U.S. TRAVEL VIRTUAL ORIENTATIONMay 5, 2010 : U.S. TRAVEL VIRTUAL ORIENTATIONMay 5, 2010 Argentina and Mexico Principal Exchange Program
Sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)
U.S. Department of State, the Commission for Educational Exchange Between the United States of America and the Argentine Republic, and U.S.-Mexico Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange
Administered by American Councils for International Education
Orientation Goals : Orientation Goals Reinforcement of the goals of the Program
Learn about creating a schedule with your partner
Understand programming in Argentina and Mexico
Get recommendations from and ask questions of American Councils staff and other grantees
Understand what to do if…
Learn about follow-on grant opportunities
Program Goals : Program Goals To support mutual understanding between school administrators in the U.S., Argentina and Mexico through professional development and exchange
To provide U.S., Argentine and Mexican administrators with the opportunity to interact with one another, other administrators, teachers, students and community leaders and to share perspectives and best practices on their respective school systems and management
To support the internationalization and increased quality of instruction in schools by providing opportunities for the broader school community to learn about global issues, to be exposed to Argentine, Mexican or U.S. culture, and to participate in joint collaborative projects and school partnerships
How to Achieve the Program Goals? : How to Achieve the Program Goals? Make sure your schedule in Argentina/Mexico:
Is educationally and professionally fulfilling
Includes a variety of cultural activities
Provides opportunities for you to interact with the whole community
Program in the Host Community : Program in the Host Community While in Argentina and Mexico, you should:
Participate in discussions on best teaching/school management practices and related educational issues with the host school teachers/principals and with a wider community of educators
Visit local schools, parent committees, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Serve as a guest speaker (as requested) on your home country education and culture
Visit cultural sites
Arranging your Program in Argentina and Mexico : Arranging your Program in Argentina and Mexico Work with your partner remotely to create a schedule divided in the following way:
70% professional and educational activities
30% cultural enrichment
Keep in mind that your individual goals for participating in this program:
Deepening professional understanding of education in Argentina/ Mexico;
develop skills and methods that can be used in the U.S.;
become acquainted with Argentine and Mexican; and
serve as a valuable resource on Argentina/Mexico for your school and larger community and on the U.S. for your partner and partner’s school
SCHEDULE: Professional and Educational Component : SCHEDULE: Professional and Educational Component Plan with your partner to…
Visit a variety of schools:
Elementary, middle, high schools
Charter, public, private, magnet
Rural, suburban, urban
Attend any or all of the following in your partner’s school or in other schools:
Classroom lessons to observe teaching and teaching methods
Departmental, faculty, school board meetings
Student Council/PTA meetings, community/civic meetings
Presentations about your school, school open houses
Parent-teacher conferences
What would you do in the following circumstances? : What would you do in the following circumstances? You are no longer scheduled to be at your host school to do the trainings for the school management and teachers that you have planned for the day. Instead they have you traveling to visit other schools in the region with no indication that you will do the workshop on a different day.
The administration of the school that you are visiting is making very lengthy presentations about their school and you end up seeing very little from what they are presenting.
What would you do? continued… : What would you do? continued… You are supposed to do a 4 hour workshop on school clinical supervision. You were told that about 20 school principals will attend the workshop and there will be all the necessary technology. On the workshop day there are about 150 people that do not speak English and the conference room has only a chalkboard
SCHEDULE: Cultural Component : SCHEDULE: Cultural Component The schedule should be:
Beneficial for both the host and the visitor—as you experienced when you hosted your partner
Provide opportunities for meaningful dialogue
Should ideally include some cultural outings planned for the work week evenings as well as on the weekends
* Make sure you communicate what you might like to experience while being flexible and open to your partner’s suggestions
Let’s look at some case studies… : Let’s look at some case studies… My partner and I planned the schedule together with a good mix of professional and cultural components. However, when I arrived, the schedule has been changed to include more cultural activities in the place of professional activities.
There are some cultural things I really want to do when I visit Argentina/Mexico. My partner has said that these activities aren’t worth doing, but I really feel it will add to my experience.
Program Logistics : Program Logistics Travel
Housing
Stipend
Visas
Health
Packing
Program Logistics: Travel : Program Logistics: Travel All travel arrangements have been made by Fulbright Argentina and COMEXUS
For questions regarding Argentina travel,
please contact Carina Correas ccorreas@fulbright.com.ar
For questions regarding Mexico travel,
please contact Julia Homstad jhomstad@americancouncils.org
Program Logistics: Housing : Program Logistics: Housing Argentina Fulbright Commission and Argentine partners will arrange housing for U.S. participants traveling to Argentina.
U.S. participants traveling to Mexico will be accommodated in hotels during the orientation and hosting segments. Comexus and Secretaria de Educacion Jalisco will be in charge of providing and coordinating this.
Program Logistics: Stipend : Program Logistics: Stipend U.S. administrators traveling to Argentina will receive $900 as a stipend when they arrive.
U.S. administrators traveling to Mexico will receive a stipend that will be deposited in USD into a bank account of grantee’s choice. American Councils will send the direct deposit form needed.
Program Logistics: Visas : Program Logistics: Visas U.S. Citizens traveling to Argentina for less than 90 days do not need a visa.
However, U.S. citizens coming to Argentina for tourism and business travel through Ezeiza International Airport must pay a reciprocal entry fee of $131.00 dollars. It can be paid in dollars, by credit card, or with travelers checks, and is valid for ten years and multiple entries. You will be reimbursed for this fee by the Fulbright Commission in Argentina.
U.S. Citizens traveling to Mexico do not need a visa. You will need to present a valid passport as a form of identification.
Program Logistics: Health : Program Logistics: Health You will receive supplemental insurance through ECA’s Accident Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE). This health insurance is supplemental only and should not be used as primary insurance.
American Councils has no position on inoculations and/or vaccinations you should receive before you travel. Please consult a trusted travel source in order to determine if you would like to have any inoculations. Good options are http://travel.state.gov and http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx or contact your physician.
Program Logistics: Packing : Program Logistics: Packing Please remember to bring the following:
A phone card if you will need to call the U.S.
Power adapters/converters for your electronics
Educational materials for your partner/partner school. (We recommend discussing this with your partner before you travel)
Please also be aware of the weather
Different cities may have different climates and we want to make sure you have packed accordingly
Here are some items to pack… : Here are some items to pack… Pocket knife (don’t forget to put this in your checked luggage)
Flashlight
Hygiene items
Hand sanitizers
Batteries
Umbrella
Over the counter medications
Copies of documents/credit cards
Cultural and Communication Scenarios : Cultural and Communication Scenarios I was told that the accommodations I would be staying in had “everything.” However, there is no air conditioning, no internet, and because the house is crowded, I don’t get a lot of alone time.
My host told me that I can open the refrigerator and eat anything I want, but I don’t really feel comfortable with that. I don’t want to take something important to them by mistake.
Other Programmatic Difficulties : Other Programmatic Difficulties Please inform American Councils immediately if any of the following happens while you are in Argentina or Mexico:
An accident, serious illness, or hospitalization
Professional difficulties at the host school
Arrest or violation of Argentine/Mexican law
A situation that would prevent your continued participation in the program
How to Continue Collaboration : How to Continue Collaboration Educational Seminars Program has an Alumni Small Grants component that funds collaborative projects that benefit the international alumni home school and U.S. host school or district
The maximum grant award is $5,000 regardless of the number of collaborators
Applications are available on the American Councils website in the announcements section: www.americancouncils.org
Brainstorm with your visitor about ideas for applying for Alumni Small Grants
Most Importantly… : Most Importantly… American Councils staff is here to help you and your international host. Please contact one of our staff if you have any questions or concerns or if you run into any problems.
We can help you with ANY problem you have…but only if we know about it!
We would also love to hear about any of the program success stories too!
American Councils Contact Information : American Councils Contact Information American Councils for International Education*
1828 L Street, NW - Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20036
(202)833-7522 - telephone
1-800-621-9559 - emergency phone
(202)833-7523 - fax
* If you are mailing something, please state who you would like it sent to (i.e. attn: Julia Homstad, etc.)
American Councils Staff Emails : American Councils Staff Emails Senior Program Manager: Zara Hovhannisyan zhovhannisyan@americancouncils.org
Senior Program Officer: Tim Hair thair@americancouncils.org
Program Officer: Julia Homstad jhomstad@americancouncils.org
Program Officer: Elise Schneck Skiba esskiba@americancouncils.org
Questions? Comments? Concerns?GOOD LUCK WITH THE PROGRAM!! : Questions? Comments? Concerns?GOOD LUCK WITH THE PROGRAM!!