США - страна загадок
Participant : Liana Robertovna Vartanova
Project Title and Dates: Incorporating the Study of America in English Language Instruction (March 7-25, 2011)
The program made a great impression on me, because I, first off all, had an opportunity to communicate with native speakers, hear different accents, meet different people and understand how alike we are, we face common problems and try to overcome them. My major goals were to develop materials for English for Specific Purposes, use technologies for projects with students and teachers and most of all to decide the aim and perspectives of my doctoral thesis.
I think every ESL teacher may benefit a lot from this program, considering the resources for teaching American history and culture, civic education, role of community institutions, education system and use of technology. The aspect range of the program makes you better understand and explain your student different approaches to studies, curriculum, students’ activities and thus life. Our group has made a decision to work out a project based on our experience, emphasizing the education system and civic studies. This work will be very useful and important for our students, besides it will broaden their knowledge and help to overcome cultural difficulties.
During our meetings with the representatives of different organizations, schools, officials we took a tender interest to the given information and our conversation partners exchanged business cards with us.
Mr. Caleb Mederias JD Distinguished Fellow Marshall-Brenan Constitutional LiteracyProject provided an overview of civic education in the U.S. For me it was very interesting because my candidate thesis were based on didactic plays usage in the ELT process, and he showed us how students developed their critical thinking skills, improved their rhetorical skills through briefing cases.
I may say that almost every meeting had a great impact on us, because all of them differed a lot and introduced American cultural values and educational system from all sides.
Meetings with the officials from Department of Education, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs foster mutual understanding between the United States and Russia. Dr. Clyde Wilcox, Professor Government at Georgetown University gave us an overview of U.S. federalism and separation of powers. These meetings made us compare different approaches to control educational organization and in some extent showed the advantages of this system. Russia undergoes the process of great changes in the educational sphere and we hope that our government would adopt strong points of European and U.S. systems.
A great part of our exchange program was devoted to cultural studies. In this case the meeting with Dr. Gary Weaver, professor, International Communication Executive Director, Intercultural Management Institute who revealed cross-cultural diversity and represented his own understanding of problem solving, was an introduction to this part of our journey. Then in Tubac we met the local officials County Sheriff Tony Escada, Chief Kevin Keeley and discussed the operations of the small towns, gun control laws, and immigration and border security issues. We do have much in common and it was interesting to know how the local officials deal with the cases of breaking the law.
Appointments and excursions around National Museum of American History with Mr. Ray Bolze and Ms. Naomi Coquillon were very substantial from the point of view of history of America and education programs offered by the Museum. It is necessary to mention that almost all Museums in U.S. provide such programs, though they have different approaches in curriculum design but they all serve the most valuable aim to educate younger generation. Here I would like to mention Reid Park Zoo in Arizona where we met with Mr. Jedd Dodds, Education Coordinator in the Lee H. Brown Conservation Learning Centre. It was astonishing to see a “green building” and to get the information about the recycling program, and educational programs for children in this community park.
The Therapeutic Riding of Tucson Executive director, Ms. Leslie Esselburn showed us the programs to improve the lives of people with special needs. But what impressed me most of all is the close tie between schools and such organizations, where not only special children may get help, but also children from schools, who face communicating problems.
Alternative school in Tubac, where we met with Monica Wright, Principal of Pantano High School, proved my concern about younger generation, and showed me a way out. I feel respect to teachers who do not let children loose in this complicated world and are always eager to help.
Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana is the other example of experiential education program for younger students. Children understand personal finance by working with a simulated personal budget and guidelines for making decisions. They are being prepared for adult life and realize all its difficulties, and come to understand their parents better.
The Queens Borough Public Library provides books, programs to the highly diverse citizens, and offer free English language classes for immigrants. Here I would like to mention the volunteerism, which encompasses all spheres of life in the U.S. These people provide not only their help, but they are ready to share knowledge and experience. Russia today is trying to do the same, but I think it is a long and very complicated journey.
Эта незабываемая поездка
В 2011 г. Вартанова Лиана, активный представитель Ставропольской Ассоции учителей, побывала на стажировки в США. По ее словам, "это незабываемое чувство знакомства с новыми традициями и обычаями".
