LOCAL STUDENTS TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE

Local student teachers recently returned from an eight-week stay in Wales as part of Southeast Missouri State University's award-winning international education program.

Lori Mitchell of Oran, Christie Brown of New Madrid, Chastity Stanford of Bernie and Kristen Foster of Dexter were among the 10 elementary education majors chosen to participate as this year's "StepOut" half of the Swansea Teaching Exchange Program.

The program also includes playing host to 10 students from the Swansea Institute of Higher Education for the "StepIn" program, in which the Welsh students learn more about American education over a five-week period by visiting area elementary schools. Wales is located on the isle of Britain, along with England and Scotland.

The Swansea Teaching Exchange Program has been a major fixture in Southeast's College of Education for more than 10 years. Every spring, usually around mid-March or April, Southeast and the Swansea Institute of Higher Education in Swansea, Wales make the exchange, which also includes one professor each.

Dr. Jean Benton, coordinator of International Programs for Southeast's College of Education and associate professor of elementary, early and special education, was the supervising professor for the eight weeks the Southeast students taught elementary students in Wales.

Benton noted that "the two faculties have grown very close - there's a nice, warm feeling on a professional basis," and mentioned collaborative work done between the two faculties.

The program provides Southeast students with a unique professional internship experience in their discipline. It also builds knowledge of two culture's educational systems, curriculum structures, teaching methodologies and classroom management skills.

Benton said the Welsh early education curriculum is child-centered, following reforms in the British education system in 1988.

At the early elementary grades, the child is free to explore activities, with the course gradually becoming more structured and teacher-centered with subsequent grades. According to Benton, the residue from child exploration carries over and builds the ability to initiate problem solving.

Comparing American and Welsh teaching methods, Foster said, "I wouldn't go 100 percent with their system, but I think a combination of the two would be good."