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Fredonia’s College of Education has put together an entire calendar of events to acclimate the newest exchange students from Exmouth, England and Swansea, Wales. The students will participate in a comprehensive study of American schools. Part of a program that has been in place since 1989, the International Student Teaching Practicum (ISTP) provides students with the opportunity to see the educational system at work in a different country.
The students from England arrived on Saturday, March 3 and the students from Wales on Saturday the 19. The campus prepared rooms for the students in Schultz and Hemingway halls as well as a tour of the campus. By integrating the students into the campus, the exchange students have a chance to affect all Fredonia students, not just Education majors.
Sophomore Adolescent Education major Liz Ganley has noticed the exchange students living in her dorm. She said, “I think it’s really cool that we can meet them and learn something about a different culture. It’s good they’re in the dorms too because they’re forced to meet people and live like we live.”
Once they settled in, President Hefner welcomed the students at a reception held at his home on March 27. Since then, the English and Welsh have been working in classrooms at Fredonia Central School and Pine Valley respectively. To compliment the exchange students’ study of U.S. education, the Education department also prepared a two part lecture called “Education in the U.S.” presented by Dr. Larry Maheady and Dr. Chuck Stoddart.
The College of Education faculty members have been cooperating to ensure the students have transportation and meals. International Education Committee Chair Dr. Kathleen Magiera said, “Different faculty members take turns, sometimes the students go to their houses for dinner. So its definitely a joint venture between the faculty members.”
Some events have even been planned to familiarize the students with American culture in general including a visit to Niagara Falls, an Amish Tour, snow shoeing at the College Lodge, bowling, and a visit to the Galleria Mall in Buffalo.
The students from Wales will leave on April 21 and the students from England on May 5, but the international exchange of ideas does not end there. Fredonia will send about 20 of its own recent graduates to England and Wales this May. An overview of the ISTP states that the goal is “to gain a greater awareness of the British education system.”
Senior Childhood Education major Steph Wojcik remembers the day her professor told her about the program. She said, “I had already known before that I wanted to get involved. With my major, it’s really hard to travel abroad in the normal school year because you’d fall behind. So this was a great way to do it without interrupting my graduation time.”
The program invites any student is eligible for, or has a New York State teaching certification at the time of departure, to apply for the program. A $50 application fee was required and the students were also interviewed from November 13-17 by members of the International Education Committee. After this process, it was decided that Education professor Anamaria Klein will supervise 12 students as they study in Swansea, Wales and Professor Barbara Mallette will accompany 10 students to Exmouth England.
In addition to working alongside their host teacher, students are expected to teach their class a unit about American culture. Wojcik explained that they have a syllabus they must follow including writing a letter of introduction to their host teacher. The students are also required to write a short paper describing their current perceptions about the educational system in the U.K. This will allow them to reflect on what they have learned and how their views have changed. The students will receive 3 graduate credit hours upon completion of their final project detailing what they learned during their stay.
Students will also have an opportunity for a week of free travel. Mallette and Klein have been meeting with these students once a month starting in January. Mageria said, “They discuss things like passports, the British education system, what to expect, and how to pack for this kind of trip.” Students will also have an opportunity for a week of free travel.
Beside this instructional preparation, the students are also assured to know some of their host students. The schedule of events adds a personal aspect to the exchange of ideas. Magiera said, “The Fredonia students will come to the events and meet the Welsh and English students so that they know them before they go.”
Upon their return students will have to submit a project summarizing their cultural and educational experiences abroad. Wojcik said, “I hope to learn different teaching strategies to help me work with a diverse group of students. I’ll be able to see what works and doesn’t work and bring that back over here to be the best teacher I can be.”
The program fosters new ideas about education and enables college students to share them in a different environment. Mageria has been watching the ISTP grow and encourages her students to consider applying. She said, “We try to tell people as early as freshman year that this program exists so then they think about it, because it’s not just something where you apply and automatically get in.” Each year the program becomes more competitive, with more and more students wanting to expand their understanding of education overseas.
