National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center (http://www.educ.iastate.edu/nflrc/)

Alumni Connection Newsletter - June 2004 - Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Document Source: http://www.educ.iastate.edu/nflrc/news/200406

Study Abroad

Welcome to the June electronic newsletter of the National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center!

As language teachers, we strive to help others communicate in a culturally appropriate way and nurture understanding between diverse individuals and groups. This month we focus on how students, teachers, and administrators can take advantage of opportunities to live and study abroad.

Cindy Kendall, Newsletter Editor
Marcia Rosenbusch, Director, National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center

Study Abroad for Teachers

Some universities offer opportunities specifically for language teachers to earn continuing education and/or graduate credit. The Ohio State University's Summer Seminars for Spanish Teachers [1] annual program offers 2-3 week summer programs in various Spanish-speaking countries. The program travels to different countries and has taken place in Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Dominican Republic and Paraguay. The Fundación José Ortega y Gassett and the University of Minnesota [2] has offered a summer program for Spanish teachers for the past 16 years. Arizona State University [3] offers a special program in Ecuador that provides an interdisciplinary opportunity to study Quechua languages and religious life, tropical plant biology, and/or Spanish, Shuar, or Waorani while experiencing the rich culture of the Andes and the Amazon. Western Michigan University Summer Study in Québec [4] offers a program for French teachers in the beautiful city of Québec and Clemson [5] offers programs for German teachers at various locations throughout Germany.

Study Abroad for Students

There are a multitude of exchange programs for students. In addition to the well-known exchange programs such as the American Institute for Foreign Study [6], Nacel [7], and Youth for Understanding [8], organizations such as Rotary International [9] and the Lions [10] also offer exchange programs. Costs will vary between programs from zero to thousands of dollars. The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program [11] includes 280 full scholarships for students selected to participate in the year-long program in Germany. Cost should not be a deterrent to study abroad!

Study Abroad for Administrators

The Fulbright program [12] offers opportunities for administrators to participate in an exchange program for six weeks, with some programs offering stipends. The United States Department of State actively supports exchange programs and offers numerous grants [13] to develop teacher and administrator exchanges. Consider creating collaboratives with K-12 school districts, universities, and professional organizations in pursuit of an educational exchange program!

Study Abroad for Everyone

At StudyAbroad.com [14], the Council for International Educational Exchange [15], and the National Registration Center for Study Abroad [16] one can locate information regarding language programs offered in countries throughout the world. The Peace Corps [17] is still the United States' premiere service-learning organization, challenging citizens to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries.

Study Abroad and Research

Earthwatch [18] offers individuals the opportunity to collaborate, with scientists from a variety of subject areas, and carry out field research at locations around the world. Many of the projects relate to cultural and biological understanding, preservation, and protection.

The Research on Study Abroad

Loyola Marymount University's Center for Global Education offers searchable bibliography and abstracts [19] of study abroad literature, or you may peruse the bibliography by author or title.

Study and Teach Abroad in Uruguay This Summer

Space still available! The Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange [20] is seeking applicants for a special summer program in Uruguay, July 11 to August 8, 2004. Applicants must be full-time teachers or school administrators with experience working with children ages 7 to 12 years. Participants need to be fluent in Spanish and be able to act as a teacher-trainer and give presentations on general education topics. The deadline for applying is Friday, June 4, 2004. Applications for this program are available only by fax. For more information and an application, contact: Roberta Croll, Outreach Specialist Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange, 600 Maryland Ave., SW, Suite 320, Washington, DC, 20024, phone: 202.314.3527, fax: 202.479.6806.

Study Abroad (at Home) Via Technology

Can't go abroad? Consider bringing the target culture and people to your classroom through technology. Epals [21], Global Schoolhouse [22], iEarn [23] ,and Intercultural E-mail Classroom Connections [24] offer opportunities for educators and students to connect, communicate, and collaborate using technology.

Quotes to Ponder

The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page.
-Saint Augustine (354 - 430)

The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.
-Gilbert K. Chesterton (1874 - 1936)

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
-Robert Lee Frost (1874 - 1963)

The use of travelling is to regulate imagination by reality, and, instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.
-Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784)

Memories of Iowa

Iowa State University's Study Abroad Center [25] offers ISU study abroad program, travel, and additional useful information for anyone interested in studying outside the United States. The Center's Globetrotter search engine will search programs and the Center's extensive resource library. The Center is located in the beautiful Memorial Union [26].

Links in this document

[1] Summer Seminars for Spanish Teachers - http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/morgan3/ssast04.htm

[2] Teaching Spanish Through the Arts - http://www.ortegaygasset.edu/extranjeros/cursos/norteamerica/teach/principal.htm

[3] ASU Summer Program in Ecuador - http://www.asu.edu/clas/latin/ecuador/Summer/summer.html

[4] Summer Study in Québec - http://www.wmich.edu/studyabroad/programs/canada/quebec.html

[5] Study Abroad / Immersion Programs for German Teachers - http://www.clemson.edu/caah/languages/German/Pages/StudyAbroad_Teachers.htm

[6] American Institute for Foreign Study - http://www.aifs.org/

[7] Nacel Open Door - http://www.nacelopendoor.org

[8] Youth for Understanding - http://www.yfu.org/

[9] Rotary Youth Exchange - http://www.rotary.org/programs/youth_ex/index.html

[10] Lions Clubs International Youth Exchange - http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/youth_youth_exchange.shtml

[11] Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program - p://www.usagermanyscholarship.org/

[12] Fulbright Administrator Exchanges - http://www.fulbrightexchanges.org/base/administrator.asp

[13] United States Deparment of State Request for Proposals - http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/menu.htm

[14] StudyAbroad.com - http://www.studyabroad.com/

[15] Council for International Educational Exchange - http://www.ciee.org/index.cfm

[16] National Registration Center for Study Abroad - http://www.nrcsa.com/

[17] Peace Corps - http://www.peacecorps.gov/

[18] Earthwatch - http://www.earthwatch.org/

[19] Center for Global Education - http://www.lmu.edu/globaled/ro/index.html

[20] Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange - http://www.fulbrightexchanges.org

[21] Epals - http://www.epals.com/

[22] Global Schoolhouse - http://www.globalschoolhouse.org/GSH/index.html

[23] iEarn - http://www.iearn.org/

[24] Intercultural E-mail Classroom Connections - http://www.iecc.org/

[25] Study Abroad Center - http://www.iastate.edu/~study-abroad/

[26] Memorial Union - http://www.mu.iastate.edu/

This Newsletter was prepared with funding from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education under Title VI grant #P229A020023. The publication of products and website URLs in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only and does not imply an endorsement by the National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center, Iowa State University, or the positions or policies of the U. S. Department of Education.

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Content: Do you have suggestions for content? Information to share with fellow alumni? Send your ideas to Cindy Kendall at ckendall@msu.edu.