approximately 4,000 teachers and administrators as subscribers
to English Teaching Forum magazine and by presenting large
numbers of English teaching books and USIA materials at
seminars.
NEW PURSUIT
In what little spare time she has, Krstic writes novels.
She is a prize-winning new talent on the Serbo-Croatian
scene. Her first book, "The Scent of Rain in the
Balkans," a fictional description of the disintegration
of traditional Jewish life in Sarajevo, won critical acclaim
and the prestigious Jewish Community prize. Krstic is
now at work on a sequel to this novel.
At the same time, she continues to work on future seminars.
Four years ago, USIS Belgrade conducted 14 seminars a
year, which reached about 1000 teachers of English. In
fiscal 1985, the post sponsored 26 seminars attended by
approximately 2200 teachers, and a second English teaching
staffer, Marlja Dimitrijevic, came on board. The demand
for instruction keeps mounting, and the post could double
this activity again, if it had the resources.
USIS Yugoslavia is lucky to have Krstic as a colleague.
So are Yugoslav English teachers, students, and readers.
---
Pamela Smith was cultural affairs officer. USIS Belgrade,
when this article was written. She now is country affairs
officer for West and East Germany.
