The UW–Madison School of Education hosted 21 secondary-level educators from abroad again this fall as part of the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (Fulbright TEA) program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by IREX.
These teachers came to Madison from 17 different countries across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They arrived in Madison on Sept. 13, and left town on Oct. 30 for a three-day conference in Washington, D.C., before heading home.
While spending time on campus and around the Madison area, the visiting educators took part in an academic program focused on media literacy, technology, contemporary issues in education, and language pedagogy.
The program included a field experience component at either Monona Grove High School or Verona Area High School. The group also enjoyed some fun activities, like touring the Wisconsin State Capitol and checking out the Dane County Farmers’ Market, taking in a Badgers football game, visiting Chicago, and attending the School of Education’s Homecoming Tailgate event Oct. 7 at Union South.
Before departing, several of the visiting teachers shared their thoughts with the School of Education about their time via a Q&A. Following is what Cosmina Almășan, who is from Romania, shared about her experience:
Why did you apply for the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement program? I applied for the Fulbright TEA program because I was eager to gain more knowledge and skills in the area of media education in a professional setting, in an international/intercultural environment. Another key factor was the opportunity to come in contact with teachers and students from the U.S. and get a feel of what living in the U.S. is really like.
Overall, how would you describe your experience? It was an enriching experience in more ways than I had anticipated. I have gained access to a set of strategies and teaching methods that I hope to be able to adapt to my own teaching environment. My contact with American teachers and students has been an invaluable experience, which has not only broadened my perspective, but has also offered me an unfiltered insight into American society and way of life.
Is there a particular highlight that stands out to you from this program and your time in Madison? The cultural activities (football game and homecoming events, First Nations Cultural Tour, visit to Chicago, Halloween tour and party) that we have had the opportunity to take part in have been truly memorable. I am grateful to the organizers of our program, Jamie Welling and Christina Eddington, for putting together a well-balanced schedule and for guiding us in our journey of discovering Wisconsin with so much enthusiasm and dedication.
What is one thing you learned during your time in Madison that you hope to take back home and be able to implement it in your classroom and country? I have been fortunate to learn about specific critical thinking strategies in our academic seminars and then to see them put into practice in Monona Grove High School where we had our field activities. So now I feel ready to adapt these strategies in my own classes. Besides this, I have admired the community spirit that I have noticed both in the school environment and in the city of Madison and I would like to be able to influence my school’s culture in a positive way when I go back home.
Similarly, what do you hope those on the UW–Madison campus and in the surrounding communities have learned from you? I was happy I was given the chance to share some insights into the culture of my own country, Romania, with the American students and teachers and to answer their questions. Also, the sessions in which we shared best practices from our own teaching contexts back home have also been of great help to all the participants and to our UW-Madison hosts and trainers.
What did you know about Wisconsin and the United States before coming to Madison? And how, if at all, have your perceptions changed about this state or the U.S.? I had done research on some cultural aspects related to Wisconsin (food, sports, the campus area). Before coming here, my understanding of American culture and civilization had been filtered by media messages, mostly from movies. I now have a better understanding of the diversity that is at the core of the American culture. I am convinced that there are still many more aspects to discover in other parts of the country that I hope to have the chance to visit some day.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself or this experience? I am grateful to have been able to participate in the program and I will recommend it to fellow teachers back home, as it was truly a memorable experience.
Note: This story was funded in part by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.