Robert Chalmers worked and traveled in China over a number of years, is widely traveled in Australia, and currently lives in England. He is exploring the capabilities of the new digital cameras, and finds the lightness and speed a bonus for capturing those fleeting moments. Robert is always learning, and while his work history reflects his passion for teaching in the EFL/ESL learning area, he continues his interest in linguistics into his extra curricula activities, researching ideas in specific language areas like multilingualism, and online learning technologies. Robert sees the necessity of continued learning as the only real pathway to knowledge, and the key to opening new ideas. He is interested in meeting people and ever expanding his contacts around the world. He finds other cultures and languages to have a deep fascination. As understanding grows about a culture it gives insights into the way the people of that language and culture think about the world. This has led Robert to the idea that multilingualism has benefits to society far beyond simple uses like business exchange. Cultural exchanges truly have greater value than is generally attributed to them.
Working with people of cultures other than his own, has given Robert the ability to establish an easy rapport with students and academics alike, at all levels. For example in the Gong Lu High School, Pudong, Shanghai China. The word Gong Lu, meaning Workers Street. The children of this high school where Robert taught one day a week as part of a program initiated by the University, were the sons and daughters of local workers – people who would never come across a person from another culture in their entire lives. Photography is a way of capturing a moment in time and preserving it. To this end – Robert may be considered a Time Traveller.