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SUNY Fredonia has recently become home to 9 students from the University of Plymouth in England and 10 students from Swansea Metropolitan University in Wales, as part of the International Exchange Program through the College of Education.
This 20-year exchange program has the British student teachers visiting American schools this spring semester and SUNY Fredonia student teachers visiting the Plymouth and Swansea schools during early summer.
It is an opportunity for future teachers to see the differences and similarities in the two educational systems.
After arriving the weekend of March 20 and 21, the latest group of British students started student teaching immediately.
The students from the University of Plymouth are placed at both the Fredonia Elementary and the Wheelock Schools, while the students from Swansea Metropolitan University students are placed at Pine Valley Elementary School. These visiting students are part of a four year program to become primary school teachers in the United Kingdom. During their stay, the British students have also been seeing local sites and traveling to other parts of the U.S. and Canada during their school breaks.
As part of the many events planned by the College of Education’s International Education Committee, President Hefner hosted a reception for the students, their cooperating teachers, and the committee members at his home on Tuesday, April 6. This reception is a tradition that occurs every spring, and is among the highlights of these students’ visit to the United States.
Participants in the program often claim that it is a life-changing experience for them, opening their eyes to the world beyond home, resulting in lasting friendships and wonderful memories. “I’ve had the privilege of accompanying American groups to both Wales and England as well as hosting British students here,” said Mira Berkley, Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at SUNY Fredonia. Many of the students have stayed in contact.
Our visitors will be living on campus, teaching and traveling until they return home on April 22, for the Welsh and May 8, for the English.
