International Student Teaching Opportunities: Cuenca, Ecuador

Location:

Centros de Estudios Interamericanos (CEDEI) and CEDEI Elementary School Cuenca, Ecuador

Program Information:

Student teaching in Ecuador is an opportunity for students in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Middle Childhood/Early Adolescence, Art Education, Music Education, and Bilingual Education to complete eight weeks of directed teaching at CEDEI School in the Andes Mountains. Up to ten students are accepted to the program every semester. A program agreement between Centros de Estudios Interamericanos (CEDEI),the College of Education and Professional Studies, and the College of Arts and Communication is set up so that students can teach at the bi-lingual CEDEI Primary School during eight weeks, complete the workshop "The People and Cultures of Ecuador" (EDUINDP 490), and other courses at CEDEI such as Spanish, cooking, dance, and weekend trips.

Program Faculty Advisor:

Dr. Simone DeVore
Winther Hall, Room 3048
Tel. 262-472-5808
Email: devores@uww.edu

General Program Information

The Student Teaching in Ecuador program takes place during eight weeks as part of the final fall or spring semester of student teaching. In the fall of 2012, students will travel to Ecuador on October 6 and return to the U.S. on December 1, 2012. In the spring of 2013, students will travel to Ecuador on March 9 and return to the U.S. on May 4, 2013.

Travel Arrangements:

We suggest that students travel to Cuenca as a group. They need to make their own travel arrangements. The roundtrip airfare from Chicago to Guayaquil is between $800 and $900. Travel from Guayaquil to Cuenca is included in the overall program costs. Transportation to Chicago is not included in the overall costs (Van Galder provides bus service to O’Hare).

Housing:

CEDEI arranges for home stays with host families. Students are placed individually with a family. Being placed with a host family provides wonderful opportunities to build cross-cultural communication and Spanish conversation skills.

Cost and Payment Schedule:

• CEDEI Program cost (providing housing, meals, weekend excursions, CEDEI course fees): approximately $3900 (a recent 5% increase in cost is due to higher travel costs within Ecuador)
• Cost of UWW course – this will be part of a student's registration load for fall
• Travel (airfare and bus fare): approximately $900
• Mandatory health insurance: CISI Insurance $37 per month. Students are billed for the CISI insurance on their student accounts.
• Passport application fee (a visa to Ecuador is not required since travel is under 90 days): $100
• Personal expenses (will vary depending on student)
• Obtaining a U.S. passport and the optional International Student ID card are the responsibility of the student teacher. The Center for Global Education can assist student teachers with many of these items.

Information about Scholarships and Grant:

Participants in the Student Teaching in Ecuador program are financial-aid eligible. Students can pick up the application forms in the Center for Global Education. Then an appointment will need to take place with Financial Aid 262-472-1130 about the financial need.

For information about study abroad scholarships, the Wisconsin State Grant for Study Abroad, and for deadlines and applications procedures, please use the link below: http://www.uww.edu/international/getting-started/funding/financial-aid-and-grants
And:
https://uww.studioabroad.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgram&Program_ID=30495

Student Teaching Placement and Supervision:

Students will student teach at CEDEI School in classrooms for children ages 2 years through 9th grade (15 years old). Student teachers will develop unit plans that span across ages and abilities to address the curriculum needs of CEDEI as a bi-lingual and inclusive school. The director of International Programming at CEDEI School will be the leading cooperating teacher along with classroom-based team-teachers. Additionally, a UWW faculty member will travel to Cuenca during one week to observe students and consult with the cooperating teachers.

Readings and Information about Ecuador Culture and Education:

Some good books about Ecuador: The Panama Hat Canal
Links to UNESCO heritage site: UNESCO Heritage Sites Our Place
UNESCO Heritage Site Cuenca

Links to Centros de Estudios Interamericanos

Application Requirements and Recommended Steps for Prospective Program Participants

This program is open to students who are pursuing licensure in Early Childhood Education (dual licensure), Special Education, Middle Childhood/Early Adolescence, Art Education, Music Education, and Bilingual Education. Student Teaching in Ecuador takes place in the fall semester; and beginning in the spring of 2013, the program will also be offered for up to ten students. 

Please follow the requirements and due dates carefully as outlined in the following steps.

First step: Obtain a Student Teaching abroad Application form (paper version also available from the Office of Field Experiences, Winther Hall, Room 2036). Follow the instructions exactly as noted on the form! Due date for submission to the Office of Field Experiences (Winther Hall 2036 or 2040) is February 15th and October 1st*.
*Note: By February 1st, students must notify the Office of Field Experiences (Tel. 472-1935 or Email: wegnerc@uww.edu) of their intent to student teach in Ecuador.

Second step: Apply for a U.S. passport. A valid U.S. passport is required in order to participate in this student teaching program. A visa is not required. U.S. Passport Application Information: http://www.uww.edu/international/getting-started/passport-information

Third step: A criminal background check from Office of Field Experiences (WH 2038; 472-1123) may be required.

Fourth step: Purchase airline ticket. Students are encouraged to purchase tickets as a group. With ten students traveling together group discounts may apply.

Fifth step: Apply for scholarships and seek funding (eligible for financial aid).

Sixth step: Prepare your resume and letter of introduction for CEDEI School.

Seventh step: Assure proper registration for student teaching courses and workshop. Contact CEDEI School if you wish to register for courses towards a Spanish minor at UW-Whitewater. As needed, seek a transfer credit agreement from your program advisor to have the courses apply to your baccalaureate degree.

Eighth step: Schedule a study abroad advising appointment with the program advisor and Dan Colleran in the Center for Global Education, Tel. 262-472-5757, Email: collerad@uww.edu. Once students are registered for the program, they will receive an email for a group meeting about their orientation. They will be filling out a CISI insurance form and some authorization forms in the orientation meeting. At this time the office will be making sure students have in all their paperwork: Copy of their passport and their flight itinerary (best if submitted to the office before the orientation).

For more information about the application process, contact: Simone DeVore at devores@uww.edu or Cheryl Wegner at wegnerc@uww.edu.