Building Bridges: International language teachers study at Appalachian

Appalachian State University was one of four U.S. universities selected to implement the Teaching Excellence & Achievement Program in fall 2012, funded by a $180,000 grant from the U.S. Department of State. The program brought 21 teachers from 17 countries to campus to develop their expertise in the teaching of English as a foreign language.

The program included four weeks of intensive training with 17 Appalachian professors in teaching methodologies, lesson planning, teaching strategies, teacher leadership, assessment and the integration of technology into teaching. Then, each TEA Fellow spent two weeks engaging with teachers and students in one of nine partner schools in Alleghany, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Watauga and Wilkes counties.

Helio Mauricio Alfaro Mendoza of Nicaragua said learning how to make education materials on a computer was among the best information he learned while a TEA Fellow. An English teacher in grades 7 to 11 at a school near the capital city of Managua, he bought his first laptop during the TEA program and looks forward to using it to improve his teaching.

"Learning English is important because my students will have a better chance of getting a job... This was a great opportunity to learn about different cultures and the education systems in these countries. They are all different with different teaching styles and different teaching beliefs," he said.

Sona Manukyan of Armenia said she benefitted from the program's cross-cultural communication. "This gave me this opportunity to get updated in the 21st century skills set. I look forward to sharing everything I learned with my peers, my students and my community. I'm sure when I go back, all I've learned will push me forward in my career," she said.

"This program is remarkable because it benefits everyone," said Dr. Lori Gonzalez, Appalachian's provost. "Participants contribute to our internationalization efforts through the interaction with students, faculty and staff. Our local schools benefitted from their presence, as the fellows' instruction helped those students learn about cultures and countries different from their own."

On the impact of their visit:

"I applied for the program because I wanted to learn more about the U.S. people and their educational system. Many people in Egypt think the U.S. people hate us, but I can correct this idea in my students... I have learned there is a big difference between U.S. people and the U.S. government and the U.S. media." - high school English teacher Mohamed Sinoussy of Egypt

"These teachers are so happy to be here. As leaders, we can make a difference in our countries because of the knowledge we have learned here." - English teacher Yarielis Garcia Montenegro of Panama

"This gives our children the chance to see other parts of the world. You can't replace the widening and opening of minds you get by having someone from another country come to our classroom." - English teacher Cathy MacDonald of Lenoir, who hosted TEA Fellow Yarielis Garcia Montenegro of Panama

"I learned a great deal from her. I learned there are a lot of different ways to teach in a classroom, and she revitalized me as a teacher... My students willingly and excitedly participated in everything she did." - English teacher Grayson Beane of Caldwell Career Center, who hosted TEA Fellow Sona Manukyan of Armenia

"While working with the TEA teachers, I helped them find resources in the library. I was able to practice my language skills with one of the teachers who speaks Spanish... Simply being with these people has shown me that language is such an incredible and unique tool that we take for granted. I realized that I want to always be someone who strives to unite communities through language skills." - Celeste Caton, a theatre education and Spanish double major who works in Belk Library and Information Commons

Related links

• Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program
• Appalachian's Office of International Education and Development
• Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program (2012) - More information and images available on the Office of International Education and Development website.

About the Office of International Education and Development

The OIED is responsible for spearheading the internationalization efforts at Appalachian. The internationalization mission of Appalachian is to develop awareness, knowledge, appreciation and respect of cultural differences in both domestic and international contexts in its students, faculty, staff and the surrounding communities. The university is also dedicated to creating a campus environment that builds the theoretical and practical skills needed to interact effectively in a global society. Learn more at https://international.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

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