|
Overseas student teaching (EDUC 477) syllabus
Teaching in a foreign country is an extraordinary professional and personal experience for the future teacher. Choosing to live in a country that is rich with differences and antiquity, governed by traditions and history in the field of learning and culture naturally adds to the education and total development of the student teacher.
This overseas teaching opportunity requires rigorous preparation on the part of the student teacher in the form of research and application. The student who plans to teach overseas must also see themselves as an ambassador to their host country.
There are 15 formal seminars dedicated to the student's preparation for teaching, living in a foreign country and formal reports and public presentations following the overseas student teaching experience. The seminars take place during three different scheduled seminar sessions over three semesters. Attendance at these seminars is mandatory.
Ordinarily when students return from their overseas experience, they will complete the semester by teaching at their first "state-side" student teaching placement.
The seminars are scheduled:
- in the spring before the overseas teaching assignment
- the semester of the overseas assignment
- the semester following the overseas teaching assignment.
The time and location of the seminars for each semester is published on the St. Norbert teacher education listserv.
Student-centered seminars are:
- information forums
- organizational conversational for travel
- discovery and research reports
- instructional planning sessions for overseas student teaching
- presentations to students and faculty
Seminar topics:
- Introduction to the overseas student teaching program
- Formal communication with foreign hosts
- Health and safety
- Traveling in a foreign country
- Curriculum planning
- Classroom procedures and school community relationships
- Comparative cultural research
- Instructional materials
- Instructional resources
- Research and reports
- Public relations
- Communication with the overseas student teaching director
- Planning for presentation in state side school
- Planning for presentation to faculty and students
- Self-evaluation and assessment
There is an established set of major assignments for the seminar course. These assignments are completed by the student teacher over three semesters in partial fulfillment of the overseas student teaching requirements.
Presentation to education faculty by overseas student teachers:
At the end of overseas student teaching, the student is required to make a formal summary presentation of their overseas student teaching experience to education faculty and education majors. The presentation will take place on a Tuesday during the month of January or February.
Guidelines:
Create a PowerPoint presentation for faculty and students. Include the following information in your presentation to the faculty:
- Describe your professional development resulting from the overseas experience. Provide examples and stories of experiences.
- Share your transforming experience as a teacher.
- Make a case for teaching overseas as your capstone experience as a teacher.
- Describe the academic preparation that sustained your overseas assignment?
- Discuss your cultural field trips in your host culture.
- Discuss that value of your immersion with the new culture.
- Describe your ambassadorship and contribution to your host school and family.
- Summarize this extraordinary teaching experience.
Display and presentation materials:
- Photo album
- Video clips
- Quotes from children
- Examples of teaching materials
- Samples of "local color" or typical classroom materials
Resources and materials:
- St. Norbert College overseas student teaching web site
- Travel links and informational web sites
- Travel books, national newspapers and popular magazines
- Representative children's literature
- Representative school curriculum
- Biographies and historical novels, films and music
- Informational books and journals
|
