WALES STUDENT TEACHERS FIND NEW WORLD; EXCHANGE AT JACKSON HIGH AND SCHRADER

For seven student teachers at Jackson High School and Alma Schrader Elementary School in Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri is a whole new world.

The student teachers are from the Swansea Institute in Wales and are here as part of a Student Teaching Exchange with Southeast Missouri State University. Eight Southeast students also will spend two months teaching in Wales.

One of the first things the exchange students noticed in the United States is "how big everything is." They've also experienced for the first time fast food and a "dry", alcohol-free college campus.

"Everything is so big; the streets are wider, the cars are bigger, the buildings, even the crisps (potato chips) come in really big bags," said Lisa Howells, 24, who is student teaching at Jackson.

Howells also noticed a difference in how students in the United States spend their social time.

"At universities and colleges in Wales, the campus bars are one of the biggest social gatherings," she said. "And it's not just for drinking. There are dances, and people just go there to meet with other students."

Alison Portland, who also is teaching in Jackson, said it's not unusual to go to social clubs alone in Wales, because you're assured of meeting friends once you arrive. "Here, it seems like everybody must go in a group," she said.

In the classroom, the student teachers noticed marked differences between the United States and Wales.

Portland said the school day here is about an hour longer, and Wales students have more breaks during the school day.

"We also have longer holidays at Easter and Christmas, although we don't get as long of a break in the summer," she said.

Amanda Corcoran, 22, who's teaching at Alma Schrader, said curricula also differs in the two countries.

"You have social studies here, and we split ours into different subjects like geography, current affairs and comparative religion," Corcoran said. "You don't teach religion at all here."

Howells said testing in Wales also focuses more on essay-type questions in lieu of multiple choice and true-false.

"There's also not as much emphasis on grading tests throughout the year," added Portland. "If you don't do well during the year, you have a chance to make it up when you test at the end of the year."

Janet Clark, the instructor who came with the students, said only about 10 percent of students in Wales go on to college. She said admission requirements are much more stringent.

But Corcoran added college students here take their studies seriously, and don't have as much leisure time as students in Wales.

"They seem to work very hard," she said. "It seems like they're always studying for tests."

Portland said she's been impressed with the relationship between the business community and the local schools. She said that in Wales few students are able to work.

Lisa Bobbett, 21, said one of the things she noticed is the emphasis Americans place on two things: "Life seems to revolve around food and television," she quipped.

Kate Hawkins, 20, has yet to become accustomed to the food particularly fast food. She soon realized that as a vegetarian, her culinary options were somewhat limited.

"All the food has so much starch, and they put everything on the same plate," she said. "The potatoes and vegetables, everything's sort of mixed together."

Karen Locklear, 21, was surprised at the amount of recreational facilities that are available on campus, such as the student rec center.

One of the most pleasant surprises, though, has been the way the foreign students have been treated in Cape Girardeau.

"I didn't think people would be so friendly," said Bobbett. "Everyone seems to go out of their way to be nice in all the stores and restaurants."

"The students are very welcome," said Lisa Beavis, 20. "They seem to make an effort to include us in everything and make certain we have something to do."

The seven students and Clark arrived in Cape Girardeau last week for a seven-week stay. While in the United States, they also plan to visit Chicago, New Orleans and St. Louis.