U.S. Travel VIRTUAL ORIENTATIONJune 18, 2010 : U.S. Travel VIRTUAL ORIENTATIONJune 18, 2010 2010 Thailand Teacher and Principal Exchange Program
2010 Uruguay Teacher and Principal Exchange Program
Sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)
U.S. Department of State, the Commission for Educational Exchange Between Uruguay and the United States (Fulbright Commission), and the Thailand-United States Educational Foundation 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 Thailand and Uruguay
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 teachers and principals in the U.S., and Thailand and Uruguay through professional development and exchange;
To provide U.S. and Thai/Uruguayan teachers and principals with the opportunity to interact with one another, other principals, teachers, students and community leaders and to share perspectives and best practices from their respective school systems and management;
To support the internationalization of school curricula by providing opportunities for the broader school community to learn about global issues, to be exposed to Thai, Uruguayan 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 Thailand/Uruguay:
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 Thailand and Uruguay, 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
Thailand Program (2 weeks) : Thailand Program (2 weeks) Sunday, July 11th Depart U.S. for Bangkok (arriving evening, July 12th)
July 14th-15th Opening session and 60 year anniversary celebration in Bangkok
Friday, July 16th Depart to Host community
Friday, July 23rd Return to Bangkok and travel to U.S.
Uruguay Program (3 weeks) : Uruguay Program (3 weeks) Sunday, July 18th Departure from the United States (arrive Montevideo July 19th)
Monday, July 19th Week 1: ORIENTATION WEEK IN MONTEVIDEO
Monday, July 26th Week 2: 1st HOST SCHOOL (Montevideo or in the provinces)
Monday, August 2nd Week 3: 2nd HOST SCHOOL (Montevideo or in the Provinces)
Thursday, August 5th Return to Montevideo
Friday, August 6th Debrief Session
Saturday, August 7th Departure to the United States
Arranging your Program in Thailand and Uruguay : Arranging your Program in Thailand and Uruguay 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 are:
Deepen professional understanding of education in Thailand/Uruguay;
Develop skills and methods that can be used in the U.S.;
Become acquainted with Thai or Uruguayan culture; and
Serve as a valuable resource on Thailand/Uruguay 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
Public, private, 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
SCHEDULE: Professional and Educational Component : SCHEDULE: Professional and Educational Component Teacher/ Administrator Workshops
U.S. Educators may be asked to present for their host school faculty and/or to a larger educational community on topics familiar to them such as: the U.S. Education System; How to Create an Interactive Classroom; and Best Practices Found in U.S. Schools.
Working with your Host Teacher : Working with your Host Teacher Prior to your departure communicate with you host educator on:
What grades/classes you can observe
Would they like you to teach a class
What type of workshops/presentations they would like you to conduct in their school for the teachers/students
Available equipment
Ask for a tentative schedule
What would you do in the following circumstances? : What would you do in the following circumstances? You and your partner(s) have planned for you to do school management training for staff at their school today. However, due to a last minute schedule change you are no longer scheduled to be at your host school to do the trainings. 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, because of this you end up seeing very little of the school, classrooms, staff, students, etc.
What would you do? continued… : What would you do? continued… You are scheduled to do a 4 hour workshop on 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 Thailand/Uruguay. 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 international travel arrangements have been made by American Councils
For questions, please contact Julia Homstad jhomstad@americancouncils.org
All domestic travel within Thailand/Uruguay have been made by Fulbright Commissions Thailand and Uruguay
Program Logistics: Housing : Program Logistics: Housing Thailand
For the Orientation in Bangkok you will be staying in a hotel.
In the host communities you will be staying with a host family
Uruguay
During the program, U.S. participants will be housed in hotels
Program Logistics: Stipends : Program Logistics: Stipends U.S. Participants traveling to Thailand will receive a $650 stipend.
$250 for shipping of educational materials
$400 for meals and incidentals
U.S. Participants traveling to Uruguay will receive a $850 stipend.
$250 for shipping of educational materials
$600 for meals and incidentals
Program Logistics: Visas : Program Logistics: Visas Thailand
U.S. citizen tourists staying for fewer than 30 days do not require a visa but must possess a passport that has at least six months validity remaining and may be asked to show an onward/return ticket.
Uruguay
All United States citizens entering Uruguay for business or pleasure must have a valid passport. U.S. citizens traveling on a regular passport do not need a visa for a visit of less than three months.
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
Don’t forget to pack… : Don’t forget 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
And… : And… FLEXIBILITY
thirst for ADVENTURE
Logistics Scenarios : Logistics 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 Thailand or Uruguay:
An accident, serious illness, or hospitalization
Professional difficulties at the host school
Arrest or violation of Thai/Uruguayan 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 http://www.americancouncils.org/news/9t/Grant_Application_Available_for_Educational_Seminars_Alumni/
Brainstorm with your visitor about ideas for applying for Alumni Small Grants
You will return from your exchange saying… : You will return from your exchange saying… “I have become more assertive and more willing to ask for help.”
“I have gained great insight into American culture, seeing it against the foil of my host country’s culture.”
“I will have many stories to share with my students and colleagues, which will make my host country hopefully seem closer and more real to them (after all we are part of one world).”
“This was an experience that change my perception of life and myself, thank you for giving me this opportunity!”
Last, and most importantly… : Last, and most importantly… American Councils staff is here to help you and your international partner. 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!
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. 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!!