Building an International Student Teaching Program: A California/Mexico Experience.

This paper describes the first year of an international student teaching project conducted in Mexicali, Mexico, which was successful in helping U.S. participants develop cultural understanding and critical teaching skills needed to work with English learners. The first part of the paper discusses the history of international student teaching and describes common program features. The paper goes on to describe the uniqueness of the Mexicali Program, then explains how project coordinators from California State University San Bernardino and California State Polytechnic University Pomona: (1) selected and prepared three California credential candidates to student teach in Mexico; (2) established and maintained partnerships with Mexican educators at the Centro de Ensenaza Tecnica y Superior, Mexicali, Mexico; (3) documented program effectiveness; and (4) established guidelines for organizing future international field experiences. The paper concludes that international student teaching options should be available through more teacher education programs because of their potential for preparing new teachers to work in multicultural classrooms. (Contains 11 references.) (SM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. BUILDING AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TEACHING PROGRAM: A CALIFORNIA/MEXICO EXPERIENCE Frederick J. Baker College of Education and Integrative Studies Cal Poly Pomona University Rosalie Giacchino-Baker College of Education Cal State San Bernardino BACKGROUND PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 1 “I wouldn’t hire someone based on one quarter’s student teaching experience. I want to look at them for a longer period of time. Going overseas to teach is an artificial situation. How is that going to help you handle a classroom in California?” “Travel groups are fun but I doubt if you will learn much you can use.” “Why would you want to leave the United States? Our schools are better than you will see anywhere else.” Comments like these are spoken frequently by administrators across the United States. They are common reactions to teacher education programs that offer university student teaching experiences in other countries. During a job interview, these statements can come as quite a shock to a candidate. How much validity is there in these types of comments? Should universities be involved in this kind of process? What justification can we have for involving ourselves in places as diverse as Mexico and Malaysia? PHILOSOPHY AND RATIONALE At the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CPP) and California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) teacher education programs are working to develop these types of experiences based upon the following tenants: BEST COPY AVAILABLE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. 9 Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy.