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Lessons in Adventure: Teaching Law in Tunisia

By Hay Kyung Chang (Anne) Lanteigne Hay Kyung Chang (Anne) Lanteigne, a law professor from Alabama, USA, who uses crutches and a wheelchair, taught at a university in Tunisia as a Fulbright Specialist grantee.

A “can-do” attitude and an open mind can take one to marvelous places. As a U.S. Department of State Fulbright Specialist, I was offered an opportunity to conduct a two-week course in contract law at the Faculty of Political and Juridical Sciences at the University of 7 November near Tunis, Tunisia. I have been practicing law for almost three decades, specializing in intellectual property law, and occasionally, teaching contract law classes at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. 

Before I accepted the opportunity to expand my career to Tunisia, however, I did some research to find out how I would be received by the Tunisian people. As a first-time visitor to a predominantly Islamic country and to North Africa, I was concerned that some of my students at the university might be uncomfortable being instructed by a person who uses crutches and a wheelchair. During past travels, I sometimes have been subjected to stares and unwelcome gestures, especially in places where people with disabilities are not always accepted as capable, productive members of society. Despite my uncertainty, I decided to take the risk, because by nature I welcome opportunities to engage in new activities and experience new places.

Contrary to my concerns, I encountered no such reaction at the university or during any of my excursions around Tunis. My students were friendly and eager to listen to my lectures. They were also curious about my background and interested in my stories. We rapidly developed rapport in the classroom and I established a particularly strong connection with my female students.

“The faculty and staff at the University of 7 November were very helpful. The university was no less accommodating with regard to accessibility. At my request, I was assigned a classroom on the ground floor so that I would not have to climb stairs. I was, as always, willing to adapt to new environments. Sometimes it is necessary to deal with inconveniences and some discomfort, but it is a price worth paying to experience new cultures and places.”

My class of fourteen women and four men met seven times over a two-week period for a total of twenty hours of classroom time. Throughout the course, my students were alert and polite and their English comprehension was quite good. Although the course had a lecture format, I highly encouraged class participation. Our discussions sometimes took the form of English vocabulary lessons that were key to the students’ comprehension of legal concepts and principles. 

The faculty and staff at the university were very helpful. As advised, I brought my own laptop to Tunisia, but the university provided the connections needed to enable me to use visual aids during class, such as a PowerPoint projector. I have a lasting memory of the  driver who drove me to the university and back to my hotel before and after each class meeting, and kindly carried my laptop to and from my classroom each day. Also, in advance of my arrival, I mailed a packet of course material to the university, which the staff dutifully copied and had ready for the students by the first class meeting. The university was no less accommodating with regard to accessibility. At my request, I was assigned a classroom on the ground floor so that I would not have to climb stairs.

Tunis and nearby towns were beautiful in the perfect Mediterranean weather that prevailed during my entire stay there.  I hired a taxi to tour some of the more famous sites, including Sidi Bou Said, a picturesque village on a hill where all the doors and windows are painted Mediterranean blue, and the site of ancient Carthage. The taxi driver loaded and unloaded my wheelchair without complaint and even took some pictures of me. Though I was an Asian-looking woman traveling alone, and used a wheelchair when covering more than a few yards of distance, I never felt insecure or in danger. On the contrary, when I was out on Habib Burguiba (the main street in Tunis) and encountered difficulty with wheelchair access, people cheerfully pushed or lifted me over the curb.

My lack of French or Arabic, the two languages spoken in Tunisia, did not present an insurmountable difficulty because it was not hard to find someone who spoke English.  However, I did learn some very basic phrases (common greetings and etiquette phrases) in both French and Arabic before departing for Tunisia. My attempt at speaking both (undoubtedly with a heavy accent) nonetheless brought smiles and seemed to break the ice.

Throughout my stay in Tunisia, I felt welcome and comfortable. The hotel personnel frequently inquired about my needs and were willing to do what they could to accommodate me. I was, as always, willing to adapt to new environments. Sometimes it is necessary to deal with inconveniences and some discomfort, but it is a price worth paying to experience new cultures and places. After an unforgettable two weeks in Tunisia, I am willing and ready to undertake more adventures.

The Fulbright Specialists Program provides U.S. faculty and professionals with short-term (two week to six week) opportunities to collaborate with professional counterparts abroad on curriculum and faculty development, needs assessment and a variety of other academically related activities.