Sinclair Community College’s International Series will continue its eight-year run of highlighting a world outside the Sinclair community while encouraging dialogue within it, with a presentation on the Republic of Singapore on Sept. 19.
The presentation will begin at 12 p.m. in the stage area of Building 8’s lower level and will be given by Susan Werner, who has worked within the English as a Second Language (ESL) program at Sinclair.
Werner, who currently teaches ESL at Kettering Fairmont High School, composed and will deliver the presentation based, in part, on her first-hand experience from living and working in the Southeast Asian city-state from 1995 untill 2000.
“I’ve lived in a lot of countrie—I’ve lived all over the world,” said Werner of her 14 years traveling abroad. “Singapore is definitely my favorite, and I’m most knowledgeable about Singapore and their government and the people.”
Werner cited many of her observations as features that contribute to Singapore’s charm. Including the people, their extremely high IQ average, extremely low crime rate, technological proficiency, consistent weather and cultural diversity.
“It’s probably the best country in the world to live in,” said Werner. “I got a lot out of it. It was the nicest place I’ve ever lived in my life.”
There, Werner not only taught at several schools, including ESL at a Japanese kindergarten, but also studied at a satellite campus of Cambridge University via their British consulate.
Sinclair’s ESL coordinator, Paul Carbonaro, who takes on the responsibility of organizing the efforts of many who contribute to make possible the International Series Presentations, is confident in Werner’s ability and said that he looks forward to the presentation.
“I’m just happy that she wants to do it,” said Carbonaro. “We haven’t done it before. I’ve known Susan for many years, I know it’s going to be good, I know it’s going to be interesting, I want to go along and see what she has to say.”
Werner’s goals are to present some of Singapore’s attractions, discuss its geography, government, religion, culture and address popular misconceptions of a small country.
Music from the musical “Singapore” will precede the presentation and Singapore style noodles (consisting of rice noodles, vegetables and chicken), will be provided by Aramark and served during the presentation.