Jul 17, 2025 by Leoma G Gilley, in OUTSIDE: Life in the USA

What kind of research do you need to do for a book? That very much depends on the type of book one wishes to write. In my next book, I want to describe the history of the program I developed called the Institute for the Development of Languages and Translation in Africa (iDELTA). I began working on it in 2007, and the first cohort began in 2010. Currently, iDELTA is in the middle of its 4th cohort of students in the English program in Kenya. The French version will be held in October-November this year in Cameroon. Last year was my final year of teaching as one of my former students has taken over that role for me. So, this year, I travelled to Kenya and spent two weeks in a convent called the Dimesse Sisters, where the course is being held. So what did my research entail?

My first task involved attending each of the classes being taught. This photo is the Bible Translation Basics 2 course where students are  discussing how to handle a particular issue. One of the strengths of iDELTA courses is the practicality of the teaching. It is very interactive.

I also interviewed (informally) many of the students, usually over a meal, as well as teachers. Of course, I spoke more formally with the course director to explain the outline of the book and what I'm trying to acheive. In that process, I took lots of notes, collected a great deal of information that was new to me. If something is alive and growing, then by definition, it is changing. I've decided to add another chapter to the book including discussions of those changes. It was a fascinating time, and I also got to meet my favorite tailor to get a new outfit. I was not alone!

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