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Cultural Exchange

15 Pakistanis strengthen their teaching skills and leave behind a better understanding of their culture

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All 15 teachers on campus. Photo by Mike Rominger

By Jane Nicholson
Posted Nov. 10, 2008 at 4:11 p.m.

Shazia Naz had never ventured outside of her country before, but a newspaper ad soliciting applicants for a summer academic institute in the United States changed all that.

Naz, who lives in the Sindh Province of Pakistan, was one of 15 secondary-level biology teachers selected by the Fulbright Commission to attend a six-week training program at Appalachian in July and August of 2007. They spent four weeks strengthening their skills in science, educational technology, teaching and English. Then, they spent two weeks applying what they learned by team teaching in Watauga County Schools. While in the public schools, they also shared information about their native culture with children in social studies and other non-science classes.

"Appalachian has a strong commitment and interest in expanding its service mission beyond the U.S. borders," said Jesse Lutabingwa, the university's associate vice chancellor for international education and development. "This project is part of the new effort by the Office of International Education and Development to engage Appalachian in international development and short-term training and exchange activities in the regions of the world where traditionally we have not been involved."

Cultural Exchange

Pakistan and Boone may be a world apart, but for 15 Pakistani biology teachers this summer, Boone became home. Their six-week visit was enabled by a grant from the U.S. Department of State to Appalachian’s Office of International Education and Development.

Transcript

Narrator: Pakistan and Boone may be a world apart, but for 15 Pakistani biology teachers this summer, Boone became home. Their six-week visit was enabled by a grant from the U.S. Department of State to Appalachian’s Office of International Education and Development. With a goal of improving their science and technology education skills, as well as English. A team of Appalachian faculty members came together to design the program for the visiting teachers. Often, the teachers played the role of student in order to learn how to engage them in learning.

Shazia Naz, biology teacher, International Outread Program: In Pakistan, we use lecture method. But in America we found it is a student-centered methodology. There is a great relationship between the students and the teacher. Students can ask any question to the teacher. They will not hesitate to ask the questions. The teachers are very friendly to the students. I would love to implement these strategies in my college.

Narrator: While they learned there were distinct differences between teaching in Pakistan and the classroom experience here, the love of teaching bound Pakistani and American participants together. And the visitors were delighted to find Appalachian and the community warm and welcoming.

Asim Bukhari, biology teacher, International Outreach Program: I was quite fear about the way the people react with me or my colleagues. But when I reached here, and how the people reacted ... all fear vanished in one day.

Narrator: The opportunity to practice in the classroom what they had learned came at the end of the summer when they spent two weeks teaching in Watauga County schools. As their time in Boone came to a close, the visitors were excited to return to their families and schools, but sad that the rich learning experience they found in Boone was ending. Nevertheless, friendships were forged, new cultures explored, understanding exchanged and lifelong memories were made.

The program was funded by a $124,782 grant from the U.S. Department of State through the International Institute of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Graduate School. Strengthening education in Pakistan and broadening mutual understanding between Americans and Pakistanis were its goals.

Despite concerns about Americans' perceptions of Pakistanis, dietary issues related to the Muslim faith, and a first-ever plane ride lasting more than 17 hours, Naz was eager to participate in the program.

Her motivation, like that of others chosen for the program, was to become a better teacher by learning new ways to teach. In Pakistan, teachers are specialists in their particular subject area but don't receive specific teacher training as their American counterparts do.

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Language professor Beverly Moser shares a laugh with Syed Asim Bukhari, left, and Arshad Bashir. Photo by Mike Rominger

"We want to learn more about the different technologies and methodologies used (to teach) in the United States and integrate what we learn in our classes," Naz said.

Samina Haider from the Northwest Frontier Province said she has modeled her teaching methods on the techniques her teachers used when she was a student. "I haven't had any other exposure to teaching," she said. "Nowadays, whatever I am teaching is what I have seen my teachers doing. Through this opportunity, I am learning a lot about how American teachers plan their lessons and deal with their students."

Pakistan has a population of 164 million people. About 80 percent of Pakistan's schools are located in rural areas with inadequate facilities and an insufficient number of science and math teachers. Even so, education is a priority of the Pakistani government, which has placed a heavy emphasis on science education at all educational levels. And while most classes in Pakistan are comprised of lecture and rote memorization, the country is moving toward an inquiry-based learning model.

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Syeda Zahjida Naqvi leads a class. Photo by Mike Rominger

The Ministry of Education has implemented a science education project that has provided science equipment for laboratories and science kits for several schools and training for science teachers. The project has also facilitated the development of a new curriculum for 9th-10th grade physics, chemistry, biology and math, and 6th-8th grade general science classes. Beginning this fall, English will replace Urdu as the language of instruction for science, mathematics, and information technology in all state schools.

Syed Asim Bukhari from Pakistan's Punjab province said accessing resources through the Internet to help with his teaching is difficult in his country. "There are Web sites that are restricted in Pakistan. That creates some problems for me," he said.

John Spagnolo, a technology and curriculum specialist in the Reich College of Education, helped the teachers solve that problem by directing them to other Internet sources to help with their teaching. They developed skills with Web Editor and other software programs to create their own teaching materials for their students. "While they are not used to having an activity-based classroom, they are very excited about implementing these teaching methods," Spagnolo said.

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Three visiting teachers, who rarely take their Pakistani students outside the classroom to conduct experiments, learn to use water-sampling kits in Boone Creek. Photo by Mike Rominger

The teachers also will be able to maintain contact with Appalachian professors and create online learning communities for their students and students in Watauga County.

Getting feedback on her teaching method was one of the most valuable aspects of the program, according to Haider, who learned how to develop effective teaching plans based on the five E's: engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate.

Appalachian biology professor Max Dass said that approach is especially useful when teaching abstract concepts. "They saw how engaging the students through activities keeps them interested and curious throughout the lesson," he said.

"Now, it is clear in my mind the things I do that are very good and are helping the students, what I'm doing that might not help the students and how I can make them better. I was not getting this assurance in Pakistan," Haider said.

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Wajid Shah, in foreground, and his peers learn the latest technology on campus in the early part of their six-week visit. Photo by Mike Rominger

The teachers also learned that it doesn't always take a big budget or the latest technology to have effective learning materials, thanks to Dass and biology professor Michael Windelspecht. They took the teachers to Boone Creek on campus to test water samples and collect mushrooms. They learned to use empty soda bottles to create small aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and how to use an eye dropper and a small coin to teach about the properties of water molecules.

"We realized we can use everyday items that are around us to create activities that will increase student attention and interest in the class," Haider said.

Other teachers in Pakistan will benefit from the institute as well. "I came to gain knowledge," Naz said. "Whatever I learn here, I will implement in my school and share with the other teachers."

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Collaborative Learning: Kamran Manzoor teaches students at Watauga High School. Photo by Mike Rominger

Jennifer Nupp, exchange program administrator with the USDA Graduate School's International Institute, said Appalachian did "a really excellent job of integrating several different kinds of curriculum" into the program.

"I'm very impressed that people with so many different backgrounds worked together. This has been a really good sharing experience for both sides. While in the public schools, the Pakistani teachers shared the similarities in what students in their country and students in our country are doing. It's good that students see that," she said.

"Learning about their culture really did make me see things differently," said Brooke Trivette, a sophomore at Watauga High School. "The experience was so interesting and the Pakistani teachers were fascinating."

Upon returning home, the teachers expressed to the Fulbright Commission their inspired energy from the Appalachian experience. "Just based on their reaction, I think this was one of the best programs we have done," said Grace Clark, executive director of the U.S. Education Foundation of Pakistan (Pakistan Fulbright Commission). "The need for good biology teachers is critical in Pakistan, and the enthusiasm of these teachers to spread what they have learned should go a long way."

Pakistani and American students discover their similarities during exchange program
Pakistani and American students discover their similarities during exchange program
Dec. 8, 2013

Young Pakistani students, Appalachian State University students and Watauga County public school students spent some time together recently and found they were more similar than dissimilar despite living worlds apart.

Read the story
Appalachian receives $124,782 grant to conduct training for Pakistani biology teachers
Appalachian receives $124,782 grant to conduct training for Pakistani biology teachers
July 5, 2007

Appalachian State University has received a $124,782 grant from the U.S. Department of State through the International Institute of the USDA Graduate School to conduct a six-week training program for Pakistani secondary-level biology teachers.

Read the story

About the Office of International Programs

Appalachian State University combines a strong liberal arts foundation with a comprehensive, pervasive and integrated commitment to global engagement. The Office of International Programs assists App State in fulfilling its global engagement mission by working to develop awareness, knowledge, appreciation and respect of cultural differences — in both domestic and international contexts — in the university’s students, faculty and staff, as well as in the surrounding communities. Learn more at https://international.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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