English Books for Lithuania: A Real Treasure

Albert Gustaff, a retired assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering, and his wife, Leona, were in Siauliai, Lithuania, teaching English as a Second language in 1992 at the invitation of the Prefect of Siauliu Pedagoginis Institutas. They prepared for their visit by attending classes in new methods of teaching English as a Second language at the University of Maryland, and teaching immigrants at the Sacred Heart Language School in Washington, D.C. Albert and Leona live in Frederick, MD.

"Look at the beautiful pictures!" "They're also in color." "The paper is pure white." "It has a silky smooth finish."

The teachers of English as a Second Language in Siauliai, Lithuania, were examining the books my wife, Leona, and I carried with us when we arrived in the country to teach at Siauliu Pedagoginis Institutas. The year was 1992, and the nation, after many unsettling years, had been set free from the yoke of Communism. The George Soros Foundation in the United States of America had presented us with a grant to pay for travel expenses, including costs for transporting the 200 books that were donated by different publishing companies, an overhead projector, and a cassette recorder.

We arrived in February and remained there until December teaching the Pedagogical Institute, the Engineers Club, and Kaunas Technological Institute. We gave conferences to teachers in elementary and high schools, and helped the mayor and his staff to understand the spoken English language. Our classes generally consisted of six to eight submissive, quiet, and scared students eager to learn the language from native born teachers of English speaking countries. They read and wrote the language well, but were hesitant about speaking it.

We soon became aware that good English Literature did not exist there. There were no dictionaries, thesauri, fiction or non-fiction books of value. The paper in the books was tan and rough. Pictures were small sketches in black and white. Lessons were taught by translation and grammar methods. The library was inadequate, and literature books were ineffective and rough translations of Russian translations of English and American authors. Notebooks were common because of the scarcity of books. Students brought them to class each day and took copious notes. Ten year-old textbooks portrayed America as full of harsh living conditions, and indicated that much anger existed between peoples of different races. At first, we were met with hostility, but later we were greeted with respect and acceptance.

We found that English was becoming an important language for Lithuanians. They recognized its significance in science, technology, business and economics, and in international travel. Dr. Zilinskas, director of French studies at the Institute, attended an international academic conference in Paris expecting to participate in the French he spoke fluently. The conference was conducted in English! Students from elementary grades and college attendees were dropping Russian language studies and begging to be admitted into English as a Second Language classes. Text books and other comparable contemporary literature to modernize the teaching of English were lacking. Unfortunately, no financial aid was available in the government or the Education department to take care of this need.

When we returned to the states, we began to search for sources, as well as, ways and means to collect books to send to Lithuania. Edward Bubelis, a retired teacher of English in Maryland, discovered that Carroll and Baltimore County schools discarded hundreds of books every year. With the consent of the Superintendent of each county, we collected over eight hundred books, selecting those that were most appropriate for the Lithuanian teachers of English. We sent sets of 30 to 50 books each in writing, composition, grammar, reading anthologies, dictionaries, thesauri, English and American classics, fiction and non-fiction books for class levels from third grade to the University level to teachers in Siauliai and Vilnius.

For the first time, many teachers were able to use modern methods to teach English. They accepted the books with keen pleasure and sent many letters of thanks. A center library was set up by teachers in Siauliai, so that the English books would be available to over thirty schools within the city and its vicinity.

I am writing to express our enormous thanks to you for your help. The books we received (so many) are a real treasure. And most important - they are sets. "The Barefoot Island" was used by Vilija Barkauskiene last year. She and her students greatly enjoyed working with them. Now more teachers will be able to use the books you have sent for their lessons. Some of them have already borrowed a copy from the library to study during the summer.

Eugenija Vaiciuliene
Anglu Kalbos Mokytoju Asociacija

Books are sorted and ready for packing. Photo: Albert Gustaff

The news of the receipt of the original group of books had traveled quickly, and we received requests from teachers in many towns and villages. After much study and consideration, we have concluded that enough books can be collected from the county schools in Maryland to supply all the schools in Lithuania.

It's just marvelous that you have such good intentions of helping Lithuanian schools to supply them with English textbooks. Our school needs them badly.

Birute Urbutiene
Headmistress of
S. Neries Secondary School,
Vilkaviskis

We are very happy that you are going to supply our school with English books.

Ona Jasiuleviciene
K. Donelaitis Secondary School

 

Our school is a small country school and such schools are very often forgotten when we have some sort of distribution of something useful among district schools. It would be very kind of you if you could send us some grammar reference books and grammar exercises.

Verbalize Secondary School,
Vilkaviskis

We would be very happy if you could send us some books. We would like to get some grammar books but not one but about 15 copies of the same kind.

A. Eilkevicius,
Ausros Vidurine Mokykla, Vilkaviskis

For the past seven years, the Lithuanian government has been engaged in changing its economy from the Soviet-style, planned economy to the Western-style, market economy. Lithuanian leaders and businessmen were not trained to work in the Western-style economy. The new generation of young people are preparing to help leaders and businessmen to change to a market economy. Providing English books for primary, middle, and secondary schools is a first and important step.

Aldona Yanulavage packs books for Lithuania. Photo: Albert Gustaff

The Lithuanian-American Community estimates that there are one million Lithuanian Americans living in this country. For several years they have generously donated food, clothing, and medicines through many different organizations. With the help of volunteers from the Baltimore Lithuanian Community and other Maryland groups, there are now approximately 9,000 books packed and ready to ship. It is estimated that the cost of shipping and distributing a container-load of books to teachers in Lithuania will be approximately $7,000. We hope to send good literature to the students of Lithuania and provide some assistance to its President, Valdas Adamkus, a former board member of the Lithuanian American Community before he returned to his native land. We have the books but we lack the funds to transport them to Lithuania.

The Lithuanian Human Services Council, a non-profit branch of the Lithuanian-American Community, has agreed to support the "Books for Lithuania" project. Mrs. Birute Jasaitis heads the administration of these funds. A donation of $50 would supply enough books for 18 classrooms of 30 students each, but any amount would be gratefully accepted. Be a part of educating Lithuania's youth!

Send to:

The Lithuanian Human Services Council
Re: Books for Lithuania/B. Jasaitis
2711 West 71 st. Str. Chicago IL 60629
Tel: 773-476-2655