In preparation for a semester-long teacher-exchange program in France, a group of education students selected from a national pool of applicants are participating in orientation sessions at The University of Akron next week.
The teacher-exchange program, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of State, is coordinated by UA in conjunction with the Franco-American Commission and French Ministry of Education. The current group of teachers-in-training represents the fourth group sent to France through the institute.
The students will depart for France Aug. 30 and return Dec. 15. While abroad, the group will attend a language and culture seminar at the Center for Applied Linguistics in Besançon for three weeks, and afterward, teach science, math and English in schools in Reims, Rouen, Amiens, Orléans, Tours and Blois.
Orientation sessions will be held on Aug. 9, 10 and 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in UA’s Leigh Hall 414. Twelve of the program’s 54 alumni are expected to attend the orientation sessions and provide advice to the group regarding their travels. They also will participate in a panel discussion to share how participating in the program has affected their teaching careers. The alumni panel discussion will be held on Aug. 11 from 1:30 to 5 p.m. in Leigh Hall 414 and 409.
In addition, to extend the program’s reach, two French alumni of the program will conduct a social studies workshop for area teachers on Aug. 12 and 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Leigh Hall 414. The workshop will focus on establishing and promoting international collaboration between French and American teachers, as well as helping teachers use best practices for teaching social studies.
For more information, contact Diane Hergenrather at 330-972-7980 or e-mail dhergen@uakron.edu.